Would A Non-Playoff Race Spice Up Talladega?

1. Does a Playoff Race on a Drafting Track Force Drivers To Avoid Taking Chances?

The official record shows William Byron finished third on Sunday (Oct. 6) at Talladega Superspeedway and Christopher Bell was sixth.

In a race that usually amounts to a demolition derby, and Sunday (Oct. 6) was that, taking a chance is not worth it if you’re in a position to advance by way of points to the next round of the playoffs.

The goal for these drivers is not so much to win, but rather to survive. Both did that by probably not forcing the issue. But what if this was not a postseason race? The draw of racing on drafting tracks is that it creates the elements for drivers to be aggressive and take chances, provided that those drivers wish to do so.

But think back to the spring race here at this East Alabama spectacle of speed. If you have already locked yourself in with a race victory, there’s no reason to be conservative.

There are all sorts of ways to walk about how to make racing at drafting tracks like Talladega more exciting. Perhaps one should be to consider running both of its races in the regular season? After all, there was a time when NASCAR decided to simulate racing on the surface of the sun when it staged events at Talladega in July.

2. Want To Cut Costs for Teams? Reduce Drafting-Style Races

It’s questionable how much NASCAR cares about containing costs given the current generation of racecar that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. But if one wants to consider a cost-cutting measure, it needs to not look at the cars finishing Sunday’s race, but all of the ones caught up in the late-race melee that was a bonanza for those auctioning off race-used sheet metal.

Overall, NASCAR races on six drafting-style tracks. Yes, it’s exciting to see cars three-and-four wide. But if it’s a few hours of relying on the draft with a manufactured close victory due not because of driving skill, but all because of a racing package that wants cars to race close together.

Superspeedway-style racing is a lot of things, but it’s not a pure form of motorsports. And when it’s questionable whether or not it constitutes racing and that it tears up lots and lots of racecars, the question needs to be asked whether or not the expense is worth the return…or lack of for teams.

3. Did Kyle Larson Just Win the Championship?

It’s fair to say that restrictor-plate tracks have been unkind to Kyle Larson. When you are trying to…