When did it happen?

[vintagegarage]

When did it become a practice that a guy who spins out gets his position back if his rear bumper was touched by another car. Two weeks ago, I had a disappointing night as a spectator at my local track. It was clear that the drivers were gaming the officials all night. It's difficult enough to pass, and one standard technique is to get the slower car ahead of you squirrelly, make him drift up the track, and then drive under him. You do that here, and the car ahead simply turns hard left, spins out, and then restarts, and stops at the pit entrance on the back stretch and cries like a baby to the official there.. waa..waa..waa.. Then the officials discuss the situation on the radio and make the call.. the slow car gets his place back, and the fast car who was trying to pass goes to the rear. I can see how a majority of the drivers, most of whom are slow and incapable of winning without the rule, would vote for such a scheme, but the fans don't like it. The slower car should have turned right and let his car eat a bit up the track to keep from spinning and fallen back in line. However, if he does that, he looses two positions, and the faster guy gets by. That's the way it should be though. If he isn't fast enough to catch back up to the car that passed him and return the favor, he is running where he belongs.

I grew up watching Bobby Brack come from the back of the pack to win, week after week, and the fans went nuts.. the stands were packed and half the crowd was rooting for Bobby and half against.. it was a lot of fun. He didn't win by spinning out and getting his place back., and he never cried like a baby. Now the fans sit on their hands and the guy who wins is the guy who is best at gaming the system... that is, who can spin out and make it look like it wasn't his fault better than everyone else.

Back to my original question.. when did this practice begin here? I've been away from Florida racing for many years. NASCAR doesn't do it, never seen it in Pennsylvania weekly show, never seen it in a Outlaw race, never seen it in a USAC midget, sprint or silver crown race. And a follow-up question.. how could anyone other than slow drivers have thought it was a good idea?

[Jimmy McKinley]

From what I saw at OSW (Orlando) a coupla weeks back, BOTH cars get sent to the rear, no question. David Russell was an innocent victim in one incident, and he believed he shouldn't go to the rear of the field. Officials black-flagged him and sent him to the pits.

That's my belief as well; both cars should go to the rear of the field.

[vintagegarage]

re: both cars to the rear.. nope.. that discourages passing. The fans want to see passing.. again, all the sanctioning bodies I mentioned in the first post agree.. you spin, you go to the back if you bring out the yellow, or retain the place where you continued running if that isn't at the very back. Once or twice a season, there might be a rough riding foul that rises to the level of a penalty.. loose a lap, go to the rear, suspended for a week or the season, etc.. but it should not be an officials call every time a spin occurs. Get the crybabies out of their cars, and don't let the drivers plead their case after every spin.. Right now, if you touch the guy's bumper and he spins, you go to the rear.. that is what I am talking about. My purpose for the post isn't to argue the point.. but simply to find out when (and I guess how) did this start? Who thought it was a good idea? Is guys who spin getting their place back somethings the fans said they wanted?

[Benny The Mule]

that discourages passing. The fans want to see passing.

I've seen a lot of this too...not sure where it started.

But, passing is passing, not jacking a car up so the driver behind the (slower) car can remain a bottom feeder.

I kept it simple when i raced...........go to the OUTSIDE and pass.

my front bumper was the only part of my car i car i could keep paint on.

[Wildchild]

Ok, All Rules are up to EACH RACE TRACK!! What is a rule at one race track could and some times is not the same at any other race tracks!!! That is why ALL TRACKS tell you to READ the TRACK rules!!!! Now to answer your question ,some track rules state If two(2) cars make contact and a yellow or caution comes out BOTH cars go to REAR!! Why?? The reason both go is simple. The car that caused the contact goes because of the contact. The car that recieved the contact goes to the rear for stopping and causing the yellow to come out. Now the only time that rule doesn't apply,Is if the track has a rule that protects the leader!! Now if your RACE TRACK has the rule that if two(2) cars make contact and the yellow comes out, The car making contact goes to the rear and the car that recieved the contact gets it's spot back. Now this may answer your question it may not but the real answer is READ the RULE BOOk!!!!

Wildchild

[Rick Williamson]

Sorry I never liked this rule. Why is just the leader of the race protected? What if there is a points race going on. And the driver in 2nd place is not that far behind in points. Now to help make up this differents he gets another driver to spinout the points leader. That way the points leader has to go to the rear and the points become closer or the 2nd place driver is now first in points. I'm not saying this has ever happened. But it could. And I have known a driver or two that wanted the points lead so bad I wouldn't put it past them to try it. My point is it's an unfair rule. And besides why bump a driver to make him move up so you can go under him. When all you have to do is try and pass him on the outside! Passing is a lot more fun for the fans to watch in this heat. Nose to tail racing isn't fun for anyone.

[AJ14]

I can't believe i'm about to say this , but Nascar has this one right . When a car spins , gets spun , bounces off the wall , etc , . wherever that car or cars get back into line is where they continue . If two cars get together down the backstretch and both slide , both recover , and then the yellow comes out , those two cars line up wherever they blend back into traffic . Now of course that never really happens because the cars involved will pit If there was an incident of rough driving , the bad guy gets a drive through or a 1 lap penalty . There is no rationale for any car getting its place back .

[ronabneysr]

do you remember when racing was racing

some years ago when there were late models we will just use a few names when they started dead last on a track that you could pass on out side .

and you had better not try to root and run down on bottom you had better pass on out side . or you would find out when you got to the pits . just about all classes at just about all tracks there were no fast car starts on pole and follow the leader drivers like i probably won't name the all but lets start

bill gill jack arnold dave scarbourgh buzzie and wayne ruttimann leroy porter dave mcginnis sonny and dale alderman gordon lee will cagle frank riddle jimmie riddle bill roynon hardy madox donnie tanner carl butts jimmy cope .dave pletcher benny moore dan raulerson dan daughtry aron collier tom brown lester sloan chester rutledge mr emil rutimann bo hammond pat hutchins milton burseck eddie keene eddie king vernon hart richard coffin jim alvis poncha alverez

i could go on and on them guys started in the rear and they passed on outside or johnny hicks would come down out of his flag stand and get almost in car with you

[Old Sunshine Fan]

W O W......

And you left out JIM FENTON, boy you can forget a Christmas Card this year for sure now.

OSF:

[Boneman]

This is where fighting in the pits helped out. Back in the day, if you root someone out of the lead you could expect at least a loud scuffle, or at worst a butt-whoopin'. Now everyone is afraid to do any of that because of legal charges, lawsuits and felony records. The racers can no longer police themselves effectively.

[tccaz]

Thats when it was fun

That is when it was fun to watch you got to see racin and fightin all for one price.

[straight up]

simple answer , fascar ! that says it all . new rules every week . make it up as you go !

[ronabneysr]

old sun shinefan thanks

i can't believe i left him out jim fenton and kenny -jessie fair cloth my brain is still messed up from going to columbia speedway this past week end and not bring our box of gears thats long way go not be close enough in gear that is fast track

[BuickRacer]

I've seen a lot of this too...not sure where it started.

But, passing is passing, not jacking a car up so the driver behind the (slower) car can remain a bottom feeder.

I kept it simple when i raced...........go to the OUTSIDE and pass.

my front bumper was the only part of my car i car i could keep paint on.

Amen I have been leading races and passed lap cars on the outside. Grow some and pass on the outside.