[Bob Tanner]

Today is the first day of the annual NA__AR Media Tour.

I see they've made three rather significant announcements:

(1) All of the Non Chosen will qualify together at the end of the scheduled qualifying session.

This is simply putting a bandage on a gaping wound. All it actually does is make sure the Non Chosen qualify under similar track conditions. NA__AR acknowledges that they have a problem and have turn qualifiers into two very distinct classes of teams; those who go to the track to try and win, and those to go to the track just to just to get into the race. Very, very sad state of affairs.

(2) NA__AR/Goodyear will supply tires to teams to test at non-Cup tracks.

I have heard from an acquaintance in the CTS that BF Goodrich came up with a test tire last year which a lot of the teams liked. I guess NA__AR might have decided to nip this one in the bud before it got out of hand? The part about CTS and BF Goodrich is ONLY a rumor!

(3) NA__AR will donate all money collected as fines and distribute it to the NASCAR Foundation Charities. In the past this money was given back to the teams as prize money.

Well, it's about damn time someone in Daytona stepped up and did the right thing! Giving finds back as prize money (Yes, Virgina, there is a Santa Claus. Some of this money found its way back to the teams that paid the fines in the first place!?) was pure lunacy, ranking right down there with The Chosen Rule and the encouraging Cup Raiders to ruin the BGN Series.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Today is the first day of the annual NA__AR Media Tour.

I see they've made three rather significant announcements:

(1) All of the Non Chosen will qualify together at the end of the scheduled qualifying session.

This is simply putting a bandage on a gaping wound. All it actually does is make sure the Non Chosen qualify under similar track conditions. NA__AR acknowledges that they have a problem and have turn qualifiers into two very distinct classes of teams; those who go to the track to try and win, and those to go to the track just to just to get into the race. Very, very sad state of affairs.

(2) NA__AR/Goodyear will supply tires to teams to test at non-Cup tracks.

I have heard from an acquaintance in the CTS that BF Goodrich came up with a test tire last year which a lot of the teams liked. I guess NA__AR might have decided to nip this one in the bud before it got out of hand? The part about CTS and BF Goodrich is ONLY a rumor!

(3) NA__AR will donate all money collected as fines and distribute it to the NASCAR Foundation Charities. In the past this money was given back to the teams as prize money.

Well, it's about damn time someone in Daytona stepped up and did the right thing! Giving finds back as prize money (Yes, Virgina, there is a Santa Claus. Some of this money found its way back to the teams that paid the fines in the first place!?) was pure lunacy, ranking right down there with The Chosen Rule and the encouraging Cup Raiders to ruin the BGN Series.

I knew about 1 & 3 but not 2 .. doesn't surprise me tho. was just waiting on the "official" announcement on the other two (kinda like the F1 team spending cap .. knew about it for a while, but Mosley finally, officially talked about it today!)

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I knew about 1 & 3 but not 2 .. doesn't surprise me tho. was just waiting on the "official" announcement on the other two (kinda like the F1 team spending cap .. knew about it for a while, but Mosley finally, officially talked about it today!)

#1 was a no-brainer. John Darby tossed out the trial balloon before the season was over.

I heard about the BF Goodrich tire last summer but was surprised that NA__AR addressed the subject. I heard Michlien was also used but not too well liked.

#3 was, I believe, brought to light on SIRIUS radio last season by David Poole. It came about the time the story broke that Sam Ard was destitute and was basically living on charity. Poole brought up the subject on his SIRIUS show and suggested that NA__AR do what they just announced. For once maybe someone with power in Daytona Beach took their head out of their anus long enough to make a good decision?

[Phils20]

I also saw them talking about the fact that they are putting those "spacer" plates on the Nationwide seres cars this year.

Had they mentioned that before, and I just missed it?

[wingkey1]

Teams been asking/hoping for #2 there for a while. Problem at one time seemed to be supplier could not accomodate the additional quantity.

For so long as there will be a/limited designated supplier(s) for a series (not at all uncommon to those who have raced), it makes a lot of sense to make those same tires available for testing. Anyone who has had the experience of testing on one tire/supplier while racing on another understands the tires may/could be so different to the point of making the testing value questionable.

Surprised they could not / did not make this happen sooner.

[oncea3fan]

I think the thought in the begining was if the teams couldn't use the same tire they'd be racing with, then it wouldn't be worth testing at an outside track, and hence conform to the limited testing rules.
the teams tested anyway and if they're going to buy tire come hell or high water, then they might as well be nascar officail tires

I am really surprised that we haven't seen another tire war with the likes of
fire stone
bridgestone
michalin
bf goodrich

[Quality88]

All three series should use different tires