In my last post, I think it’s safe to say there are differences of opinion on the quality of racing Sunday at Auto Club Speedway. The debate got me thinking:
What makes a good race?For my part, I think a good race is a combination of elements.
First- it helps to have the stage set with good story lines. The best example that comes to mind was the Daytona 500 every year from the time Dale Earnhardt just missed out on a win in the "Great American Race" until he actually took the checkered flag in 1998 on his 20th try. I’m not sure that the action that day was the best ever, but it was the drama behind who won the race, combined with all the reaction to it.
Second- you have to have some drama building up on the track during the race. You don’t necessarily have a high number of lead changes, but the timing of when they occur, how they occur, and who is involved in them makes all the difference. In my mind, nothing before or since will ever beat the rivalry between Richard Petty and David Pearson. Those two scrapped like two starving dogs over a pork chop. Pearson had the reputation for being the most powerful, Pearson for being the most crafty.
Whether we’ll admit it or not, wrecks factor into this. Who will ever forget Clint Bowyer finishing the 2007 Daytona 500 on his roof? Or better yet, how about Pearson and Petty trying to hobble their cars to the end of the 1976 Daytona 500?
Speaking of great races from the 70’s, it reminds me some good fights fueled by crashes. The most famous of all, of course, is the last lap of the 1979 Daytona 500 when Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison (click here for video courtsey of AJ1964). You talk about made to order drama, it was the first race ever telecast from flag-to-flag on a generally miserable winter day on the east coast.
Then, of course, you need a great finish. I’ll never forget, for sad reasons, the end of the 2001 Daytona 500. The 2007 Daytona 500 stands out as Kevin Harvick grabs the checkered flag over Mark Martin, and then there was the Pepsi 400 that year, featuring a photo finish between Jamie Mc Murray and Kyle Busch- Mc Murray getting the win.
My favorite of all time is one I’ve looked high and low for, but cannot find. That’s the 1974 Firecracker 400. David Pearson appears to slow up, lets Richard Petty pass, and then Pearson slingshots past Petty for the win. Oh, was Petty mad!
NASCAR has it’s share of great finishes from Dale Earnhardt "rattling the cage" of Terry Labonte at Bristol to Harvick’s dramatic win over Jeff Gordon at Atlanta in his third career start. Here’s a great compilation video by tobytchs of some of NASCAR’s greatest finishes. Enjoy.
What about you? What is your idea of a great race? What is your favorite finish of all time?
PHOTO CREDITS: Harvick and Martin at the finish of the 2007 Daytona 500 by troublesantoni. To see more, visit flickr.com, or click on the link.
SAD NEWS: We’ve received word that after years of ill health, the Earthly journey of Erin Reynolds has come to an end. Erin’s brother Patrick writes a weekly column for Bump Drafts we affectionately know as "Bench Racing." Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they mourn.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Favorite finish? I have three that stick out in my mind: Atlanta 1992 with Alan Kulwicki becoming our champion. Ironically, the other two both involve the same driver: Ricky Craven – bangin’ doors with Kurt Busch at Darlington in 2003 and Dale Jarrett at Martinsville in 2001.
For me, it’s Dale winning the Daytona 500. I think if your driver doesn’t have a good day and run up front or even win, you may think the race sucked, even if it was good for the person who’s driver did win. My sympathy goes out to Patrick and his famliy. I live in Patricks old home town and see his mother almost daily.
@Scott. Great selections. Way to think outside the box.
@Janine. That’d be my second favorite, and a close second at that.
That would be the 1997 Southern 500 where Gordon and Jeff Burton were running door to door going into the final lap. Smoke spewing as they touched a couple of times down the frontstretch. Gordon eeked out the win which also won him the Winston Million bonus.
Come to think of it I’ve never seen a bad race at Darlington. I sometimes think all they need to do to increase ratings is to have all 36 races at Darlington. Well, maybe a couple at Bristol, Martinsville, Charlotte, Daytona* and Talladega* (*even though I hate restrictor plates).
Jim,
You asked a couple of questions. I’ll try to answer from my point of view.
Best finish- I think Scott’s been reading my mail. Has to be Alan in ‘92, & Ricky, & Kurt at Darlington in ‘o3. Neither willing to give an inch, but somehow not wrecking.
What makes a good race- In a word racing! Not 450 laps of riding around. Then 50 laps of racing.
I watched California in a hotel room. The only comfortable place was on the bed. I slept through probably 150 laps, & didn’t miss a thing.
@Bill.
@Dawg. These are good. Keep ‘em coming.