Incidental Caution Laps are Killing Fan/TV Interest in Races !!!

[raceinsider]

Not runnig them, COUNTING THEM.  NA$CAR should look into the position to NOT counting caution laps as run laps at some point in time during a race.  Counting 5-7 caution laps sometimes is rediculous for a tiny 'debris on the track' issue.  Far too many laps are wasted for cautions.  Is this a way of NA$CAR getting more commercial time ... hmmmm ? 

The fans pay good money to see a race at race speed, not 50 mph under yellow.   Run them when necessary, just don't COUNT THEM all the time.   

Send me your thoughts directly - raceinsider08@comcast.net

[HUDSON HORNET]

Not runnig them, COUNTING THEM.  NA$CAR should look into the position to NOT counting caution laps as run laps at some point in time during a race.  Counting 5-7 caution laps sometimes is rediculous for a tiny 'debris on the track' issue.  Far too many laps are wasted for cautions.  Is this a way of NA$CAR getting more commercial time ... hmmmm ? 

The fans pay good money to see a race at race speed, not 50 mph under yellow.   Run them when necessary, just don't COUNT THEM all the time.   

Send me your thoughts directly - raceinsider08@comcast.net

Howdy RaceInsider.
Welcome to Frontstretch.

Your post is thought provoking and has the makings for an interesting conversation. IMO, the more folks who participate in conversation(s) the better those conversation(s) become. However, that being said, I feel compelled to register a protest.

Your last sentence puzzles me. Lately it's been very slow around here. Not many NASCAR fans, including the regulars who usually are quite active, seem to be posting. This creates a situation not unlike the caution laps you make reference to in your post. Quite frankly, this website has become boring and desperately needs an influx of thought provoking contributions to stimulate increased participation. Your post started out that way and I was encouraged, --- until I read your last sentence, "Send me your thoughts directly."

That leaves me with the nagging question, why?
Why contact you directly? Why not encourage on-line responses? Others may be interested in reading the responses your post generates, but wouldn't be able to do that. You'd be the only recipient privy to the entire dialog. I don't think that's fair.
This is a public forum where folks can express their thoughts, ideas and opinions for all to read and consider. To ask that posters here respond to you in private is akin to hijacking, and deprives all of us of the ability to openly discuss various subjects as a group.

I encourage you to reconsider your request to respond to you in a way only you receive the pleasure of enjoying those responses.

Thanx for allowing me to voice my opinion.

[Tyyrus]

Yeah No Closed Door Meeting's allowed Here lol ! Welcome aboard Raceinsider . 

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Terrible racing is killing this fan's interest. I don't know if I could stand watching a race where the laps run under caution weren't counted. The races are too long anyhow. Thank God for the DVR.

 I hear Ms. Teri DeBris is a hottie, although I've never seen her on the track. I will keep looking.

 Welcome to the site, raceinsider.

[raceinsider]

Heh.  Anything to get a response.  Thats for the invite.  On other blogs I post to (FOX, NA$CAR) that's just my usual sendoff.  Won't happen again here.  This Frontstretch seems to be a nice platform to voice our NA$CAR opinions.  My problem with the others is that they start good, but become a 'social gathering' everything but but the topics are ...  got kinda old.  8^)

[HUDSON HORNET]

Heh.  Anything to get a response.  Thats for the invite.  On other blogs I post to (FOX, NA$CAR) that's just my usual sendoff.  Won't happen again here.  This Frontstretch seems to be a nice platform to voice our NA$CAR opinions.  My problem with the others is that they start good, but become a 'social gathering' everything but but the topics are ...  got kinda old.  8^)

Many thanx for your consideration, RaceInsider.
Actually, it's kinda sad what this site has become.
In days not long gone, this used to be a very vibrant site, but not anymore.
We had stimulating conversations.
But not anymore.
We had dozens of new posts everyday.
But not anymore.
Why?
I don't know.
Some say it's a reflection of boring racing.
All I know is there appears to be a huge lack of interest lately.
That's disappointing. 

