Need for Speed
by Jared Turner
Plate racing provides surprising finishing order
April 29, 2008
More blog postings from Jared Turner
Did you pay attention to that top-five finishing order from Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway?
If you didn't, go back and take a look.
It certainly deserves a second look.
Even the most daring prognosticator would have been hard-pressed to pick Juan Pablo Montoya, David Ragan and Brian Vickers to all finish in the top-five.
Heck, who would have pegged Travis Kvapil to finish sixth in his previously unsponsored Yates Racing Ford?
Each of the drivers mentioned posted his best finish of the 2008 season.
On the flipside, several drivers considered favorites to go to victory lane - hello, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick - weren't within screaming distance of the front at day's end.
This just underscores the wacky, yet wonderful side of restrictor-plate racing.
Rarely at places other than Daytona and Talladega do the non-Richard Childress Racings, Hendrick Motorsportses, Joe Gibbs Racings, Roush Fenway Racings of the world have a prayer of winning - or even challenging for wins.
But that all goes out the window at Daytona and Talladega, where restrictor plates narrow the gap between the elites and the typical also-rans.
Restrictor plates are often the target of widespread angst in the NASCAR garage area because of the tight racing they breed and the Herculean crashes that often result.
But the parity that restrictor plates bring to NASCAR should be recognized. And appreciated.
If you didn't, go back and take a look.
It certainly deserves a second look.
Even the most daring prognosticator would have been hard-pressed to pick Juan Pablo Montoya, David Ragan and Brian Vickers to all finish in the top-five.
Heck, who would have pegged Travis Kvapil to finish sixth in his previously unsponsored Yates Racing Ford?
Each of the drivers mentioned posted his best finish of the 2008 season.
On the flipside, several drivers considered favorites to go to victory lane - hello, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick - weren't within screaming distance of the front at day's end.
This just underscores the wacky, yet wonderful side of restrictor-plate racing.
Rarely at places other than Daytona and Talladega do the non-Richard Childress Racings, Hendrick Motorsportses, Joe Gibbs Racings, Roush Fenway Racings of the world have a prayer of winning - or even challenging for wins.
But that all goes out the window at Daytona and Talladega, where restrictor plates narrow the gap between the elites and the typical also-rans.
Restrictor plates are often the target of widespread angst in the NASCAR garage area because of the tight racing they breed and the Herculean crashes that often result.
But the parity that restrictor plates bring to NASCAR should be recognized. And appreciated.
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