Looking Forward to the Glen
I just read David Poole’s observations on thatsracin.com concerning road racing. He relates the fact that he gets criticized because he doesn’t like road course racing very much. I agree with him that NASCAR Racing has built its popularity on ovals and that NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing is far and away the most popular form of auto racing in North America. I wouldn’t have disagreed with Mr. Poole at all five or ten years ago. But, I have to admit, these days I absolutely love me some road course racing. Don’t get me wrong, I have been a fan of the sport for over 30 years and for many of those years didn’t give a flip about road racing. In today’s world of “cookie cutter” mile and a half tracks, though, I relish the road courses as places where the drivers can show another dimension of their incredible talent. I look forward to the unique pit strategies and the way the regulars have to deal with the ringers. It amazes me how certain drivers who have come from oval backgrounds have flourished on road courses. In the late 80’s and early 90’s you pretty much knew who was going to be good on the road courses. Guys like Rudd, Wallace, Labonte and Martin always seemed to do well turning left and right using fancy footwork to keep the rpm’s up in the days before transmissions had straight cut gears. Now there are so many good road racers in the field it is hard to tell they haven’t been doing it for their whole careers. I was shocked in Jeff Gordon’s early days when he seemed to get the hang of road course racing right away. I don’t know why I was shocked, he was (and is) great at everything involving that racecar. Now a guy like Kyle Busch comes along and he looks he just got off the plane from LeMans or Monaco.
I would not mind seeing another road course or two on the schedule, and believe me, it’s hard for me to believe I’m saying that. I definitely think there should be one in the Chase (sorry Mr. Poole). I truly love NASCAR Racing on the road courses and can’t wait for the Centurion Boats at The Glen this weekend.