Race Weekend Central

Mirror Driving: NASCAR Engine Aggravation Among Richmond Realizations

*After the No. 20 engine failed postrace teardown, NASCAR slapped the team, which won the race in Kansas, with a 50-point penalty along with a six-week suspension and fine for crew chief Jason Ratcliffe. Did NASCAR make the right call?*

Phil: Knowing what we know now, I think it seems incredibly draconian. However, they’ve definitely sent a message. Don’t cross us.
Amy: Given that it was an engine and NASCAR has _never_ taken engine infractions lightly, I think it’s close to being right. I think they should have taken only points earned in that race, though.

Mirror Driving: NASCAR Stuck In A Box… Have We Reached Maximum Speed?

*NASCAR has announced the penalties for three teams following last week’s pre- and post-race failures. Martin Truex Jr. was fined six points and crew chief Chad Johnston was $25,000 and placed on probation until June 5th. Meanwhile, Penske Racing teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski were each docked 25 points and both of their crew chiefs were suspended for the next six races, though they will be in Kansas as Penske Racing is appealing. Are these penalties fair? Why or why not?*

Amy: The Truex penalty was fair, provided they couldn’t prove something broke. If the rear ends on the 2 and 22 were illegal, the penalty is fine. But NASCAR has not said what was illegal, or how it was discovered, so we’ll never really know.
Summer: I guess all the penalties were “fair”, though I think it’s ridiculous how sensitive NASCAR is with these cars. Let me put it this way. I thought the points penalty and fine were OK, but the fact that they suspended as many people as they did with Penske seemed excessive.

Mirror Driving: Six After Six? Female Favorites And Historic Moments

Welcome to “Mirror Driving.” Every Wednesday, your favorite columnists sit down and give their opinion about the latest NASCAR news, rumors, and controversy. Love us or hate us, make a comment below and tell us how you feel about what we’ve said!

*Jimmie Johnson’s win at Martinsville made him the first repeat winner of 2013. Though we’re only six races in, are we possibly looking at a sixth championship from the No. 48 team?*

Mirror Driving: Unpredictability And Unusual Circumstances

k horse that we may be overlooking?*

Amy: I think of the top 10, I like Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s chances. He’s always been strong at Martinsville, and he’s on a roll.
Summer: I think I’m going to go with Keselowski. He’s not known as much of a “short track” guy, but after winning the championship, there’s not much he still can’t do.
Phil: I’m going with Keselowski for the driver most likely in the front bunch. Don’t count out Earnhardt Jr., though.

Mirror Driving: NASCAR Surprises And Disappointments In 2013

*NASCAR has announced they will not penalize any of the drivers involved in both Fontana’s last-lap mayhem and post-race fracas. Did they make the right call?*

Phil: I’m surprised that no one got probation. That is what I thought would happen. It does show some consistency, for once.
Amy: With Hamlin and Logano, you can’t penalize hard racing or you undermine the heart and soul of the sport.

Mirror Driving: 2013 NASCAR Crossroads On Attendance, Talent, Rivalries

*We’ve already seen former teammates Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano butt heads at least twice in only four races this season. Going forward, should we expect this phenomenon to rear its head again at tracks like Martinsville — or is this rivalry just a bunch of hot air?*

Phil: I wouldn’t be surprised if they “had at it” again at some point this year. The Twitter Duel looks ridiculous, though. That probably didn’t need to be public.
Summer: That whole thing was ridiculous. It was fun to watch, but it was ridiculous.

