What might be new in NASCAR is actually old. And that’s a good thing

By Mike Smith (contact)

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 | 4:49 p.m.

NASCAR may be in the process of taking a few steps back in order to move forward. This past week the sanctioning body announced a number of changes that it is considering as a way to improve competition.

NASCAR might replace the wing on the Cup car with a spoiler, drop the yellow-line rule at restrictor plate tracks and end the no-bumping rule that was instituted for the corners of the superspeedways. Each of these proposed changes would represent a move back to the way things were in the past. And that’s good.

We know NASCAR invented the yellow-line and no-bumping rules to make the racing safer. But the drivers also have to be responsible for their own actions on the track. Too much legislation results in the stifled, single-file racing we saw during most of the Talladega race last November. If these changes become reality, more control will be put back into the hands of the drivers and that will raise the drama factor of the superspeedway races. And if “The Big One” rears its head at Talladega or Daytona, the drivers will only have themselves or the restrictor plates to blame.

Going back to a spoiler on the trunk lid of the Cup cars may be a fan pleaser, but will it improve the racing? I hope so. Frankly, I don’t care if the car has a wing or a spoiler, I just want to see racing that has more potential for some side-by-side action.

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