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NASCAR Notebook Media tour talk centers around Dodge, safety
Updated: Saturday January 13, 2001 12:02 PM
By Mike Fish, CNNSI.com CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rumblings and closing thoughts from the annual stock-car media tour: Most industry insiders swear the new Dodge is a spittin' image of the Ford Taurus, but nobody is too sure how it's motor program will shake out between now and the Daytona 500. If talk wasn't about Dodge and blissful title talk in every garage, then it veered to safety, fan-friendly racing (i.e. restrictor plates and packages to slow the cars), the almost $2.5 billion TV contract and how best to share the loot. NASCAR officials, true to form, aren't soliciting suggestions on divvying up the TV money and, while they continue to work on safety technology, won't be introducing any changes for the start of the season. The auto manufacturers, particularly Ford, appear to have taken the safety lead in the wake of three fatalities last season. Ford has had at least two safety meetings with its drivers, including one last week at Daytona, and is working with its drivers and race teams to develop a more stable, capsule-like seat. It's unclear whether the seat could debut this upcoming season. "We want to make this as safe as we possibly can," says Dale Jarrett, driver of the UPS Ford Taurus. "We realize now that we have a duty to help with that, and it's not just totally up to NASCAR and the tracks to make this safer. We're the ones that are strapping ourselves inside. We've got to do everything we can. "The cars are safer than they have ever been, but we're also traveling at higher rates of speed."
Hands offDespite NASCAR president Mike Helton's strong hint that aerodynamic packages to slow cars could be coming at places besides Daytona and Talladega, a fair number of drivers aren't in agreement. Officials and promoters see it as a way to hook fans with more competitive racing. "We know the rules at Daytona and Talladega are in place for a reason -- safety," Steve Park says. "The others should be left alone."
It's the economy, stupidBruton Smith, who owns several major tracks including Charlotte, Atlanta and Texas, is one of the wealthier gentlemen in the sport. So when Mr. Smith speaks to the economy, it's probably wise to listen -- even if he appears to be parroting his good friend, President-elect George W. Bush."You know, we are in a recession now," Smith says. "Some people on Wall Street don't agree. They don't tell us that we're in a recession. But I'll tell you, we're in a recession. "Now what does that do [for stock-car racing]? We've been down those happy highways of life before and in this sport we have never been hurt by a recession. Historically, fans will still go out and go to races. They entertain themselves, even though things are a little bit tight." But some worry about the fiscal health of the Dodge team, returning from nearly two-decade hiatus. The parent company, Daimler-Chrysler, suffered a horrific third-quarter and there are rumblings of a shake up within the American side of the auto manufacturer. "I'm a Dodge dealer so I'm helping pay for some of those race teams to run against us," says Rick Hendrick, whose race team is aligned with Chevrolet. "It's not good. You hate to see that with anybody. When you lose $200 million in a quarter, that can't be good for anybody." Dale Earnhardt took a jab at the new rival, though perhaps stretching the truth a bit: "I heard Dodge was broke. Are they in financial trouble? I think all the analysts and people I talk to on Wall Street, they say they're in trouble."
Still intimidating after all these yearsDale Earnhardt is sporting a tiny scar above his left eyebrow, the result of having a piece of metal surgically removed last week in a Daytona Beach hospital. It seems Earnhardt, living up to his "Ironhead" nickname, had a piece of a chisel lodge in his head years ago while working on a car.Earnhardt was unaware of it until an MRI procedure four years ago -- presumably related to neck problems he was experiencing at the time -- caused the metal to vibrate just under the skin. Earnhardt is already back gearing up for the Rolex 24 At Daytona next month, teaming up with son, Dale Jr., and two sports car drivers. "I knew about Dale Earnhardt before I came to the states," said teammate Kelly Collins, born and bred in England. "The guy's achieved legend status for what he has done."
Coach speakJoe Gibbs made it official, saying unlike contempories like Dick Vermeil and Marty Schottenheimer, he has no plans for a sideline comeback. Why bother? He has too much sweat and money tied up in his racing team. Besides, he's successfully set up shop in another arena. "There's a thrill about coaching," says Gibbs, fresh from his team's first Winston Cup title. "If you're not doing something else, you might not be happy. I played golf with Marty Schottenheimer [before taking the Washington Redskins job] and he was not happy, I can tell you that."
Status quoAfter closing the season with a Busch championship, you might expect Jeff Green to be fielding offers to step up to Winston Cup racing. Not so. Either that, or the opportunities aren't lucrative enough yet to make him jump.Until presented with something he can't resist, Green sounds happier to remain a big fish in a smaller pond. "To go back up [to Winston Cup] and run 30th and 35th, that's not what I want to do," he says.
Notes from television
"This is a team sport," says NASCAR president Mike Helton. "Crew guys play an incredible role in what happens on the race track."
He said itHumpy Wheeler, president of the Lowe's Motorspeedway in Charlotte: "A sure sign of the apocalypse will be to see some driver have [a sponsor's logo] permanently tattooed across his forehead."
Mike Fish covers NASCAR for CNNSI.com
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