Mirror Driving: The Gambles Drivers Take… On And Off The Track

Welcome to \"Mirror Driving.\" Every Wednesday, your favorite columnists sit down and give their opinion about the latest NASCAR news, rumors, and controversy. Love us or hate us, make a comment below and tell us how you feel about what we've said! *This Week's Participants*: <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy Henderson</span> \"(Mondays / The Big Six & Fridays / Holding A Pretty Wheel & Frontstretch Co-Managing Editor)\":http://www.frontstretch.com/staffinfo/351/ <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff Wolfe</span> (Frontstretch Fantasy Insider) <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil Allaway</span> \"(Tuesdays / Talking NASCAR TV & Frontstretch Newsletter Editor)\":http://www.frontstretch.com/staffinfo/18439/ <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike Neff</span> \"(Mondays / Thinkin' Out Loud & Tuesdays / Tech Talk & Frontstretch Short track Coordinator)\":http://www.frontstretch.com/staffinfo/1744/ <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer Bedgood</span> \"(Frontstretch NASCAR Senior Writer)\":http://www.frontstretch.com/staffinfo/32577/ *Matt Kenseth’s win in Las Vegas was an emotional one, considering that it was only his third start with the organization plus the fact that it was his … er … “29th†birthday. Is this victory going to be a testament to the rest of his season or is it too soon to tell?* <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> I think it will be a testament to the rest of his _career._ This pairing will be a great matchup, and he'll make the organization as a whole that much better. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> Well, I had always figured that Kenseth was going to win at some point this season. Didn't think it was going to happen before St. Patrick's Day, though. Kenseth and his team out-foxed everyone on Sunday. He was up in the order most of the day, but very quiet. <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> Considering the majority of the schedule is on intermediate tracks, I think it is saying a lot about the ability the No. 20 team will have to win races all year. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span> I believe Kenseth thinks he has something to prove. After being with Roush his whole career, when you go to someplace new, you want to show them that you were a good choice. Kenseth is not Mr. Emotional, so him being that into it afterward really showed what it meant. <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> Kenseth may also have felt a little guilty about putting the team behind the eight ball by blowing an engine in testing and wrecking in practice at Daytona. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> 41 isn't old in Sprint Cup, by the way. People have won titles at an older age than that. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span> Only six drivers have won titles in seasons they have turned 40 or more. Just so you know. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> I agree with you, Jeff. It's not like we see that all the time from him. I felt like Kenseth thought he was taking a risk by jumping ship; he’s relieved and excited that it paid off. I can't help but think of this in terms of the whole organization, though, that Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin will have similar success on similar tracks. Something tells me Joe Gibbs Racing will be the team to beat this year. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> I think Kenseth will win a bunch of races, but a title is a stretch. Not so much because of his age but because the Chase doesn't suit his style. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> I don't think he'll win the title, either, but I think he'll finish somewhere in the top seven in the standings by the end of the year. <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> He could very easily win the title. Kenseth is usually there once the money is on the line. No need to “be there before.†Although the way Johnson and Keselowski are running right now, I think everyone else is running for third. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span> If the Toyotas can get their durability issues straightened out, and they might have already done that, Gibbs could be a force. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> Kind of hard to claim that someone's the dude to beat three weeks into the year. Unless they won all three… <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> Yeah, I'm trying not to read too much into the whole Keselowski/Johnson run. How often do we see the people strong at the beginning of the season still there at the end? <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> Quite a few times over the last seven years, Summer; outside of Stewart's run in 2011. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span> Right now, Johnson and Keselowski have to be the favorites. They've been the most consistent. <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> Not only consistent, but up front consistent. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span> Keselowski's mad that he's not winning. That's a good sign for that team. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> Well I expect Kenseth to win multiple races this year, make the Chase, and at least be a contender. I'm not sure I'd go as far as champion, but JGR will be a good move for him. <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> Kenseth is a stud driver. There is no question about that. And being in equipment as good as Gibbs, he could go on a heck of a run. