Another nascar nationwide series race in the rain?

Question

on "nascar now" earlier today it was mentioned that goodyear is bringing another set of rain tires to watkins glen this upcoming weekend for the nationwide series race - but none for the cup series race. after listening to various drivers say last saturday that running in the rain would have been much better at a place like the glen where water doesn't puddle so badly, it sounds as though nascar is going to be prepared to try it again, should rain interrupt the race.

what would you think of the nationwide cars running in the rain at watkins glen if necessary?

also, do you think that nascar ought to consider trying it at some point in the future for the cup series as well - racing in the rain if necessary at a road course race?

Answer 1

i liked it

Answer 2

i think the rain tires are pretty cool...racing in the rain they should be doing more often when needed soo half the races wouldnt be called final after half way [[ juss a thought ]]

Answer 3

Well it's more than just the tires, it's the windshield wipers too. Most drivers experienced difficulties with them not working at all on certain parts of the track. Remember Carl Edwards with a squeegee (however you spell it) going down the track wiping the outside of his windshield?

Also, I think they would have to put some kind of defroster or something so the windshields don't fog up on the inside as well. Plus since the rain would make it harder for the drivers to determine whether or not the ones in front of them are slowing down, headlights and taillights would be good.

I know, I'm coming up with a lot of negatives, but I believe that for there to be any actual chance of competition, not just for the drivers and the fans watching on tv, but for the thousands of fans who are going to drive long distances and pay a few hundred dollars for a couple of tickets to see it, these things need to be thought about before racing in any kind of precipitation.

Answer 4

I think I wouldn't mind watching the race in the rain...and by the looks of it , rain is in the forecast.  But this is NY...subject to change on a moments notice.  

http://www.weather.com/outlook/homeandga...

Yes why not race in the rain for cup drivers???  I think it's a good idea.  And some of them already have the experience.  

Answer 5

I enjoyed the rain tires last week.  It was very interesting to watch.  Carl Edwards said he enjoyed it too.  I would like to see them race in the rain again at Watkins Glen.  I like seeing different things every now and then.  Even though the Indy race was aggravating, it was still interesting to watch.  It's hard not to enjoy a nascar race.  If you are a true nascar fan, you should enjoy a race no matter what happens in it.  

Answer 6

To answer your questions backwards let me say this. The COT is said to have around 40 to 50 percent less down force (I think) on the front of the car as the older cars had. I'm assuming that those figures would be close with the Nationwide cars also.

It may be that with the less downforce,,,  the COT may not want to turn on wet pavement. It already doesn't on dry pavement. So I am not sure if the new cars can even handle rain tires or not. That may be something the Cup Series has to wait on before they get a chance to test it.  [Just a guess]

Now as for the Nationwide cars I feel like it's a good thing to run the race on rain tires. Tony Stewart was even commenting on how he would have loved to have been there and that it looked like fun.

Answer 7

I enjoyed the rain race, but agree it wasn't the best track for it.

Watkins Glen would be better. If nascar deems it necessary, so be it, I'd watch, heck if it weren't so far away, I'd go and watch it in person, I love rain. As far as the cup cars, beats having to endure 3 hours of maybe, maybe not.

Hopefully they get better windshield wipers..

Answer 8

I really liked it. It was so weird seeing the cars running in the rain but it was definitely better than just sitting around waiting for them to dry the track. I would love to see them try it again this weekend if the opportunity arises. I also wouldn't mind seeing them try it in cup eventually -  only at road courses though, I don't think that would be such a great idea at lets say Bristol or Talladega lol.

Answer 9

They should try it for the cup series as well, but not until Goodyear has the new tire developed for the COT, or until they make a pair of rain tires that are new. Those tires that were on the Nationwide cars were pretty old, and putting the load the COT has on them might not be the greatest idea....

It'd be a great idea to do at Watkins Glen, but NASCAR is gonna have to call it better, and listen to what the drivers have to say about it if the rain starts to get bad. It's understandable because NASCAR is new to it, but they're definitely gonna have to take the drivers thoughts into consideration before something happens like last week where they were wrecking under caution.

Somehow adding a set of Headlights to the cars would be a good idea too if it happens again, along with forcing everyone to use wiper blades.

Answer 10

Cup drivers are to pansy a$$ to drive in the rain

Answer 11

Last weeks race was interesting but I would not like to see it regularly.  I think that keeping the windshield clean enough for close racing would be a major problem.

Answer 12

I remember back in 1993 or 1994 they tried it once before at the glen during practice I believe. I remember Martin and T. Labonte being the guinea pigs. It was a radical concept at the time. Now a days with the schedules as tight as they are NASCAR can't afford rain delays any more. It can turn a race weekend into a disaster. So I can see why they want to do it....I'm not totally against it. But if I was a paying customer at the track I don't think I would want to set in the middle of a down pour and see nothing but a streak of paint followed by a "rooster tail". Now at home on TV it would probably be pretty neat at the Glen since they don't have to worry about puddles. But every fan is going to have a different opinion, all depends with what form of racing you grew up with.  

Answer 13

i think nascars are nice racing in the rain.  no rain delays and they still race.  more race watching for us fans.

i would like to see nascars use rain tires in cup.  the can only use them on road courses because the tires would not work out on any other kind.  it is something different and different can be scary or good depending on how you look at it.  i think it is nice.

Answer 14

It was fun seeing the cars in the rain, and it so

different, which the fans enjoyed.

Answer 15

I regret missing the race and almost turned it on until I got caught up with some other things.

I'd love to see more racing in the rain.