Here is a rundown of what got me thinking...
After this post, I am taking a week off. See you next Monday. In actual racing news, Noah Lyles is the fastest map in the world. MotoGP teams ran special liveries to celebrate the world championship’s 75th anniversary, and there was a home winner. IndyCar fans found out how much their wallets will take a beating in 2025 and beyond. Remember what you have now. Carlos Sainz, Jr. signed a deal with Williams for 2025. IMSA was lost in the shuffle at Road America. Since we are in the middle of a down period, and we just went over how IndyCar can improve its selection process for the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. Here is a chance to make a tweak in the NASCAR world.
NASCAR, Fix Your Overtime
A little over a month ago, NASCAR had its longest race in terms of overtimes in the Cup Series. At Nashville back in June, Austin Cindric spun with two laps to go to send the race into overtime. What proceeded was 41 minutes to complete the race.
Thirty-one laps over five overtime periods were run to decide the winner. Twenty-six of those 31 laps were run under caution. Denny Hamlin had taken the lead from Ross Chastain with seven laps to go in the scheduled distance. Due to the number of cautions, Hamlin had to stop for fuel, one of the numerous cars that had to make an extra pit stop due to the length of the overtime.
Hamlin went on to lead 70 laps, the second-most in the race. He had the best average finish during the race, averaging around a fifth-place position. Instead, he had to fight to finish 12th. While Kyle Larson made contact with Chastain, knocking Chastain out of the race, it wasn't the only incident in the overtime period.
While 13 cars did not finish the Nashville race, 33 cars went the scheduled distance. Thirty-three cars ran 300 laps, 400 miles. Eight drivers were taken out in the overtime portion of the race.
Joey Logano was running 14th when Cindric spun. Zane Smith was in 24th. Those two ended up finishing first and second. Of the top ten runner-ups at the time of that caution, only four ended up finishing in the top ten. Of the top five runners, none finished in the top five. Two didn't finish the race.
Then the Brickyard 400 happened. Brad Keselowski stretched his fuel longer than anyone imagined possible but the caution came out with two laps to go meaning another race would go to overtime. Keselowski did not pit when the pit lane first opened, only to pull out of line as the field was coming to the restart, leading to a confusing situation where Kyle Larson went from third to the front row and a clean shot for the lead against Ryan Blaney into turn one.
There was confusion over who had control and the procedure during this period. Larson would get the lead and another caution would come out. In the second overtime attempt, Larson maintained the lead while Ryan Preece spun off of turn two. Preece sat stationary as the field took the white flag. As Preece had not restarted, the caution came out ending the race and Larson clinched a victory with that yellow flag.
NASCAR's obsession with a green flag finish is incurable at this point. It will sacrifice any shred of quality racing for a sideshow. Heaven forbid a long green flag run set the tone and be remembered. It must come down to two laps... even if it takes 31 laps, 26 of which were under caution, to complete those two laps. Because a finish is a finish even if took 41 minutes to get there.
As much as Nashville was dismissed as a one-off, it shouldn't be allowed to escalate to what we saw that evening. Yes, a five-overtime race had never happened before in the Cup Series, but we should ask if we should allow one to happen again. After 400 miles, the overtime produced a result that was no close to a representation of what that Nashville race looked like.
Hamlin and Larson had two of the top three average running positions throughout the race. Chastain led 45 laps prior to Hamlin overtaking him with seven to go. Ty Gibbs was tied for four-best. None of those guys finished in the top five and they were all in the top five when Cindric spun.
Logano's average running position was 15th. Smith's was 29th. It wasn't any bit of skill that got those two drivers first and second. With nothing to lose, they could make an extra pit stop and fill the tank of fuel while the drivers at the front had to race for a victory. Logano and Smith survived the restarts and took advantage as others dropped out in accidents while others had to stop for fuel.
Oh, and because of the playoff system, that victory got Logano a playoff spot. It would have gotten Smith one as well despite him being 34th in points, dead last among the full-time drivers.
Many will say no changes are necessary, but the result should at least be respectable to what someone witness over the first three hours. Overtimes exist in other sports to break a tie. Two teams or competitors were level and something must be done to decide a winner. Overtime exists in NASCAR to give a better finish. There isn't a tie. Two competitors are not level. NASCAR is attempt to create a more satisfying conclusion. Though I would argue 26 of the final 31 laps running under caution is not satisfying either.
