Brian France was quoted recently that NASCAR grades each of its races. If so, until the last two restarts, Sunday's Cup event at Phoenix International Raceway was an F- and "trending" (NASCAR Intregrated Marketing Communications is obsessed with "trending") to be the worst of the 36 Cup races held at the Arizona oval since 1988.
As I wrote on Twitter, the Budweiser Clydesdales passed more people during pre-race ceremonies than all 43 NASCAR drivers did on Sunday.
Only two double-file restarts (yes, NASCAR put that rule in place) and Joey Logano's attempt to "go for it" bumped the final grade to an F or, at best, a D- . The entertainment was lousy and if alarm bells aren't sounding and warning lights flashing all over Daytona Beach and Charlotte today, well, . . .
If you are so inclined, please go to AzCentral.com or Twitter ( @SpinDoctor500 ) to read all of my PIR stories. A lot more there, including that NASCAR really should return PIR's first race to an April Saturday night.
Thank you.
P.S. -- Steve Kinser likely will make his last start in Arizona this Saturday night when the World of Outlaws is in Tucson. I'll be there and will have a story on Kinser in this Friday's Arizona Republic.
[ more next Monday . . . ]
