Burton: ‘Fans were cheated’ when Jimmie Johnson chose not to qualify at Fontana

Sensationalist headline. If you read through his comments, Burton is more measured in what he has to say on the subject. He doesn't like the precedent and the potential for it happening more often. I see his point, but it's probably an overreaction, as I can't see it becoming a common occurrence. Teams don't have an incentive to skip qualifying, and there is now extra incentive against starting at the back because of the Stage 1 top ten points.

NASCAR "looking at" something and making new rules prematurely is not what is needed.
 
Fontana probably isnt as pit location critical, compared to other tracks. And this is charter racing or having no teams that will fail to make the race.

Can't see his fans feeeling cheated, this wasn't JGR cruise contol Talladega stuff.
 
As I have said before judging by Jeff Burton's verbal diarrhea he must get paid by the word as a lot of what comes out of his mouth is silly and repetitive. One of the privileges of having a charter is being guaranteed a starting position so if you have a backup car that is not ready to turn a fast lap why would you risk trying to qualify it?

Qualifying is not important to me and with the fastest car not being guaranteed the pole IDK why anyone would be interested in it. I find out what position the drivers are starting in when the green flag waves to start the race and that is plenty good enough for me.
 
Johnson never qualifies well anyway, so what does it really matter? Ok I get not wanting chartered teams to skip qualifying for any number of reasons but come on, there is no need to freak out. Burton says its bad for the future of the sport but so is mostly everything NASCAR has done since about 1996 when they left North Wilkesboro, so this is tiny on the scale of things that are bad for the sport's future.
 
On Wednesday’s NASCAR America, NASCAR On NBC analyst and former driver Jeff Burton disagreed with Knaus’ call and said that, in effect, Johnson fans were shortchanged.
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That funny, I don't feel shortchanged.
 
The #48 had bigger problems at Cali than where they started.

What purpose would be served by requiring all teams to qualify? You can't force them to turn in a competitive lap, or even complete one. Pull out onto the apron at pit road speed, take the green, and stay down there back around to pit entrance. Might as well use the beat-up primary car; you're going to the back either way.

Pointless discussion. How often does a team deliberately choose to sit out qualifying? Might as well complain about cars sitting out practice sessions. Where they qualify isn't as important to a fan as where they finish.
 
gnomesayin said:
Sensationalist headline. If you read through his comments, Burton is more measured in what he has to say on the subject. He doesn't like the precedent and the potential for it happening more often. I see his point, but it's probably an overreaction, as I can't see it becoming a common occurrence. Teams don't have an incentive to skip qualifying, and there is now extra incentive against starting at the back because of the Stage 1 top ten points.

NASCAR "looking at" something and making new rules prematurely is not what is needed.
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I would agree if they left it at that. But then they started to act like head honchos talking about well NASCAR needs to do something about this outrage blah blah.

I wonder what Burton's and Jarret's thoughts are on the teams skipping practices. Something that is done 9/10 times on plate races.

Hell, back a few years, Harvick decided to skip a practice session on Martinsville because he fell his car was fast enough and good enough.

I guess you have to fill that 40 minute time slot with something on that show.
 
Starting in the back of the field at some tracks isn't a significant penalty. (If he won others would evaluate the decision - he started with fresh tires while the field had qualifying laps on theirs.) You can bet they would try to qualify at a short track regardless of the condition of the car.
 
Hey, if they want to preserve tires if it means we get to watch them shoot through the field at the start, it's worth it.


It was awesome to see 3 or 4 front runners start at the rear and work forward last weekend.


I understand what Jeff is getting at though, it sets a bad precedent. Which will mean the rules have to be adjusted.
 
There were very solid reasons for not putting a car on the track for qualifying. The obvious being they are 3000 miles from Charlotte and they don't have a backup car.
 
I bet fans get more out of seeing Johnson drive up from the back than from watching him ride around the track by himself to qualify 25th. Last year at the Chicago race, Harvick started near the rear. It was a lot of fun watching him pass cars lap after lap.
 
29-4 said:
I bet fans get more out of seeing Johnson drive up from the back than from watching him ride around the track by himself to qualify 25th. Last year at the Chicago race, Harvick started near the rear. It was a lot of fun watching him pass cars lap after lap.
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I read this post. Agreed with it.

Had to sit down.
 
sloggie said:
No one noticed because JJ doesn't have fans. He's too boring

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
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I like JJ just fine as he presents himself well, is intense and competitive and seems like a decent guy. I would much rather have a beer with him then a lot of the other drivers.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
I like JJ just fine as he presents himself well, is intense and competitive and seems like a decent guy. I would much rather have a beer with him then a lot of the other drivers.
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"Vanilla" seems to be a nice and decent person and a responsible sponsor representative and ONE HELL OF A RACECAR DRIVER. Great driver. I just happen to like the bad boys who are talented, like Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski but I respect the heck out of Jimmie Johnson.
 
I'm more worried about cars not getting through inspection in time to qualify. I also think there needs to be a penalty for not getting through inspection in time.

I do t see any advantage whatsoever to skipping qualifying and I don't think it'll become a thing.
 
No denying Jimmie's talent or his resume but I gotta say, for me personally, I don't think I'd blink twice if he were to announce his exit from the sport. I've never been a fan of his but I can respect him and his accomplishments. Kudos to him and all of his loyal fans but I think his reign of five straight from 06' - 10' did more to hurt than help the sport. I'm hard pressed to think of anyone that I personally know that's not a fan of his to have enjoyed NASCAR during those times. That's actually a compliment to Jimmie..... He's just too damn good!
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
No denying Jimmie's talent or his resume but I gotta say, for me personally, I don't think I'd blink twice if he were to announce his exit from the sport. I've never been a fan of his but I can respect him and his accomplishments. Kudos to him and all of his loyal fans but I think his reign of five straight from 06' - 10' did more to hurt than help the sport. I'm hard pressed to think of anyone that I personally know that's not a fan of his to have enjoyed NASCAR during those times. That's actually a compliment to Jimmie..... He's just too damn good!
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I all but quit following NASCAR during that time. Its hard to watch week in and week out the same team blowing everyone away.
 
