Should NASCAR ban burnouts once and for all?

Question

http://blogs.charlotte.com/tom_talks/2008/05/saturdays-burno.html

"I think the burnouts are if not the dumbest for sure one of the dumbest things I've seen.You go out & abuse your motor & tires so the fans can say wow he really smoked the tires, & laugh if you scatter a $10,000 or more motor & or ruin two expensive tires.When I was a lot younger I had a car owner who was more like my dad, than anything else, if I had pulled anything like that, I would have to replace the tires out of my pocket, & if the motor blew I would be responsible for rebuilding it at my cost.You don't see guy's like Mark Martin,Terry Labonte or any of the old school drivers doing it. Granted they don't get the chance too often though.Still it's all show that I can do with out.I think it's silly & abusing the car for nothing."

I agree, they are a stupid abuse of equipment and if NASCAR won't penalize the perpetrators, maybe team owners should fine or fire any driver who abuses a car like that. Whadya say?

Answer 1

No they shouldn't ban them. Not all drivers can do flips like Edwards, can you See Tony Stewart do a back flip? Wait........,No,.................Tony climbs the fence. OK, Kyle Bows,does burn outs, and snow angels.  Smoke climbs fences and burn outs. Edwards Flips. What would Jr do. Jump in air and do splits? Or how about a fist pump and happy dance? No, Keep the burn outs.

Answer 2

I love the burnouts.  I know they are bad for the cars, but they are fun to watch and a great way for the winner to celebrate.

Answer 3

No, leave the burnouts! That's one of the best things about being at a race. Heck in football you cant even celebrate without getting a 15 yard penalty. Thumbs up to Nascar for letting them do it!

Answer 4

The only thing that I have thought about on the subject, is how long until one of the winners happens onto a rock or lug nut or scrap metal and heaves it into the stands and kills someone...  Just as soon as someone says it cannot be done, we are going to a funeral...

Answer 5

I say there is so much money involved, light 'em up. The motors get rebuilt anyway and tires are never reused.

Answer 6

I grew up around drag racing, where the burnout serves a real purpose.  So when I see a burnout just for fun and to put on a show, it does seem silly, pointless, and juvenile.  Most fans seem to like the burnout though, so why ban it?  As another commented, it should be up to the drivers and team owners.

Answer 7

burnouts are cool...when you do them right...

Answer 8

leave it to the drivers and the owners.  if a driver doesn't want to do them because he grew up having to fix his own stuff (particularly the old-schoolers) or because he doesn't want to inconvenience his team (carl edwards), cool.  if an owner (particularly one who is not a well-financed "powerhouse" team) doesn't want a driver to do burnouts because of cost, also cool.  

but if neither of them has problems with it, why should anyone else?  the fans get a show, and for some drivers, its a bit of incentive to win... their boss is generally far more inclined to NOT come down hard on them for a burnout as long as they're winning...

and seriously, do you see HMS fining jimmie johnson or JGR fining busch for peeling the tires off a car?  and nascar has no business whatsoever in dictating whether or not a burnout can be done - the cost is to the owner.

Answer 9

Well, if they're doing a freakin' burnout *contest*, I have to say that shows they're not going away soon.  But I prefer other celebrations, like Tony's fence climb, Carl's flip, Kyle's sarcastic bow, and the "Polish" (backwards) victory lap that Alan Kulwicki (RIP) started.  They're healthier for the driver and the fans, too.  I'm not a Carl Edwards fan, but I like how he explained why he did the flip--even when he won on the dirt tracks, he couldn't really afford to do a burnout, so the flip was cheaper and easier on his ride!

Answer 10

Hint hint they only need the engines when they're racing once the car has won why would you still need it? The more smoke the better.

Answer 11

No burnouts are a cool thing to watch

and I beg to differ, back in Marks younger days at his earlier tracks, this man did do burnouts and was really good at it,.

he started racing on dirt tracks and when he won, back then at age 14-18 yrs old, he won every week, he was totally awesome, ran in Batesville, Arkansas and Little Rock at I-30 raceway......he could burn out, throw more dirt than anyone else, even on a dirt track...he is awesome, let him win, and he will do a burnout......

Answer 12

Love the burnouts! How does Jeff Gordon get his car to go sideways during a burnout? He's the only one that i've seen do this..

Answer 13

While i agree its juvenile the fans love it and that's what nascar wants. They want fans to go crazy over burnouts.The Engines in the cars are torn down and rebuilt anyway and they generally don't re-use tires, so there really isn't any harm other than maybe tearing up some gears. I think its classy of most drivers to just do a victory lap, but that isn't as fun to watch for the common fan. I see were you are coming from as a racer but Goodyear takes all the tires and rims after the race and puts the new tires for the next race on, The race teams don't see the tires until they get to the track and they have a certain number they are allowed every weekend. Now when a driver blows a tire and it tears up the body during a burnout then i think he should have to go to the shop and repair it himself.

Answer 14

No.  And i loved the competition.  Did you think they were going to take it seriously? WHO CARES IT WAS ENTERTAINING.  If they win, h**l, they deserve it.

Answer 15

The best burn outs are still the NHRA top Fuels.As for NASCAR cut them out.

Answer 16

Maybe if your so called older, old school drivers would lighten up.....maybe they'd win a little more.

Truth is....the motor gets rebuilt anyways, the tires are already shot, and it's very rare they tear up any sheet metal doing it.

You just won a race...lighten up and have some fun. Maybe you are just mad because your driver never gets to do them!

Answer 17

burnouts are better then kurts snow angels

Answer 18

"say there Bruce!" ...and fine the drivers when they spinout into the grass and tear up the fresh sod? GET A GRIP! ***NO!***

Answer 19

Well, I would say that Jeff Burton would agree with you. He doesn't do burnouts when he wins. He once said that he didn't believe it tearing up good equipment.

Answer 20

if the guys who own the cars dont have a problem then i dont , and as long as your not paying the bill then dont worry about  it.

Answer 21

The fans love it. And NASCAR must love it too, they only went out of the way to find a sponsor for the contest. I love it, but not when Shrub does it

Answer 22

I say they keep doin' 'em.  They're cool and fun.  Believe me, those set of tires were done for before the burnout.  And if it really cost the the teams that much money, the owner themselves would ban the practice.

Answer 23

You gotta remember that the tires are trashed anyways and the motor is always torn down and refurbished after every race. The fans love burnouts and that's what I love about NASCAR as opposed to other big league sports. It's all about the fans. One more thing. On Saturday the 17th I made some really stupid remarks aimed at #18s #1fan. They were childish, incorrect, and uncalled for. There is no excuse for behavoir like mine and I sincerely apologize to #1 fan and the entire community. I hold myself to a higher standard than my remarks indicate. What can I say? I'm a nitwit. Peace.

Answer 24

keep them. the teams have to rebuild the engines anyways because 500+ miles (including practices and qualifying) is rough on the engine so a burnout isn't going to cost them much more. the tires aren't reused also so it should be ok for the drivers to do burnouts.

Answer 25

unless you own the car why should it bother you.......you don't pay for it and neither do any of the fans.......unless you have your own money invested in it then you have no valid complaint

Answer 26

Gotta Light em' up....