Rain dampened Daytona 500

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. wins at Daytona (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have to give NASCAR credit for hanging in there to run the race on the day it was meant to be, despite the long rain delay. Of course it was a disappointment that the skies refused to clear for so many hours. The race was a tad disappointing for many reasons, though the rain was likely the least of them.

NASCAR just can't help but interfere in racing

I started my Sunday with a bitter taste in my mouth, left over from the Nationwide race. It was a pretty good race until NASCAR's interference.

I refer to the tandem drafting penalty leveled against James Buescher that all but destroyed his momentum as he slowly made his way down pit road. With all the pre-season noise NASCAR made about fairness in assessing penalties and procedures they would follow, that all but went out the window in this judgmental call. they apparently can't help but stick their two-cents worth in the middle of things, refusing to allow racing to follow a natural progression, whereby drivers will do whatever they can to advance. What is wrong with tandem racing anyway? So much has been done to equal the playing field, despite the forgotten goal that THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A RACE! I think NASCAR set a bad precedent by singling out Buescher in a field where he was far from the only driver whose bump draft resulted in a push.

Commentators explained NASCAR's "rule" by saying there had to be light between the two cars. Yet in the next breath they talked about how expertly Kyle Busch was bump drafting because he let up at the last second. Oh please. He was pushing too. Lots of them were pushing. NASCAR has once again, inserted themselves into the actual race, where they don't belong.

Congratulations to Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

I'd be much happier about his win if I didn't have to hear about it for two years before it happened.

While I enjoyed watching the genuine joy Dale exhibited at the conclusion of the Daytona 500, I only wish that everyone around him would stop droning on and on about him. It would be nice if his winning this race would end the gushing over him, but I fear it will only be heightened. And that is a shame. Not only do I understand that Dale Jr. has inherited the exposure he receives, but even HE seems to be sick to death of it. I'm not sure that NASCAR needs a poster child--especially one that isn't comfortable in that position.

This race just didn't measure up for me personally

It will be difficult for any race to measure up to what I consider the ideal. I've mentioned this before. To me, there was no better moment than the end to the 2008 Daytona 500 when Ryan Newman crossed the finish line in his #12 Alltel Dodge, giving Roger Penske his first Daytona 500 win. That was a benchmark that will forever be tough to eclipse.

Last night's race was a far cry from that moment, as Newman got wrecked by his own teammate. It was far from the finish I wanted to see.

This was the Daytona 500 though. And, it is always a crap shoot. At least Ryan finished the race. And, his car was fast.

The finish was epic for Earnhardt, and therefore for his fans, of which there are a gazillion, which deems the race a success. As far as Ryan is concerned, I remain hopeful. I like some of the things I've seen. Even though my high anticipation took a slight hit, there was plenty to be proud of in watching Ryan interact with his new team. I do expect good things. There is speed; there is good communication. I like how Richard Childress is a hands-on owner, attending every race and talking to the team on the radio. I liked the interaction between Newman and his team. I have high hopes.

So, all-in-all, I am pleased that the 2014 season has begun. It seems like a very long off-season, as it usually does. But that is behind us. Looking forward, I expect to watch some really good racing in the coming days.

Dale Earnhardt's death was before my time

Seven time NASCAR Champion, Dale Earnhard: Wikipedia)

I never saw Dale Earnhardt drive a race car. He died in 2001, before NASCAR was a part of my consciousness. I'm a relative newbie; I didn't watch my first race until three years later.

Yesterday was the 13th anniversary of Earnhardt's death. I'm glad I wasn't a racing fan then. I don't know how that event would have changed me. I only know that if it happened today, it would certainly have a profound and lasting effect.

Since I have become a NASCAR aficionado, I have watched every race, seen all the up-close-and-personal interviews with drivers and have gotten to the point where I feel as if I know the people involved with this sport. There is a familiarity with NASCAR that no other sports enjoys. It feels as though we are close, personal friends, albeit a one-sided friendship, with these people who in reality don't even know us. If we died tomorrow, they wouldn't even be aware of it, let alone care. However, we feel such a kinship with them, that I can simply not imagine what it would be like to lose one of them. Yet that is what so many people suffered through thirteen years ago when they lost Dale Earnhardt.

I'm glad I didn't have to feel the very real pain that his loss brought to so many.

