From a NASCAR Fan’s View
Finally, we’re back to NASCAR Cup racing and the Olympics are done. I can only say I’m glad they’re back but I’m not so sure Richmond will go like many hope. NASCAR always seems to keep things a challenge and this weekend is no different. Unlike the race back in March and along with the temperature being a bit hotter, NASCAR decided to throw the softer tires into the mix along with the regular tires and make things a little bit more interesting.
We all know the differences between the red letter and the yellow letter tires, if for no other reason than, because the talking heads throughout NASCAR broadcasts of all types
keep talking about them all the time. Personally, and from my view, I don’t fully understand the reason for using the reds as they are being used. Oh, I know the NASCAR reason but I don’t fully understand why they only give so many of the reds opposed to the yellows.
Okay, I do get the part about the reds having more grip and that they lose that advantage faster than the yellows. What I don’t get is why they only give a couple of sets of reds compared to the number of sets of yellows. I can’t help but wonder if the whole idea was to make tire strategy more a part of the race than it already is. One thing is obvious to this fan. Tire strategy and how to effectively use the advantage of the reds is going figure greatly into the way this race ends and which of the drivers may win.
Richmond is a three quarter of a mile track and the race is four hundred laps which adds up to three hundred miles. From this fan’s view, the advantage on tire strategy will go to the ones that usually do a good job figuring how best to use their tires, whether it be the reds or the yellows. In recent times, the Toyota teams of JGR show a definite understanding of tire strategy and how to keep their drivers from using their tires up too soon. Usually Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr. have better tires at the end of a stage or race than others.
It looks like the Chevys are still looking for speed this weekend. Only two show up in the top ten starting positions and that’s Chase Elliott from the Hendrick camp and Austin Dillon from RCR. It did surprise this fan somewhat but I guess the Toyotas did kind of rule at Richmond the last time the Cup series was there. Tonight, there will be five of them starting in the top ten and three of them are from JGR and two from 23XI.
I am sure you know how I think by now. I just don’t always think the qualifying says much about how the race will end up. Quite often qualifying positions for the drivers don’t line up with the way they finish. Now, I know that isn’t always true but it is true often enough to make this fan wonder how the race at Richmond tonight is going to go.
There is a lot riding on these next four races. The field for the playoffs hasn’t been completely filled in yet and there is still room for four new winners and, if that happens, it could completely shake up the way the playoffs will go. The only one that looks good to make it in on points is Martin Truex Jr. but four new winners on the season could put him in jeopardy. Well, that is unless he is one of the four new winners.
The rest of those top sixteen spots to qualify for the playoffs are likely to be decided by points rather than new winners. That’s not to say there won’t be new winners to fill in the playoff field. There are several that showed a lot of speed at sometime or other in the practice and qualifying sessions. What was different, at least from this fan’s view, was how the speeds changed in qualifying. Hardly anyone expected Denny Hamlin to be the fastest in qualifying for the pole position but he was. I believe even he was surprised but I noticed he didn’t let that deter him from accepting the pole position.
All I can say is that this race at Richmond tonight is going to be filled with aggression both on the track and in the pits. With four races and four spots to make the playoffs available, I expect those not qualified for the playoffs to press the envelope as far as possible. That goes for the drivers on the track and the crew chiefs with their strategy on fuel and tires. There are stage points and a win to be claimed. If that doesn’t add anything to the excitement and aggression in tonight’s race, I don’t know what will…
Hey, this is Russ and that’s my view… See ya next time…
All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer
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Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com and Justafansview.com
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