First off, I just want to thank everyone who stopped by and gave us feedback on our “The State of TNI post.” We aren’t looking at any major changes, but we wanted to get a gauge from you on what you thought we were doing right and wrong. Know that we always hear you loud and clear, and we will probably be implementing a few small changes here to go along with what you said. Thanks again!
On to the post…
Picture for me if you will a normal Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday at your house. You are posted up on the couch taking in that day’s racing action; be it the Truck Series, Nationwide Series, or Cup Series. The race has been under green for a while and driver X has a huge lead. All of a sudden there is a caution on the speedway, but you don’t see a wreck. Within a few seconds, the broadcast crew announces there is debris on the race track, only you are never shown said debris. Is it a warranted caution, or one called by those circling above in black helicopters?
It seems there has been more attention paid lately to the now infamous “debris” cautions from NASCAR. I’m not sure if it’s the comments from a few drivers or just overall fan frustration that has made this a public issue, but trust me, this isn’t a new problem. These debris cautions have been taking place for years, but until now haven’t really garnered any real press.
Since I’ve been involved in racing at this level, I’ve heard all the stories. One driver is pulling away from the field, and in order to tighten the field back up and create better racing action for the fans, some phantom debris is spotted and a caution is called. The story goes that these calls have come from as high up as those with the France surname.
Whether any of the stories are true, I couldn’t tell you. I’m not inside the heads of the series directors, and I don’t spend much (or any) time in race control. But what I can tell you is that this isn’t a new phenomenon.
What I do think though, is that these cautions aren’t meant to serve a specific driver. If it is indeed true that these cautions are thrown on purpose, it is to create more side by side racing, and not to benefit Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jr., or whatever other driver is mentioned in that day’s conspiracy theory.
I also think that instead of blaming NASCAR for a caution, why aren’t we blaming the TV networks for not showing the cause of the cautions? When a caution is called for debris, NASCAR will say over their radio frequency where the debris is. At least give the fans the opportunity to make the call for themselves. With what is currently happening, the TV networks are setting NASCAR up to look bad. The more information that TV can provide the fans, the better. If NASCAR is indeed calling bogus debris cautions, the fans should be shown the track and allowed to decide for themselves.
And while we are on the subject of cautions, what is with NASCAR letting the drivers keep digging (usually to the checkered) while a car sits wrecked on the track? A few weeks ago it was AJ Allmendinger, and on Sunday it was John Andretti. Andretti was turned coming to the white, and instead of throwing a yellow, NASCAR allowed the drivers to race back to the checkered while the #34 sat broadside to the field right at the start/finish line. Instead of putting the drivers in a very bad spot with these situations, why not just throw the caution and have another green/white/checkered? If they want the drivers to race to the finish, at least do it safely.
Loading ...
on Oct 26th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I think that NASCAR did not throw a competition caution because it was John Andretti wrecking and he’s got some track sense.
If it had been Joey Logano wrecking in those last laps, you bet NASCAR would have had the yellow out.
NASCAR just didn’t want to drag the race out. They knew Andretti would keep the car up against the wall and the would fall where they may.
Kinda reminds me of the Daytona race when Mark Martin was racing Kevin Harvick and saw the wreck in his mirror and slowed down expecting NASCAR to throw the yellow.
on Oct 26th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
The problem that most people have (I think) is not that there might be debris, but that they never see it. I agree that this may be the fault of the networks, however, don’t they make every effort to show the debris when it is there? So who is to blame? Who knows? But it is through this tragic flaw of Nascar that the conspiracy theories flourish. Take football for example. And I’m well aware of the differences, but indulge me. When a penalty flag is thrown, there is instant replay. The viewer can chalk a bad call as being just that, a bad call. They have the Opportunity to judge for themselves. I think that if Nascar was smart, they would not allow their cleanup crews to move a thing until TV has captured the offending item. Have more cameras at most every angle of the track. Take some cues from Jerry Jones, it’s not just the people at the track it’s the people at home watching.
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 7:19 am
T.C., ESPN can’t even show good green-flag racing or let people know where anyone in the field is. You’re giving them a lot of credit if you think they’re even listening to the radios, much less be able to get a camera on a piece of debris before it gets picked up.
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 7:49 am
I’m sure John Andretti would agree that a caution needed to be called. Good Lord!
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 8:17 am
IMHO NASCAR doesn’t throw phantom cautions to benefit a specific team/driver, but in a attempt to simply tighten the field an heighten the excitement.
