New Restrictor Plates Rules to Take Effect

Citing safety concerns, NASCAR abruptly ordered technical changes Saturday to slow down cars for today’s Nextel Cup UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. But because no practice was allowed with the new rules, drivers will start the race “completely blind,” four-time series champion Jeff Gordon complained.

In an overnight reversal, NASCAR officials mandated smaller carburetor restrictor plates to reduce speeds from the 198 mph that 10 drivers had surpassed in Friday’s practice on the newly resurfaced speedway.

David Gilliland of Riverside won the pole with a lap of 191.712 mph in his Robert Yates Racing Ford. His speed was far off Gordon’s 198.689 mph in a Chevrolet in practice before NASCAR mandated the changes to the restrictor plates.

“They kind of threw us under the bus with that change,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “We ain’t got no practice, so we really don’t know what to do.”

The 200-mph mark has been taboo in NASCAR since 1987, when Bobby Allison’s car went airborne here and nearly flew into packed grandstands along the front stretch.

“Liftoff speeds” were the primary concern cited by Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition, in ordering the slowdown at NASCAR’s biggest, fastest track at 2.66 miles. On Friday, Pemberton had said NASCAR was “monitoring” the situation, but had no indicated any possible changes.

“I promise you I don’t want to see anybody get airborne, including myself. So if we’re reaching that speed, I’m all for slowing the cars down,” Gordon said. “I just would like to have given the teams the opportunity to practice that [plate change]. We’ve got plenty of time today to get on the racetrack under these conditions. I think that’s something they should have considered.”

Despite the pleas of Gordon and others, Pemberton stood firm.

Gordon’s crew chief, Steve Letarte, hinted that teams may have privately been given another reason.

“We understand it’s entertainment, and we need to hit our TV times,” Letarte said. A NASCAR truck race was run here and carried on live television Saturday afternoon.

Orlando Sentinel

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Mark Martin won the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, coming back from a lap down and holding on after series leader Todd Bodine was penalized for passing illegally nine laps from the end.

The outcome of the 94-lap race was in doubt until half a lap from the end when Mike Skinner, just in front of a huge pack of cars, bumped second-place Mike Wallace from behind and ignited a multi-car crash.

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Michael Schumacher, who will retire after this season, could wrap up his eighth world title if he wins today’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka and Fernando Alonso drops out or finishes scoreless. Otherwise it goes down to the final race in Brazil.

Schumacher started with teammate Felipe Massa in an all-Ferrari front row.

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Persistent rain showers and a wet forecast for the remainder of the weekend forced NHRA officials to postpone the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Dinwiddie until next weekend.

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Starting last in a 100-lap late model race at Irwindale Speedway didn’t faze Tim Huddleston.

Huddleston was rewarded for having the fastest qualifying time with the last starting position in the 15-car field in the non-points race, which had a full inversion, meaning the fastest qualifier started last and the slowest started on the pole.

Huddleston moved into fourth on the 36th lap, third on the 40th and second on the 45th. He passed Nick Joanides on the 47th lap to take the lead and remained in first for the remainder of the race on the half-mile track.

Joanides finished second, 5.007 seconds behind.

Division champion Travis Thirkettle did not compete so he could attend a family function, Huddleston said.

-- Steven Herbert