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The imports get exported at Sonoma


Road racing imports, Skinner out in 2001, and the Dodge/Save Mart 350 from Sears Point, California.





Road Racing Imports.............

It happens twice every season. There are always a few teams who apparently think that they are going to set the track on fire by bringing in a road racing specialist to drive their racecars at Sears Point and Watkins Glen. And, twice every season, I tend to grumble about it. I assume that some of the drivers who get replaced on the road courses tend to grumble about it too.

On the other hand, there are drivers who would just as soon go fishing, rather than tackle a road course with a Cup racecar. I have said if before, and I am saying it again. Road racing with a cup racecar separates the men from the boys. We have all heard the nay-Sayers' claim that any idiot can race around in circles. Then there is the idiom, "Turn left, go fast."

The Cup drivers usually race in a counter clockwise direction, always turning to the left. On a road course, they race in the opposite direction, clockwise, turning to the right with a couple of left hand loops thrown in for good measure.

The diversity within the tracks on the Cup circuit is one of the main aspects that make it special. It is one reason why it is called the premier stock car racing series. It takes a tremendous amount of talent to be able to handle the large high horsepower racecars on the short tracks and road courses, as well as the intermediate tracks and super speedways. If a team has a driver who cannot drive the road courses, then I do not feel that they should have the position racing in Winston Cup. The only way these drivers are going to get better at driving the road courses, is by racing on them. Bringing in a substitute for them is not going to do them one bit of good.

I remember back a few years ago, Sterling Marlin made it known that he hated driving the road courses. He claimed that he would just as soon not be there. He got better at it through experience. He finished second last season at Sears Point after leading the race after a grueling duel with Jeff Gordon for the win.

In defense of some of the drivers who have been replaced, it is apparent that the choice was not theirs. The team owners and sponsors opted to bring in the replacement. The sponsors who are putting up the money tend to exert a lot of pressure over the team. This is another instance where money is the name of the game. I feel that NASCAR needs to address this issue, and put a halt to bringing in substitutes. These road races are championship points races. Substitute drivers are not racing for points. A lot of racers and fans feel that their participation in the race is detrimental to the whole championship points structure and that they have an affect on the final outcome.
The copyright of the article The imports get exported at Sonoma in NASCAR is owned by Thomas M. Sampson. Permission to republish The imports get exported at Sonoma in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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