MICHAEL WALTRIP SHUTS DOWN NASCAR OVERTIME DEBATE AFTER THRILLING 5OT FINISH IN NASHVILLE

After Sunday night’s five-overtime finish at Nashville Superspeedway, folks complained. Michael Waltrip wants them to stop it. The NASCAR icon took to social media to set the record straight on overtimes.

Every time there is a race with more than two overtimes, people freak out. It doesn’t even happen that often. Still, fans and others are quick to point fingers and get upset whenever we see multiple Green-White-Checkered attempts.

Michael Waltrip isn’t hearing any of it. No one complained when UCONN and Syracuse went to 7OTs in basketball. No one gets upset when we get extra golf. So, why are NASCAR overtimes so controversial?

“In any other sport, 5 OTs is great,” Waltrip posted. “In NASCAR people want to debate is 5 too many. 5 OTs is better than no OTs. Let’s go to Chicago!”

Overtime is unpredictable. It makes drivers and crew chiefs think twice about every decision they have made up to that point. Above all else, overtime gives you drama and passion that you just don’t get on a long green flag run 9 times out of 10.

I’ll tell you this, no one at the race track felt cheapened because of 5OTs. Fans at the track were cheering, jeering, and having a good time. Even if they were upset that their driver lost or had a bad restart, it brought out emotions that you wouldn’t have gotten in regulation.

I’m with Michael Waltrip here. And I’ll argue, there are good and bad overtimes. If the overtime is a result of hard racing and being on the edge, on scuff tires, low fuel – that’s great. When it is a mess, like the Truck Series championship last season, it changes things.

The Ally 400 and each of those overtimes were fun.

Michael Waltrip enjoyed watching Joey Logano win

No Cup Series race has had five overtimes until Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway. What a show, and that could be good or bad depending onhow your favorite driver fared in that mess.

The strongest car, Christopher Bell, wrecked out in the final stage after leading for 131 laps. He spun around on his own and that was that. His suspension was ruined and he was out of the race.

For what it was worth, this didn’t feel like the annoying multiple overtime race that we have seen in the past. That might just be how I feel about it. This race kept me engaged, the fuel strategies, tire strategies, and chaotic cautions had everyone on their toes.

Joey Logano came back from a rough start today. He struggled. His team put him on two tires a couple of times. Then there was a rain delay. After that, five overtime restarts. Somehow, some way, Logano made a full tank of gas last more than 100 miles. He last pit on Lap 221, and this race went 331 laps total.

Michael Waltrip is right. Overtime kicks ass.

The post Michael Waltrip shuts down NASCAR overtime debate after thrilling 5OT finish in Nashville appeared first on On3.

2024-07-01T22:08:57Z dg43tfdfdgfd