I might have figured out a good metaphor to explain to myself what I like about F1 and NASCAR and how they’re different.
F1, based on just one race of watching it so please correct me if I’m wrong on this, is a pitchers’ duel. Precise. Building. Quick and rhythmic. The main characters are the main characters.
NASCAR, at its best, is a slugfest. Preferably a day-game slugfest. With a fight in the middle. Chaotic. Long. Different role players step up at different times—sometimes at big times—while the heavy hitters still bear more weight.
Anyway, F1’s off this weekend. So are the trucks. Here’s the schedule.
Friday
Nothing. Rest. Watch some baseball.
Saturday
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Drydene 200
Where: Dover International Speedway
When: 1:30 PM EDT
Broadcast: FS1
What makes a speedway international? Is it like airports? Can you fly to Dover from Canada?
IndyCar: GMR Grand Prix
Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway BUT THE ROAD COURSE (*mind-blown emoji*)
When: 2:00 PM EDT
Broadcast: NBC
I don’t know how IndyCar fits into the metaphor above but I’m afraid I do know and I’m afraid it doesn’t reflect well on either IndyCar or baseball.
Sunday
NASCAR Cup Series: Drydene 400
Where: Dover International Speedway
When: 2:00 PM EDT
Broadcast: FS1
Twice as good as the Drydene 200.
We’ll have previews up for the IndyCar race and the Cup Series race on their respective mornings. Xfinity preview is this: Dover is international, and must be treated as thusly mysterious.
OH. MY. WORD.
To be asked to pen an article for The Barking Crow is the honor of a lifetime. In no way am I worthy of such an invitation.
Against my better judgment, I gladly accept! HOWEVER, due to upcoming travel and a desire to really do this thing right, I don’t think I can make it happen this Friday. (Look at me. Getting my first assignment and then asking for an extension like I’m some BIGSHOT.)
Can we punt on this for just a short while?
100%. Just email it our way whenever you do it. Thank you!!!! We eagerly await your comparisons.
I think this simile generally checks out. HOWEVER, F1 can occasionally get quite spicy. Big regulation changes will occur next year, which will hopefully lead to greater parity and bring the pack together. Hopefully this translates into more sharp-elbowed racin’.
PITCH: A Barking Crow post that determines the F1 corollaries of NASCAR drivers. Some of these are just so plainly obvious. Jimmie Johnson is Lewis Hamilton, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., is Daniel Ricciardo, Tony Stewart is Kimi Raikkonen, and so on. The article practically writes itself. YOU’RE WELCOME.
Whoa, interesting! Will be excited to see how that works out.
And yes, yes, I need that. Although I now realize: I’m not the one to write it. Because I don’t know F1 yet. Would you like to submit it for inclusion in Friday’s weekend preview?