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A NASCAR BLOG BY Art Weinstein
Infineon race may be most competitive in NASCAR
Sunday’s race at Infineon Raceway was so entertaining, I found myself trying to remember the last time I’d enjoyed a race at that track so much.
Um, let’s see, that would have been last year’s race at infineon Raceway.
I once viewed the race out in Sonoma, Calif., as an unwelcome intruder on the Sprint Cup schedule, an unnecessary diversion from oval-track races in NASCAR’s heartland in the Southeastern U.S.
Now, I see it as a very welcome break from the summer swing that sees two races each within a 15-race span at Dover, Pocono, Michigan and New Hampshire. (At least one of those tracks should lose a race date. I’m not going to name names here, but the track in question is located in a mountainous area.)
Yesterday’s race at Infineon Raceway featured hard racing, off-road excursions and produced more spins than a Washington, D.C., public relations firm. You had newcomers such as Marcos Ambrose and AJ Allmendinger driving like champions and championship-caliber drivers such as Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards getting in over their heads.
NASCAR’s new double-file restart rule was everything it was expected to be on a road course, producing several exciting restarts.
Infineon Raceway – and to a lesser extent, Watkins Glen International – is the only track where driving talent trumps the advantage a handful of multicar teams enjoy in finances, research and development, equipment and manpower. Where else could Australian Ambrose, running with a first-year team, finish a legitimate third and outrun Cup stars such as Johnson and Denny Hamlin?
The racing seems to get better at Infineon Raceway each year, and here’s my theory: As more NASCAR drivers have become proficient at road racing, it has raised the stakes for everyone at the two road courses. Teams seem to be doing more road-course testing, and those teams without a driver in the championship hunt are now more likely to put road-course ringers such as Max Papis, Patrick Carpentier and Ron Fellows in their car.
Add road-racing aces such as Juan Pablo Montoya and Ambrose to the mix and you have a field deep in talent. More drivers seem to have the potential to win at the circuit’s two road courses than at any other track, with the possible exception of the two restrictor-plate speedways.
Add it all up and you have an entertaining event. I can’t wait for next year’s race in Sonoma.
Art Weinstein
Managing Editor Art Weinstein has been covering NASCAR since 1995 and has worked at NASCAR Scene for 11 years.
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Comments
13 responses to "Infineon race may be most competitive in NASCAR". Post a Comment.
boudruxbone said:
Jun 22, 2009 at 10:03 AMPocono should lose a race date for sure and Sonoma gain one. Uor drivers are the best in the world and they should get the opportunity to show it on different kinds of tracks. I say not only more road courses but, the dirt tracks as well.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportkarnevil9 said:
Jun 22, 2009 at 11:15 AMSundays race at Sonoma was the best race I have seen on a long, long time. Bravo to all the drivers for driving their hearts out! Nascar should include more road courses in the future. Do they really need to go to Pocono twice or Michigan twice? I dont think so. More short tracks as well as road courses will give the sport a much needed shot in the arm.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMtclimber said:
Jun 22, 2009 at 11:24 AMI totally enjoyed that race and think road courses are the ticket for NASCAR to gain more attention. What great entertainment. I was glued to the TV. The double file restarts is the best thing to happen to NASCAR since tap beer. Round and round can only keep your attention for so long, but twists and turns, oh it's sooo good. Absolutly should have a road course in the chase. Please NASCAR consider more of this kind of action for the fans. This kind of a race keeps your attention even if your driver is not envolved and THAT is the kind of shot the sponcers need. August 9th is circled in red on my calendar.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportamalycke said:
Jun 22, 2009 at 12:24 PMWOW. Totally agreed. NASCAR has really hit on something with this new TNT coverage and the now infamous "Double Restart SHOOTOUT Styles". Yesterday's Infineon race was really fun to watch, every driver played their own role, even the Underdog Racing in the back was on cue because Scott Speed's NEMCO 87 somehow stayed out during the caution and lead the field with 36 to go in his homestate, I almost cried!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportamalycke said:
Jun 22, 2009 at 1:31 PMWith Scott Speed leading the field to the green flag on Lap 85 near his hometown of Manteca CA, that had to have been a dream come true in his life. I can't believe him and owner Joe Nemecheck agreed on letting him stay out, although both immediately started to reap the benefits of all the media attention that they garnered up during that portion of the TNT nationwide broadcast, and SpeedTV/ ESPN coverage of the Lap 85 Scott Speed/ NEMCO coverage. Scott Speed and Team Red Bull got out front at Martinsville Speedway and got much media attention when they lead from Lap 70-110! Brilliant marketing strategy to try to get future sponsors!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAndi said:
Jun 22, 2009 at 1:55 PMWhat races have you been watching? Do the names: Darlington, Dover, Richmond and even Bristol were all good races. Sonoma wasn't good and entertaining until about the last 50 laps or so. Pocono and Michgian are always boring, that's a given, but there having been more exciting races until sonoma.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAndi said:
Jun 22, 2009 at 2:08 PMAdd Martinsville to that list as well.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMtclimber said:
Jun 22, 2009 at 3:16 PMAndi, sure it's all NASCAR in one form or another, but, you have to admitt that turning right with ups and down hills and off camber turns are different and exciting. The drivers have a chance to show off other skills and frankly I think it's refreshing as heck and want to see more of it. Its frikin addicting. Don't worry old schoolers, NASCAR will always turn left but a change every once in awhile is a good thing.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsundaemunny said:
Jun 22, 2009 at 4:02 PMWith the repaving at Bristol, I'd take it off the list. There was more beating and banging on the road course that at Bristol in the last few years. Besides, isn't there something thrilling about seeing a front tire come off the ground doming around those curves?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJJ48 said:
Jun 22, 2009 at 8:06 PMThe road races are always some of my favorites of the year. They should seriously have four or five road races a year and one in the chase. It is way better than half the races being on cookie cutter 1.5 mile tracks.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportamalycke said:
Jun 23, 2009 at 7:37 AMTop 5 NASCAR Races:
Report as Abuse-Infineon Cup race
-Lowe's Busch race under the lights
-Bristol
-Darlington
-Daytona/ Talladega
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdale-jr-is-the-greatest-driver-alive said:
Jun 23, 2009 at 4:28 PMthe only reason i enjoyed it was because my fave drivers were moving up the field until one of the got punted and the other finished 2nd and not first but all in all it was a god race it felt like old Bristol
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 10:03 AMBristol will wear back in. I hated to see them re-pave it to but I quess it had to be done. The owners sure wouldn't have done something like that if not. I say give Martinsville a date back. Short tracks and road courses are the way to go. Keep the races at Lowes and Atlanta.One race each at Kansas, Texas and Vegas. Add four more road courses( maybe not to the ones we have there's lots off road courses) And take a serious look at putting some dirt tracks in there. Oh yeah get rid of that D@MM luckey dog rule!
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