Re: Well thought out article about NASCAR...
Heck, manipulating the finish by means other than racing is one of the grand traditions of auto racing. Actually, all forms of racing. Since the big incident, several NASCAR drivers have admitted doing things to manipulate finishes including, faking flats, spinning out, throwing water bottles out the window, etc. The main problem with MWR is that they were so sloppy about it. They should have had a plan in place well before crunch time.
IMO, the Chase itself is a manipulation. NASCAR decided it wasn't interesting enough to have the championship decided by points scored over the entire 36 race schedule. Some folks like it, some don't. But the result is a change in team strategies to try to make the Chase.
The Green White Checker is the ultimate manipulation. Used to be the winner of a race was the driver who crossed the finish line at the end of the stated distance. If that happened under a yellow flag, so be it. Teams planned their pit stops and fuel loads for, say, 500 miles. Now they have to think it could be 510 miles or maybe 520. GWC's happen often enough that they have to assume that's the way it will go. Again, some folks like it, some don't.
It's pretty common in restrictor plate races for teams to lay back the first 350 or 400 miles to avoid The Big One. They are clearly not running 100%. Are they going to be penalized? Seems to me there are a lot of worms in that can France just opened.