DixieThunder24 said:
I all but quit following NASCAR during that time. Its hard to watch week in and week out the same team blowing everyone away.
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No offense meant here, but that's kind of where I was in the late 90's when Jeff Gordon was winning just about every week. 1998 was extra difficult to watch as two drivers (Gordon and Martin) won 20 of 33 races that year.
 
ToyYoda said:
No offense meant here, but that's kind of where I was in the late 90's when Jeff Gordon was winning just about every week. 1998 was extra difficult to watch as two drivers (Gordon and Martin) won 20 of 33 races that year.
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Got you completely, I was also under 10 years old when that was going on which made it just pure awesome. Had I been an adult it would have sucked.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
No denying Jimmie's talent or his resume but I gotta say, for me personally, I don't think I'd blink twice if he were to announce his exit from the sport. I've never been a fan of his but I can respect him and his accomplishments. Kudos to him and all of his loyal fans but I think his reign of five straight from 06' - 10' did more to hurt than help the sport. I'm hard pressed to think of anyone that I personally know that's not a fan of his to have enjoyed NASCAR during those times. That's actually a compliment to Jimmie..... He's just too damn good!
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Oh gosh yes. I have gone through a few Jimmie Johnson voo-doo dolls. But I put them in storage a long time ago. There is no denying his greatness. I would even like to see him get one more Championship before he retires.
 
Pat said:
Oh gosh yes. I have gone through a few Jimmie Johnson voo-doo dolls. But I put them in storage a long time ago. There is no denying his greatness. I would even like to see him get one more Championship before he retires.
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I wouldn't mind him winning one more championship either but I hope it comes as his swan song a few years from now. :D
 
29-4 said:
I bet fans get more out of seeing Johnson drive up from the back than from watching him ride around the track by himself to qualify 25th. Last year at the Chicago race, Harvick started near the rear. It was a lot of fun watching him pass cars lap after lap.
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I went to the Atlanta race a couple of years ago when Jimmie and Harvick came from the back of the field to finish 1-2. It was a lot of fun watching them work their way up through the field, and surely more bang for the buck than paying $20 or whatever it is to watch qualifying these days.
 
Pat said:
Oh gosh yes. I have gone through a few Jimmie Johnson voo-doo dolls. But I put them in storage a long time ago. There is no denying his greatness. I would even like to see him get one more Championship before he retires.
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NJJammer said:
I wouldn't mind him winning one more championship either but I hope it comes as his swan song a few years from now. :D
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An 8th Championship in the Chase Era of this sport may very well be the 'final nail'. Keep in mind though, I say this as a huge fan of both Petty and Earnhardt.

I really would have liked to have seen what would have happen without the change in season structure. Had Jimmie had the opportunity to compete under the old structure and have been as successful, I think many would feel far better about his domination of the sport.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
An 8th Championship in the Chase Era of this sport may very well be the 'final nail'. Keep in mind though, I say this as a huge fan of both Petty and Earnhardt.

I really would have liked to have seen what would have happen without the change in season structure. Had Jimmie had the opportunity to compete under the old structure and have been as successful, I think many would feel far better about his domination of the sport.
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I think JJ and Chad were plenty good enough to win multiple championships under the same format as Dale but I seriously question whether they would have won more than 3-4. I agree with your theory that many would feel a lot better about JJ's champs had he done it the old fashioned way. Even if JJ had not won a single champ he would still be one of the GOATS simple based on his win total. There was only one Intimidator and just one Silver Fox as they were the 2 best, IMO. I am not denigrating the King by any means though.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
An 8th Championship in the Chase Era of this sport may very well be the 'final nail'. Keep in mind though, I say this as a huge fan of both Petty and Earnhardt.

I really would have liked to have seen what would have happen without the change in season structure. Had Jimmie had the opportunity to compete under the old structure and have been as successful, I think many would feel far better about his domination of the sport.
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We will never know thanks to Brian & crew but he won what he won with the rules in place. Even forgetting the championships, the team of him & Chad have racked up an extraordinary amount of wins. Even if one thinks some of the Championships are bogus, no one can deny the wins. I've been to six races at Dover and he's won three. The man can handle his car and in the end, that what matter's to me as a fan of the sport.
 
29-4 said:
I bet fans get more out of seeing Johnson drive up from the back than from watching him ride around the track by himself to qualify 25th. Last year at the Chicago race, Harvick started near the rear. It was a lot of fun watching him pass cars lap after lap.
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True. I would also bet that 93% of the fans got tremendous joy out of watching Jimmie wreck himself (putting this whole thing into motion), which is a lot more than the 7% Jimmie fans would have gotten watching him qualify. Call it a net positive and move on.
 
I wonder what Clint Bowyer would think about this? These are entirely different circumstances. But Bowyer became upset back in February when Scott Bloomquist was running a Lucas Oil race, showed up late, didn't attempt to qualify or run his heat race, and only ran a lap or two in his B-main because he knew he was in the race either way because of a provisional. Bowyer took to Twitter and ripped Bloomquist and the series for allowing that. I could see where he was coming from. The next day, the series came out with a rule against it.

I think the situation with Johnson was different. But it shows when you know you have a spot locked into the field, you can get by with quite a bit.
 
Oh good lord, we need a drama llama.


th
 
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