Oct 8, 2007

NASCAR's TV Show Needs Script Doctor

As sporting events go, the premise of motor racing is very simple -- the competitor who crosses the finish line first after completing the requisite number of laps wins, everybody else loses, and we all go home. Unless, of course, it's a NASCAR race. If it's a NASCAR race, apparently the competitor whom NASCAR believes should have won the race can and will win the race, even if others cross the finish line before him.

But wait! What is the requisite number of laps? Apparently in a NASCAR race, this can change once or twice in the middle of the race, too. All of which is exactly what happened a week ago in the LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway. It has even veteran NASCAR watchers shaking their heads.

In that race, Greg Biffle didn't cross the finish line first because in the last lap -- run under the caution flag -- he was running out of fuel. Clint Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson, running second and third under the yellow flag, followed the pace car past Biffle's dying car and took the checkered flag ahead of Biffle. Yet, moments later, Biffle was declared the winner because he was running first when the caution flag came out. NASCAR officials ruled that because there is no passing under a caution flag Bowyer and Johnson could not legally pass Biffle, so Biffle was the winner. Which begs the question, if Biffle had completely run out of fuel instead of being able to nurse his car across the line eventually would nobody have won? Would all the cars have come to a complete halt right there on Kansas Speedway and still be sitting there to this day?

As we racing fans know, there is precious little suspense to a yellow flag finish.  It's kind of like watching a small-town parade, but without the floats, bands and pretty girls. One element of suspense that could exist, however, is the intriguing question: will the leader run out of gas? That's much like the key element of suspense in the Rose Parade -- which hugely expensive, elaborately decorated float will breakdown on Colorado Boulevard? But NASCAR apparently doesn't want that kind of drama.

Of course, NASCAR doesn't want yellow flag finishes, either, so it instituted a rule that specifies a two-lap green flag sprint to the finish line in races that otherwise would have ended under yellow. But in the waning moments of the Kansas race, it decided to ignore that rule, apparently because it was getting dark. This is the equivalent of baseball officials saying, "Sorry, Colorado Rockies, no extra innings today; it's getting late so the San Diego Padres are the winners." 

NASCAR officials had precedent to make that change because previously in the race they arbitrarily changed the number of laps that would constitute the event.  "Sorry, Green Bay Packers; we've decided to only play three quarters today. We've got a bus to catch."

NASCAR has tried mightily to achieve major sport status, but it is oddball stunts like the comedy of errors in Kansas that prevent that from happening.  When catering to the needs of the TV broadcasters dictates every decision, you are not going to get and maintain the trust of the fans. What was generally an entertaining race turned into a debacle at the end, and it's a shame. NASCAR has a good product, but they would be well-advised to stick to that time-honored concept: the guy who gets to the finish line first actually wins.