Bruton Smith's Logic for Moving NASCAR Finale Not Enough

Whether you always agree with Bruton Smith or not, you've got to appreciate the way he keeps NASCAR's power brokers honest and on their toes.

This week the outspoken and oft-controversial Smith suggested that NASCAR move the season finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway back to Atlanta Motor Speedway, where the champion was crowned through 2001.

Of course Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) owns and operates the speedways in Atlanta; Texas; Las Vegas; Sonoma, Calif.; Bristol; and Charlotte; so he is always trying to drum up new business. And often his ideas make sense, like the idea that Las Vegas should have a second date.

But the Associated Press quoted Smith as asking this week: "Why have the last race of the season at some godforsaken area just north of Cuba?"

And he'll need a better argument than that.

The Homestead area – located South of Miami at the gateway to the Florida Keys – may not be home to the "traditional" NASCAR fan base – but the traditional NASCAR fan base has certainly come to attend this race.
It is also a big hit for locals, which include a strong Latin fan base that NASCAR has pursued.

The track has worked hard to make the race a huge event in the area. You can count on good weather even in mid-November and it's a destination visit that attracts fans and sponsors.

The races have been good, the championships interesting.

Smith argues that Atlanta would offer a larger grandstand and easier travel – great points – but Championship Weekend is supposed to be something even more. Something out of the ordinary.

Homestead has always delivered on that. The biggest knock is the late afternoon start times and that has nothing to do with the facility and everything to do with television.

"I love what Bruton brings to the sport," four-time champion Jeff Gordon said. "He always gives you good material to write. ... and he builds beautiful facilities.

"But I do think Homestead is the place to wind down our season. I love that track. I love the area."

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-08-2009 @ 8:56AM

obamaizadope said...

don't worry bruton, obama, and al gore plan to ban nascar racing, he just hasn't gotten around to it yet..

3-08-2009 @ 9:35AM

Welcome Don said...

I have no idea who this obease cow is but I assure you I have crossed off ever attending any of the tracks this obnoxious puke controls.

3-08-2009 @ 11:13AM

koolstop1 said...

Bruton Smith has been a greater promoter of NASCAR than Bill France and always puts on a good pre race shoe which most always favors our military. Keep up the good work!

3-09-2009 @ 5:14AM

roval said...

easy there buddy what in the world do you have against bruton to talk about him like that, jezz. He's done alot for our sport, and since he owns some of the best tracks in nascar, bristol, texas, i'm glad i won't see you there.

3-08-2009 @ 12:25PM

PAUL said...

ok bruton, move the finally back to atlanta. but before you do, make sure you have enough private jets to fly us from south florida to attend the race in atlanta. and make sure you stock your refridgerator full, because i will be staying with you for the weekend.

3-08-2009 @ 9:36PM

scubarjh said...

Better yet, move the July 4th race from Daytona to up north some where, it's too damn hot there that time of year. Have the first race there at Daytona and the last race there at Daytona

3-09-2009 @ 5:17AM

you said it, Daytona should start and end the season. That would be a finale everyone would be talking about.

3-09-2009 @ 8:40AM

Kim said...

It is my personal opinion that any race track would be more exciting for the finale to the season than Homestead. What a boring race each and every year to cap off the season, IMO.

Atlanta would certainly be better, but I must agree with some above me. The season starts with Daytona and should end with Daytona. Talk about an exciting shootout!

Kim

3-09-2009 @ 11:02AM

illsell4u said...

I don't know Kim. For me, Daytona is nothing but tradition now that it is a restrictor plate race. Talk about boring. The ONLY excitement is the last 10 or 20 laps. With the safer barriers and the safer cars I say take off the restrictor plates and let em run 230 if the engine will do it and they can run whatever gear ratios they need.
I would be interested in some other opinions on this issue from some people with a brain. If you have to ask yourself "does this include me?" the answer is probably not. But we have had some people with racing experience post in the past and since they should understand the need for safety versus speed I just wonder if now that we have come up with the HANS device, a safer car, and a safer wall, can we let the ponies run once again?
MBL

3-09-2009 @ 11:13AM

Sorry Kim, I am going to have to disagree on this one.
As Daytona is today, I see it as nothing but a tradition and certainly not much of an interesting race. Sure, the last 10-20 laps are great, but watching a choo choo go round and round sucks.
In the last few years there have been great advances in the safety of Nascar. We now have a safer car, the HANS device, and the SAFER BARRIER wall. I feel the time may have come to get rid of the restrictor plates and let the ponies run wild once again.
I would greatly appreciate some input on the issue from some of the more intelligent readers. If you have to ask yourself "does this include me?" then the answer is "probably not". Some readers that have actually done any racing would be nice. A perspective on the need for speed versus safety if you will.
MBL

3-09-2009 @ 11:35AM

oops, I suffered LOST IN SPACE and double posted.
mbl

3-09-2009 @ 2:27PM

Bob said...

I doubt we'll ever see the end of the restrictor plate era, because the arguments FOR are based on hard data, while the opposing arguments are more about driver freedom. Bill Elliot set his 213 mph record over twenty years ago, so you know the cars can go much faster now, and even with SAFER barriers and much better driver protection, the risks of a 220+ mph crash are just too high for NASCAR to gamble with. Add to that the increased instability at those higher speeds, especially in close quarters, and there's also a greater likelihood of crashing.

The drivers want them removed, not so much for speed, but for responsive acceleration. The plates slow throttle response, making it more difficult to pass, thus causing those wonderfully boring drafting "parades". Over the years, NASCAR has tinkered with other ways to restrict power, to give back the responsiveness, but the engine builders just kept making more power--the only sure way to control them was to choke them with those plates.

With the potential PR nightmare of having to explain why they allowed a driver to crash to his death at 220 mph, I think NASCAR is simply choosing to stay on the side of caution.

3-11-2009 @ 6:50PM

Hey Mike!

You know you're not allowed to disaggree with me! Just teasing, of course! :-)

I understand where you are coming from, but I actually like some restrictor plate racing. Although, I would love to see the restrictor plates taken off for Daytona. Tradition in this sport runs deep and Daytona has that. Even if less exciting, I believe the overall excitement for the last race of the season, would be much larger should the race be held at Daytona.

Kim