Published: April 28, 2009 11:43 pm      

de la BASTIDE: NASCAR escapes disaster

Blocking rule needed at all tracks

Good fortune was shining on NASCAR this weekend.

In what had all the makings of a disaster waiting to happen, the Ford of Carl Edwards didn’t break through a catch fence near the start/finish line at Talladega Speedway on Sunday.

The catch fence bowed but performed its intended design and vaulted Edwards car back on the track. Had it broken through that fence there is no telling how many fans might have died or been seriously injured.

The second bit of good fortune was that Edwards’ Ford didn’t hit flush on the top of the car, possibly crumbling the roll cage.

Several drivers renewed their outcries at the risks of restrictor plate racing. The truth of the matter is that the four restrictor plate races at Daytona and Talladega are normally the best of the season. Fans enjoy the lap-after-lap, side-by-side racing and never knowing who is going to end up with the victory.

The problem is the blocking that takes place by the leaders. On the final lap on Sunday, Edwards went high to block Brad Keselowski and then drove low to block an inside move.

Keselowski was almost up to Edwards’ left rear wheel well when the initial contact was made. That got Edwards sliding sideways when his car went airborne, bounced off of Ryan Newman’s Chevrolet and hit the catch fence.

Earlier in the race, Kyle Busch was weaving up and down the back straight to block. Busch’s car got loose and he spun harmlessly to the inside of the track.

What NASCAR needs is the implementation of a rule, used at every track, to prohibit blocking. Formula One and the Indy Racing League both have blocking rules that appear to work.

NASCAR officials need to meet with drivers and owners to develop a rule to prevent aggressive driving and blocking that results in a dangerous situation on the track. Whatever rule is considered has to be supported by both the drivers and team owners.

No one wants to see a driver who is battling for the lead not be able to move to inhibit another driver from making a pass. But not maintaining a consistent driving line and weaving up and down the racing surface should not be tolerated.

There is also the rule at Daytona and Talladega that a driver can’t go below the yellow line to pass. Maybe that should be suspended if drivers are battling for the lead on the final lap and approaching the finish line.

Had that rule not been in effect Keselowski could have driven below the sacred yellow line to attempt to pass and the Edwards incident would have never taken place.

In other racing news

• Former Kokomo resident Tony Elliott is among the 2009 class of inductees into the Little 500 Hall of Fame. Elliott along with Tray House and Brian Tyler will join the Hall of Fame from the Modern Era with Johnny Auxter, Karl Busson and Clare Lawicki being inducted from the Historic Era. Congratulations to all the inductees.

• Kokomo’s Gary Bragg Jr. is off to a good start in the Front Wheel Drive Division at Anderson Speedway. Earlier this month Bragg won his first heat race and on Saturday recorded his first feature win for the Mad Cow Racing team.

• Anderson Speedway will be hosting the longest points race for the USAC Sprint Car Division starting at 8 p.m. The Glen Niebel Classic is 100 laps of racing. Lincoln’s Dave Darland is the current points leader. Other drivers expected are 2008 winner Tanner Swanson, along with previous winners Tracy Hines, Levi Jones and Eric Gordon.

Nielbel owned sprint cars captured six Little 500 victories, four with Bob Frey at the wheel from 1987 through 1990 and in 1995 and 1997 with Bentley Warren at the controls.

Ken de la Bastide may be reached at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com or (765) 454 -8580.