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Talladega… There’s not much that can be said that hasn’t been said about the Super Speedway at Talladega Alabama. In fact, there’s not a whole lot that can be said that hasn’t been said about anything lately. I think just about everybody’s run out of things to say about the way NASCAR is proceeding through these times and I won’t try to offer anything new but, I will give my opinion on what’s to come on race day Sunday afternoon.
This race at Talladega will be another race with no qualifying and no practice. So, in that sense, it will be just like many of the races they’ve already run since the “pandemic” hit and everyone took a little break. One thing that will be different is that they will be allowing around 5000 people in the stands. Now, that should prove to be interesting to say the least. I’m sure there are those that think that this is a bad move and time will tell if that’s the case but, it’s time for people to get their lives back, (at least that’s my opinion.)
I’m just giving you my opinion of these super speedway races and I have to admit that I still like the superspeedway races even with the rules that they have and the way that they make them compete. Restrictor plates made a big difference and then the engine rules and changes to other things have made a big difference also. Now that they’re no longer called restrictor plate races, there still restricted in how fast they can go. Of course, they will probably not set any new speed records but the racing is still very good at a super speedway race. As the talking heads like to say, “If you’re in it you can win it.”
Admittedly, that is true. I have to agree that anyone can win one of these depending on what happens with the “big one” (or Big Ones) or just how things pan out at the very end of the race. Let’s just say, if someone unexpected wins, it wouldn’t be the first time that ever happened.
I know I’ve said this many times before and I also know that many don’t care what I remember from when I used to race myself but, some of my favorite races were where we raced door handle door handle and bumper to bumper for lap after lap. Of course, on the short tracks we were running at much lower speeds but the sensation is the same. You can look in your mirror and see the cars behind you, you can look out your window and see the cars beside you and you can look in front of you and see the cars ahead of you, (unless you’re in the lead), and there’s no place for you to go except where the pack is going and you’re all going about the same speed. To put it another way, your life (or your race) is in the hands of those around you.
I think that’s one of the reasons why I enjoy these type races so much. It’s because for much of the time, no one really has an advantage. As we watch, we have no idea who might be able to pull out and get help and move ahead of those that were once ahead of them. It’s also interesting to watch to see how they handle adversity either caused by equipment failures or mistakes by the drivers they’re running with. Unfortunately, it’s also true that these type races can become a little bit boring depending on what the drivers decide to do as they click off the laps. One of the advantages of stage racing is that there are at least three times when the racing really gets interesting. That’s when they go for the points.
It’s true, I could go on for many more paragraphs and talk about my fondness for super speedway races but, I won’t do that. (Besides, I would probably be the only one interested in hearing what I have to say.) When it comes to these type races it is extremely difficult to pick a winner before the race or even as the race progresses but, it’s not hard to have favorites. I know that I’ve made no secret of the fact that I am a Chevy fan and I’ve made no secret of the fact that I am a Hendrick Motor Sports fan. Naturally, it would follow that I would pick one of the Hendrick teams to win and hope that a Chevy wins. That’s not necessarily what will happen during this race on Sunday afternoon but, it is the hope of this fan that it will. I won’t go into a long list of those names that I think could or should win, or that I hope will win, but it is enough to say I’d like a Chevy to win.
OK, I know that sounds like I’m a little bit biased and it’s probably true that I am but, the facts are, that this won’t be a race that’s a challenge just for the drivers and teams that are in it but it will be a test for NASCAR, the fans that are allowed in the stands and those of us watching. Much as there are some that will probably not watch because of decisions NASCAR made recently, I will be watching simply because I like to watch these type races on the Super Speedways and even though I have my opinions and my favorites, I’m not going to be making any political statements or raising a ruckus but watching just to see the race…
See ya next time…
All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer
© June 20, 2020 – all rights reserved
Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com and Justafansview.com
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All music TwoBuckThemes from Mike Stewart unless otherwise stated