Drivers React to Lack of Practice at Talladega

Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images via NASCARMedia. 

NASCAR 

Which Drivers Would Rather Have Talladega Practice?

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, NASCAR would practice for multiple hours a week. That all changed to nearly none when the sport returned. Now, since the start of the 2022 season, NASCAR fans have been treated to the return of practice and qualifying at race tracks. While it’s in a much more limited capacity than before, we’ve gotten used to these sessions. However, as we rolled into Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, practice was not on the schedule.

Obviously, we’re all aware of what can happen at any moment cars hit the track at Talladega. It was here in 2018 when Jamie McMurray went barrel rolling down the backstretch and slammed the inside catch fence during practice. So, with the current state of supply chain issues and preparation of cars being behind, NASCAR decided not to risk a similar incident where teams would need to pull out backup cars.

This decision left somewhat of a mixed reaction among drivers. Dale Earnhardt, Jr even chimed in with his opinion on how a lack of practice affects drivers, specifically the younger ones.

“I wanted everybody to have no doubt that I was willing to make whatever move needed to be made,” Earnhardt said on his strategy in practice sessions at Daytona and Talladega. “I wanted people to see that my car was dominant. If they knew that before the race even started, you had so many friends immediately. When the green flag dropped, everyone was looking for you and when you made a move, you had a lot of people trying to be that guy to go with you.

“When you don’t have practice. When you can’t go out there and show people not only what your car can do but what you’re capable of, that you can be trusted, that you’re going to take risks, that if they want to go to the front that’s the car to latch on to. If you don’t get a chance to show people that, you’re kind of on an island.”

Ryan Blaney was one driver that somewhat agreed with Earnhardt’s remarks that no practice potentially presents a problem for young drivers.

“It does change it up a little bit,” Blaney said. “I wouldn’t mind a little bit of practice but it kind of is what it is…I agree with Dale when he says some of the younger guys who are rookies, that’s how you get to learn everything and get comfortable in the pack. It’s how other drivers kind of see you as, ‘okay this guy’s good, he’s smooth and steady and I’ll work with him on Sunday.’

“There’s really none of that, so you’ll have to do that in the race. It is a little bit different. I wish we had a little bit of practice at least. But, nothing we can really do about it.”

Kyle Busch had a differing opinion on practice, citing the manufacturer teamwork that goes on now as a reason practice wouldn’t make much of a difference.

“More times than not, any time we come to speedway races, we kind of draft in our group and that’s it,” Kyle Busch said. “Literally, we go out there just for a heights check and a rub check, but with composite bodies and the ride height rules with the shocks the way they are, none of that matters.”

Written by Noah Lewis

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Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images via NASCARMedia.