Different Day, Same Talladega

Before Ryan Newman's horrific Talladega flip-roll-smash-and-slide on Sunday, there was Carl Edwards' car somersaulting into the front stretch fencing.

The late Dale Earnhardt had one of his most frightening accidents at Talladega Superspeedway, barrel-rolling through the tri-oval. Before that it was Ricky Craven and Bill Elliott on E-ticket rides. In 1993, driver Jimmy Horton's car flipped over the Turn 1 wall and landed outside the track.

Rusty Wallace's Talladega crash footage -- pick a year -- used to be standard play before any NASCAR restrictor plate race.

The point is -- while there is a justifiable outcry at the scary accident involving Newman this weekend -- spectacular, highlight-reel wrecks here aren't news. They are old news.

News would be if something unpredictable happened, something like. ... nothing.

And then the outrage would be "what a boring finish, what a boring race.''

And many are suggesting that, anyway. Instead of wrecking early and often, now NASCAR's brand of bumper-to-bumper draft racing in the COT produces the completely expected race-ending melee that typically shatters at least one drivers championship hopes and often introduces a dark horse to victory lane.

That's what happened Sunday. And everyone knew it would.

"We go through this every year,'' championship leader Jimmie Johnson said to reporters in his post-race interview. "You guys try to find new ways to have us answer the same question about the restrictor plate racing.

"Yeah, we have the steering wheel, gas pedal, brake pedal and all that kind of thing. But until somebody really has a chance to sit in these cars and understand how tough it is, it's easier to say these things from the outside.

"Inside the car, we're racing. We're doing our thing. We mind our manners during the race, single file and everybody was probably disappointed in that.

"Then we get racing in the end and you have the big wrecks. There is not a new angle. The only way we avoid this is if anybody wants to avoid these big wrecks and this type of racing is to eliminate the need for restrictor plates. That means get the tractors out and knock down the banking."

The question isn't only how to fix it. But do you really want to?

Practically every driver in the 43-car field can offer a plan to "fix" the close-quarter, pack racing that creates multi-car accidents. And the suggestions range from taking off the restrictor plates completely to aerodynamic modifications to adding horsepower.

The irony of Newman's car going airborne and crashing wildly certainly wasn't lost on him. He was the most outspoken driver coming into the race concerning NASCAR's need to keep the cars on the ground.

NASCAR will never be able to completely control drivers' actions behind the wheel, it does at the least need to keep these cars from launching like missiles.

"This is ridiculous,'' an understandably frustrated, but uninjured Newman said after a trip to the infield medical center.

"We don't need the cars getting upside down like this. There is way more technology than that to help us out. Whether it is a speed issue, a roof flap issue, whatever.

"It is a shame that not more is getting done. I guess maybe I expect NASCAR to call me. I am the only guy out there with an engineering degree. I would like to have a little respect on my end.''

Yet all the technical modifications to the car can't ensure against over-aggression, driver error or poor judgment. And that's the bottom line.

Tightening the rules to play by -- as NASCAR did when it warned drivers in the pre-race drivers meeting that it would penalize bumper-to-bumper contact -- may provide a chilling effect and the subsequent single-file parades.

But this remains the only major professional sport where if fans complain loudly enough, the sanctioning body will changes the rules in the name of entertainment.

Bloggers, radio show callers and internet comments indicate people were unhappy with the "show" at Talladega despite the fact there were 58 lead changes by 25 drivers - nearly 20 lead changes occurred before the race's midpoint.

The outcry against this type of racing isn't any different this Monday morning - the outlet is. Thanks to the Internet, we have instant indignation instead of perspective and that drives the news.

The television network morning talk shows invited Newman for interviews - he politely declined on Monday - and showed video of his wreck.

YouTube had the video posted before track workers extricated Newman from his car.

"The race is pretty safe up until the end,'' said Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished 11th. "You knew that.

"I don't think anybody wants to be out there and involved in what happens at the end. Dodging cars, seeing people flip upside down. Obviously there is something else that needs to be thought about. I am sure NASCAR will figure it out.''

Or maybe, as they say, "it is what it is" at Talladega.

"I hope everyone enjoyed the show,'' Mark Martin said minutes after climbing out of his wrecked Chevy and realizing his now 184-point deficit to Jimmie Johnson is probably a championship deal-breaker.

"Congratulations to (race winner) Jamie McMurray, and that's all I know about the whole race.''

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-02-2009 @ 6:16PM

redneckpriest said...

Why don't the drivers get together and boycott next season. It is not worth someone getting killed. And if its this race course is the problem ,do not race and the course again.

11-02-2009 @ 8:38PM

john27fv said...

