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Restrictor Plates at California?by Chuck Abrams ~ February 27th, 2008. Filed under: Chuck Checks In!. |
I don’t know what Michael Waltrip is smoking, but I am sure I don’t want any of it.
After the disaster that was California (or whatever the new Auto Club Speedway name Is), Waltrip says that the change needed to make California a more viable race destination is to make it longer, bank it more, and then make it a designed restrictor plate track.
While this sounds like a great idea for Waltrip since that is the only kind of points race he has ever won at, it makes other drivers such as Mark Martin want to throw up.
Waltrip says “The stereotype of a restrictor plate being bad, that’s over.”
Again, what is he smoking?
Most race fans hate restrictor plate racing. Sure, it can be exciting to see 43 cars run around in a single pack, but it really is not “racing” in the truest sense and most drivers and educated fans will agree on that.
California USED to sell out. Then everyone got greedy and gave it a second date. “Hey, there are millions of people out here, why not? We will make money hand over fist.”
Evidently not. While southern California is a mecca of sorts for street cars and car design, and has produced the likes of Jimmy Vasser, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick, the double date has not worked out as well as many anticipated. They seem to have forgotten that southern Cal is graced with a myriad of sporting events not too mention some awesome beaches and sun.
Southern Cal is also often wet in February and blazing hot in the summer.
Remember when tracks in the southeast started losing dates and were not selling out? The logic of moving out west was not that the facilities or tracks were old and needed upgrading. The thought process was that the southeast was oversaturated and moving west would bring in much needed new fans…and revenue.
Now, the western migration has tracks with two races each at Texas, Phoenix, California with Las Vegas begging for a second date. Plus, there is also a road course race at Sonoma/Sears Point.
So now logic is telling Waltrip, and others, that a high-banked restrictor plate race will draw the fans that California needs for its two race dates. Evidently water seeping through the asphalt seems in a 200 mph 43 car restrictor plated pack doesn’t scare Michael Waltrip.
It sure scare the bejeebers outa me.
Nor is racing in the summer heat at those speeds any cause for concern. I have been at California in the summer and seen what that track can do to tires at high speed in that heat. Talk about a recipe for disaster.
We need TWO more restrictor plate races like we need another NASCAR rule change. If you want to rebuild California, make it more like Bristol or Martinsville or something where it is really unique. Or add another road course out there.
But don’t tell me that poor attendance, bad weather, a poorly engineered track and oversaturation in the western race conference can be resolved by building a new restrictor plate track.
Let me know your thoughts.
Drive fast, turn left and keep the shiny side up.
Feel free to send Chuck your thoughts on this and other race topics at chucka@turnleftracing.com. The blog at www.turnleftracing.com is down now due to spammers. We will have that back up as soon as we can.
February 28th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Michael is smoking the same stuff he had in his intake at Daytona last year,it makes the car go fast and the brain go dead.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:22 am
You’re not making any suggestions about how to cure this problem. If you go to the Jayski site, you’ll see that the majority of voters on this subject think turning that track into a restricter plate track is the right thing to do. They need to do something dramatic to get fans into the seats. What can be done??
By the way, ISC already nixed the plan, so we’re probably doomed to more of the same.
RM
February 28th, 2008 at 10:41 am
My recommendation for a fix? What are we fixing — the water issue or the attendance issue? Water is in the engineering and mother nature. I don’t know if it is possible to make a track weather proof but you might be able to engineer it better and make it quicker drying. A lot has to do with the substrate under the asphalt I am assuming. NASCAR also has to just accept that sometimes, the race will have to hold off to the next day, availability of lights or not.
Attendance is not a problem that is easily solved. My main point is that perhaps the west is as saturated as the southeast once was with race dates very close together. And they want another date at Vegas?? Also, there are plenty of other things to spend money on out west. And while there are millions of people in LA, not all are race fans or have the serious ching it takes to attend a race, especially when forced to buy both series tickets to get seats. That is an economic issue.
If long time race fans are departing in droves, the new race fans are sure proving more fickle and less die hard.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Nascar races at California have always been the most boring snoozers of the season. Let’s face it… Cali just does not produce an exciting race. Would making it a restrictor plate track make it a better race to watch? Who knows… but anything would be better than what we have now.
Let’s bring back the Rock.
-Evil
February 28th, 2008 at 11:10 am
As a restrictor plate race I still say we’d have 43 cars piling into a wall due to 1) a wet track or 2) blistered tires in incredible heat.
But I agree, bring back The Rock. Let’s see Tony Raines get flipped over there again.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I like Fontana, and the race. I just don’t see why there are two. I dpn’t see why anyone would want to make it a restrictor plate either. Baffling. Nothing to fix. Just put Fontana back the way it was, one race. Leave the track alone. Done. Everyone happy.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Becki, we are forgetting who owns the track. ISC will never relinquish one of those dates…..unless they move one to a more high profile (and ISC) track. NYC or Seattle coulda been their choice, but they’re not gonna cut the mustard anymore.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I think NYC and Seattle are both dead in the water right now. Fontana is a really nice facility and pretty easy to get in and out of as far as traffic goes compared to other tracks. Fix the water issue you have in the “winter” rainy season and you are good to go.
February 28th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
yeah michael would want to turn that track into a restricter plate track thats all he’s ever won. and yes go to jaski’s and look at the poll i’ll bet the majority of the fans that said yes are chevy fans because after sunmonday looks like thats the only chance of winning there they’ll have. if chevy wins they’re awsome if ford wins they need to change something.
February 28th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Bulldose that worthless waste of space and return Rockingham and Darlington to their rightful places on the schedule. Problem solved.