If NASCAR is going to continue overtime, it should set a few parameters.
One, the top ten at the scheduled race distance get to complete.
Two, anyone who is involved in the caution that forced overtime cannot complete. Example, if seventh spins sixth, both cars do not advance to overtime and only the top eight compete. If you are involved in a caution during overtime, you are not allowed to participate in the subsequent overtime.
Three, all overtime participants fill up on fuel prior to overtime, no tire changes allowed.
This sets a minimum standard. If you cannot be in the top ten after 400 miles, do you really deserve a shot a victory? If you are 24th after 400 miles and have been averaging a running position outside the top 25, I think 24th is the best you can do. Being in the top ten would matter. If you are 11th, there is something to shoot for in those closing laps. If you cannot be in the top ten at the scheduled distance, then it wasn't your day, but you still get an 11th-place finish.
A safety net would also exist for those in the top ten. Brad Keselowski pulled off an incredible run to stretch his fuel and be leading with two laps to go. If you can get to race distance in the lead after an incredible fuel save, one caution and an extra restart should not erase that drive.
Strategy aside, if a driver is averaging a top five position over 400 miles, he should at least be guaranteed a top ten finish. There shouldn't be a case where because one driver got a restart wrong you could end up finishing 33rd. That is a devastating drop in points that isn't necessary. That driver has proven he has run better than the guys in 21st-30th all race. Those guys at the back shouldn't get to benefit because a front-runner was taken out in overtime.
There is a way to prevent a driver manipulating a race and forcing a overtime, and it doesn't allow drivers to run over one another. If you want to win, you are going to have to find a clean way to win it.
And it doesn't allow pit strategy due to extra laps decide a race. There shouldn't be a penalty because you didn't plan on a race running 15 or 30 laps longer than scheduled. If you were in the top ten at the scheduled distance, someone better beat you on track with skill not because they have more fuel in the tank. We want the races to be decided because of driver ability, not because someone topped off on a caution 30 laps earlier when running 19th.
This format would at least clean up NASCAR's overtimes. We wouldn't be getting races that drag on for over a half-hour. A two-lap sprint would actually be a two-lap sprint. It would make an overtime more concise. We shouldn't be saying, "where did he come from?" in overtime. If you weren't mentioned all day, you shouldn't get mentioned at the finish for the win.
It would also turn overtime into a test of skill. Everyone is on worn tires. No one would get a benefit from having a fresh set of tires in the pit area while the others don't. It would come down to who can win a two-lap sprint with what they got under them. We shouldn't be afraid to have drivers show their skills. Part of that includes a restart on worn tires.
If NASCAR is committed to the charade that all green flag finishes are better than a finish under caution, it could at least improve the quality of what it does in those extra laps. Less is more. Make overtime something for only the top drivers. It rewards those that actually had a good race while not giving someone who was never in the picture a chance to steal the show. If you want a chance to win, you better have at least had a good day.
NASCAR should not be afraid to want its race results to at least represent what the entire race looked like. A slight tweak to the overtime procedure solves that, and if there is any series that loves tweaking, it is NASCAR.
Winners From the Weekend
You know about Noah Lyles, but did you know...
Enea Bastianini won MotoGP's British Grand Prix and sprint race from Silverstone. Jake Dixon won the Moto2 race. Iván Ortolá won the Moto3 race, his second victory in three races.
The #6 Porsche of Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet won IMSA race from Road America. The #2 United Autosport Oreos-Gibson of Ben Keating and Ben Hanley won in LMP2. The #35 Conquest Racing Ferrari of Daniel Serra and Giacomo Altoè won in GTD Pro. The #96 Turner Motorsport BMW of Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher won in GTD.
The #8 ARTA Honda of Tomoki Nojiri and Nobuharu Matsushita won the Super GT race from Fuji. The #65 K2 R&D LEON Racing Mercedes-AMG of Nagoya Gamou, Takuro Shinohara and Haruki Kurosawa won in GT300.
Sébastien Ogier won Rally Finland, his 61st career victory and third of the season.
Coming Up This Weekend
The Olympics conclude.
NASCAR is back at Richmond.
World Superbike is in Portimão.
