FLIPSIDE TO THE SHOWDOWN


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Dec 1, 2008

NASCAR TOURING

Source: -- janet
Date: 11/24/2003

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FLIPSIDE TO THE SHOWDOWN Most everyone is in agreement the Toyota All-Star Showdown was an incredible show of talent. We became acquainted with some of the stars we had heard about and we had the opportunity to meet incredible personalities whom we never even knew about.

Of course the idea of a Showdown is nothing new. It has been discussed for years out here in the west although most of us always call it a shoot-out. No matter what it finally came to be coined it materialized to be a program of remarkable racing. But there is a flipside to the Showdown

First, where Winter Heat was a Western regional event, the Showdown is not. The Winter Heat gave many of the big NASCAR Winston Cup car owners an opportunity to view the local west coast talent in action. Greg Biffle and Ron Hornaday are perfect examples, and it is quite possible their being selected to drive for eastern-based car owners opened the minds and doors for other west coast drivers to have a shot at the big time.

The All-Star Showdown did not showcase any particular region of drivers, it showcased a country of drivers, but in doing so, it made some regions stand out. Some of those gaining the most awareness were and are already on the receiving end of attention. When it came to airtime, the announcers clearly had favorites and called them neighbor. Why it is human to talk more about your neighbor than a stranger. The West Coast boys got airtime, too, but somehow if you replay the tapes or TiVo you will pick up on the difference in tone. (Yep, I am whining. Always will for my guys.)

Next was the East versus West versus Midwest versus North versus South necessary? Why did the various series have to be labeled as teams? In doing so entire regions could look good or bad and is a one-race deal a true reflection of the skill of these series or so called teams?

Awarding the highest finishing team or series with extra money is nice, but only because the drivers get the money. Why not just award the top finishing drivers? There was plenty of teamwork in the pits. But the help often came from opposing series or teams. There are more than a few drivers that can say they received parts or help from someone outside their series.

And then isn�t it odd that the showdown is allowing drivers to get the invite and not the car owner? Who foots the bill on the racing operation all year long? A great many of the drivers are the car owners and some of them would like to have the opportunity to put a different driver in the car. Quite frankly some of us would like to see them enjoy that opportunity. OK, I�m kidding about that, but why shouldn�t an owner be able to ring up Gary Smith or Sean Woodside or CT Hellmund or Sammy Potashnick or Mike Chase and ask if they would like to drive?

Daytona may have been trying to protect the drivers and to showcase the best drivers for the fans, but unfortunately there is a lot of good talent eliminated. The actual winner of the Grand National segment of the Showdown, Austin Cameron, could easily have been chucked out based on the driver points system. One or two more chemos and that would have been it. And then you would have had Bill McAnally with a championship car and a winning driver, but rules that would not allow him to put Cameron in the car. Does that make sense?

The Winter Heat was good because of its simplicity and familiar format. Drivers came, they qualified straight up and they raced. There was enough time between the end of the season for the Winston West and Southwest Tour to get ready for the big Tucson show and often the big show was also the season opener.

If Tom Sweatman came down and kicked some behind everyone had to accept it. There were no excuses. The series still could brag. But it wasn�t about the Northwest Team versus the Southwest Team versus the Midwest team. It was about a driver winning and we all heard soon enough what series the driver was from.

There wasn�t anything not to like about the Winter Heat even the Late Model guys got a chance to show their stuff on National TV. That was really nice.

In the Winter Heat the announcers were not calling the drivers neighbor, the announcers were becoming familiar with drivers they and the east coast owners may not have known existed.

It has been said that the Winter Heat did not have that great a turnout or that big a showing on TV. I wonder how the Showdown compared to it? And do keep in mind we are talking the Los Angeles market versus the Tucson market.

The All-Star Showdown was/is awesome and we are already looking forward to 2004. There may be some teams already spinning the wheels in their head on how to get better next year.

But some of us sure do miss that Winter Heat series. The All-Star Showdown may have been the biggest thing to happen in the history of NASCAR Touring, but I am not so sure it is the best thing that ever happened to the West Coast arm of NASCAR. But it is better than what we had in 2002.

Please check out some of the Winston West drivers from past and present below. Watch for more drivers in future articles. ####