Almost every NASCAR fan had an opinion about Dale Earnhardt. I've read many of them. People either loved him or hated him. But it was all those opinions that gave way to his immense popularity. To end it all that fateful day on the last lap of the sports' brightest day, simply amplified the loss. 

While I understand the heartfelt raw emotion that was unleashed that day, I can't help but wonder if the wound will ever heal. Should Earnhardt's death be laid to rest or is it being exploited. 

What are your thoughts?

Fox Sports 1 shows no respect to Ryan Newman fans

Thanks a whole lot Fox Sports 1. Still excited over the coming season, an eighth place finish in the Sprint Unlimited, and now this...

I waited two hours to watch Ryan Newman's qualifying run. The commercial was over just in time to see Ryan Newman, drive off the track after he qualified second. Thanks for nothing!

Honesty is what Ryan Newman is all about

It is always good to hear Ryan Newman's perspective. I relish it. I know I will hear honesty because this is a man of integrity.

There are big changes coming to NASCAR, apparently geared more to the entertainment side of racing than racing itself.

In this interview with WSOCTV Ryan Newman talks about some of those changes in NASCAR's 2014 Sprint Cup series. From my perspective it sounds like he is conciliatory about the the new qualifying format and the new winner take all Chase for the Championship, but is far from enamored with them.

Let's face it, Ryan Newman has a history of setting track records with his qualifying prowess. He has a stellar history of earning the pole position, but I'd be willing to bet NASCAR never considered asking his opinion on the subject before they changed the qualifying format.

In this interview, I heard disappointment as he talked about the new format, but I also heard resolve. Newman is not so set in his ways that he would forgo his own success just because he works at a sport where the rules change like the wind. Fortunately, he is adaptable and takes on new challenges with a fervor.

One of the best things about Newman, in my view, is the way he answers questions of reporters. He is always candid; he is always honest. He pulls no punches as he tells it like it is. That is so refreshing in a sport that caters to the "tell 'em what they want to hear' crowd. It may also be why Newman isn't interviewed all that often. That's OK. His words may be limited, but they are generally powerful.

Newman's opinions are not without controversy; he has paid for speaking his peace, so I am glad to hear him answer questions honestly, no matter what.

Newman is a great ambassador for racing. He obviously loves what he does and he's good at it. I can't wait to watch how this season progresses. It will be exciting to watch him conquer all the new challenges set before him--with a new car, new Crew Chief, new owner, and new rules.

It won't be long now, as the Daytona 500 will kick off in 24 more days.

Related articles

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• 2014 Begins a New Chapter at Richard Childress Racing
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• Report: NASCAR considering radical Chase changes

New qualifying - jury's still out for me for now

(Photo credit: rogerblake2)

Before making any pre-judgement, I want to see how the new qualifying format changes set for this year actually play out on the track.

I used to enjoy watching single-car qualifying on Friday night. I think it will be much more exciting to watch actual racing determine the qualifying order for races.

That said, I can see plenty of room for interpretation in this new format. For example, what if there is a wreck? NASCAR says  the wrecked car is done because only pit road repairs will be permitted--pretty black and white--I like that. But what about scoring loops, throwing a caution, stopping the field, re-starting the field, all the other issues that go on week after week during a race. Controversy almost always surrounds decisions made by NASCAR as to when and how to interpret the rules. I'm not sure how this will be any different.

When a race is stopped, what the order of the cars are, when times are calculated--it is all open to interpretation. The grey area seems to be when NASCAR has problems.

Some say this change is just another gimmick to entice fans.

That's OK, but I want to know how it will help the racing. That is the most important part. After all, this is supposed to be a race, not an entertainment venue. Extra efforts to turn racing into strictly entertainment is wrong-headed. Racing is entertaining. It doesn't need any more than that to entice racing fans. Ironically, many of the gimmicks have chased real racing fans away from the sport.

If this new format means that Jimmie Johnson will start every race on the front row, I'm going to hate it.

That isn't because Johnson isn't a good driver, but mostly it is because Chad Knaus is a really good Crew Chief who isn't afraid to push any envelope to put speed into the car. That is a given. But to me, winning races shouldn't be only about just speed. It has to be about the overall effort of the entire team with an emphasis on the driver's skill at wheeling the race car around the track better than anyone else. There needs to be less emphasis on the engineering skills to turn out the fastest race car.

Again,  I plan to stay on the fence for now. I lean toward liking this new idea, but I won't hesitate to wave a red flag the minute NASCAR favors one driver over another in that grey area.