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> The No. 20 will be a lot better than 19th in owner points, that's for sure. Kenseth will probably finish somewhere between fourth and eighth. And… he’ll win a couple more races. Where those wins come from are anyone's guess, though. *How long will it take, if ever for NASCAR drivers to stop thinking twice about what they say in the wake of the Denny Hamlin fine? Is there any chance, based on fan reaction you think the appeal will cause the fine to be overturned?* <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> That fine isn't getting overturned. And I don't think drivers will ever know when it's safe to speak because NASCAR has been anything but consistent on this point. There have been much more disparaging comments made by drivers and they were hit with… nothing. <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> It is going to take an apology by the suits in Daytona, which will never happen. So they'll be thinking twice, for the most part, for now. There will be the occasional blowup where a driver goes off, but NASCAR has set the bar pretty low for what they'll tolerate. Which is terrible. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> It was pathetic watching the drivers fall all over themselves complimenting the car last week. <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> The fine should be overturned because Hamlin didn't say anything disparaging about NASCAR. But I'm with Summer. I doubt it will be. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> NASCAR said constructive criticism was OK, and that's what Denny gave. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> Sure, Denny gave constructive criticism. However, NASCAR's move says that they don't tolerate that either… at least not publicly. Maybe if he said it privately, to Mike Helton, we wouldn't be talking about this right now. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span> I'd be shocked if the fine gets changed, too. It's one of the worst fines I can ever remember for NASCAR. They are so image conscious, because of lack of fans in the seats they can't roll with it. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> I wouldn't be surprised if the appeal results in an increased fine. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> I don't know, Phil. If he loses the appeal, I hope he'll take it to Middlebrook. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> Unfortunately, we'll probably see more of the same old problems. The race could have five green-flag passes and the drivers would still be like, \"The car drives _great!\"_ <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> Yeah, the drivers are in a tough spot here. Apparently, \"Boys, Have At It\" is dead now. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span> Drivers, especially the younger ones, are going to be a little more careful with what they say. Maybe Stewart or Gordon could get away with complaining more than the real young guys. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> Which is weird, since Stewart has more negative things to say about NASCAR than Hamlin ever has. He was talking about \"entertainment cautions\" during the race yesterday. How is that not detrimental, but Hamlin's comment was? <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> What did he criticize, anyways? All Hamlin said was it was a work in progress and that it drove similar to the previous car. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> Right, Mike. He didn't even say the car sucked or didn't drive well. He just said it drove like the last one. I don't think anyone actually took that as criticism, constructive or not. In fact, no one even noticed it until they fined him. <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> NASCAR didn't fine Kyle Busch when he got out of the old car in Victory Lane and called the car a piece of crap. How can they fine Hamlin for this one? <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> NASCAR was in a different place in March 2007. They didn't feel the need to go after Kyle Busch that day. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> Going forward, if fans wonder why guys like Jimmie Johnson are so careful with what they say, this tells us why. Of course you're going to be labeled vanilla if you can't say anything for fear of someone not liking it. NASCAR should be begging drivers for feedback. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> They really should. The drivers _need_ to be offering feedback. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> Or do they only want feedback from certain people? They don't think Denny's is valuable for some reason? I don't know. The whole thing was just weird. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span> The fine was a huge PR mistake by NASCAR. If they don't fine, this issue would have already gone away. They created their own PR mess. I don't know… maybe they are thinking bad press is better than no press. But I don't believe they think that far ahead in such matters. <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> No doubt. Instead, they are killing the sport when it needs to have some spice more than ever. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span> It's a new car. I don't think anyone expected it to be perfect. The thing is, Phil, people had a much bigger reaction to that. Like I said, no one even noticed Hamlin's comment until they said something. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span> Those of who watch it know the crew chiefs and engineers and drivers will adjust and make it better. <span style=\"color:gray; font-weight:bold\">Mike N.:</span> I just think they have focused the spotlight even more on the car now than it already was because of the fine. If they had just acknowledged it is a work in progress and moved on, everyone would be better for it. …

