Let's get right down to it. I don't like the car of tomorrow (COT). Or, car of today. Whatever you want to call the thing. It looks like a bad modified car. If I want to watch modifieds, there are better ones out there that are racier and less contrived. NASCAR is patting itself on the back for a successful first showing at Bristol on Sunday (March 25). I beg to differ. I've never seen cars go that slowly around the marvelous, steeply banked bull-ring short track. The race itself was so-so. Sometimes it was even boring. Bristol -- boring?? Just when you thought NASCAR couldn't screw up a great event like a Bristol race, they manage to do that, as well.
If NASCAR had wanted to do it up right, they would have asked Jay Signore, of IROC fame, to oversee a program setting up a generic car. At least the IROC cars were competitive and racy. Instead, they created a one-style car and convinced the major auto manufacturers to put their name brands on this styless, non-stock car. Go into your local Chevy dealership and ask for the car that 'won on Sunday.' It cannot be had. But then, who would want it anyway? The 'Impala,' 'Camry,' 'Avenger' and 'Fusion' names on the cars are just that--names. It's hard to believe that NASCAR convinced the folks running Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and yes, even Toyota, to go along with the COT thing.
The upcoming race at Martinsville also features NASCAR's concept car. Too bad. Martinsville is usually another exciting, competitive race. No doubt NASCAR will refuse to admit they made a bad call with this COT project. Instead, they'll keep forcing it down the teams and fans' throats because--mark my words--somehow, somewhere, the folks that run NASCAR will be making the profits off of the COT. Maybe they've even bought an automotive plant to manufacture the things. Whatever, however, there is only one bottom line for NA$CAR and that is the dollar.
Race winner Kyle Busch's first words after winning the Bristol event was that the car 'sucks.' Kyle, I could not agree with you more.
