| Suffocation, Math, and Johnson: The All-Star Race |
| By Kristen Schneider May 18, 2013 www.uptopthepitbox.com/ You can change the rules, you can throw in some math, you can put in a rain delay, but nothing can faze the no. 48 team and its driver Jimmie Johnson. There is a reason Johnson wins, and there’s a reason he’s a five-time champion. It’s a mixture of talent, a sound-structured crew, and a Chevy team that supports him all the way. The domination is justified, which bothers some people. That’s completely understandable; nobody likes too much repetition. It’s suffocation. Because of the new car, teams are behind. Way behind. The two teams with advantages are Hendrick and Joe Gibbs Racing. It may takes weeks, months, seasons to figure this new machine out, and that puts everyone else five laps down. The domination ruins the racing, unless it’s your driver doing said dominating. Something needs to change, although the solution is fuzzy. However, the adjustments that are needed for The All-Star Race is clear as day. First, a recap of what happened: Each Busch brother won two segments. There was some good racing up until the final pit stop and segment. Then math happened. Then Johnson won. The first four segments were 20 laps each, the final one ten. Before that final section, a four-tire pit stop was required. The way the cars entered the pits was determined by taking their finishes from the four previous segments and averaging them. Confusing? You have no idea. The final segment isn’t long enough. I don’t see why the race isn’t a full 100 laps. Five segments of 20 laps each, easy as that. Also, eliminate the math; there’s a reason I strive to become a NASCAR writer, and leaving my College Algebra demons behind in on that list. It made everyone even more upset at SPEED when they got the numbers wrong. You can’t change a driver’s talent, yet you can change the layout of an exhibition race. The truth is, even if you threw in a field inversion, a military obstacle course, and a competitive eating competition, you can never please all the fans. They will feel suffocated no matter what you do. It’s all about balance. And talent. And no math. |
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