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Pocky's Paddock

A NASCAR BLOG BY Bob Pockrass

NASCAR should postpone Richmond Cup race

Sep 5
RICHMOND, Va. – It’s 7:30 a.m. at Richmond International Raceway, and it’s time for NASCAR to postpone the Sprint Cup race scheduled for Saturday night.
 
NASCAR could have done that already or at least told people about a contingency plan as the area awaits Tropical Storm Hanna. The problem with that is they don’t want people not to come if they could get this race off as scheduled. Still, NASCAR would have been totally justified in already telling people that they’re running the Cup event Sunday.
 
With the National Weather Service predicting possibly 1-2 inches of rain tonight and 3-4 inches by Saturday, there is no way NASCAR should be racing Saturday.
 
There are too many police and too many rescue personnel on site who will be needed elsewhere. There are campers here who probably would have to leave because weathering that kind of storm at the track isn’t the safest thing.
 
Fans at RIR proved last year that they will show up for a Sunday afternoon race. Granted, that was in May last year and not the opening football weekend, but that likely won’t dissuade fans from coming to the race track.
 
It’s time for NASCAR to surrender to Hanna and run the Cup race Sunday. If it tries to run Saturday and there is a mess, the public relations mess would be a disaster, not to mention the hazardous situation it could be putting its fans in.
 
Making a decision like this a day early when the weather can change isn’t easy because of the logistics and the possibility that nothing could happen. But when making a decision on the basis of the safety of fans and competitors, defending that decision is easy.

Average Rating: 5.0

Comments

8 responses to "NASCAR should postpone Richmond Cup race"
  1. 1
    Worm Dirt said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 8:11 AM

    Agreed, they should probably cancel. Nascar has to be aware of what rain and all that moisture can do to the Robotic Micro-Chip Technology they have installed in MANY of their drivers right??? I mean, can you imagine the public relations disaster it would be if 'the Carl-o-tron Edwards 3000' were to get wet, short-circuit, and start doing non-stop back-flips with sparks shooting out of his nostrils??? After Indy, i don't think they can afford to have another embarassing "incident".

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  2. 2
    carole penrod said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 10:14 AM

    As we drive up to richmond, we are hoping the races are on, but doubt it. Just glad we have a place to stay if the race? races/ are rained out. And also glad that we have the time to hang around if it is postponed. Next time, we will purchase ticket insurance. RAIN,RAIN, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. Probably the worst thing is we have a farm near Myrtle Beach SC and a waterfront home near Washington NC that is so close to where the projected landfall is. but we are On to Richmond.

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  3. 3
    Peter Reiser said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 12:45 PM

    I kind of wish there was no MNF this week. A Monday night race would be fun. The way things look, Sunday may not be an option either.

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  4. 4
    anonymous said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 1:59 PM

    Worm Dirt, this is not time for your rotten so called "sense of humor". If you have ever been through a tropical storm and or hurricane, you would have the intelligence to not make light of this potentially dangerous situation. I've been there and lost EVERYTHING and it's NOTHING to make light of nor joke about. You are a pathetic excuse for a human being.

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  5. 5
    Worm Dirt said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 3:54 PM

    Anonymous, Been through three hurricanes and several tropical storms myself. In fact, I know folks that live on the coast in the direct path of this thing and SOMEHOW SOMEWAY THEY are managing to keep a sense of humor and a smile on their face. I think I'll follow THEIR example and not YOURS if that's OK. Thanks though!!! I bet you are A LOT OF FUN to go to a race with. Sheesh.....!!!

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  6. 6
    anonymous said:
    Sep 6, 2008 at 4:42 AM

    Then the people you know are just as idiotic as yourself. I find nothing amusing and nothing to smile about when you could possibly lose your house and everything you have ever worked for. I didn't return to the concrete slab where my house once was and say anything with a smile on my face. Neither did ANY of my neighbors. As for attending races and having a lot of fun, that's a whole different scenario. There you can have fun and FORGET your problems for about 4 hours and then reality sets in. It's not fun then.

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  7. 7
    Worm Dirt said:
    Sep 6, 2008 at 10:35 PM

    Dear Anonymous, Alright, you win. I guess it's like that old saying...... "When life hands you LEMONS...Forget making lemonade and INSTEAD put a big ugly frown on your face and throw the lemons at anybody who makes a joke involving RAIN!!" Whatever!!!! JUST please please please warn me if you and I are ever going to be at the same race. I want to make sure I'm NOWHERE near YOU or your wet blanket, party-pooping, killjoy, soap-box seeking pessimism. Later tater!!!!!!

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  8. 8
    Cliff Cherry said:
    Sep 7, 2008 at 5:32 AM

    Irregardless of the ensuing verbal clash, I have to say the short circuiting "Carl-O-Tron 3000" description is definitely one of the funniest things I've read in a while :-D Thanks WD!

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