Seven ways to make NASCAR better for 2008 season

Seven ways to make NASCAR better for 2008 season

Tim Bowles/SI.com: Around the world, the Countdown to Christmas has been replaced by the Countdown in Times Square. As 2008 draws ever closer, the New Year beckons a fresh start. With change on the horizon, it’s a time to erase the past and concentrate on a better future. Over in NASCAR country, they’re ready to seize that opportunity. After several off-track issues caused mounting criticism in 2007, optimism reigns supreme for a rebound next season. But while the powers at be are hard at work to make things better, we’ve been creating a checklist of our own. Here are seven New Year’s resolutions NASCAR could use as focus shifts to 2008: 1. Find someone to challenge Hendrick Motorsports. Winning eighteen of 36 races in 2007, it was clear Hendrick was in a class above everyone else last year; and that’s before they picked up NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for 2008. But while car owner Rick Hendrick and core drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Casey Mears are lauded for doing everything right, competing amongst themselves hasn’t induced the ratings-juiced rivalry the sport sorely needs. Apparently, the New York Yankees of NASCAR can only be dominant for so long before people get bored. And after a second straight season of ratings decline combined with two straight Hendrick titles, it appears stock car fans could be heading in that direction. So, who’s in the best position to challenge? It seems Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing are the most likely candidates. Hopefully, they’re doing the offseason work needed to take things to the next level. 2. Ensure Toyota puts all its faith in Joe Gibbs — without ignoring everyone else. Speaking of Gibbs, they’re a diamond in the rough Toyota likely needed for their program in 2008. A three-car team that’s won two Cup championships with Tony Stewart, their driving and engineering talent alone should revitalize a manufacturer that didn’t even have a single team qualify for all 36 races last year. It was like the Camry was barely a blip on the radar screen in 2007. Should things change for the better, competition will heat up among all four manufacturers — good for everyone involved. The problem is, with Joe Gibbs so head and shoulders above everything else Toyota has, how much of their knowledge will they allow to filter down to other teams? Michael Waltrip Racing, Bill Davis Racing, and Team Red Bull can’t endure a second season of despair; otherwise, they won’t have sponsorship to come back for a third. So, let’s hope Toyota doesn’t go too gaga over their new superstars, abandoning their initial team-sharing approach that would elevate all their cars to a more competitive level. 3. Make the Car of Tomorrow better. On the verge of making its full-time debut in the series, the CoT’s performance is still spotty at best. Drivers complain about its handling, teams complain about its lack of adjustability, and fans complain about the way it looks. Is it safer? Absolutely. But NASCAR’s going to need more than a safe car to keep people in the stands. An offseason’s worth of engineering and testing will help, but it’s increasingly likely tweaks will be necessary in order to get these cars as racy as they need to be. Let’s hope the powers that be prove willing to take those steps. 4. Take Away The Top 35 Qualifying Exemption. Sorry, this column was about resolutions, not fantasy. The Top 35 rule is likely here to stay for good — but with its increasing unpopularity, you’d like to think NASCAR would at least take a look at some revisions for qualifying. At Talladega last Fall, the ninth-fastest car got sent home simply because it didn’t have an exemption, and there were several other races where legitimate qualifying speeds were thrown to the curb in favor of a slower, full-time car that had a “provisional” to use. Rewarding teams for long-term performance is one thing — but isn’t that what the season-long points championship is for? Speed is about going fast, and one day, hopefully NASCAR will resolve to make a qualifying system where simply the fastest 43 cars make the field. More at SI.com Bookmark to:

Date: December / 30 / 2007
Link:

Car News Overview for December / 30 / 2007

Other News:
Are NASCAR fans starting to think the fix is in? (December / 30 / 2007)
Elliott Sadler and Yeley enter Horsepower Series (December / 31 / 2007)
Stewart wins Rumble in Fort Wayne (December / 31 / 2007)

Already got those 2 quotes? Get more auto insurance quotes!