Qualifying Backwards and a Star Returns to the Track
By Richard Tix
Hot Laps will be a weekly article on news in the world of NASCAR. I will write these articles any weeks where I have a thought or opinion on NASCAR news that is worth sharing. So, this could be an every week thing, or just every few weeks. Its an opinion piece, so it is open to discussion and debate and would love to here your thoughts.
You know the deal by now, its week 5 and we have some NASCAR topics hanging around to be discussed! So lets get right into them and take a peak at what I think on each issue. As always, your opinions are welcome because, well, it is an opinion piece and everyone has one!
The Return of Kurt Busch
The biggest news of last week was that Kurt Busch was reinstated by NASCAR to drive in the Sprint Cup. After a legal battle with his ex-girlfriend Kurt was finally free to get back to racing. Last week I touch a bit on his return in Hot Laps: Week 4. Well, that seemed like where the story was going to cool down and end for awhile, but Kurt had different ideas.
On Sunday Kurt Busch not only returned but had a huge impact in the race. He ran the race in the same set up as Harvick and was a front runner most of the day. Kurt didn't have enough to pucsh Kevin for the win, but it was an encouraging sign for he and the #41 team. No one really expected him to be back in mid season form so fast but after his showing in practice and during the race it sure seems like Kurt is ready to go.
It will be interesting to watch him the rest of the way in 2015 after he had such a tough 2014 season on and off the track.
NASCAR Qualifying Backwards
This week NASCAR finally announced a change in qualifying. No, we are still doing group qualifying (I know some of you are hoping for that change, which by the way I don't get why?) No, the change is that we will finally start to pull out of spots on pit road instead of backing out.
To me, backing out of the pit stalls was always puzzling. It just causes more confusion and more opportunity for something to go wrong. I mean, in racing there is almost zero times in a race you will back up, so why is it part of qualifying anyways?
It will be nice to see this change this week at Auto Club and at least start to help NASCAR resemble racing instead of trying to park on Black Friday at Walmart. My only concern is why has it taken NASCAR so long?
What has NASCAR done with Tony Stewart?
So far in 2015 there is no question that Tony Stewart is the series biggest disappointment. That's hard to say when one of NASCAR's biggest stars in the last 15 years is struggling so mightily. Not only that, but he had a rough 2014 season as well. So what gives?
My biggest fear is that he never recovers and makes it back to the top where he made a mainstay. I am a fan of NASCAR first, my drivers second, so I hate seeing the biggest stars so far down. I believe the sport is better when these guys are thriving.
On that note, I am just not sure when or how Smoke will recover? Much of this all started when he first got hurt and he never got to get into the full swing of the car changes. On top of that NASCAR changes its car packages year after year and Tony has been missing a huge amount of seat time at those very moments.
So, while other drivers are learning the new cars, Tony has sat on the sidelines watching. It just seems to me he is so far behind that catching up is as tough as it comes. Add to all of that the way the new package runs is something that gets under Smokes skin. Early in the season we have heard him over and over swear about the new package and how he hates how close it is to the XFINITY cars.
I tend try to never doubt Tony because we have seen over the years he is one of the best drivers in Cup, but the longer the struggles go on and the more frustrated he gets that harder it is to see him back on top.
Note: The positive is, he ran well on Sunday before wrecking the first time. He was looking at a top 15 finish, for him lately would be a good start in the right direction.
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