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Mirror Driving: What Will Label Sin City A Gen-6 Success Story

Welcome to \"Mirror Driving.\" Every Wednesday, your favorite columnists sit down and give their opinion about the latest NASCAR news, rumors, and controversy. Love us or hate us, make a comment below and tell us how you feel about what we've said! *This Week's Participants*: <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy Henderson</span> \"(Mondays / The Big Six & Fridays / Holding A Pretty Wheel & Frontstretch Co-Managing Editor)\":http://www.frontstretch.com/staffinfo/351/ <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff Wolfe</span> (Frontstretch Fantasy Insider) <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil Allaway</span> \"(Tuesdays / Talking NASCAR TV & Frontstretch Newsletter Editor)\":http://www.frontstretch.com/staffinfo/18439/ <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer Bedgood</span> \"(Frontstretch NASCAR Senior Writer)\":http://www.frontstretch.com/staffinfo/32577/ *The Gen-6 car has received mixed reviews so far in 2013, but we’re only two races into the season. The “real test†is going to be this weekend in Las Vegas, one of the many intermediate racetracks that are currently on the Sprint Cup Series schedule. What would a successful race be for you and do you think expectations are too high?* <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span>: I would like to at least six or eight passes for the lead. But really, when it comes down to the end, it would be nice to say any one of four or five drivers could win. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> Like I said a couple of weeks ago, teams are still learning this car, as is NASCAR. Any time before the second race at tracks is too soon to know what it's really capable of. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: I do think expectations are too high because of all the hype. Still, though, a successful race would be a variety of passing throughout. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span>: Yes, even a lot of passing in the top 10 would be good, too. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> Agreed. A successful race at Las Vegas would be one where drivers don’t just pass… they can race each other _hard_ for position. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: I don't think that will happen simply because it's a long race and drivers won't race too hard regardless. But I'd like to get through one weekend without hearing the drivers say, \"You just can't pass in traffic.\" Phoenix wasn't a terrible race, but drivers were _still_ saying that. I understand that some of that is the tires and track configuration, but the car plays a role too. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> At this point, I'm confident that almost any type of car at Phoenix would create a similar race to what we saw on Sunday. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span>: I thought Phoenix was a decent race. There was a respectable amount of passing late in the event. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> I think expectations are too high from fans. And one thing hasn’t changed…there are passes for position, under green, all race long…but you never see most of them because the cameras are only showing a few select cars. When FOX used the stationary cams during the Crank It Up segments at Phoenix, you could see several cars racing side-by-side. The rest of the time, not so much. I was listening to team audio, so I know there was passing going on. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: Like I said, it wasn't a terrible race, but I still heard drivers talking about how the car reacted in traffic. It sounded the same as the old car. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> It will be interesting to see what the cars do at Vegas. Based on what I saw during the tests at Charlotte over the winter, there was passing when they raced in small groups. However, they never raced in groups bigger than about four or five. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: Yeah, but we don't see \"big packs\" at intermediates anyway. Four or five _is_ a big pack at those tracks. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> Let's be honest. There were crew chiefs that talked to us and stated that they didn't really believe the Gen-6 car would race all that differently from the CoT. Seems like they might have been right. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> Here's the other problem. Yes, the cars look like the street version. But manufacturers have worked so hard to make new cars more aerodynamic for better fuel mileage that if the race cars look like them, they're going to be aero dependent. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: Which basically means that we have to pick our poison. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> Right. Do you want a car that looks as close to stock as possible, or one that is race-specific but looks even less like the street version than the CoT? <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> Basically, that means either have aero dependent cars or don't exist, considering the manufacturers would pull out. Not that tough a decision, to be honest. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: I'm sure this race, like some others coming up will be a learning process. And I don't want to judge too heavily until we're at least halfway through the season. But it's hard to keep everyone happy in terms of seeing stock cars or good racing. I'm not convinced that’s at all possible. I know, I know… everyone saying, \"But racing used to be _soooo_ good back in the day.\" That's right. There's nothing I long for more than seeing cars win by laps over other drivers. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span>: I think they will get better as time goes on. That's always been the case, no matter what kind of cars they have. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> Even if they raced stock cars off the showroom floor, they'd be aero dependent. What NASCAR needs to do is slow them down significantly… that's what would get rid of the aero dependency to some degree. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: It would also make things less dangerous. I would be totally fine with decreasing the horsepower on these cars. In a sense, wouldn't that also help some of the smaller teams? <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> How do they do that? New, smaller engines? <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> EFI. They could control speed through fuel mixture. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: Or just put restrictor plates on any car at any track over a mile. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span>: You know, I think new fans see two minutes of highlights, then expect whole races to be like that. That’ll never happen. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: I'm trying to manage by expectations for this weekend. Honestly, though, I just want to see a good race regardless of the car. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> I think we'll see an interesting race, maybe a little faster than normal. *Jimmie Johnson made a fuss about Carl Edwards’ late race restart that eventually helped Edwards win the race. Did he have a case to make and, if so, did NASCAR need to react?* <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span>: No and No. The leader always gets the jump on the restart, that's part of his reward. It's been that way for years at all different levels and types of racing. Jimmie would've and has done the same thing. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> Personally, I don't think Jimmie's got a point here. Carl led them down slow. Keselowski might have jumped the start, if anything. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: Jimmie's a whiner. Carl Edwards didn't do anything wrong. I agree with Jeff. He was the leader, he gets the advantage. I think Johnson got bamboozled and he didn't like it. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span>: Exactly. The leader always sets the pace on restarts. I've seen a lot worse than what Carl did. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> Edwards didn't do anything wrong. He had a huge shove from Keselowski from behind. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: And as far as if NASCAR should have done anything, absolutely not. The more NASCAR can let these guys just freaking race, the better. It wasn't obvious enough for them to react. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> I have no problem with what happened here. In fact, it wasn't even really noticeable to me. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span>: Me neither during the race. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> The green flag was out when Edwards went. If anyone jumped, it was Keselowski, but since he didn't pass anyone, it's all good. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: Edwards said he thought Johnson was trying to out-do _him,_ which - if you watch the restart - he was. <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> As he should have, Summer. As they _both_ should have. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: That's what they should do. It's nothing but completely irritating when a driver bitches about another driver trying to beat him. What the hell do you think you're there for??? <span style=\"color:dodgerblue; font-weight:bold\">Amy:</span> That's why it's called racing. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span>: Edwards is experienced enough to see that and not get taken advantage of. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: It might have worked on a rookie driver, yes, but you're right. It's not like Edwards is new at this. If Edwards had crowded Johnson out of his lane or something like that, he'd have a reason to be upset. Otherwise, Jimmie needs to shut up and race. <span style=\"color:blue; font-weight:bold\">Phil:</span> \"Quit your whining and have at it,\" is what I'd say to Johnson here. It was going to be tough for him anyway because he was on the outside. <span style=\"color:indigo; font-weight:bold\">Jeff:</span>: Edwards wasn't about to let a desperately needed win slip away. I think it was just a little politicking by Jimmie. Not really a big deal. The Hendrick drivers are perceived to get enough breaks as it is. <span style=\"color:magenta; font-weight:bold\">Summer:</span>: Mind games. That makes sense. At the same time, does it really intimidate drivers when he whines? …

