Whizzer stated the main reason for the freezing of the field. And I cannot see a way to make an exception to that rule without destroying it's real intent..............or at the very least causing even more confusion and disputes. First lap or final lap if you have a rule that freezes the field, then the field is frozen..........period, no exceptions. Talk about making rules complicated......that would really set off a wave of problems for NASCAR to have to explain. And I question if this would even be a topic of discussion if DW and Larry Mac had not voiced their "expert" opinions about that particular aspect of the new rule....I don't think so. Races have ended under caution for almost 60 years and we never had all this "disgust" about not getting to see a green finish.........sure, we were disappointed, but never ready to impeach the sanctioning body. I'm beginning to think our friends in the broadcast booth are the root of most of this uproar among the fans.
While I'm speaking of our friends in the booth I'd like to predict a "new" controversy. It'll revolve around when the pit road would be opened. On at least 4 occasions I heard DW remark when the pits should be opened to the lead lap cars (now remember, his opinion is worth about as much as mine). He wants the pits open the first time around after taking the caution. That's the way it used to be.....but that was also before the freezing of the field rule. NASCAR told us up front last season that the pits would be closed the first trip around so that, if there were any scoring difficulties, they could be sorted out before they allowed anyone to pit. It all comes back to the not racing back to the flag rule. Sure, today's race was pretty much cut and dried on positions when the caution fell.......at least for the leaders and for most that were not involved in the problems making a caution necessary.........but my bet is that there was repositioning before the pits were open even with the cautions today. Probably way back in the field, but those guys deserve the same fair placement as the leaders........or do they? DW runs his mouth about two times what he should. And his side kick Larry feeds into it. The cautions I saw today were pretty much as NASCAR told us they would be with the racing back rule. We accepted it last season and applauded it........but now the problems associated with the rule change are showing up and we are ready to leave the sport or go egg Mike Helton's motor coach.
And I'm not for reverting back the last completed lap under green.........that often penalizes a car that is moving up through the field. But, if that is what must be done, then that's what I'll learn to live with. But, I don't think that'll settle much of this crap people are screaming about. That has a whole new set of problems for us to deal with. And we have a couple of high paid "experts" in a booth that are more than willing to offer what they feel is not right about it. Bet on it..........hell of a lot more odds in your favor than a lottery.