It’s a Catch 22 for NASCAR and the teams. A runaway leader cruising to a dominant victory w/ fans at home, or leaving the track, saying “that was a boring race and finish”?????, or a last dtch mystery caution to bunch the field for a dash for the cash leaving the fans saying “Wow what a shootout!”, but quite possibly leaving “the” dominant car in a smoking 35th place heap after a green-white-checker malaise as a result?????
I’ve got a pair high powered Nikon binoculars that can determine the difference between a ball of rubber, wad of tape or soft roll bar padding and a coil spring, brake disc or sharp sheet metal. IMHO NASCAR could utilize simple tools to distinguish between real vs perceived dangers. A car sitting broadside at start/finish? Any naked eye can “see” that as anything other than a soft wall!
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 8:28 am
TC- At one time, I hated NASCAR…it’s true. My spouse and his friends would come over every Sunday, watch the race and basically ruin my day. I would make fun of their “conspiracy” theories. I put them on the same level as little green men in the basement, aliens and bigfoot.
And then I started to REALLY watch the sport and grew to love it.
First, I think NASCAR does what it can to keep the big money in the sport. I wouldn’t have enough time to write about it all. Conspiracy?? I think it’s business.
Do they manipulate races? I think they are trying to make the races more competetive, like you say. I don’t believe they favor any driver. The phantom debris cautions?? I blame the Networks..they do a horrible job of coverage. And once in a while, the commentators don’t even say why a caution is called. (a certain ex-driver needs to go).
I think we give NASCAR mixed messages. We complain the races are boring and then complain when they try NOT to make them boring. Let’s be realistic..they aren’t getting rid of the COT or getting rid of the “less than exicting” race tracks. I guess it’s a work in progress…hopefully.
The Andretti fiasco?? Don’t forget, there is a human being having to make a split second decision..they made the wrong one. It could have been ugly…but I think they were just trying to finish the race. On the funny side, did you see Chad Knaus? And read his lips? He was saying” Where’s the %&#* caution???”
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 8:31 am
TV can’t show debris when there is none. If they say the debris is in a particular place and the camera can’t find it, what can they do? They can’t show a clean track so they don’t show anything. Even when there is debris that is not harmful, I think they hold off throwing a caution until they deem one is necessary. Of course the fake cautions are called “conveniently” to assist certain teams or drivers. Until Jr. totally melted down, you could estimate with about 90% accuracy when the cautions would happen by his position on the track.
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Yowser, I don’t think Mark Martin slowed down in 2007 when he saw the wreck behind him. If he had indeed slowed down, he would have lost so much momentum that it would not have been a photo finish.
One suggestion I have is they should not just call cautions for “debris” but in fact always make the location part of the name. Nascar should force itself to have a “caution for debris in turn 3″. If they always named the turn right away, then that would oblige the TV cameras to go find the debris, or at least give some detail that people at the track can go look themselves with binoculars to see.
Just a thought.
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I thought you were going to post on ‘competition’ cautions, but instead talked about debris cautions. different. debris cautions happen in every level of racing in which somebody is making a buck. The officials and promoters want tight, exciting racing, even if its not. Its a part of the game, and all of the crews know it. They gripe about it, especially when they lose out because of it, but it’s expected.
Competition cautions, on the other hand, are a recent addition that has taking more of the strategy out of the racing. A caution so they can check tire wear? The crew chief is supposed to take care of that, not the officials. And, most times, somebody pops a tire well before the announced flag, so by not letting the crews do their thing, they’ve changed the racing again! NASCAR, let them race!
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Mik: I am fully aware of the difference between the two. But a debris caution becomes a “competition” caution when there really is no debris. The caution was only thrown to tighten the field back up and make the racing a little better. We’ve always referred to them as competition cautions because of this reason. Field is strung out? Throw a debris caution…
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Sure competition cautions or phatom debris cautions are not new!
But with the restart rule in place you see more of them at the end of the race!
To me I had much rather see a boring race when their is no need to throw a caution than to see a “fake debris caution” to bunch up the field!
It hurts the intredity of the sport to see all these questionable debris cautions! Makes you wonder what else they are doing under the table!!!!!!!
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
I’m with #3 there. ESPN can barely squeeze in a few laps of green flag racing during their TV show. Have you watched a race broadcast from start to finish lately? On ESPN? You need to.
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I agree with post #7 need to change to Brian France rules of racing
on Oct 28th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Competition / debris cautions used in conjunction with the “free pass” can seriously affect the outcome of a race. Like it or not I think most NASCAR fans watch for the entertainment value and phantom debris cautions help preserve that level of entertainment. However any observed favoritism, real or not, diminishes the fans desire to tune in or buy tickets and merchandise and ultimately erodes the brand.
As Neon said: a catch 22.