Comments on: “Competition” Cautions Are Nothing New

By: Ted

Ted — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:08:24 +0000

If a fan wants to see phantom cautions, they should be watching dirt track racing where they have heat races. Nascar has always been about the fastest car and the best driver winning the race. That is until a few years ago. Nascar says safety is a factor in the decisions and rules they make. I’d like to know how throwing debris cautions to bunch the field up is safe. They know it’s going to cause crashes, not to mention affecting the outcome of a race. What kind of fans are they trying to attract anyway. Nascar is starting to transform into something that vaguely resembles the nascar I once couldn’t wait to watch.

By: rax262

rax262 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:20:30 +0000

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.

By: STOSS

STOSS — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:23:48 +0000

I agree with post #7 need to change to Brian France rules of racing

By: Holmes

Holmes — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:01:20 +0000

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.

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:39:00 +0000

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!!!!!!!

By: T.C.

T.C. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:51:43 +0000

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…

By: Mïk

Mïk — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:39:43 +0000

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!

By: Lee Soto

Lee Soto — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:51:19 +0000

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.

By: Ken Marion, Va

Ken Marion, Va — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:31:19 +0000

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.

By: rain

rain — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:28:10 +0000

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???”