[scott b]

If NASCAR decided not to count caution laps, they would need to shorten the distance at a lot of tracks... by a bunch.

It would be interesting in as much as fuel strategy would be more random.  Not scoring caution laps, plus the possibility of multiple attempts at green/white/checkers, could make that final fuel run very interesting.

It would also cut down on guys staying out under a caution to pick up a bonus for leading under yellow while all the leaders pit.  This would be fair enough IMHO, though I suspect NASCAR would be just as happy to keep things as they are in order to pad the "lead changes" stats.

Not the worst idea I've heard, but I agree the bigger problem is that right now some of the green flag racing isn't much different from the caution laps.

[KurtBuschFan]

Welcome to Frontstretch raceinsider!  We hope you'll make yourself at home and join in the conversation often.  As HH said, it has been pretty slow here lately, but it looks like the Edwards/Keselowski mess has got some of us worked up enough to come on by.

That being said, I personally wouldn't have a problem with not counting caution laps, but scott b is right in saying the races would definitely have to be shortened.  Otherwise we'd be in for an extra long day watching racing....especially at a place like Bristol or Martinsville.

[Blu]

especially at a place like Bristol or Martinsville with all that "policing" going on!

[scott b]

"The 24 Hours of Martinsville..." hmmmm, that wouldn't be a hard ticket to sell. 

[Chris]

HI.. and welcome.
I can see where the thinking of your idea comes from.
Being a traveling series race official, and official at a local short track for many years... I have saw this happen in these venues.
When we raced the PARTS truck series, I think we were one of the first traveling series to stop counting yellow flag laps (It's been a while so I won't say for sure).  I know that sometimes I helped out with the Southern All Star asphalt Late Model series, and they also didn't count yellows.

Of course those guys had a bad habit of roughing each other up pretty good, and you could have one yellow after another.  What was done was that when the yellow flew, they counted the first 5 laps under yellow, and if it took longer to clean up the mess, .. the lap count froze until the green flag flew again.
Mostly this was only done in 'Special" events with 100 or more laps.  It kept the 100+ lap race from being ran, and over half the race being under yellow.

I could kind of go along with your idea in a way... like some said we might have to shorten race distances.. (something I am terribly against).  The races used to be 500 miles,.. and many have now been shortened to 400... so we are getting LESS racing while tickets prices keep rising.
And I don't want to see another round of shortened races get kicked off.  IMO these teams/drivers are supposed to be the best in the world, racing in the greatest series in the world.  Why make it easy.    Based on that theory... they could throw the green,.. go out and run 25 miles.. have a mandatory green flag pit stop, run 25 more miles and throw the checkers.  Distance, a test of equipment, a test of strategy, and driver input for making car adjustments is what makes CUP racing great.  Actually IMO it's a fairly simple theory.  The more you take away, the more boring it gets.

[HUDSON HORNET]

I see your point about shortening races to fewer laps/miles, Chris, --- but I'm not so sure it results in "less racing", per se. With fewer miles to run, drivers gotta git-'er-dun NOW. That could result in alleviating the practice some drivers have of just takin' it easy during the middle of the race by settling into a comfortable pace as they relax and just ride around 'till it's time to go for the checkers. Fewer laps/miles run means there isn't time to relax. Every position is important and they'll tend to protect that position by racin' a challenger attempting to pass, rather than just lettin' 'em go by --- planning on passin' them later in the race. With shorter races, later in the race begins with the dropping of the first green flag, immediately after Boogity, Boogity, Boogity is bellowed, and it's all heads up from there.

Shorter races could breed more exciting racin' for the entire distance.

Then again, on the flip side (no pun intended) it could mean the fans remain on the edge of their seats, or standing, while the race is on, thereby not visiting the midway and parting with their dollars for refreshments and/or souvenirs during the snooze-fest middle of the race. I'm sure The Brian (give me your money) France wouldn't be too excited about that prospect.