Actually, there’s a lot of it. But if you complain about the cars this weekend at Talladega, it just means you don’t belong in Nextel Cup.
Say you drive your car to and from work every day, the usual 9 to 5. It’s the same car, the same route each time. You get used to this routine the sound of the road underneath your car, the traffic light that never stays green long enough, the radio stations and CDs to distract you from all this to the point of insanity. Not hard to envision, right?
Then imagine that one day someone takes away the spoiler off your car, slaps on something called a “restrictor plate” to slow it down, totally messes up the rear wing, then adds 75-80 horsepower to your transmission just for good measure. Your experience behind the wheel would feel dramatically different, no?
That’s essentially what they’re doing this weekend at the Nextel Cup race at Talladega. It’s the type of adjustment that separates the men from the boys: The men will drive, and drive well. The boys will not, and they will inevitably complain. (Hey Dale Jr., it’s time to step it up dude.) So keep your eyes out. In a sport that decreasingly rewards a driver’s pure talent, this weekend will reverse that trend. Should be interesting to see who comes out on top.