Saturday, April 25, 2009

Testing Policy: Revisions?

    Being that this is the first season with the new no-testing policy, I wonder if NASCAR will make any adjustments to the rule. The multiple adjustments made to the chase formant demonstrate that NASCAR is not afraid of alteration. The policy was implemented due to smaller teams’ economic struggles. NASCAR hoped to level out the playing field. Eight races into the season, the new policy seems to be working. Although the list of winners does not show it, the competition in the races sure appears to be leveling out. For instance, David Reutimann, driver for a newer race team, is currently within the top 12 of the standings. The no-testing policy looks as if it has been a good thing, but are there any cons?

    My answer would be yes. Rookies with little experience need more opportunities to advance their skills. Practice sessions just a few days prior to race day is not enough. You have drivers going to racetracks they have never been to before. In this weekend’s Nationwide race, rookie Joey Lagano hit Michal Waltrip a bit too hard, sending him down the track taking Clint Bowyer with him. Lagano’s mistake could have been prevented with a little more track time. In a post race interview for ESPN, Lagano apologized to Waltrip and said, “learned my lesson on that one.” Bump drafting is a skill that takes drivers much time to master. Lagano recently received his clearance to race at restrictor plate tracks. This plus the no-testing policy have limited his opportunities to hone the skill of bump drafting. Something needs to be done to prevent incidents like Lagano’s from causing tragic results in the future Although the new policy has had a positive effect on the competition, NASCAR needs to take a look at the other effects it has had.

    My proposal to fix this problem is to alter the rule, allowing rookies to test. Provide the teams with a select number of test sessions at the more difficult tracks. In order to keep the competition between rookies as equal as possible, perhaps NASCAR could regulate the number of test sessions per team, keeping them all equal. Like the rest of us, NASCAR has had to adjust to the current economic times, but the safety of the drivers still needs to be their highest priority.