NASCAR Encouraging Aggression

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Filed under: NASCAR 

 

Dale Jr & Girlfriend Amy Reinman | Photo

 

NASCAR is Openly Encouraging Increased Aggression by Its Drivers

It quickly became clear today during a press conference at the NASCAR R&D Center that NASCAR is not only telling drivers to take the gloves off – but that NASCAR is openly encouraging more aggressive behavior by competitors. Both on and off the track.

NASCAR is a Contact Sport

“This is a contact sport,” NASCAR CEO Brian France said in his opening remarks. “This is the best racing in the world.”

“We have an eye on putting things back in the driver’s hands. We’re going to loosen up.”

“We want to see more contact. This is a contact sport.” ~ Brian France

Then France repeated his opening mantra once again. “We want to see more contact. This is a contact sport.”

Bump Drafting is Back

NASCAR also announced that they were eliminating the restrictions on bump drafting that made last year’s Talladega race so boring.
NASCAR’s Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton made no bones about where NASCAR stands on giving the drivers the freedom to bump draft. “Boys have at it and have a good time,” said Pemberton. “That’s all I’ve got to say.”

Pemberton also revealed that restrictor plates at Daytona would be less restrictive this year. The plates will have 63/64” openings this year. The largest openings in 21 years.

“Boys have at it and have a good time. That’s all I’ve got to say.” ~ Robin Pemberton

So why did NASCAR decide to give teams the bigger restrictor plate? “We felt like it was important to give the drivers a little more horsepower – a little more throttle response,” said Competition VP Robin Pemberton.

No More Wing

The wing will also soon be gone off the rear of the car. Pemberton confirmed that Sprint Cup cars would return to the use of a spoiler early on in the 2010 season. But for Daytona the wing remains.

So why is NASCAR doing away with the wing and returning to the spoiler? “The spoiler has come on for the car to look more like it used to and drive differently,” explained Brian France.

“If we didn’t think that the racing would be improved – spoiler vs. wing – we wouldn’t have done it.”

Indeed the spoiler makes the car look a lot more like a stock car and less like a tuner car.

Now NASCAR needs to get rid of that splitter on the front of the car. Brian France indicated that was a possibility. “The front end is something we are looking at,” said France.

The yellow line rule at Daytona and Talladega will stay in place for now, however. NASCAR met with drivers and teams about doing away with the double yellow line which prevents drivers from going below the line to advance their position.

Eliminating the double yellow line rule was seriously considered – and it may eventually be done away with. But not yet.

Encouraging Drivers to Show Personality

NASCAR President Mike Helton said that NASCAR was “encouraging the characters of the sport to show their personality.” But he also left some wiggle room as far as how far NASCAR is willing to go. That doesn’t mean you get a free pass out of jail,” he said.

So is NASCAR putting the show over safety in promoting their racing as a contact sport?

Mike Helton doesn’t think so. “NASCAR racing from day one has always been highly competitive,” said Helton. “If you ain’t rubbin’ – you ain’t racin’.”

“We’re the last people that want to over-regulate the sport. We’re very careful about what regulations we ease up on.”

“If you ain’t rubbin’ – you ain’t racin’.” ~ Mike Helton

“These cars are safer than 5years ago,” Helton continued.

More Exciting Racing

“Obviously the racing is going to get more exciting,” said Sprint Cup Director John Darby.

So drivers, put your big boy pants on, pull those belts a little tighter, make sure that helmet is strapped on tight, and hold on. This is going to be a wild ride.

Is NASCAR going down the right road? I believe so. What about you?

 

 

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Comments

27 Comments on NASCAR Encouraging Aggression

  1. Carolyn Deutsch on

    2. I hope this turns out to be as good as it sounds

    [Reply]

    charlotte Reply:
    January 24th, 2010 at 11:43 pm

    i do hope this will help dale jr. this year! go junebug! we’ll be watching you at daytona.

