Our experts weigh in on four of the biggest questions in NASCAR:
Turn 1: Martinsville is using highlights of Matt Kenseth wrecking Joey Logano from last year’s race in a television commercial to sell tickets. Is it appropriate for the track to use an event that resulted in a two-race suspension as part of the commercial?
Ricky Craven, ESPN NASCAR analyst: I have no problem with the track using this incident to promote its product and sell tickets. Martinsville is publicly owned; NASCAR is privately owned. It’s important to differentiate between the two. It’s not as though we can or should erase the memory of last fall’s incident. It was a significant moment in the sport’s history, had severe implications for at least two teams and caused enormous reaction from fans. I’m not advocating we celebrate the moment, but there’s also no reason to pretend it didn’t exist.
Ryan McGee, ESPN.com: It happened. Fans talked about it for months. They’re still talking about it. And it happened at Martinsville. You can argue the sanity of it, the sportsmanship of it, all that stuff. But it helps sell some tickets, fine. I don’t think Bristol is going to stop showing Rusty vs. Dale vs. Terry in 1995 and Daytona isn’t going to stop showing Cale vs. Donnie in 1979. So, Martinsville isn’t going to shop showing Matt vs. Joey. And I also don’t think that this Sunday a driver is going to make an in-race decision with 30 laps to go based on, “Should I wreck this guy? You know, I saw that TV commercial that Martinsville ran, so … bombs away!”
John Oreovicz, ESPN.com: I can’t say whether or not it is inappropriate, but it’s definitely in bad taste. The relationship between NASCAR and ISC makes it all pretty convoluted, and to my eye, it looks like ISC is using something that Brian France and NASCAR considered inappropriate as a tool to sell tickets. Call it quintessential marketing.
Bob Pockrass, ESPN.com: Kenseth wrecking Logano created a huge fan response and it generated excitement, but I never want to see that happen again. Seeing that in the commercial reminded me of the mockery Kenseth made of that race by being nine laps down and crashing the leader. NASCAR apparently doesn’t want to see it happen again or it wouldn’t have suspended him two races. Talk about your mixed messages as the France family operates both NASCAR and the track. Track president Clay Campbell said it’s his job to sell tickets, and he’s doing what a promoter does. While his motivation is understandable, this comes down to how important is the almighty dollar versus celebrating a heinous move that jeopardized the integrity of the sport. Don’t tell me I’m being overdramatic — if it wasn’t so egregious, then why was Kenseth slapped with the harshest penalty ever to a driver in a Sprint Cup race?
Marty Smith, ESPN.com: It’s cheap to sit a man for two races for actions deemed inappropriate and detrimental, and six months later use that very action in an attempt to lure attendees and viewership.
Turn 2: Kurt Busch announced last week he would not do the Indy-Charlotte double. Good decision or bad for Busch? For IndyCar?
Craven: Kurt Busch represented NASCAR so well in 2014 and gave NASCAR loyalists added interest in the Indy 500. I believe it’s a good decision for him and his team that he will not compete. The commitment and the potential distraction go far beyond just one weekend. As much as I would enjoy seeing Kurt compete at Indy again, his potential toward a Sprint Cup title will be enhanced by giving 100 percent attention to the No. 41 team at Charlotte, a track they revisit during the Chase.
McGee: It’s a bummer because I love doubles. I think it did a ton for both races when he did it before and it also did a lot for Kurt himself. With the 100th running of the 500, it would be cool to see someone attempt the double, but right now it doesn’t make a lot of sense for Busch to do it … other than it’s just cool.
Oreovicz: Good decision for Kurt, if his No. 1 priority for 2016 is to contend for the Sprint Cup Series championship. It takes away a potentially interesting storyline from the Indianapolis 500, but it makes no difference whatsoever to IndyCar as a whole.
Pockrass: It was probably good for Busch, but it would have been cool to see a driver try to do the double, especially in the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Both IndyCar and NASCAR would have benefited if he could have pulled it off, but there’s certainly no blaming him for making a decision that will allow him to focus solely on his stock car ride if the funding is not 100 percent there for an Indy 500 race-winning entry.
Smith: It’s the admirable decision for Kurt Busch to make. He’s a racer. He’s tasted that race. He wants to taste it again. But Gene Haas gave him a second lease on championship-caliber performance. Haas took a chance when no one else would dare. So for Kurt Busch, Haas needs to be priority one. Kurt can win a NASCAR title this season. And while I’m certain his team would completely support him if Busch chose to race the Indy 500 — they’re a bunch of old-school racers — he’s sending a message to them, to everyone at Stewart Haas and to everyone at Haas Automation that winning them a title is his priority.
Turn 3: With recent conjecture — apparently untrue — that Audi may come to NASCAR, do you see another manufacturer stepping up to enter the fray anytime soon? If so, who is your pick?
Craven: I would say it’s all predicated on the global economy improving. Having a German manufacturer involved would bring great flavor to NASCAR. I’ve often wondered if Toyota’s efforts and recent success would be a catalyst for another Japanese company: Honda. My wish would be for Dodge to re-enter the sport because of its rich history in American motorsports.
McGee: I’m still hoping against hope that Dodge will come back. Yes, I know that’s not happening. I’ve talked to the BMW people and they did their research, but came away thinking it wasn’t the right fit. It’s a giant commitment and expense at a time when no one has the budget they once did. Right now feels like a good time to take one’s time, take a step back and really watch to see if NASCAR is the bang for the lot of bucks that it used to be.
Oreovicz: I don’t believe any manufacturer is on the brink of entering NASCAR. But I’ll nominate Kia in the spirit of April Fools’ Day. Back in 2001, someone created a fake news release using a CART template announcing that Kia would build a normally aspirated engine for Indy car racing. The clever email hoax, which was dated April 1 and listed “April Phewell” as the contact, roped in several reporters.
Pockrass: While Brian France said there has been some interest, it takes a lot more than just some interest to put forth a full-fledged Sprint Cup effort. There is no manufacturer that appears imminent in joining, according to those in the know. Nissan might make the most sense. It has participated in other forms of racing (but doesn’t have the investment that, say, Honda has in IndyCar, in an U.S.-based series) and sells both trucks and cars.
Smith: I don’t see it. The funding required of a manufacturer in R&D and team support is beyond comprehension. In today’s automotive sales race, does Nissan’s market share markedly jump by aligning with NASCAR racing?
Turn 4: If you could change one thing about the Martinsville hot dog, what would it be?
Craven: The fat and calorie content — everything else is perfect.
McGee: Only that I could go back in time and undo that one day in the ’90s when I ate an entire box of them.
Oreovicz: Not a thing. People seem to love them. But between the bright red wiener and the unappealing dressing mix of chili, onions and slaw, my take is “Thanks, but no thanks” — though I encourage everyone else to enjoy Martinsville hot dogs to their heart’s delight.
Pockrass: The color. I have had one in my life and don’t plan to have another — I just don’t appreciate the Martinsville hot dog as it should be appreciated. But I’d at least look at them more often if they weren’t more red than Indiana University’s candy-striped warm-ups.
Smith: The unfortunate aftermath.
