Organizing a race can be quite demanding. Over the years, we have seen unfortunate and undesirable circumstances appear on the track. From accidents and storms to power outages, this season a horde of factors have tried to delay races. Ultimately, the pressure of handling it in an optimal manner falls on NASCAR and its decision-making officials. Being a part of the sport for three and a half decades, Kenny Wallace knows a thing or two about it.
The latest Cup race at Atlanta saw the race shortened due to eventual rainfall and risky track conditions. In terms of racing action, the race day did provide us with incredible moments, but certain sections of the fandom have expressed dissatisfaction and questioned NASCAR for their inability to complete the race. Former driver and one of the most vocal and knowledgeable persons in NASCAR, Kenny Wallace, was in no mood to bear all the hate on a great race. Letting out a long rant, he slams the fans for absurd demands and reasoning.
Kenny Wallace Slams Haters for Unnecessary Criticism of NASCAR
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“You crazy people out there,” started off a frustrated Kenny Wallace. At times, fans can have outrageous opinions that do not take into consideration months of work put behind them.
“‘I don’t like it when NASCAR make it rain.’ They should have options in place for me because I’m sitting at home on my couch drinking my beer,” says Herman calling out people for ignoring hard work without experiencing any part of organizing a race.
Admitting his displeasure at the news of rain clouds approaching an ongoing race, he then explains that the race delivered more than many people expected. He referred to an online poll that showed that a vast majority of fans thought the race was a contender for one of the best races ever at the venue.
“Alright, let’s start like this. I think a lot of you are like me, we get disappointed. Bummed out that it rains out, spoils our party. You know it spoils the NASCAR parade, but let’s dive deep into this. Let’s get a little serious about it. Let’s try to make reason. Have somebody so upset it might rain at Atlanta. It did, it showed rain coming in before the race started. Now, let’s take Atlanta for example rain’s coming in at five or six o clock.”
Rain is now about 10-15 miles from Atlanta Motor Speedway. Should be raining in to next 10-20 minutes at the track. pic.twitter.com/k0WtE19SPM
— Steve Monday (@WXsnm) July 10, 2023
The weather forecast, in fact, did predict a rainstorm coming the track’s way. Senior VP of NASCAR Elton Sawyer revealed that their decision was made keeping in mind that the race did have a possibility of completion but in hindsight, a good part of it was affected by rain.
“It didn’t rain until we got deep way halfway into race past halfway then the rains came but it was a great race. Jeff Gluck said what did you all think of the race. Some 30,000 people voted. 87 percent said it was one of the best races ever in Atlanta. The racetrack has got worn out, the race was incredible, there was a fair and square winner, it was William Byron.” said the 59-year-old reiterating the public opinion and applauding winner William Byron.
Kenny Wallace Emphasizes the Role of Severity of the Weather
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With the race going so well, on an absolutely electric evening, it is understandable with Sawyer didn’t feel the need to call off the race. Kenny sided with NASCAR’s decision. Citing a previous example of an NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, which was interrupted by a snowstorm last year in November, one of the fans tried to back up their criticism of NASCAR. Opposing this school of thought, Wallace informs about the difference in severity and impact of the circumstances. The football game was shifted to Detroit and pushed to Sunday.
“Now imagine if we did at NASCAR when I say we because I feel like I’m art of the racing world. I’m not part of NASCAR but imagine if we listened to some of you. The weather channel says it’s going to rain so let’s reschedule this race for whatever time you think should be rescheduled.”
“Now, somebody said they rescheduled that big snowstorm football game up in Buffalo, New York. I’m like hold on calm down, it was a horrible snowstorm on a Monday or Tuesday and the football game was going to be on Sunday. So, four or five days out, they see they could not have the football game there because it was one of the most historical snowstorms in history. We can’t control God-given moments,” claims a furious Kenny.
☔️ "With the information we had leading into the event, we felt like we were gonna be in a good place there to get the entire distance in."
More from #NASCAR SVP Elton Sawyer on officiating with weather in the area, pit road procedures and no caution calls on the SXM App 📲 pic.twitter.com/BZnztBK9bA
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) July 11, 2023
“Some of You Really Think That NASCAR Makes It Rain”: More on the Business Side of Things
One thing that many people almost ignore every time they discuss something about NASCAR is the financial effect of a decision. A single race has many facets to it. One of them is the involvement of sponsors. Rescheduling a race does not just require a whole setup at another track, it also nullifies the efforts gone into the preparation of the original racetrack.
Sunday’s rain-shortened Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway was a huge hit with drivers and fans alike, but the final caution, coupled with some of the decisions made by NASCAR, left some scratching their heads. pic.twitter.com/lmS0HL7S6t
— Nascar Now (@nascarnowdc) July 13, 2023
Kenny goes deeper into the same aspect of sports. Describing the mindset of a specific set of fans, he looks livid.
“What would you do if it said, hey, it’s gonna rain. What are you gonna do now remember these races are scheduled a year in advance. NASCAR says here’s the schedule for next year. So FOX TV, NBC TV, they schedule all this. They can’t go we’re not gonna run the NASCAR race so we’re gonna bring up whatever show it is. It doesn’t work as simple as you think it does. I do want to be a little mean here. I think a lot of you are crazy. Kind of like, you drive me crazy.”
One of the more enraging opinions from the fanbase was that probably NASCAR has a hand behind the continuous rain at race venues. Addressing the same, Kenny says, “I really think that some of you really think that NASCAR makes it rain. However, I do believe psychologically you’re just so damn mad that it rained that you got to take it out on somebody. Let’s take it out on NASCAR because, by God, they made it rain or NASCAR should have started an hour earlier. They should have done this. should have done that. It’s not that simple.”
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Using historical events, Kenny Wallace speaks on the tragic forest fire at the Florida beach in 1998, an event that was so impactful that the race had to be moved.
” Let’s go way back. God-made events we got to the big forest fire, you know some 25 years ago, remember the big forest fire far down in Daytona Beach for the July race. Cancel the race, it was unsafe, the smoke was so thick. They cancel that, they moved it. That’s because it was a God situation like rain.”
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There are many important points to jot down from Kenny’s furious rant. On one side, it does highlight the ignorance of some fans who have been nit-picking issues to blame NASCAR for their occurrence.
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