Shootout Is Good, But Tweaks Needed
fanhouse.com
Filed under: Daytona Int’l Speedway, Sprint Cup
Kevin Harvick‘s win Saturday night in the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway placed a nice bow on the package NASCAR wanted to see for a season-opening exhibition event.
But amid the solid side-by-side (and often side-by-side-by-side) racing, a highlight-pleasing, multi-car crash near the end and an otherwise good start to a 2010 season that NASCAR needs to be a smashing success, the format of the 32-year-old Shootout seemed to hold back the event.
Basically, the Shootout was good when it could have been great.
For starters, NASCAR needs to take a long look at eliminating the 10-minute break in the action after the opening 25-lap run of the 75-lap event. Simply, there’s no need to take such an extended break after a run that lasted just over 20 minutes.