NASCAR: Shut Up About The COT Already

As many of you know, NASCAR held a mandatory meeting with Sprint Cup drivers and owners, encouraging them to focus on the fans of the sport.

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter:

We’re going back to the basics, our theme for the year: don’t forget the fans. The fans are really going through a lot of hardships with the price of gasoline and all the sorts of things they have to do to get to the races. We want them to remember the fans and to remember why we’re here, and that’s to race. That was pretty much it.

NASCAR says that this meeting has nothing to do with the ongoing lawsuit that has been dominating the media this passed week.

The drivers, however, said it was a meeting that was basically telling them to stop bashing the COT.

Card Edwards said:

It was just [NASCAR President Mike] Helton reminding us that we’ve got it pretty good and you’ve got to be careful when you start complaining and whining and acting like things aren’t great. It’s detrimental to all of us and to the sport.

And, truth be told, this blogger agrees with NASCAR. Shut up about the COT. Much as I love NASCAR, and love its drivers, how many times can we listen to the same old complaints about the car?

Race car driving is your job! Deal with it! At my job, I deal with difficult people and less than optimal tools, and you know what? I deal with it!

I, much like any other NASCAR fan, would sell my soul to drive a Cup car. These guys (and girls) get to live out our dreams weekly. And they want to complain about the car? Give it a rest.

You have no idea how annoying it is when the winning driver gets out of the car and complains about it. You won, shut up!

Yeah, there are going to be some boring races. But, in the past, NASCAR has done things to improve them (see 2000 DuraLube/Kmart 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway). So, maybe they’ll improve the car at the end of the season, or maybe they won’t. In the meantime, just shut up and deal with it. It’s your job!

NASCAR Suspends Two

The AP is reporting that NASCAR has suspended two officials named in Mauricia Grant’s $225-million lawsuit for “violating company policy.”

Following the allegations, NASCAR sent officials to Kentucky Speedway to interview those named in the suit. NASCAR conducted about 27 interviews and found that the two people, who were suspended indefinitely, engaged in behavior that violated the policy.

There were a totaly of 17 people named in the suit, but at this time, the two officials who were suspended have not been named.

Qualifying Rained Out; Busch On Pole For Lifelock 400

Qualifying for the Lifelock 400 from Michigan International Speedway was rained out, meaning that the field was set by points. As a result, Kyle Busch will start on the pole, while Jeff Burton will start on the outside of row one.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will roll off third with Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin rounding out the top 5 starters.

Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, and Kevin Harvick will start sixth through 10th.

Notables: Clint Bowyer (11th), Tony Stewart (12th),  Matt Kenseht (16th), and Kurt Busch (22nd).

Jason Leffler and Tony Raines did not make the show.