Racing To The Flag: Motorsports Hot Topics – Edition No. 4
By Matt Lovisa
Each week Beyond the Flag will tackle the motorsports hot topics with Racing To The Flag. Each writer will give their opinions and open the floor for debate.
Like always, not every topic is going to have the same opinions from writer to writer. If your opinion differs from those of our writers, make sure that you share it with us. You can share your side of the debate by commenting below. You can also reach out to us and share your thoughts via our various social media platforms.
Now, let’s get on with edition No. 4
Green Flag: Brad Keselowski said Jeff Gordon is biased in the broadcast booth. Do you agree?
Mike Hutton: In the back of his mind, Jeff has to be proud of the success of the No. 24 team since his departure, and it is no secret that he has an ownership interest in the No. 48 team as well. NASCAR fans are smart enough to realize this. When you actually listen to Gordon’s analysis and commentary, he’s spot-on and fair to everyone. Was Ned Jarrett biased when he called Dale home? Was Darrell Waltrip biased when he called Michael’s win in the 500 in 2001? Sure, to some degree. Jeff’s time in the booth so far has paralleled his career — he lets his work speak for him.
Alex Herbst: Certainly Brad Keselowski and Jeff Gordon have not always had the best relationship. One thinks back to their post-race altercation at Texas years back. Everyone brings a certain amount of bias involved with any announcer, based on where they are from, who they are connected with, and what their life has provided them. One could easily accuse any driver turned announcer of bias in any racing series. Jeff Gordon has done a great job for a rookie in the broadcast booth, and while he has had his stumbles, and I don’t think what he has done is different than any other broadcaster before him.
Matt Lovisa: I think Gordon is biased to good racing and storylines just like he said but I also think Keselowski has a point with his comments. I also think that Keselowski is taking the statements that Gordon made a little too personal. Keselowski and teammate Joey Logano have both been in the booth for Xfinity Series races within the past year. They know exactly what it is like to be in the booth and call a race and know first hand how difficult it can be to be unbiased over the course of a season. Let’s also not forget that Keselowski’s team did do something on pit road that many would frown upon.
Caution Flag: Speaking of Keselowski, his team could be penalized for their body modification to his car at Pocono. Should NASCAR step in with a penalty and if so, what precedent does this set?
Mike Hutton: NASCAR has said that no further penalties will be issued. It was an in-race infraction that has already been addressed. I feel this is the right move, but at the same time if the No. 2 team is caught again for the same issue, the penalties need to escalate… hold him for a lap after the pass-through, two laps, parked for the day, etc.
Alex Herbst: NASCAR made the right move in-race to handle the situation at Pocono with the #2 team. I think that enough was done in the race to handle the situation, but if the pattern continues then the penalties must escalate. Ideally, the sanctioning body would first levy them post-race in addition to what they did on Monday, and then move to add more at track penalties.
Matt Lovisa: It was an in-race infraction and I agree that NASCAR made the right move then and has continued to do so after the fact. As for the lug nuts, that is another story.
White Flag: Will Power broke through for his first IndyCar win since May of 2015. Which other notable winless streaks will be snapped next?
Mike Hutton: Hopefully, Tony Stewart in NASCAR and Graham Rahal in IndyCar.
Alex Herbst: There are plenty of winless streaks that I think will snap very soon. First will be in NASCAR, where I’d put my money on Greg Biffle or Trevor Bayne to break their winless droughts. Then in IndyCar, expect to see Tony Kanaan back in victory lane. Finally, I’ll go out on a limb and say John Wes Townley wins again in Trucks in 2016.
Matt Lovisa: In IndyCar I believe Graham Rahal will put together a solid race and pick up a victory or two. In the Sprint Cup Series, if Kyle Larson doesn’t count then I have a sneaky suspicion that Ryan Newman will find victory lane this summer.
Checkered Flag: IndyCar is halfway through their season. What has been your biggest surprise and disappointment?
Mike Hutton: Biggest surprise is win by Alexander Rossi in the 500. Nobody gave him much of a chance, even though he was with a team that had won in 2011 and was associated with Andretti Autosport. The biggest disappointment has been that Alexander Rossi won the 500 — in my opinion he hasn’t respected the accomplishment and doesn’t realize its significance, but is more concerned with leveraging it to return to F1.
Alex Herbst: Obviously the biggest surprise of the season is Alexander Rossi’s fuel-mileage driven win in the centennial Indianapolis 500. It helped to top off a race that truly had everything a race fan could ask for. On the other hand, the biggest disappointment has been the continued dominance in the win column by Chevrolet, with only Indy as the exception. I feel myself longing for the days not too long ago where the manufacturers would swap back and forth in victory lane.
Matt Lovisa: The biggest surprise was Simon Pagenaud’s three straight victories heading into the Indy 500 and the biggest disappointment has been Juan Pablo Montoya’s bad luck and struggles.