It’s that time again. Time for Jimmy Joe’s Nascar Update. Jimmy Joe explains how 18 + 18 + 18 = TRIFECTA.
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Ken Schrader
The Camping World Truck Series has been a part of Nascar since it’s inception in 1995. Starting on the short tracks, the Truck Series has also had beating and banging as a part of it’s DNA. In 2000, at the Series’ first trip to Daytona, Geoff Bodine endured what most consider to be the Series’ worst crash after contact with another truck sent Bodine flying into the catch fence, destroying his truck and getting severely injured.
From there, Nascar started a string of seasons that saw more violent accidents and the losses of Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, and Dale Earnhardt Sr. Nascar had to make changes. It started with mandatory head and neck restraint systems, full face helmets, and full safety gear on pit road. The introduction of the SAFER Barrier System permiated from track to track. Then, in 2007, Nascar brought “The Car or Tomorrow” to the Sprint Cup Series. They did this, in part, by borrowing concepts and designs from the (then) Craftsman Truck Series.
Basically, the “Car of Tomorrow” is an advanced truck with a car body. Essentially, the Nascar SuperTruck was the first COT. Nascar took the design of the truck and transformed it into a beefier, safer, racecar. Over time, the COT has become the standard for Nascar racecars as the Nationwide Series begins to roll out the Nationwide New Car, which shares most, if not all, of the safety features as it’s big brother COT.
After watching Ken Schrader emerge from a mangled race truck after he T-boned a crashing David Starr in the Bristol Truck Series race I began to think, “Is it time for the trucks, Nascar’s first COTs, to get a new truck design?”
I think it is. Nascar should give the Truck Series the exact same chassis as the other two series, and drop some new bodies on over top. I am looking into if wether or not Nascar has already taken this step (updating the chassis), as it seems to be a no brainer. As far as the outside appearance, update the spoiler and implement the nose design to conform to the concepts introduced the Nationwide New Car. Loose the splitter braces. Bring the “cage” inspection process to the trucks, requiring the same certification processes as the Sprint Cup Series. The overall manufacture design is current, and gives the car makers plenty of idendity, which means that the race trucks are probably closer to the consumer trucks than the other two Nascar classes.
Nascar needs to do whatever it takes to make sure that the Truck Series doesn’t fall behind the curve of safety and design. I’m not saying this isn’t happening, I’m just saying Nascar has to make sure that is happens. Just some thoughts, and a couple opinions. What do you think? Are there any aspects of the Nascar Trucks that you want to see changed or improved upon? Post your comments bellow.
Bristol Night Race
The two Nascar weekends at Bristol Motor Speedway comprise some of the best racing, and highest drama of the Nascar racing season. The 33 degree high banks, the Colosseum of fans, and the deafening roar of the 43 engines in the field as they speed around Bristol’s half-mile in under 16 seconds create a spectacle unlike no other in the racing world. From it’s humble beginnings in the 1960′s, BMS has always been a hot spot for the Series. It’s presence on the schedule along side the big tracks like Talladega and Indy show that not only was Nascar grown out of the bull rings of America, it shows that short track racing… with all of it’s excitement, can stand just as tall in motorsports as superspeedway racing.
Perhaps the most exciting event on the schedule is the Bristol Night Race, I know that it is my second favorite race of the year. Bristol is the place where modern night racing was born, and the forerunner to the night races in Charlotte, Daytona and Darlington. From the battles of Dale Earhhardt and Terry Labonte to the current reign of Kyle “Rowdy” Busch, the night races are where Nascar’s finest shine.
This year, I have to wonder if this night race will be the place where old feuds are resurrected, if current rivalries will have a dash of drama added to their legacy and if new enemies will be born. Can Kyle Busch win the Truck Series, Nationwide, and Cup Series races in the same weekend? Can an underdog surprise the field and steal a win? Will the battle for the 12th spot in The Chase be decided here? Can Mark Martin drive his way into the top twelve? Will the pace car lead more laps than the race winner? How many more chapters of history will be written this weekend at Bristol?
As we gear up for the 2010 Bristol Night Race, catch up on how Bristol Motor Speedway became something so grand, so great, so different.
Taking some time tonight to focus on other areas of The Speedzine, so there will not be a Live Blog for tonight’s Too Tough To Tame 200 @ Darlington. In the meantime, check out all the other great posts from TheSpeedzine, and follow @TheSpeedzine on Twitter, as I will still be tweeting about the race from the Tweet Garage.
