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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: Calinoff’s Capsule Comments
Shortening the Auto Club 400 was a great idea...
Mike Calinoff  |  Posted March 31, 2011   Charlotte, NC
Sprint Cup Series drivers put on a good show last Sunday at Auto Club Speedway. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Instead of my typically topic-pointed article, I thought that I would change it up a bit this week. So, here are a few thoughts and ideas that have been on my mind over this last week or so. Keep up as best you can!

BIGGER ISN’T BETTER — After Sunday’s race at Auto Club Speedway, I’m thoroughly convinced that 400 miles is the perfect distance for a Sprint Cup race. It allows for some drama to build and for strategies to play out, while still keeping everyone’s attention. The race took just under 2:40 to run — to me that is the ideal time and distance. One of the better races of the year is at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where we run 300 miles. On a one-mile track the teams have really got to be on their game because it’s a quick race; and for me, that’s the appeal. I also think that 200 miles, one time, would be perfect for Pocono. But I’ll save that rant for another day.

MAYBE IT’S YOU WHO’S BORING — I’m pretty tired of hearing that our races are boring. I’m not sure what some people expect. You’re not going to have side-by-side racing every lap — at any track. There’s going to be races where someone wins by fuel mileage or because it rains past the halfway point. We have events that have few cautions and no wrecks. That’s just how it goes sometimes. I’ve been to NFL games that ended 3-0. The game sucked, but I didn’t go on about it. How about the NBA? What’s thrilling about a halftime score of 48-36? Not much, but if there’s a two-point difference with 20 seconds to go, then that constitutes some level of excitement. And nobody complains.

Kevin Harvick led one lap this past Sunday and won the race. He executed a move that forced Jimmie Johnson to have to move down the race track, and kept himself on the top — where he’d been running all day — and he had the momentum to make the pass. I thought it was a spectacular play and made it a really good race.

For my money, if you’re a true NASCAR fan, you’ll accept the races at face value. Enjoy each race for what it is and not what it isn’t. And if you’re watching or attending races just for the wrecks, I suggest you start following bull riding instead. Maybe you’ll be fortunate enough to see some guy get gored in the face.

THEY’RE BAAACK! — Well, the great news we’ve been waiting for has finally surfaced. The Gilletts are back — and this time they really mean it! That’s right, the same folks who ran Ray Evernham’s empire into the ground and who nearly crippled Richard Petty Motorsports are making their foray back into the NASCAR fold with former Formula One champion Kimi Räikkönen. My suggestion would be for them to forgo a standard race hauler in favor of a Brinks truck to satisfy vendors.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is the new Nationwide Series point leader. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
TWO LINERS — Glad we haven’t heard much more on the Jennifer Jo Cobb start and park saga. That thing ran it’s course in about 12 minutes.

I think it’s cool that Austin Dillon is going to attempt a Sprint Cup start this year, but I would rather it not be during the Chase. You just don’t want to be the guy who makes a mistake that affects the outcome of the championship.

There isn’t a week that goes by where I don’t say to myself, “These double-file restarts really rock!” Seriously, I say it every week.

And finally, a shout-out to my Nationwide Series driver, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., who took the point lead with a fourth-place finish on Saturday. He gets to claim that distinction for at least two weeks!

Mike Calinoff is the Spotter for Matt Kenseth (NSCS), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (NNS) and Nelson Piquet Jr. (NCWTS). A 20-year veteran of the sport, Calinoff has many business interests in NASCAR and is the owner of the SouthEast Limited Late Model Series. In addition to spotting, writing for SPEED.com and FordRacing.com, Mike can be heard each week on Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 128 every Wednesday with Dave Moody at 6 PM ET. An engaging figure with race fans, Calinoff regularly runs contests on his Facebook Fan Page for fans to win race tickets and pit passes to NASCAR events. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeCalinoff, join his Fan Page or visit his website. He can be reached at mike@mikecalinoff.com.

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of Mike Calinoff and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, SPEED, Roush Fenway Racing, Kevin Harvick, Inc., Ford or Diageo.
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