Comments on: Don’t blame Talladega Superpeedway!

By: Steve Langley

Steve Langley — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:50:07 +0000

I watched the tape over and over, trying to see just what debris it was that could have hurt the fans in the stands, and I saw the two loud speakers on top of the fence poles come flying back into the crowd as the largest pieces. It’s the replay from the stand side I kept watching in slow, frame by frame motion, that gave me this conclusion. Maybe the speedway should take a look at how those things are mounted and make changes there first.
As far as the cars, they’re just about as safe as they can be. I hope they don’t change a thing at Talladega unless it’s the yellow line rule on the last lap. Let ‘em race!

By: chuck

chuck — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:32:15 +0000

I hear ya Mike. And while the late, great David Poole believes that Talladega is a bad track, it is what it is and the drivers need to respond by driving more carefully. Allison went into the fence when his engine blew up on him. Edwards did it to himself. As far as pack racing, that is something we’d all like changed but restrictor plates make it so.

By: Mike Sr.

Mike Sr. — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:36:38 +0000

Say what you will but I totally believe that it was Edwards intention to force the other car below the double yellow line and force him out of the win. The young man simply held his ground because he knew the rules and the results caused Edwards to spin himself out. Not every young driver can be bullied. Race fair, race clean.

As for the car hitting the fence, you clearly see the car coming back down to the track when it was struck by the 39. You also see that Edwards had his front brakes locked and the gas floored as the rear wheels were spinning like crazy. If the forces within the spinning engine and spinning rear tire were completely stopped, the car may not have fliped as it did. You can what if all day long about it.

One comment Edwards made about the cars were that someone would have to die in the box NASCAR has them in before it was changed and I think that was totally uncalled for. Those cars are safer than ever, look at Newmans car where he struck Edwards. The sheet metal was pulled away but the drivers safety cage didn’t look like it moved at all.

Through the day there were at least 3 Dale Sr. type crashes there, the 33, the 71, and Robbie Gordon. All walked away. Safe cars at a safe track where some great racing took place. I’m not proof reading or spell checking so take it as it is and for what it’s worth.

Mike Sr.