There has been a lot of chatter about football lately. The season is just a couple of weeks in without, apparently, the standard issue referees. The regulars are on strike. The fill-ins are, apparently, less than stellar.
No matter, really. The “Chase” is on. How can there be a comparison? Early season football or late season racing? I’ll go racing any day.
So I did, of a sort. Kyle Busch was at Martinsville Speedway to give a brief on the Tums Fast Relief 500. The manner of this briefing was from the cockpit of an M&M’s #18 Toyota Cup Car, modified a bit to carry a passenger. Also suited up was Speedway President Clay Campbell. Clay has his own experiences with driving so he was also on hand to run passenger laps behind the wheel of a Federated Auto Parts #52 race car. The cars were brought up to Martinsville by the folks from Fast Track High Performance Driving School in North Carolina.
What of football…? Well, there are two connections, as such. One – Kyle Busch drives for Joe Gibbs Racing and Joe Gibbs was involved with the Washington Redskins and Super Bowls. Two – Slim connection it may be, was the attending media taking the ride while Kyle Busch drove. We were, for all intensive purposes, replacement referees getting schooled on the challenges of driving a race car and the unique circumstances of those cars around Martinsville Speedway.
In brief, here is what I determined. First, fire suits are hot. They look cool all sponsored up but they are hot. I found one off the rack that fit just slightly better than borrowed pajamas and waited for the ride. As it was, I drew the Federated #52 and climbed in with Clay Campbell. The cockpit of these cars offers little in creature comforts so it is still hotter inside. The car shakes as the engine is cranked. The helmet does little to stifle the rumble. There is constant vibration. At speed on the track the coordination, timing and total body pressure all play out.
Accelerate, brake, clutch, shift, turn in, accelerate, clutch, shift, repeat. Do this over and over and over for 500 laps in a race with temperatures that can reach 140 degrees in the car. The centrifugal forces pushes you out, the braking pulls you forward, the acceleration pushes you back. In the race there are cars inches away with drivers doing the same thing. The trick, as I was told, is to do it better, with consistent rhythm and force the faster line.
Lap 10, 110, 200, 300, 450… It’s hot. Fatigue wears the mind and body. The car fights every move. The tires want to let go. The brakes have gone. More muscle to hold it and any give towards relaxing for even a second means the guy behind is now in front.
Now, football again. Many football fans would say “racing” is not a real “sport”. Put them in the seat and ask them again. Even as a passenger you get a feel for it. If “sport” is determined by physical ability then racing is well within the definition. Beyond that, every race fan drives every day. Do football fans ever play the game? They likely have at some point, but now…? However, they do drive. The point is everyone knows how exhausting a long road trip is. Now, put that “road trip” at a high speed, brake and go and turn, in bumper to bumper traffic…
Get the picture?
Kyle Busch has the picture. And he spoke about some of the details of driving and the season a little later with a Q&A at the Martinsville Speedway infield. On the “Chase”… Yes, he was disappointed and upset. But he got over it. He says he did so he moves on working details and helping team mate Denny Hamlin, who is in it. They trade car setups and strategy. If one is running better than the other, they talk and see what each is doing that can be applied.
Busch also talked a bit on the next season. Out of the “Chase” he has a bit of freedom to pursue the plans for 2013. NASCAR is making some changes for the car and Busch is doing all he can to assist JGR with the driver’s application of how these changes come to play out.
On driving at Martinsville, he said the track is always a challenge. The rhythm is key. Finding the sweet spot for braking, turning in and accelerating out is a big part of the race. The bumping is part of Martinsville but Busch did say if something is race changing and intentional the “grudge” factor can carry forward.
He made reference to the team situation at Martinsville, also. This track is heavily dependent on how the car is set up and handles. Trading ideas and tips across the JGR teams helps them all run better there.
On his brother, Kurt Busch, Kyle said he was pleased on the news of the 2013 ride. Kurt will be in the seat of the Furniture Row #78 for 2013. Kurt has driven, and won, with brother Kyle this season but he said they have not really had the chance to look at other possibilities with his Nationwide or Camping World series teams.
Kyle Busch carries a bit of a “bad boy” reputation. Granted, brother Kurt took some that heat away with his own antics. However, from the driver’s seat to the podium he was nothing short of pleasant, accommodating and even jovial.
His “Chase” is out for 2012. Doing what he can for Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin is the focus for the rest of the season. Starting fresh in 2013 with coming changes from NASCAR and as much of a grasp of those changes as he can is his own agenda.
On the exit, Kyle Busch is a driver. Even from the passenger seat it is obvious “driving” is a test of physical and mental agility. Don’t let anyone tell you racing is not a real “sport”.
Especially a “football” fan who hasn’t touched a football since high school and has difficulty with the concept of “merging”…
The Tums Fast Relief 500 comes to Martinsville Speedway on October 28th. The Kroger 200 truck race is the day before. One week previous to Cup racing, Martinsville hosts the late model Virginia Is For Lovers 300.
Race fans… The “Chase” and the race is on at Martinsville!