NASCAR fans grumble and grouse all the time, but between the lot of us, we realistically don't have a whole lot of throw weight to get anything changed. There are only a handful of guys who do, and one of those guys has stepped up and given voice to a lot of concerns that have circulated in both garage and grandstands.
At a media stop in Atlanta Thursday, Earnhardt minced no words when talking about the perceived shortcomings of the Car of Tomorrow. The main problem, Earnhardt told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is that NASCAR isn't allowing any kind of engineering alteration whatsoever, not even by NASCAR's own teams:
"[NASCAR officials] don't seem as willing, even themselves, to produce a better race car that will put on the type of races that we all wish to see," he said. "I feel like in a way we are holding ourselves back. We're short-changing ourselves. We have the technology and the people to build a car that will make for exciting racing -- dramatic, side-by-side racing -- that will sell tickets, excite fans and thrill people, but we have yet to pursue and try to obtain that."
Yeah, I can see why that might not sit so well with some of the NASCAR honchos. Oh, but it didn't end there. With blood in the water, the media pounced at Friday morning's hauler session, and Junior obliged with some more red-meat quotes, these via Dustin Long at HamptonRoads.com:
"What I'm getting at is, I think we need to open our eyes a little bit. Everyone. I think the media could address it a little stronger, and I think the drivers could be a little more vocal about it. NASCAR could probably be a little more urgent in improving our product. where the ultimate result is great, exciting racing that the fans will enjoy, that the drivers enjoy, so everyone is happy. That should be our quest always. Even when things are good. I feel like, especially right now, we need to really, really try to turn over every stone and that includes where we are with this COT and where we feel like it's development is and where we feel like it's future goes and where we feel like this car goes, how it evolves. I want ... just to have a sense of urgency over the last couple of weeks, I guess, to see if we can do better."
Junior had high praise for the double-file restarts rule implemented earlier this summer, saying it had put a "spark" into the races and that drivers and fans alike seemed satisfied. Then he decided to go twist the knife again:
"Before [the double-file restarts], I thought [the racing] was rather poor. I did. The races to me were very poor, and we almost depended on a late caution to save the day to make somebody race side-by-side for a couple of laps at least within 10 laps of the finish of the race. Somehow that saved the day. And then there was no argument the next week. It would go away. It was very frustrating because 95 percent of the race wasn't worth the price of the ticket.''
All right, then. When you've got your marquee attraction saying that most of your race has no value ... well, I'm no PR guy, but that doesn't seem like it would be a good thing for the health of your sport. Obviously, these comments are going to roil the waters this weekend in Michigan. Question is, did Junior do more good or more harm by speaking up?
Now, if it's possible, try to view this through non-Amp-green glasses. Don't ignore the message because of the messenger. Yes, other teams seem to have had an easier time figuring out the CoT than the 88, but does that mean he's wrong?
NASCAR has, as yet, not issued a public response to Junior's comments, but when they do, we'll post it here. 'Til then, have at it.
Earnhardt Jr.: NASCAR not willing to produce better race car [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
Dale Jr. chides NASCAR to do more with car [Hampton Roads.com]
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