    [Reply]

  2. Marie on

    3. Wow! Hopefully with these changes racing this year will be better than last year. One thing is certain, it couldn’t get much worse (boring) than last year. Bring it on! May Dale Jr. have a sizzling season!

    [Reply]

  3. Barbara Rose on

    4. YES, BUT IT’LL BE WHERE NASCAR WILL LET KYLE BUSH DO WHAT HE WANTS. WHEN JR TRIES IT, THEY’LL PROBABLY FINE HIM, JIMMIE JOHNSON AND THE REST OF THE HENDRICKS CROWD. I WANT TO SEE EQUAL TREATMENT, AS FAR AS THE YELLOW LINE, IF A DRIVER LIKE KYLE BUSH PUSHES THE OTHER DRIVERS BELOW THE LINE, HE SHOULD BE BLACK FLAGED OR PUT AT THE REAR OF THE FIELD, MAYBE EVEN SOME POINTS TAKEN AWAY. GRAMMY 67

    [Reply]

    doowah Reply:
    January 21st, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    Kyle Bush Kyle Bush Kyle Bush. It’s unbelieveable how some of you people spend so much of your time complaning about Kyle Bush. GET OVER IT! It is amazing that so much of your lives is consumed with how Kyle drives his car. GET A LIFE!

    [Reply]

    charlotte Reply:
    January 24th, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    there’s nothing to kyle bush! he’s just a whinner! he wrecks the other driver’s. and i hope this year, the other drivers will not put up with his none sense! maybe they will shove him into the wall! then he will quit all that.

    [Reply]

  4. Mike on

    5. GOOD DEAL
    Have A Great Afternoon
    Mike
    }>< }}};> 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 < ;{{{><{

    [Reply]

  5. AZomah on

    6. Wow, my Jr is one of the best bump drafters, remember Jr, pick your drafting partner with care, not the one that always dumps you. Here’s back to some fun viewing for fans and fun driving for the drivers. Go NASCAR.

    [Reply]

  6. autopro on

    7. Thank You Nascar for listening to the fans and the racers. This should make for real good racing this year. It will be good to see the drivers be themselves instead of what the HigherArcs want. I was getting bored with racing the way they had it going. Now, maybe we can see a glimpse of what it use to be like on the track. Good Luck to everyone this season, Expecially Jr. Be safe an God Bless You.

    [Reply]

  7. autopro on

    8. Thank You Grammy 67 for your input. You are probably right about the WIMP.

    [Reply]

  8. SCOTT GIBB SR. on

    9. ITS ABOUT TIME IT GET BACK TO THE GOOD DAYS COOL ITHINK IT WILL WORK OUT GOOD GO 24

    [Reply]

  9. shirley on

    10. i would like to see nascar put green lites out so when they turn green everyone can go….this stuff of letting the leader dictate the start of a race is crap….what it is is someone acts n 42 guys react which has caused problems n wrecks,….get green lights n let em all go….lol tony stewar,kyle bush, kasey kahne

    [Reply]

    Michael W Reply:
    January 21st, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    My dear Shirley, racing at all levels of the sport have always let the leader determin the start and restarts of any race. Some things just do not need to be tinkered with, especially tradition…

    [Reply]

  10. Michael W on

    11. Thankyou, Mike Helton, and Brian France, as well as the rest of the NASCAR regulators. You all have finally decided to listen to your loyal fans. May this season be more exciting than any previous season to date. I pray that this will also be a safe season as well.
    Kick some butt Jeff Gordon, GO 24.

    [Reply]

  11. marcel on

    12. I believe its a good move, cars are safer, drivers are safer, so why hold back with a bunch of rules. Some penalties should be made aware of the keep it honest racing.

    [Reply]

  12. Linda Bruce on

    13. WOW, Now I can call my mom and all my friends back to my house to see the real Nascar races and Thank you all that you findly Quit thanking with your dip stick and started hearing what the fans and drivers had to say about the sport while we still had one. Man, i,am glad you all did too, as i really never did like Football much.Thank you Mike, and Brian and all of you. GOD BLESS THE SPORT AND LONG LIVE NASCAR.GO JR.We all love u too and can,t wait to see your next win. BE safe all of you Guys and Gal.

