From a NASCAR Fan’s View
At the risk of sounding repetitive, the Cup Teams take it to Talladega on this Sunday afternoon and, once again at the risk of repeating myself, the Cup Teams take on the one place that nobody knows who will finish first. Yes, it’s that much of a crapshoot and, repeating those immortal words about this place, if you’re in it, you can win it.
Talladega is a unique track and considered to be the fastest track in the world. It has its own character and it has its own personality. Of course, there are those that seem to have figured it out better than some of the rest but that doesn’t change the fact that it is also still unpredictable. What that really means is that anyone running in the final laps has a chance to win because of the unpredictability or what can happen in the final run for the win.
There’s just something about the mentality of drivers when it comes down to the final lap or two. It sometimes seems like common sense goes out the window and tunnel vision takes over. What I mean by that is that the only thing a driver sees is the hole they want to fit their car into or they think their car has more speed than it does. I realize the speed thing is from what they think they know about the draft and the associated ability to pass. Often they are blinded by their tunnel vision and are shocked at when the car they are trying to pass goes for the block. Often, that’s when the stuff hits the fan and either one or both or of them fade from possible victory to absolute defeat.
The above information tells this fan why these races at Talladega sometimes border on being boring. Maybe boring is not the best term to use here but it does sometimes seem that way to this fan. I mean eventually we see the drivers fall into single file racing for a period of time and that can go on for many laps. Of course, after a while, they do slip back into double and triple file racing and try to advance by trying to hook up with another driver or two and taking their little draft pack to the front. It doesn’t always work that way and sometimes it triggers what is called “The Big One.”
We all know what “The Big One” means and it has often changed the complete outcome of the race. Often the reason it changes the outcome of the race so completely is because some of the possible contenders for the win are taken out along with the ones causing the chaos and destruction of cars and dreams for a win at Talladega. It is a fact that there is often more than one “Big One” and some of them are bigger than others. Often it all depends on which ones avoid or survive the melee and it’s not always the best cars and drivers that survive.
I wish I could say what is going to happen in this race today. Oh sure, I can say all the obvious stuff like single, double and triple wide racing; sometimes even four wide. Generally, the four wide and three wide will fade back to two wide and single file. But what will really happen is anyone’s guess. There could be a completely unexpected winner or there could be the usual, strong, super speedway racers that end up leading the pack in a photo finish.
What is obvious to this fan for today’s race is that the Chevys appear to be lacking speed for this one. Now, you and I both know there is very little that can be determined from qualifying, especially at a super speedway. Often, one or two laps of qualifying doesn’t really tell much about how those very same cars will handle in the draft and in the dirty air. We do know that clean air is better but only one or two can enjoy the benefit of clean air. The ones following those cars and drivers in clean air are controlled by the dirty air generated by the way the cars channel air through the duct work under the cars these days.
From my point of view, and if I made my determination of how the cars would run by the qualifying, I would say the Fords look to have the advantage for this one. I don’t think of qualifying as much more than seeing which of them might have speed and which ones get the best pit stalls. What I think will happen is that the Chevys will show up for the race with speed sufficient to run with the Fords and the Toyotas. And remember; this is a long race and other than running for stage points, I don’t expect to see the drivers running every lap as though it is the last.
What I think it will come down to is good pit stops, good decision making and not trying to force the issue when there is no way to make the move they want. Strategy could play a major role today but as many have said, “Patience is a virtue…”
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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