Is A Driver Boycott Needed To Get NASCAR’s Attention?

1. Is a Driver Boycott Needed To Get NASCAR’s Attention?

For all its upsides, the new car provided to teams in the NASCAR Cup Series has its glaring faults.

Kurt Busch has been unable to drive since a crash at Pocono Raceway. How severe are his injuries other than being enough for the concussion protocol to keep him sidelined? The silence is deafening, to say the least. Plus, the latest inexplicable issue arose Sunday night, with Kevin Harvick‘s car combusting out of nowhere.

The usually blunt Harvick gave his analysis of the state of the current car:

.@KevinHarvick didn’t hold back about the new car and safety after his exit from the #Southern500:https://t.co/s34VO5yr52

— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) September 5, 2022

Media rants and criticisms may get attention (we’re talking about it here, aren’t we?), but not much else.

It’s very clear that driver comments don’t get NASCAR’s attention. Sure, last July’s comments about the Atlanta repave and new car development process may have raised eyebrows, but not much else. But there is one thing that will – a driver boycott at Talladega Superspeedway.

Given reports of drivers complaining more than before after hard hits, especially after Daytona International Speedway this summer, it should be a grave concern as NASCAR goes to Talladega in a few weeks as far as driver safety goes. It’s not feasible to cancel that race weekend (though, if needed, why not consider running Nashville Superspeedway or Barber Motorsports Park if they’re desperate), but it’s high time that drivers, owners, race teams and other stakeholders get on board and make it clear that they are serious about driver safety. A driver from a Rick Ware Racing of the world sitting out Talladega would not move the needle in terms of attention, but if it’s a driver needing a good run at Talladega to sew up a spot in the next round of the playoffs? That sure as heck would.

2. Is Kansas Speedway Make Or Break For SHR’s Postseason Hopes?

Momentum can be a cruel thing. A few weeks ago, with two wins in a row, Harvick’s No. 4 team carved itself into a dark horse to make a championship run. Now? With both Harvick and Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Chase Briscoe being among the bottom four drivers in the standings as the series heads to Kansas, you can easily argue that Kansas is a make-or-break weekend for SHR.

Harvick has been historically strong at Kansas – it’s one of the multiple tracks he’s won three races at….