Bill France Sr Photo – Getty Images
With the recent announcement of the new format for the Monster Energy All-Star Race to add a tire option, spirited discussions began immediately. After eight races with the new Stage racing at every type of track except a road course, most people have settled on their opinion of its entertainment value and impact on the sport. Some of the calls on the talk shows seem negative, but look at what changes the sanctioning body has made to improve the beloved sport of stock car racing.
From the beginning, NASCAR founder William Henry Getty France, known as ‘Big Bill’ ruled his creation with a ‘Iron Fist,’ crushing two different attempts by the drivers to form a union. The first was in 1961 when Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa and star driver Curtis Turner attempted to form the Federation of Professional Athletes prominently featuring NASCAR drivers. France prohibited any union member from participating in any NASCAR events with authority:
“I’ll use a pistol to enforce it. I have a pistol and know how to use it,” said France.
Two top stars, Curtis Turner and Tim Flock were under ‘lifetime’ suspensions for standing by their plans to unionize. While Turner’s ban was eventually lifted, Flock never competed with NASCAR again. The second attempt was the Professional Drivers Association (PDA) in 1969 led by ‘The King’ Richard Petty in response to safety of tires and speed before the inaugural race at what is now known as Talladega Superspeedway.
The discussions to postpone the race or at least slow the cars down ended with LeeRoy Yarborough punching France in the face and 40 drivers withdrawing from the event. France didn’t back down and ran the race without them, bringing in drivers from the second-tier division. Richard Brickhouse earned his only win in the top series because the PDA and boycott only lasted one week with regular drivers returning the next week.
The difficulties of starting NASCAR illustrates France Sr’s ability to overcome and survive. This hard-nosed stance went through a softening or transition stage with his son Bill France Jr at the helm. Now under ‘Big Bill’s’ grandson Brian France’s guidance, there has been a 180 degree shift in philosophy.
In the summer of 2014, representatives from 18 organizations which fielded 37 cars in NASCAR’s premier series formed the Race Team Alliance (RTA) which collaborates on the best interest of the teams and the sport by communicating with the sanctioning body in a single, common voice of their concerns and issues. Also coming to fruition in the fall of that year, is the Drivers Council spearheaded by veteran driver Denny Hamlin with the same goal but from the view of the racers. Even comments from a Fan Council formed in 2008, are part of the consideration when contemplating changes in the sport.
In the 2009 non-points All-Star race, NASCAR used the lead lap cars ‘double file’ restart – common to dirt tracks – to spice up the show. Following an out pouring of positive response from fans and drivers alike, Chairman and CEO Brian France implemented the change to regular season Cup points races only three weeks later with the other top series to follow suit down the road. A mid-season change was practically unheard of but it was in the best interest of sport and the fans that support the idea.
“We’ve heard the fans loud and clear: ‘double-file restarts—shootout style’ are coming to the NASCAR Cup Series. This addition to the race format is good for competition and good for the fans,” said France.
After Matt Kenseth’s 2003 Championship run with only two wins, NASCAR made a change to its points system for the first time in nearly 30 years by creating the Chase. By tweaking it over the years it has evolved into the playoffs of 2017.
If something doesn’t work well, NASCAR adapts by making changes.
In 2016 the XFINITY Series had heat races and the Camping World Truck Series used a caution clock. Neither drew high praise yet when they joined the underlying concepts and intent along with awarding regular season and playoff points, today’s Stage racing became the next evolution. This has created excitement throughout every race this season, garnering two thumbs up across the industry.
And with a softer tire option as part of the announcement for this year’s Monster Energy’s All-Star race, future full-time use is possible. Applaud NASCAR for continuing to produce and offer the best quality racing possible.
Remember the half-time break in the Camping World Trucks Series? It wasn’t popular and didn’t improve the racing, it didn’t evolve, adapt, and overcome, thus became obsolete.