NASCAR officials want the sport to become more interesting by the day it seems, and rightfully so.
The sanctioning body continues to address concerns drivers have on and off the racetrack, and they are listening to the feedback. Racers want to please the fans, so making changes that can enhance competition is probably the ideal option, rather than ignoring it.
As the sport continues to evolve, it is important that fans recognize these changes as a step in the right direction. Not only does it keep up with the times, but some changes, like a possible addition of a choose cone rule, can attract fans who love short track action.
Speaking of changes, there won’t be many at JTG Daughterty Racing next year, with Chris Buescher returning to the No. 37 car for the foreseeable future. The move, which isn’t a shocker by any means because Jack Roush continues to say he doesn’t plan to field a third Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series entry in 2018, has major implications for the JTG team.
Have a question for NASCAR Mailbox? Tweet me at @JosephNASCAR or shoot me an email at Joseph.Wolkin@gmail.com!
Q: How important is Chris Buescher for JTG Daugherty Racing’s future? – Lesley C., Kannapolis, North Carolina.
A: Buescher staying at JTG rather than joining Roush Fenway Racing (or a satellite program) is a massive stability statement for this team.
When JTG went from one car to two over the off-season, it was considered a major step forward as one of the sport’s smaller teams expanded. Whenever an organization can add an entry to its fleet, it usually means it is not only making a profit, but sees potential in becoming a top-tier team.
Whether that happens with this crew remains to be seen. However, led by AJ Allmendinger and Buescher, this organization can say that for the first time, it has a chance to break into NASCAR’s elite given the steady flow of income from Kroger for both cars and the potential to own two charters if it decides to either buy the one that’s currently leased from RFR or purchase one from another team.
With one of NASCAR’s longest-tenured sponsors on-board, JTG could work its way into the NASCAR elite. What makes JTG different overall is its deal with Kroger, which is similar to Target’s partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing. Kroger serves as the lead sponsor, enabling consumer packaged goods (CPGs), like Clorox and Breyers, to slap their logos on a Cup car.
One team bucking the trend right now with retail and CPG sponsors is Tad Geschickter's @JTGRacing, which continues to grow with @kroger. pic.twitter.com/WR6tjotYSi
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) August 21, 2017
It’s a pretty sweet deal.
Buescher re-signing with the organization on a multi-year deal is absolutely massive, especially with Allmendinger signed through 2020. A steady driver line-up can go a long way, and this is no exception.
With Buescher continuing to run better, the No. 37 team can certainly become a contender over the next year or two.
Continuing an alliance with Richard Childress Racing will be crucial in Buescher’s growth with JTG. The team’s overall performance has declined in 2017, with Buescher and Allmendinger 25th and 26th in points, respectively. With Tristan Smith taking over as crew chief for the No. 47 team, it is clear going to two cars took a toll on this organization, even with RCR’s assistance.
But now that Buescher is in a secure place, the team can focus on growing. They don’t have to worry about who will drive their car and what the sponsors will be like most of the Cup field, giving JTG a head start to preparing for 2018 and beyond.
Q: Do you think the Choose Cone could be a thing next year? – Kenneth L.
A: It most certainly can be, and frankly, there is no reason why they can’t try it.
There are serious discussions about making this rule part of NASCAR’s top three divisions, according to NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Scott Miller. After seeing drivers purposefully slow down on pit road at Bristol Motor Speedway to restart in a specific lane, NASCAR understands it could be a strategy teams will continue to use, especially during the playoffs.
The cone rule would enable drivers to decide which line (top or bottom) they want to restart on after hitting pit road during a caution. It’s quite typical at short tracks across America, with one lane being optimal for passing, especially on restarts, when track position is at a premium.
While communication on-track between drivers is known to help prevent issues like we witnessed at Bristol, it is not perfect. Not only did the strategy fail at Bristol for drivers like Denny Hamlin, who admitted to slowing down on pit road to restart on the high line, but it proved to be dangerous as drivers had to hit the brakes to prevent hitting one-another.
The choose cone rule could be a game-changer. It will shake up strategy a considerable amount with stage racing, and it will also put things into the hands of drivers more frequently.
Think about it. Some tracks having great passing abilities on the low line, while others are clearly better with the high line. With restarts being the best time for drivers to make passes, they will certainly be willing to at least try restarting 10th on the high side at a track like Bristol rather than third on the low line.
However, this rule needs to be integrated in the lower tiers to make sure it will work and not slow down the pace of the events.