IndyCar upswing as NASCAR stumbles
NASCAR’s missteps include president’s long Twitter binge.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Motorsports in the United States can be bold and beautiful and so very baffling.
IndyCar and NASCAR, the nation’s top two series, seem as if they’re headed in opposite directions at the start of the season. IndyCar has had two competitive races, boasts a new car that contributed to a nail-biting finish Saturday in Phoenix, and renewed energy and excitement surrounding the beleaguered series. NASCAR, the behemoth league in this country, has had seven races, but after Sunday’s race at Texas, some might wonder if the series is falling off its rails.
NASCAR officials made an officiating error that benefited Kevin Harvick, a series official was seen on television fist-bumping a Harvick crew member after the no-call, and then Harvick spared no words in his harsh criticism of the “pathetic” NASCAR-issued air guns he claimed are “embarrassing for the sport.”
The action didn’t stop after Kyle Busch’s victory over Harvick, either. NASCAR President Brent Dewar, who has dramatically amped up fan engagement this year, went on a bizarre, three-hour-plus Twitter binge in which he was both defensive and later apologetic. He invited one critical fan to visit race control because it’s “easy to criticize from you(r) lazy boy.” When fan JJ Brannan wrote that Dewar was “doing more harm to the brand then you are good with your Twitter presence,” Dewar quickly clapped back.
“Happy to stop. Will save me a couple of hours I can spend with my family,” the president replied.
Why can’t the two top racing series in the U.S. ever be on an upswing at the same time? That question was asked to Roger Penske at last month’s IndyCar season opener. The billionaire with full-time teams in NASCAR, IndyCar, IMSA sports cars and Australia’s super cars series didn’t have an immediate answer. IndyCar has been quietly moving with a slight and slow resurgence, but NASCAR feels like it’s putting out one fire after another.
One issue Penske circled back to repeatedly that day was cost containment and he admitted he can run one NASCAR Cup Series car competitively for the same spend on his entire three-car IndyCar operation. He brought up the equipment used to change tires during NASCAR races several times, and seemed in favor of the rule this year that has NASCAR-issued pit guns to stop bottomless team spending on developing faster, efficient air guns. “I hate to tell you how many times we had problems with our $150,000 investment in pit guns compared to what we’re doing now,” Penske said.
All NASCAR team owners were allowed input on the rule and it’s not a minor change; it has developed into a major story line of this season. Teams complained the guns haven’t consistently worked, and Harvick said issues with the equipment have dogged him through the first two months of the season. Harvick still has three victories and a runner-up finish through seven races.
“The pit guns have been absolutely horrible all year, and our guys do a great job on pit road, and the pathetic part about it is the fact you get handed something that doesn’t work correctly, and those guys are just doing everything that they can to try to make it right,” he said.
Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president, told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Monday that officials are studying the problems.
Sunday’s Games Monday’s Games
Raptors at Pistons: Late
Bulls at Nets: Late
Thunder at Heat: Late Cavaliers at Knicks: Late
Magic at Bucks: Late
Grizzlies at Timberwolves: Late Kings at Spurs: Late
Trail Blazers at Nuggets: Late Pelicans at Clippers: Late
NBA notes
Hawks: Atlanta guard Malcolm Delaney, already out for the season, had arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle. The expected recovery time is six to eight weeks. The Hawks will close their season with tonight’s home game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Delaney has been out since March 6 with the left ankle sprain. He averaged 6.3 points and 3.0 assists in 54 games, including three starts.
Warriors: Klay Thompson’s shooting touch seems playoffready. The Golden State guard scored 22 of his 34 points in the first quarter and the Warriors beat Phoenix for the 15th consecutive time, 117-100 late Sunday in the final home game of the Suns’ awful season.“It was good to get into a good rhythm, especially with a game left in the season,” Thompson said.“You want to have some great momentum going into this playoff stretch.” Kevin Durant added 17 points and nine assists for the Warriors, whose winning streak against Phoenix is a franchise record for a single opponent. With the loss, and Memphis’ win over Detroit, Phoenix — at 20-61 — is assured the worst record in the NBA and, consequently, the most ping-pong balls in the May 15 draft lottery. Danuel House scored a career-high 22 points for Phoenix, and Alex Len added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Golden State didn’t have Stephen Curry, still recovering from left MCL sprain, Andre Iguodola (left knee soreness) and Patrick McCaw (lumbar spine contusion). Phoenix was without Devin Booker (right hand sprain), T.J. Warren (left knee inflammation), Josh Jackson (right quad contusion), Marquese Chriss (hip soreness) and Elfrid Payton (left knee).