Who won that day? None other than Mark Martin in the Aqua #1 IROC Firebird, a diecast that I hold near and dear to my heart. My most prized Mark Martin diecast is the 1:24th scale replica of the car that Mark drove through the field that day, passing Jimmy Vassar on lap 35 to take the race win and his fourth IROC title. (And, of course, with some help from the man we refer to as “Professor Razor” who is a great Markaholic, I attained a 1:64th version of that same car)
The 1998 Aqua #1 Mark Martin car I bought last year. Stimulus plan anyone?
But, as much as I love telling the stories of the 1998 IROC at Indy race (moments number one and three in last year’s countdown) I feel it even more important to tell you the story of the 1998 Brickyard 400—the main event of the weekend.
The only reason I tuned in was to torture myself. It’s like watching the 2007 Daytona 500, or even the 2009 Orange Bowl. No matter what I do, no matter how hard I wish for the outcome to change, the contests always end the same way. Kevin Harvick beats Mark Martin to the line for his only Daytona 500 win. The Virginia Tech Hokies smash the Cinderella dreams of my UC Bearcat football team in Miami.
And Mark Martin still finishes second to Jeff Gordon in the 1998 Brickyard 400.
Watching the replay on Monday evening took me back to the days where drivers could race for position back to the caution. And, while that was at times dangerous, it provided some excitement. Now, freezing the field is the norm and racing back to the line no longer exists.
And, the race ends under caution. There are probably some people out there that say, “What? Races never end without a green-white-checkered finish.” Well, this one did. After Jimmy Spencer spun out within ten to go, the field lined up for a single file restart (another rule that has since gone by the wayside) with three to go. Problem was someone forgot to hit the gas pedal further back in the field, causing a massive pile up on the front straight.
The yellow flew and Mark Martin couldn’t catch Gordon in the race back to the line. Gordon won the race by following the pace car for two laps. Now, I’m not here to tell you that Mark Martin would have, could have, or should have won that race, but looking back on all the old time rules has made me appreciate some of the newer rules.
And, although Mark Martin hates the new double file restart rule (a rule that should be one of the main reasons to watch the Brickyard 400 in ten days) it does add some excitement. Although it’s excitement I’d rather not have.
So, sitting here less than ten days from the drop of the green I think it’s good to look back on the old days, just as I did before the Daytona 500. It was a time that I enjoyed watching NASCAR races, even more than today. It was a time when NASCAR races occasionally went caution free (in fact, a race in 1997 went caution free at Talladega of all places, Mark Martin won.) and even they were entertaining.
Maybe there’s hope that this year’s Brickyard 400 won’t be marred with cautions, especially seemingly made up “debris” cautions. For years I’ve cast off those who say NASCAR is becoming more like WWE wrestling and it’s become fake and made up. Somehow the Jeremy Mayfield saga and Chicago’s “debris” cautions (did anyone see the debris on the track…exactly) have made me re-think my position. Here’s to hoping NASCAR doesn’t screw up a good race next week.
Because Goodyear already did that last year.
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Tomorrow I’ll make a trek to Kentucky Speedway to watch truck and ARCA practice, so before I leave in the late afternoon I’ll make sure to tell you what Rick Crawford and Frank Kimmel told me two weeks ago at the media preview day. You just have to hear the Rick Crawford story, it’s a dandy.
Today in the mail we received a letter “signed” by Mike Helton and Tony Stewart assuring us that this year’s Brickyard 400 will not be marred with tire issues. Next week I’ll discuss the tire issues and quote Helton’s letter. Let’s just say if they screw this one up, there are no excuses.
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