Friday, September 5, 2008

NASCAR: Do The Right Thing!!!


The weather forecast for race day calls for heavy rain and wind at 3:00 pm. easing back to few showers and wind by 7:00 pm. when the race coverage begins on ABC. By 10:00 pm according to Weather Channel forecasting, the weather should be partly cloudy and remain that way for the rest of the night. Yes, Hanna Storm is coming to Richmond, but we'll let ESPN tell you whether the SportsCenter anchor will be in town. We're talking about another Hanna storm as in tropical storm and Hurricane that the Weather Channel is our station of record to report.


For fans in the stands, the drivers and crews, and the television viewers at home, we urge NASCAR to do the right thing. The season up to now has led to this race, the deciding competition, that will set the field for the participants in the chase for the championship. If the current forecast holds, how long will it take to dry out the track and go racing? Is this going to be one of those tropical storm nights where continued storm pulses break out after the brunt of the storm has passed?


How frustrating it would be to have a race begin late and then be interupted by numerous cautions and long waits. What kind of condition will the racing surface be in and could it result in unacceptable risks for the drivers. The February race in California showed just how ugly a race can get if a track is not ready after terrible weather. How did that race affect Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s and Denny Hamlin's standings in the chase? Earnhardt wreck and finished 40th, Hamlin, 41st. No fans want to see a driver on the bubble knocked from the chase because of a weather related mishap.


We call upon NASCAR to do the right thing. Know by what time certain the track with be completely ready for racing including the pit areas. Only once that has been determined, then select a time a race can be started where racing conditions will be acceptable from start to finish.


The integrity of the chase demands this. Good sportsmanship deserves it.

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