Best Changes To NASCAR

Over the past 20 years that I have followed NASCAR, there have been plenty of changes.  Some of these changes have promoted competition, made safer track conditions, and brought NASCAR to new audiences.  Some of the changes, however, have brought more wrecks, confusion, and bland racing.  Here are my five best changes.  My next post will have my five worst changes.

#5- "Have At It Boys!"- Finally!  Drivers can bump and run without fear of points being taken away again.  Rivals can show how they really feel!  I know some of the fabricators may not necessarily agree, but they can just call it job security.

#4- "Car of Tomorrow"- Now before you never read my blog again, hear me out. Before the implementation of the CoT there was Hendrick being followed by Roush and Gibbs, RCR was well behind. Now, you have Hendrick, Gibbs, Roush, RCR all very competitive. The second tier teams of RPM, Waltrip, and EGR are all more competitive as well. I think this is due to the cost savings and flexibility of the CoT. Don't get me wrong, I don't like how it looks, but hopefully some changes like the Nationwide cars will improve that.

#3- "SAFER" Barriers and "Hans" Type Devices- These changes, along with closed faced helmets, have added a needed priority to NASCAR: driver safety.  Despite the past of bench seats with lap belts, metal guard rails, and smut covered faces, NASCAR knows who actually brings in the dough...

#2- Double File Restarts- Not many changes that NASCAR has made in the past 20 years have instantly added to the racing experience.  This change made an imediate impact when NASCAR implemented it in June of 2009. Now, we do still have an occasional racer that will scoot away and leave everyone behind, but this adds side by side racing to every restart and lessens the possibility that a poorly running lap car will take out a contender.

#1- Addition in the past 12 years of newer tracks. The addition of Auto Club Speedway, Texas, Vegas, Kansas, and Chicagoland have opened up new TV markets and made NASCAR more of a national sport. One of the biggest benefits of this is that more sponsorship opportunities have become available, keeping 43 cars on the track each race and 36 races on TV during the recession. Of course, it could also be a double-edged sword and may have added to the watering down of the sport.

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