Story by: Corey Latham ~ [email protected]
Ridgeway, VA(October 2, 2012) — So we all know about the changes to the “Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 300” this year, Lord knows we have heard countless people whine about it while others rave about it. Well let’s break it down and show you exactly why it will be the same thing as before but just laid out a tad different.
Let’s set the changes up first. Before, we have always had practice on Friday, qualifying for the top 22 spots on Saturday with four 25 lap heat races advancing the top five from each event to the main event on Sunday for 200 laps. With the new format it will be no practice on Friday then everyone gets in groups for practice sessions on Saturday with the last practice taking your times to see where you will roll off for the heat races on Sunday. This last practice session will be the same as qualifying, you will make a mock run, come in and the car will be impounded, same as it was before just simply worded different. The main difference is that everyone will run in heat races on Sunday.
Now, people have been crying about how it is going to be a crash fest and whatnot, and the first thing that comes to mind is “Have you ever been to Martinsville?” Not saying we tear everything up there but it really doesn’t matter what the scenario around the racing is, it is racing and we do have quite a bit of carnage regardless the circumstances. Let’s face it, this is the biggest race of the year and these guys are going for broke…as they should be.
The heat races will line up with your practice times, so, it will be just like it was before, the fast cars that would have qualified up front will be up front and will more than likely finish there, just like they should as the top eight this year will be locked in. Now in the opening laps we’ll have some people in the back trying to be heroes but it will fade out quickly and I look for the heat races to go off without a hitch, or at least like usual. There will be good racing but the top eight cars in the end will be the eight we thought would be there anyway…..with a surprise or two.
Now comes the kicker, not many people have talked about it this way as you don’t think of it like this, we’re talking about the 50 lap last chance race taking the top ten to advance in the main event. Most last chance races at any racetrack are relatively short fields, after all, everyone has made the race and the ones left over are few usually, say 12-18 cars. But this is Martinsville, to me the biggest race in the country with tons of cars. Say we only have 80 cars, and that’s counting low but anyway. Eight cars from the heats puts us at 32, 32 from 80 leaves 48 cars so six cars won’t even make it to the last chance race. 42 drivers going for 10 spots in 50 laps, now this race will be wild no doubt. This is the only thing I’m worried about as this could put us running out of daylight for the main race.
Then it is business as usual, you run the big race just as you always have. I’m not really thrilled about using the last chance race as part of the lap count for the main race as 200 laps was barely enough for a good car in the back to get to the front but it will all pan out in just 150 laps now. Yes things will be different in the way we run the days but in the end it will still be racing at Martinsville the way it’s always been. Just like we all know in racing, those crying the loudest will be the first ones in the gate. It’s almost time to put down the crying towels and get up on the wheel, the rules are the same for everyone and if you cry and don’t come, someone will still win a grandfather clock and $25,000…..I promise that.
