If you’ve missed it, we’ve had a heck of a week discussing the events at Talladega and what should be done to avoid what, for many fans, was the most frustrating race of the year. Fans mark their dates for the Superspeedway, and you know something’s wrong when the ordinarily non-confrontational guys in the broadcast booth start expressing frustration. To Rusty Wallace, in particular, thank you for saying what a lot of fans think. I’ve been a tough critic of yours, and now I say thanks for speaking up.
I piece I saw at alllefturns.com pretty well summed the absence of an easy answer for Talladega. Many of you know former NASCAR mechanic Patrick Reynolds writes here once a week. Well, he also writes some for other sites, including alllefturns. Click here to read "5 Fan Fixes For Talladega". When you read that, and you exam all the intelligent (and in some cases otherwise) arguments for what should be done, you see there are no easy answers.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not sure there’s much you CAN do, but let’s be honest: most of us were really upset about the racing because of the "no bump draft" rule and the response. Abolish that puppy post haste. Dumb idea. I think it’s also time to reconsider the "yellow line" rule as well. At some point, the drivers have to settle it on the track. As for driver safety, you never want to see a driver crippled or killed, but short of shutting this place down, I really don’t know what answer there is than for the people who know what they’re doing to figure it out.
Ultimately, we have two different issues here: the quality of the racing, and the safety issue. One’s pretty fixable: let the drivers drive. The other? Not so simple.
Only thing I can say is that, to date, we’ve seen some crazy crashes there, and to date, all the drivers have walked away.
Internally, I am still processing the A.J. Allmendinger situation, and let’s be fair, Michael Waltrip as well. I will give A.J. credit for one thing: he’s at least saying the right things now, and only time will tell whether or not future actions will back that up.
I definitely think Allmendinger should not race while his license is suspended, if it is suspended. I’m not too up on North Carolina law, but first and foremost, the legal system needs to run its course with him first. As for NASCAR, I’m still not sure what "probation" really means, but I suggest there should be some form discipline commensurate with the crime.
It’s like I told another reader, what I want to see from A.J. Allmendinger is genuine contrition and repentance. For the "non-religious" to repent, is to turn from the wrongdoing and not do it again. I really don’t want the guy’s life ruined, hopefully it was just a one time mistake, an error in judgment.
On the other hand, his butt should be nailed to the wall if he does mess up again in this area. My problem is, in the legal system, you see a lot of the same jokers doing it over and over again.
Just ask my friend Gary. He was minding his own business a little over a week ago when he got rear-ended by a drunk driver, a repeat offender. My good friend is o.k., but he’s pretty dang stove up. These guys have to be taken off the road.
For now, I’ll give young Mr. Allmendinger, a driver I actually happen to root for, a second chance.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
So let me see if I have this all…Dega…we love it..but we hate it..it’s a great race to watch..but boy it sucked! It needs fixing..but can it be? We have to wait and see.. On AJ..we love him..but he did wrong. AJ needs to be punished..but in what way? He needs to repent..but will he? So what we are saying here is there is good and bad with both issues..we can’t agree..but we don’t disagree..we all know what we want to happen..but will it? I think that about sums it all up!
@Josie. If what you’re implying is that life is complicated, then yes, that’s what I am saying.
NASCAR’s double standard with alcohol vs. illegal and “band” drugs is problematic. If AJ pleads guilty or is convicted of DUI, he should be suspended for at least one or two races and he should have to undergo some form of alcohol counseling whether he is convicted or not. I don’t want Allmendinger to loose his job, but I think NASCAR has to recognize that alcohol abuse is ever bit as dangerous as illegal drug abuse and often times more destructive because of a lack of social stigma. I’m aware that alcohol doesn’t carry the social stigma that illegal and some legal drugs carry, but NASCAR needs to maintain a consistent policy when drivers and others commit illegal acts. I like to drink a beer now and again–and maybe the DUI laws have become a bit draconian in the last decade or so—but I looked up Allmendinger’s weight and used an alcohol calculator to raise his blood alcohol level to 0.08 in two hours worth of drinking, and he would have had to have had a least five or six drinks. This wasn’t, “oh I had a couple of drinks before I got in the car.” This incident involved a lot of drinking, and AJ put his life and the lives of his community at risk. I hope he gets help.
I think what I am saying..(and believe me sometimes it’s hard to decipher what’s in my mind)..is with as many questions as there out there in NASCAR..heck in life..there are even more so called “solutions”. Sometimes I really get fed up with NASCAR..”why can’t they fix this..why can’t they change that..aren’t they listening to us fans..blah blah blah”..but reading Jayskis daily..I see there are SOOOO many different issues out there the media, fans, drivers, owners, sponsors etc etc want addressed..and it gets so confusing..I see no beginning and no end to it all! I see no right or no wrong. I see no bad and no good. It’s just gotten to be all one big blur. AND that to me is the problem..NASCAR has gotten to be a mess…a mess other sports don’t seem to have themselves in. I don’t know if it’s because there are so many more factors required in this sport than most (i.e. instead of just a stick and ball, a standard arena and some fans ..you have cars and motors and drivers and tracks..weather is a huge factor..sponsorships huge..east coast west coast..single teams multi teams..all sizes and shapes of tracks..not fans of just two teams at one venue but fans of 43 teams..vendors..promotors..teams families..old style new style..a 36 race way too long season..the ever loving CHASE….CUP, Camping World, Truck Series). It’s a wonder NASCAR can get one race together and manage to trudge across the US and put on another one. It’s all gotten to be too much. Maybe the “powers that be” in NASCAR need to get their “groove back” put a little balance back in their lives..in NASCAR..some Zen…drink green tea…yoga…breathing exercises.. Maybe NASCAR has gotten to big for their “big boy pants” and has taken on too much..given themselves too much power..and it’s all falling apart. A step back..deep breath..and a really good overview might go along way for them to start revamping and repairing some of the things needed to bring this sport back to it’s glory. AND sorry NASCAR..you may have to stop..for just an instant..trying to stuff more green in your pockets (hey I know it’s a business…but it’s already been very good to your family) and start shelling out some cash and some legitimate ideas to help the teams and sponsors and fans fix the wrongs created by you. We’ve hung in there this long…it’s up to NASCAR whether we cut the cord and find something else to occupy our Sundays.
If the laws regarding DUI in North Carolina are the same as in most states this could cost AJ more than most people. Some states require lose of license and community service and fines and you must hire a lawyer. Some states require jail time and it must be done on weekends and what would this do to AJ’S career. Nascar and every other Corporation should not be involved in anyone’s personal business unless it affects their job performance or the ability to show up to work and do your job. To the author of this blog should you not be able to write this article because you got a DUI and be made to grovel to the public about how sorry and wrong you were and beg for forgiveness and be put on probation before you are allowed to write again. This is between AJ and the State of North Carolina and we should all butt out for now.
AJ was not driving his race car under the influence. I agree NO ONE should drink and drive, but he did this on his own time. Not NASCAR’s. And making anyone take a class about drinking that doesn’t want to is a total waste of time, they just go through the motions because they have to, but they get nothing out of it. He’s already been fined $10,000 and put on probation by his team and NASCAR.
I don’t disagree with many of your comments. My point was NASCAR’s inconsistency and willingness to look the other way when alcohol is the drug of choice. I agree that NASCAR’s concern should be impairment on the track, and most of these off-track problems will be resolved by sponsors and teams.