I say put the 'stock' back in stock car racing! Get rid of the stupid, cookie cutter 'car of tomorrow' and revert back to the rules from the earliest days of NASCAR, 1948 -1950 era, when the cars had to be essentially the same vehicles available for sale to the public. Obviously they'd need safety equipment, open exhausts, and a few other very limited mods, but keep 'em mostly 'STOCK'! The speeds would only be in the 115 - 130 mph range, so there'd be no need for restrictor plates and drivers could run 'em WFO. The inherently different strengths of each make of car (power, handling, aerodynamics, etc), and the lack of artificial power limiting devices like the dreaded 'plate' would showcase the real speed potential of each make and would ensure REAL RACING, not follow-the-leader drafting packs of identical 'spec racers' cruising around bumper to bumper killing time for the first 7/8 of the race. Shorten the races to two 50 mile heats and a 100 mile final, and let's see what a real Ford could do against a real Chevy, Dodge, Toyota, etc, with no fear of 190 mph ‘aerobatics’!!

11-02-2009 @ 8:43PM

steve said...

there won't be a driver boycott. that would mean that they weren't "real men." no, the answer is gonna be simple. the first race at talladega that the stands are only half full, will be the last race of it's kind. nascar will get off of it's wallet if that happens and change some things for the better.

11-03-2009 @ 8:33PM

Shepherd said...

Please. Talledega is what it is. Daytona is what it is. Speed combined with air is an automatic outcome. Drivers know this as well as fans. Truth is, like it or not, fans go to see the inevitable at either track. Thanks to Nascar, the cars are safe, otherwise Newman wouldn't have climbed out brushing grass off his uniform. Was it scary? Of coarse it was. The bottom line is we as fans buy the tickets and run the risk of something flying off the track and hurting someone. The drivers run the risk of what happened Sunday. I've seen them flip at Martinsville at much slower speeds. Doesn't matter what Nascar does to the car, the risk is there. Be thankful the cars are as safe as they are.

11-02-2009 @ 10:40PM

Steven said...

It is simple. If they don't want to race there don't. There have been many other injuries and deaths at tracks were speed was not an issue (i.e. Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin at New Hampshire). They know that every time they enter that car that there is a risk. Just like every time a cop straps on his gun that there are risk involve. Like a couple of people said in the above comments. If they don't like the racing then sit their asses out. As for the COT that is the biggest crock of s(#% that i have seen Nascar do in the last 10 years. They just need to go back to the cars of the early 2000's and 90's. They actually look like cars and not souped up Nissan's, Toyota's, and Mitsubishi's. Let me sum up by saying Nascar is killing the sport with all these rules and it is being shown in the ratings.

11-02-2009 @ 10:59PM

Psychicfairy17 said...

Thats why they call it racing...If we still drove the same way as back in the 40's and 50's then we would not be moving forward in our technology. Everything changes and always is never ending chanllege to go faster and more dangerous. People dont spend the money they do to see these boys taking it easy...

11-03-2009 @ 4:33AM

TravoltaFan said...

11-03-2009 @ 8:53AM

HILLCREST said...

"It is simple. If they don't want to race there don't. There have been many other injuries and deaths at tracks were speed was not an issue (i.e. Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin at New Hampshire). They know that every time they enter that car that there is a risk. Just like every time a cop straps on his gun that there are risk involve. Like a couple of people said in the above comments. If they don't like the racing then sit their asses out. As for the COT that is the biggest crock of s(#% that i have seen Nascar do in the last 10 years. They just need to go back to the cars of the early 2000's and 90's. They actually look like cars and not souped up Nissan's, Toyota's, and Mitsubishi's. Let me sum up by saying Nascar is killing the sport with all these rules and it is being shown in the ratings."

Totally agreed - we can even go a step further and have cars directly off the showroom floor with racing modifications as they did in the past (and currently do on the Rolex Series - but those are exotics and don't really count).

11-03-2009 @ 9:10AM

At this rate, the fans should have a town hall meeting and present a proposal to NASCAR on changes that need to be made - I have my laundry list ready on that one. If NASCAR does not want to listen, then we are start our own racing league....

11-03-2009 @ 9:37AM

gerrydebar said...

nascar is makeing it bad for us fans

11-03-2009 @ 1:29PM

Big Bad John said...

I would like to ask the author of this story one thing how many of the bad wrecks you listed of the race drivers you listed did their cars have resticker plates on them? I would say 90-95% had the deadly restricter plates.

11-03-2009 @ 1:45PM

skindoo821 said...

if newman's car doesn't land on harvick's car, but slams the track,i think we might have a whole different outcome.get rid of the wing because when the car's get backwards the wing becomes,....well a wing.

11-03-2009 @ 3:05PM

obamaizamarxist said...

that's a great point. that could have broken his neck..

11-04-2009 @ 8:35AM

tmrieg5 said...

Seems to me ,the problem is speed plus aero.Just stand the windshield up like a truck,do away with the restrictor plates,and let them race with the driver in control.You would have the ability to pass and drivers wouldn't be afraid to let off and get hung out to dry in the draft.

11-04-2009 @ 4:26PM

drc88 said...

Build just one car.....a short track car....no super speedway car, a short track doesn't cut the air like a speedway car.....run this car at all tracks