Rain shorted races, lack of consitency (drivers, nascar, racing, cars)

[Checkered24]

Nascar seems to be really inconsistent in when they decide to call a race due to rain this year.

Today, they barely got the tarps on the cars before they threw the trophy at Joey Lagano. I checked the weather map on my computer, and it looked like mostly light, scattered rain in the area with a decent window before more, heavy rain would arrive. It looked like if they waited a little bit, they could have finished the race.

Meanwhile, back in May, they seemingly waited hours in constant downpours before ending the Lowes race and giving the win to David Reutimann.

I understand the need to call races, but I do not like this inconsistency. It is a nice feel good story for Lagano to win his first race, but today he just really didn't deserve it. He was probably a couple laps of running out of gas, and was an also-ran for most of the day. It looked like it was going to end up a good three way shootout between Gordon, Kurt Busch, and Tony Stewart. With another caution, Jimmie Johnson appeared to have a car to give a run too.


Just seems odd to me that they didn't wait it out a bit longer. They had plenty of dailight, and only needed to get in another 30 or so laps.

[wGoshen]

I think that it all depends on circumstances. At Lowes, the track has lights, which is why they waited so long before the decided that they couldn't continue. New Hampshire doesn't have lights, and by the time the rain stopped and they dried the track, it would be too late to restart the race. Plus they only had about 25 laps, so it wouldn't be worth the 3 hours of drying the track.

[tasmtairy]

I guess you are right wGoshen, I was surprised today though. One minute they were racing and I was working and the next minute there was Joey. I believe they have it under control and they are consistent with how they determine the ending of a race when there is rain!!

[Checkered24]

Originally Posted by wGoshen

I think that it all depends on circumstances. At Lowes, the track has lights, which is why they waited so long before the decided that they couldn't continue. New Hampshire doesn't have lights, and by the time the rain stopped and they dried the track, it would be too late to restart the race. Plus they only had about 25 laps, so it wouldn't be worth the 3 hours of drying the track.

I was thinking about daylight too. However, they had some time to wait it out. Maybe not enough, and I figure that went into their thought process. However, just 25 laps would have definitely changed the results, and resulted in better racing to the finish.

I guess I am just disappointed the top cars didn't have a chance to battle it out today.

[xlabel]

I like Lagano and I'm glad he got his first win, but that's wrong to torture Ruetimman for 2 hours but give it 10 minutes and declare Joey the winner, lights or not. No coincedence Joey was running at his "hometown track"?

[Lucky Lady123]

I too was disappointed and thought they should of waited alittle while longer because the outcome sure would of been different.

[pokrplr]

It is what it is...Thats part of racing that you have to factor in every single week. Cant control it. Willing to bet next week in Daytona there will be some sort of rain factor (again) ... Like #24 said, its not how you win, its the win that counts...
Congrats Joey!! Youngest Sprint Cup winner in history...And he's not old enough to drink & celebrate it