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Mar 6, 2000
Cup drivers rout Busch Series again, racecar equality, juggling the money, and the CarsDirect.com 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Cup Drivers Dominate Busch............ Again This Week
Just like last week, four of the top five finishers in the Sam's Town 300 Busch race at Las Vegas were Cup drivers, with a Cup driver, Jeff Burton, taking the win during a caution period over the dominating Mark Martin when he was caught up behind a spin out. Joe Nemechek finished third, with Cup rookie Matt Kenseth finishing fifth.
Racecar Equality.......... The Debate Continues
The Chevy owners and drivers are still mulling over their sour grapes. A news update in the Winston Cup Scene written by Jeff Owens, tells of the bitter debate. The Chevy camps are now stating that their front down force problems come from a shorter nose then the other racecar models. Chevy claim that they made a version with a longer nose, but NASCAR wouldn't approve it. NASCAR wanted it to have 10% more drag (dirtier) than the '99 model Taurus. Rick Hendrick stated that the nose of the Monte Carlo was four inches shorter than the Pontiac, and two and a half inches shorter than the Ford. You have to remember this racecar was in development over a year ago, before the new 2000 Taurus was approved.
Then, NASCAR approved the new Ford Taurus, which is a vast improvement over the '99 model. Chevy is stuck with a racecar that has 10% less down force than the '99 model Taurus, so that leaves them with a racecar they can't compete with.
Ford drivers contend the Chevy teams should be forced to race what they built. Dale Jarrett said, "They built it, they brought it, and they should have to race it." Rusty Wallace said, "If they didn't get it right in a year and a half, they sure ain't going to get it right in a week."
Well, I think NASCAR has a dirty face on this one. They are denying they did anything wrong. Certainly, we all know the boss never makes a mistake. Rule No. 1, "The boss is always right." Rule No. 2, "If the boss is wrong, see rule No. 1." By forcing Chevy to be 10% dirtier than the '99 Taurus, then approving an improved Taurus, they put themselves and the Chevy teams in a "Catch 22" situation. NASCAR will have to bite the bullet on this one, and either cut the noses on the Pontiac's and Fords, or add the proper length to the Chevy's nose. I'm not looking forward to a season where Ford and Pontiac win all of the races, and Chevy can't compete at a winning level. That isn't racing.
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