Originally Posted by Mattmac05:
Taking your lumps in this age is a little different than it used to be. The cost to race in the past 30 years has easily increased by over 50% in maNY classes. Yet the payout for a specific special race has only increased by around $200 in 30 years. Not to mention, the challange of finding sponsors in a world where spectators are dwindling and the value of a racing sponsorship is decreasing. This financial challenge can greatly effect the amount of time a team has from going from being 'green' and logging laps, to needing to start covering expenses by finishing better to get a better payout. You see experienced, respected, talented, and hardworking racers give up the sport because it just isn't like it used to be, or it isn't worth. So, why not make it just a tad bit easier for everybody, even the experienced guy. I am not saying it has to be a tire rule, it could be any rule. But when you are dealing with dwindling car counts, 1 or 2 spec part rule can really help everyone, even those experienced guys.
With current shock and suspension technolgy the amount of adjustability in sprint cars is vastly greater than it used to be. Shocks now can have 15 plus different settings per shock. Trust me, crew chiefs and drivers never run out of things to think about to try and squeeze out a little more speed.
Many drivers would gladly burn 1000s of hours turning laps and testing to make up every gap in experience, but you just can't do that in a sc, and the teams you see who take every track test n tune opp, and are there from gate open to gate close, improving and getting better are not lazy. But I am done arguing about this, it is way off topic.
I don't have an issue with setting boundaries established by rules, but not in favor of one part for everybody at all times, it encourages tire cheating, I've seen it. Down here in Georgia we have a DLM series that went to "Hoosier D55" rule all 4 corners. It led to very boring single file racing. Then an enterprising fellow decided he could make good money and win lots of races if he simply modified the labels on different tires to say, "D55". They had Hoosier come in and examine the suspected tires and even they couldn't look at the tires and tell which was which. They finally just opened the tire rules back up to "ANY" Hoosier and killed his little enterprise. The racing got better too. I don't mind being limited on choices for the RR, but not just one for all conditions. A minimum hardness is a good place to start, but you must allow grooving, grinding and/or sipping too. Being able to redress the rubber can really extend a tires life.