Brian France shows up at Daytona drivers meeting

Brian France, running NASCAR into the ground

Brian France, who is the HEAD OF NASCAR, made a strange comment prior at the start of the sport’s biggest race on Sunday.

Standing in front of all the drivers and VIPs at the pre-race drivers meeting, France announced he was about to speak on a competition topic — "which I don’t normally do." (And there’s a reason for that, one would think.)

France began by saying NASCAR accepts blocking and understands it. BUT…

"Do not look for NASCAR," he said. "When you block somebody out there — and it’s going to happen today — it causes almost all the big incidents — do not look for NASCAR. You’d better hope there’s a Good Samaritan behind you who is going to accept that block, because they have that lane."

Dude, what are you even talking about? Unless I’m mistaken, the only wreck caused by blocking during Speedweeks was the Denny Hamlin/Brad Keselowski battle for the lead during the Clash. Otherwise, the Big Ones (like in the Truck and Xfinity races) have been caused by ill-timed bump-drafts or just mistakes in tight pack racing.

But…blocking?

Huh?

In the current package for Cup restrictor-plate races, blocking is HOW YOU WIN THE RACE. Brad Keselowski, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano are masters at blocking (alternate word: “defending") their positions out front, nullifying the runs that come behind them.

No one disputes this or has a problem with it. All 40 drivers in today’s race understand if they get out front they MUST block.

So I honestly have no idea what France was getting at, or why he said that, but I guarantee you it didn’t help his credibility in the garage. Jeff Gluck