NASCAR - Pathetic

 Kathy and I used to watch almost every NASCAR race on TV. Over the years our enthusiasm has waned dramatically. NASCAR's continual tinkering with the rules to make cars equal is a crime against auto racing. Their change from "over the air" TV to pay TV left us outside, since we weren't willing to pay for some of the channels they broadcast on.

We did watch last Sunday's race at Daytona. I almost want to vomit when I hear the announcers breathlessly talk about the speeds during the race. It would be funny were it not such a bunch of hogwash.

Chase Briscoe won this years poll with an average lap speed of 182.745 mph. This sounds fast, if you have no knowledge of NASCAR. The last time a Daytona 500 NASCAR pole was won with a this slow a lap was in 1971 when A.J. Foyt won the pole with a lap of 182.744 mph. 54 years of improvements in aerodynamics, suspensions, tires and NASCAR is back to the speeds are the same. 

Foyt's 1971 pole winning Mercury



In 1984, 1985, 1986 & 1987 it took laps of over 200 mph to win the pole. Bill Elliott's 210.364 lap in 1987 still holds the pole record. One lap takes 42.783 seconds at 210.364 mph, it takes 49.249 seconds at 182.745 mph. Within 7 laps Bill Elliott, driving his 1987 Ford would have lapped Chase Briscoe in his 2025 pole winning "Toyota".

Elliott's 1987 pole winning Ford.


Chase Briscoe's pole winning speed would not have even made the cut to be in the race in 1988. Ed Pimm was the slowest qualifier to race his way into the 1988 race with a speed of 187.656 mph, over 5 mph faster than 2025's pole winning speed.

222.971 mph is the fastest lap at Daytona. It was run by Colin Braun in 2013. He was driving a Ford EcoBoost-powered Daytona Prototype prepared by Michael Shank Racing.



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