NASCAR qualifying rules confound me

Being a Ryan Newman fan has taught me so much about the inner workings of NASCAR. More than not, Newman is affected by a rule here, a policy there, or an arbitrary action by the sanctioning body. More often than not, it is detrimental to him.

The latest question I have, is in regards to qualifying at Richmond. In particular, since qualifying was rained out, how did it happen that Kyle Larson earned the top starting spot for Saturday night's race. Per NASCAR's rule book, "Section 9-5 of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book (in 2013, if qualifying was cancelled, the rule was to set the field by the practice speeds in the first practice)," according to Jayski's Silly Season Site. 

I wonder why that is. Wouldn't it make more sense to set the field according to the fastest speed in the final practice--the one closest to when qualifying would have taken place? That is where Ryan Newman comes in, since he drove the fastest lap in that session. When I heard that he was fastest in Happy Hour, I wrongly assumed he would be on the pole for the race. I was stunned to see he started, what 18th!

Wouldn't it make more sense for the starting position to more closely approximate actual qualifying? After all, a fast car right off the truck is a great luxury, but should that rare happenstance be rewarded over the work done by crews and drivers to perfect their times? Shouldn't the time closest to when qualifying actually take place be the time to be rewarded in case of a rainout?

Using the practice speeds in the first practice makes no sense to me. It would even make more sense to use a cumulative speed, awarding the pole to the fastest average speed. 

NASCAR has completely revamped its qualifying format, which gives teams a chance to better themselves during the course of the qualifying session. NASCAR seems to reward consistency, except in this case. Their own rule to set the running order by the first practice is simply not consistent with teams bettering themselves. I think a change is in order. What do you think?

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Ryan Newman finally interviewed by Fox Sunday during rain delay

Ryan Newman (Photo credit: purduenila)

The best part of the Texas weekend for me was the rain delay video of Ryan Newman on Fox Sports I, a rare occasion, prompted I'm sure, by the need to kill some time while the rain fell.

Rarely is Ryan interviewed. It is not uncommon for Newman to be completely ignored by race 'reporters' even when drivers before him and after him get TV time. I've seen so many instances over the years when it would be appropriate to interview Newman, but instead, he is ignored.

I can only speculate as to why that is. 

I think I get why Michael Waltrip doesn't interview Ryan. In my mind, it is a case of Ryan talking over Michael's head. I don't know if Michael is really as dumb as he lets on or if that is just an act, but clearly, Ryan is intellectually superior.

Also, the two plainly don't like one another. There have been past on-track incidents where Michael's driving abilities have cost Newman a good finish or completely ruined his day. Also, their dislike for one another is just obvious. For example, just recently when Waltrip was walking through the pit road crowd pretending to be a reporter, he happened to come up to Ryan. From a slight distance, Michael made some remark about having to go, in an effort to acknowledge but not confront Newman but rather to explain his quick exit. Newman simply smiled and told him something to the effect of, the bathrooms are that way, Michael. 

Now I'm sure Waltrip doesn't know how to take that kind of humor.

I admit that I have never met Ryan Newman; I've never even seen him in person. But, I've watched him and read about him enough to know that he isn't mean-spirited; he's just quick-witted and painfully honest. His dry sense of humor reminds me of my father who used to make me laugh over the silliest things. 

Newman is also generally much smarter than the guys asking him questions. They don't interact with him well because without meaning to, he talks over their heads. Now that I think about it, perhaps much of the viewing audience who doesn't follow Newman as closely as his fans do, probably don't get him either.

There didn't seem to be hard feelings between the two, even after what transpired after the last race of the 2013 season. Newman was on his way to winning at Richmond to cinch a spot in the Chase for the Championship when Clint Bowyer spun out in what has been alleged to be, team orders, putting Bowyer's teammate Martin Truex, Jr. into the chase instead. Bowyer and Truex drove for Michael Waltrip Racing. The incident changed the face of the Chase, NASCAR put Newman in, took Truex out, and huge fines were levied against Waltrip's entire race team. 

This interview was also epic because John Roberts, Michael and Darrell Waltrip seemed to hang on Newman's every word. He provided good information about racing conditions, the car, its behavior, and the track. It interested them. He was sharing information with them in a way that they could relate to. It was a very good interview. 

Interestingly, Newman has had a reputation, dating way back to his Penske Racing days, of not sharing information with his team mate, Rusty Wallace. Yet, Ryan shared information without reservation in this interview. He responded honestly to all the questions, without hesitation. Perhaps this will lay to rest in the minds of some of the old school NASCAR drivers-turned-analyst who have long held the wrong-headed notion that all the problems back then were of Newman's doing. 

I've always found Newman's interviews to be informative and light-hearted. Even when a microphone is stuck into his face after an emotional incident, he is thoughtful as he speaks the unvarnished truth.

I'll never forget when NASCAR fined Newman for his critical remarks about the unsafe racing at Talladega, just after his car came to rest on its hood following several barrel rolls. The momentum was broken when he landed on the front end of Kevin Harvick's racecar. Had Harvick not been there, who knows what the impact would have been, since the roll cage that was designed to protect the driver was compromised. Newman merely stated that NASCAR had to keep the cars from going airborne. Newman paid a huge fine for what NASCAR deemed dissing the brand. I lost all respect for them at that point. That was the scariest crash I'd ever seen, holding my breath until we heard Ryan was OK.

Interestingly, I attempted to post a link to this interview. But I can't seem to find it, on Fox Sports I or Fox Sports, or NASCAR.com. The only place I've found it is on Ryan Newman's facebook page, and my own of course, since I was happy to share it.

Post by Ryan Newman.

Post by Ryan Newman.

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Hello Newman!

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!!! I just love it when Ryan does so well on the race track that the media just can't help but to pay attention. Check out this great interview!



NASCAR Race Hub: Ryan Newman's New Ride at RCR on MSN Video

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?