By KEN de la BASTIDE
With the end of the NASCAR season, all the chatter in media circles is how two on-track incidents at Homestead could be just what the sanctioning body needs to re-attract fans for 2010.
It wasn’t talk about close side-by-side racing in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series that had fans admiring the talent of good racing. It wasn’t about Jimmie Johnson making NASCAR history by winning a fourth championship or Kyle Busch capturing the Nationwide crown.
The buzz has been about the season-long feud of Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski beating and banging on each other in the Nationwide series, and Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya playing bumper cars during the Sprint Cup finale.
Hamlin and Keselowski have been crashing each other for several races and a “wink” of the eye as Hamlin claimed the sun was in his eyes on Saturday just doesn’t cut it.
Hamlin received a meaningless one-lap penalty for rough driving.
On Sunday, Stewart pulled up in front of Montoya and contact was made. When Montoya drove to the inside, Stewart made a left hand turn causing contact between the two cars. Montoya’s car suffered a cut tire and hit the outside the wall.
When Montoya returned to the track he didn’t waste anytime in spinning out Stewart.
Montoya was penalized two laps for rough driving. Where was Stewart’s penalty for rough driving?
Don’t hand out penalties that have no bearing on each team. Park the cars for the remainder of the race, disqualify them with zero points and money.
Other drivers are taking a different stance, they want to see good side-by-side racing. Even the normally hot-headed Kevin Harvick indicated he wasn’t ready to trade punches in the future.
A lot of people around NASCAR hope both of these feuds remain heated up when the Daytona 500 rolls around to draw fans back to the televisions when the 2010 season begins.
A brawl between three drivers like what happened in 1979 during the Daytona 500 is not what NASCAR needs at this point in time. It worked 30 years ago, but the NASCAR public relations staff should be considering the possible consequences of such an action.
There are enough opportunities for crashes while racing without drivers taking another driver out or competition for revenge or spite.
Maybe that’s why NASCAR doesn’t have a annual sportsmanship award?
If the powers-that-be believe intentionally crashing cars is the image stock car racing needs, maybe we can get Stewart, Montoya, Hamlin and Keselowski to stage a tag team wrestling match for the enjoyment of the fans that like to watch accidents and fists flying.
Stewart should be remembered this season for the awesome performance of the race team that he developed. Both Stewart and Ryan Newman made the chase which was a huge accomplishment, it shouldn’t be about his frustration with Montoya when both were running in the last race of the season for pride.
Pass the grits and mush and watch NASCAR return to the southeast for their prime market.
In other racing news
It was good to see that Penske Racing is going to provide a full-time ride next year to Will Power in the IZOD Indy Racing League. Power filled in admirably for Helio Castroneves at the start of the 2009 season and deserves a full-time ride.
• Ken de la Bastide may be reached at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com or 765-454-8580.
