[vincesanity82]

NASCAR's new-car project completes its first year on the track this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, another very fast intermediate track. So where have the cards fallen so far, at the first three mid-size tracks? Right into the hands of the sport's biggest team owners. Call them "The Big Four," now that Richard Childress has pushed his way into the group with Jack Roush, Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs. ... The new car was supposed to take much of the engineering out of the game, because of NASCAR's new package of tight body templates and tight rules. Surprise � engineering has become even more important. And the gap between the haves and the have-nots has seldom seen quite so apparent. Four camps have it; the rest don't, and they appear to be losing ground. -- Winston-Salem Journal



Winston-Salem Journal | Separation of Power: If you don't work for 'The Big Four,' chances are you won't win many races

[DOF_power]

The season is still young, but if it will continue like so I can't say I'll be surprised.
No matter how much sanctionized spec there is, the gap between the top teams and rest is there.

[Bob Tanner]

Thanks Vince. I appreciate the time and effort you take to find these articles and post them.

Actually I think none of what Mulhern writes surprises anyone here. The cause and effect of what he writes about is a constant source of discussion by most of us.

I thought the trend he cited IRT call owners winning was interesting. 13 different winning owners in 2001 and only six in 2006. That stat alone tells a very sad tale.

Side note: Did you know that DW little "Vortex Theory" (the counter clockwise movement of the cars around the track can keep rain away during race day) actually originated in a Mike Mulhern article back in 1999?

Another "Original" DW plagiarized!

[DOF_power]

The spec-ing of cars doesn't really produce closer racing, just more despised identical looking cars.
There's only rally, touring, sportscar-endurance and GT series where the machines actually look different.

[Fireball]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

NASCAR's new-car project completes its first year on the track this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, another very fast intermediate track. So where have the cards fallen so far, at the first three mid-size tracks? Right into the hands of the sport's biggest team owners. Call them "The Big Four," now that Richard Childress has pushed his way into the group with Jack Roush, Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs. ... The new car was supposed to take much of the engineering out of the game, because of NASCAR's new package of tight body templates and tight rules. Surprise � engineering has become even more important. And the gap between the haves and the have-nots has seldom seen quite so apparent. Four camps have it; the rest don't, and they appear to be losing ground. -- Winston-Salem Journal

Vince, don't count out guys like Roger Penske, Chip Ganassi, George Gillett, DEI, and Red Bull just yet. Roger doesn't like to be an "also ran" in any motorsport. And, Chip is a formable competitor. Hendrick and Roush just slowly brought more money to the table early on. Now Joe Gibbs is back and Richard Childress can let his wine business operate on its own. So he's got more time to donate to his NASCAR team. DEI has done their merger after Dale Jr, left.

Penske, Ganassi, Gillett, DEI and even Red Bull will pour more money into their teams to make them competitive. Technology is one thing… but, you must have the people that know how to apply that technology is still another. Look for lots of people moving from team to team before the end of this year. That will transfer knowledge of their technologies to the other teams. NASCAR likes to refer to that as parity.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

The spec-ing of cars doesn't really produce closer racing, just more despised identical looking cars.
There's only rally, touring, sportscar-endurance and GT series where the machines actually look different.

Well said, my friend. Well said. Given the above three choices, I'll take touring or Aussie V8 Super Cars ny day.

[clutch]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

The spec-ing of cars doesn't really produce closer racing,

Too say the very least .........that is debateable

and my thought is that it does.

In the case of Sprint cup it also produces a safer car.........as we witnessed yesterday with the 00 hitting the wall at 165.......which in my opinion is more than enough reason to spec them