Martin Truex Jr.’s minor contact with the wall introduced out the warning flag with solely a handful of laps to go, establishing the primary of what ultimately grew to become two additional time makes an attempt when Ross Chastain spun throughout the first one.
More often than not, NASCAR will maintain the race inexperienced after contact as insignificant as Truex’s. In fact, more often than not, such contact does not happen with a chief alternative to re-rack the sector for a mad sprint to the end. On a weekend wherein two completely different
drivers flipped on the backstretch, and solely per week after Austin Dillon deliberately wrecked a number of vehicles for the win in Richmond, race management’s set off fingers confirmed a disgusting lack of regard for driver security.
NASCAR’s “additional time” rule (wherein the race is prolonged if a late warning would in any other case drive it to finish underneath the yellow flag) is controversial sufficient by itself, however not less than it is comprehensible — followers should see a correct race to the checkers. That stated, it is not an excuse for race management to use that rule for leisure functions, giving different drivers a possibility to steal a win when the race was already all however over.
All Reddick needed to do earlier than the warning for Truex was merely cruise round for a couple of extra circuits. He put himself in that place by taking the lead on the observe and driving away, beating all people else fully fair-in-square. He should not have wanted to then win the race two extra instances afterwards, simply because a driver bought free and brushed the wall.
2024 has been the 12 months of the additional time end in NASCAR. 9 completely different races have gone previous the scheduled distance, together with every of the previous three. A kind of races, the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 30, featured 5(!) completely different additional time makes an attempt. On lots of these events, the races ended with jumbled ending orders that weren’t even remotely consultant of driver efficiency all through.
It is enjoyable and attention-grabbing when a race finishes in that method each as soon as in a blue moon, particularly when it has been a lackluster occasion in want of a climactic ending. When it occurs each week, although, it begins to be extra of an annoyance to followers who worth equity, and particularly so when it is so fully avoidable.
Fortunately, the proper driver nonetheless ended up profitable at Michigan. However subsequent time, NASCAR wants to simply maintain the race inexperienced.
