Kenny Bruce: Why do Cup teams make one-race driver switch?
By Kenny Bruce - Assistant Managing Editor
Friday, June 20, 2008
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COMMENTARY
SONOMA, Calif. – Race fans see them every year, road-course “ringers” who show up to take the place of fulltime NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers whenever the series competes at Infineon and Watkins Glen.
And even though the series’ “regular” drivers have become quite adept at navigating the road courses, there are still a few who, for one reason or another, find themselves being benched in favor of a “ringer.”
This year, that group consists of Reed Sorenson and Regan Smith.
Sorenson’s Chip Ganassi Racing No. 41 Dodge will be piloted by veteran Scott Pruett at Infineon. Meanwhile, Smith will be on the sidelines while Ron Fellows will be handling the driving duties of the Dale Earnhardt Inc. No. 01 Chevrolet.
Sorenson and Smith didn’t get the boot because they’re not getting the job done. If that were the case, then it’s likely that both would be searching for new rides today instead of looking ahead to the following week’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Their time away is only temporary, it seems.
From an owner’s point of view, the decision to make the driver swap comes down to one thing – owner points. Staying in the top 35 – something that will guarantee a team a starting spot in the field each week – or closing the gap on those who already enjoy that luxury.
It’s an effort to maximize a team’s best opportunity to finish well.
It’s also one bizarre way to conduct business. In a sport where we’re told team chemistry is as important as horsepower, aerodynamics and a mistake-free pit stop, removing a driver – even for one race – sends a baffling message. “We believe in you; we just don’t believe in you here.”
Perhaps one day we’ll see teams take a similar route with other crew members. “You know, you’re a good crew chief on the intermediate tracks, but we think we need to go in another direction for this week’s short-track race.”
Sorenson’s having what can only be described as a difficult year. The 22-year-old opened the season with a strong fifth-place finish at Daytona and just missed a top-10 finish with a 12th-place run at Richmond. But in 13 other races, he’s finished 18th or worse.
Smith is making his first fulltime run in Cup. His 14th-place finish at Martinsville stands as the highlight thus far, while he also cracked the top-20 with a 19th-place run at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Neither of the two have what could be called a sterling record on the road courses. But Sorenson did finish 12th at Watkins Glen in 2006. That might sound like a long time ago, but given that the series only races twice a year on road courses, it’s only three starts in the road-course world.
Smith has just two career road-course starts, so the jury remains out on just how good, or average, he might be given the opportunity to remain in the seat this weekend.
Drivers who find themselves replaced for a “ringer” always downplay the move, and it’s likely that Sorenson and Smith will do the same. Everyone wants what’s best “for the team.” Everyone says they “understand” the owner has to look out for the interests of the entire organization.
Maybe such changes help, but does anyone recall seeing such switch-outs pay great dividends? Road-course ringers don’t win in Cup today, and seldom have strong finishes by one such driver proved to be a huge benefit for a team in the long run.
So I guess the real question is, why do it? Year after year, we see owners looking for a one-race bandage. The truth of the matter is, if a team is struggling bad enough that an owner is pulling his driver for a one-race replacement, that team has worse problems that the guy sitting behind the wheel.
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Reed Sorenson
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