NASCAR Meets with Drivers Prior to Dover Cup Race

NASCAR held a much-publicized meeting with a handful of drivers
in Dover last weekend (Google Images)

Last weekend in Dover, Jimmie Johnson scored his tenth win at the Monster Mile. Chris Buescher won the XFINITY Series event after bumping teammate Darrell Wallace Jr and Tyler Reddick won the Camping World Truck Series race. Obviously, the on track action was the highlight of the weekend at one of NASCAR's most exciting tracks.

But off the track last Saturday night, at the Dover Downs Casino located just behind turn three at the Dover International Speedway, NASCAR officials and a group of several drivers met to discuss the sport, where it is and the direction it's going. As of late, NASCAR has been famous for speaking with a fan council to try and determine what those who watch the sport want. They have also said that there is an open dialogue between the sanctioning body and the drivers, team owners and those in the garage area.

In attendance were drivers Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kevin Harvick, Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart, among others. However, Johnson was not invited to attend. When asked about why this might be in the media center following his win Sunday, Johnson said he was on a bike ride and he "didn't get the memo." He said he "hasn't won enough races and championships" to be able to have any valuable input. Clearly somebody's ego was bruised a bit.

While Johnson was not an integral part of this gathering, a lot of different subjects were still discussed and, according to the drivers who were there in Johnson's stead, a lot of progress was made towards improving the sport for both teams and fans alike.



Jimmie Johnson won the Fed Ex 400, but wasn't invited to a landmark
meeting held in Dover the previous evening (Google Images)

"We’ve been trying to get all of our drivers together for about a year now, trying to get all of our ideas in one room together," Hamlin told USA Today. "NASCAR knew we were trying to form a line of communication, so they helped us start a driver council which gives us that forum to allow us to talk about things we want to talk about."

Stewart echoed Hamlin's sentiment, saying it was the first time in his 17 year NASCAR career that this type of informal meeting had occurred.

"I think it's just everyone staying on the same page which is good," Stewart said. "It was a good thing, it was positive and makes me feel good about our sport that they want to keep everyone staying on the same page. I'd call it very, very positive."

One of the biggest issues this year has been safety. After Kyle Busch broke his leg in the XFINITY Series race at Daytona back in February, tracks across the country began adding more SAFER barrier around their facilities ahead of their impending NASCAR race dates. The sanctioning body also announced that this weekend at Pocono it will begin to implement new rules for pit crew members. They must now wear flame retardant underwear and head socks that are to be worn under helmets that are more closed face and similar to what drivers wear.

The group also discussed competition and ways to make the on track product better for the fans. New rules changes this year, such as a reduction in horsepower and running tapered spacers at every track, have led to the same racing we have seen the last few years. Clean air still remains king, as the All-Star Race and Coke 600 pointed out very clearly, and if a driver can get out front it is almost impossible to pass him. Fresh tires don't play as big of a role as they used to in this aero-sensitive day and age and that is something that needs to be addressed. We're close to the side by side, competitive racing that fans want, but there is still work to be done. It won't happen overnight, but if you ask the drivers involved in Saturday night's meeting, they now have a direction and a common ground they can work towards.

"The meeting was good," said Hamlin. "We talked about a lot of things that hopefully is going to make our sport better, our cars better, make a better show for the fans. I think all that being said ... it's a process, it'll take some time and hopefully we get this deal better."