NASCAR has some problems that need to be addressed, especially with each of its drivers. The sport has always had bumping and banging that's part of the sport. However, it appears that some of the NASCAR Cup drivers have been too aggressive. A little bit of aggressive driving is okay. But the way this past weekend's race at Watkins Glen certainly made things challenging. It was rough for the 16 drivers running for the Championship in 2024.
That aggressive driving has been pretty prominent all season honestly. It was put on its head when the Austin Dillon controversy wrecked both Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin to win at Richmond. Then again things have been much more aggressive in the Cup Series since the sport went to the Next Gen car.
The biggest problem though has been at road courses it seems. Everyone thinks they can just ram through each other. That has been happening for at least the last several years. It's probably why the drivers who have been the favorites to win at places such as Watkins Glen or the Roval haven't.
Aggressive Driving Has Ruined NASCAR Playoffs
Aggressive driving has plagued the 2024 season as a whole. Not to mention every race seems to end up in overtime because some of the drivers can't control themselves at the end of the race. I get it, things happen while racing, but just clearing people out to better your finish isn't necessary.
That was a major reason why only two of the 16 drivers in the NASCAR playoffs finished inside the top 10 at Watkins Glen. Some aggressive racing wrecked the day and finishes for a lot of the Cup Championship favorites.
A massive incident involving Brad Keselowski and William Byron shook everything up near the end of the race when the two got in a scary crash entering the esses of the road course. Byron's right front of his car ended up coming to rest on Keselowski's window net.
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Martin Truex Jr Calls Out Drivers
A real lack of respect in the NASCAR garage area has taken over the sport. That was truly at the center of Sunday's race, as many of the active Cup Series Champions were caught up in unnecessary incidents. 2017 Cup Champion Martin Truex Jr, wasn't happy with the way he was raced on Sunday.
Truex quickly called out many of the other drivers in a post-race interview with motorsport.com's Nick DeGroot.
" You get green-white-checkered at the end of the race, and you know people are just going to drive through someone. We were in the wrong lane, on the short end of the stick as usual," Truex who faces elimination in the opening round of the playoffs said. " We were in a decent spot there with our Camry, and you go through the esses, and they just plow through you and put you in the marbles. This racing is just ridiculous."
Truex continued criticizing some of his fellow competitors. He commented about how some call themselves the best drivers in the world, yet they purposely barge through everyone.
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" Just crazy that all these races always come down to this," Truex said. " I just don't understand how guys can call themselves the best in the world when they just drive through everyone on restarts at the end of these races. It's very frustrating, but it is what it is these days. I'm out of here."
That last comment says a lot, about where Truex's mind is as he closes in on retirement at the end of the season.
NASCAR Playoffs All But Pointless
It's great to have 16 drivers in a position to win the Cup championship. That however doesn't look like it's the best way to decide it anymore. Not when every driver on the track would rather wreck each other just to win a race. Winning a race appears to be more important than winning a championship. Hence a non-playoff driver won on Sunday in Chris Buescher. He probably won't be the last this year. Everyone has a car now that can go out and win. Parity is great, but some of these drivers seem to be way over their heads, and it's impacting the championship.
That isn't not good in my humble opinion. It makes the Playoffs all but pointless. NASCAR will say they like all the drama, but you can only manufacture so much before it's full of crap. As the series heads to Bristol for the round of 16 cutoff race, things around the garage area seem to not be in a good place.
NASCAR needs to work on respect among drivers because this wreck-free racing isn't helping the sport and it's certainly not going to determine a champion fairly.
The post Aggressive Driving Has Ruined NASCAR Playoffs appeared first on Last Word on Motorsports.
