NASCAR this year has experienced an "improved on-track product" through five weeks, but its new behavioral policy introduced last month "could curb much of the excitement that comes with controversy," according to Jenna Fryer of the AP. Driver Kyle Busch during Saturday's Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway was "annoyed with NASCAR for failing to call a caution when his tire failed on the last lap while leading." He finished second and "sarcastically thanked NASCAR over his in-car radio for 'fixing races.'" Under the behavioral policy announced before the Daytona 500, Busch "could be subject to a fine between $10,000 and $50,000 for 'disparaging the sport and/or NASCAR's leadership.'" Busch "could also be penalized for skipping his post-race media obligations." NASCAR Exec VP & Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O'Donnell said that a tweet sent by Martin Truex Jr.'s crew chief, Cole Pearn, after Sunday's Sprint Cup race is "also under review." Pearn was "upset with contact between Truex and Joey Logano, and he posted a derogatory tweet toward Logano." Fryer wrote trying to "stifle the personalities and raw emotion from competitors is going to hurt NASCAR in the long run." The sport is "fortunate right now" that its '16 rules package has "been embraced by drivers and indeed has made the racing more watchable." But for 38 events over nearly 10 months, the racing alone "is not going to carry the sport." NASCAR "needs its personalities, its drama, its feuds, to build any sort of sustainable momentum" (AP, 3/22).
FORCE THE ISSUE: FOXSPORTS.com's Larry McReynolds wrote NASCAR fans have seen "some pretty great racing" at ACS in the past, but they "witnessed the best yet on Sunday." McReynolds: "How does [it] get better when there was side-by-side racing all day long? ... As far as the low-downforce package is concerned, I'm not ready to say it's the final answer, but I'm getting pretty darn close." The package "produces great racing, no matter the track configuration, banking or grip level," and has "exceeded expectations." He added, "I'm also not hearing any complaints from drivers, teams or even fans about the aero package, which is another key component. To me, that alone speaks volumes" (FOXSPORTS.com, 3/21).