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Mirror Driving: Picking Up The Plate Pieces, Drivers In Trouble And Gen-6, The Next Step

*Obviously, the Daytona 500 was the big race of the weekend, but most of our thoughts are still with the injured fans from Saturday’s Nationwide Series race after Kyle Larson’s car flew into the catchfence. What can NASCAR and Daytona learn from the incident and what can be done to make sure it never happens again?*

Mike N.: You can never be sure it will never happen again. It is cars travelling at high rates of speed. Accidents will happen. That said, I hope they’ve learned that they need to get rid of crossover gates at all racetracks.
Summer: Or at least find a way to make them safer. I usually advocate for a second look before a total elimination. I think it should be an evolving process, like the cars. But it will never be perfect.

Mirror Driving: Dueling Towards The 500 And Qualifying Quandaries

*Danica Patrick made history last Sunday, becoming the first female to win a pole in the Sprint Cup Series. What impact, if any, will it have on her season and NASCAR as a whole?*
Phil: Somewhere between bukpis and bupkis. While it is nice to win the pole at Daytona, it doesn’t really help her case for the rest of the season. There have been drivers who have had terrible years win the pole for the 500. Loy Allen, Jr. won the pole in 1994, then DNQ’d 12 times.
Kevin: That’s the exact stat I was actually going to point to, Phil! In terms of the season, it’s definitely a nice boost of confidence, but it’s still just one pole position at the beginning of the year. She’s still gotta perform in the actual race(s).
Jeff: I think it gives her a big boost of confidence that she can drive a fast car. How much impact she has will depend on her ability to stay consistent. I think she will have some good races, top 15s even, and some 30-something finishes.

Mirror Driving: Offseason Reflections, NASCAR Diversity And Unlimited Rule Changes

*Saturday night was the induction ceremony for this year’s NASCAR Hall of Fame class… but only two of the five being honored were alive to receive their award. With so much history to catch up on, this sport seems to be in a pickle to induct many of their living legends before they, too pass away. Is it important for inductees to still be living when they receive this honor and, if so, how do the powers that be solve this problem? *

Summer: I’ve heard several people say induct as many as ten per year, but that would take away from the prestige, I think.
Amy: It’s more important for the most deserving people to be inducted. I think ten would have been the way to go the first year, maybe even the second, but not anymore.