    [Reply]

  13. Elaine on

    14. THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR FINALLY LETTING THE GUYS DRIVE WITHOUT BEING AFRAID OF BEING FINED OR PENALIZED FOR THEIR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING AND BUMP DRAFTING, ESPECIALLY AT TALLADEGA. IT WILL BE MORE EXCITING AND NOT AS BORING. GO SMOKE, NEWMAN, HAMLIN, AND JOEY. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO PUT KYLE IN HIS PLACE AND MAYBE BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH HENDRICKS. IT’S ABOUT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    [Reply]

  14. REGAN on

    15. ITS ABOUT TIME!!! GO JR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    [Reply]

  15. Cookie on

    16. Some people who regulate Nascar must be feeling the pinch in their pocketbook. The fans have finally made their point. Maybe now we will see more fans at the races and better racing on the track. Dale Earnhardt must be happy to see this taking place. Now Jr. can race the way he is used to and not worry about fines hanging over his head. GO JUNIOR!!!!!!!!!!

    [Reply]

  16. stash on

    17. Finally we’ll be able to watch racing instead of inline driving. This is probably to put more butts in track seats, but that’s ok with me. Let them race…Go Jr.

    [Reply]

  17. mamadew88 on

    18. It’s about time NASCAR woke up and realized that it’s not only the recession that is driving away too many of the fans but there crazy rules and changes. Racing is a sport and not kindergarten. Let the drivers run there own race with rules set for everyone, not just a chosen few. They fine drivers for foul language, but it’s okay to smash guitars, pout and take out another driver on purpose and run back to their trailers because they didn’t win.

    MAYBE NOW WE CAN GET BACK TO REAL RACING !!!!!!

    [Reply]

  18. Tom on

    19. This is good news. It bring back the old racing
    that Dale Sr. used to do. I don’t know why it was change in the first place, because that is racing. I am glad because it will make racing enjoyable again. The only question I have is why did NASCAR takes so long to figure it out.
    I feel maybe because they were losing fans that they decided to change it back to the old ways quickly. Also, I ll be glad to see the wings taken off the cars because it was too many races where the same driver would wins at the same track every year. Maybe this will help Jr. with his racing and want to see him win a championship this year.

    [Reply]

  19. Bob on

    20. Geesh, is Brian France and Mike Helton losing money? Is their pockets going empty? I bet Brian’s grandfather must be turning over in his grave the last couple of years with the way his grandson is running the show. The fans are leaving and Brian and Mike don’t like that and NOW decided to go back to hard racing again because they want to continue living the HIGH SOCIETY life.

    [Reply]

  20. chris on

    21. Glad to hear this!!! Cant wait to see the racing get more competative and so miss the bump draft. Looking forward to Jr giving it his all. He dosent have to prove anything to his fans… whether he doses well or not, if u are a true fan, he will always be the best.

    [Reply]

  21. annd on

    22. Way to go Nascar let the boys race. Time to get back to what it is all about. Go Jr.

    [Reply]

  22. REGAN on

    23. WE WILL SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES NASCAR TO PUT THE BRAKES ON ALL OF THIS. I HOPE NOT BUT THEY MORE THAN LIKELY WILL PUT SOME RULES BACK SO THE CHOSEN ONES WILL BENIFIT. I HOPE SOMEBODY PUTS KYLE BUSCH IN THE WALL OFTEN AND EARLY!! GO #88 HOPE YOU GET BACK TO DRIVING LIKE THE OLD DAYS!!!!!!!!!!

    [Reply]

  23. Judy Hatton on

    24. Nascar said let the guys settle it off and on the track. I was as shocked as everyone yesterday when brad ended upside down. He had made a smart remark or two a few weeks ago and the speed and channel 13 guys have said Brad has no friends in the garage. I was shocked that it was Carl but I guess everyone has a breaking point.

    [Reply]

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