NASCAR’s willingness to listen and act offers encouragement

Since Bill France Sr. spearheaded its inception and eventual growth into the second-largest form of racing worldwide, NASCAR has functioned as an autocracy.

Any decision of consequence was made directly from the top with little input sought from the outside -- those directly affected (drivers, owners, fans, track operators) having almost no say or influence.

That modus operandi not only served NASCAR’s best interests, but also assured there would be none of the infighting that eventually consumed and destroyed Indy car racing -- once North America’s most popular form of motor sport.

Yet, while operating as a dictatorship may have stimulated unprecedented prosperity, a new form of governance needed to emerge as the sport deals with a stagnant on-track product to dwindling attendance to shrinking television ratings. What NASCAR required was not an ironfisted ruler, but a more tactful approach stressing openness and fostering new ideas.

This season NASCAR has done just that by demonstrating a very unfamiliar trait -- inclusiveness -- that gives confidence that the sport can rebound from its current slide and feel confident about the future.

The 2015 hot button issue facing NASCAR centers on a lack of lead changes and how difficult it is to pass, stemming from an offseason decision to reduce horsepower and downforce. As conceived, officials thought the slower speeds would increase passing by requiring drivers to be off the throttle less.

But in fact, the opposite has occurred. Drivers are actually on the accelerator more and cornering speeds have increased upwards of 20 mph on some tracks. Not surprising, with the field running nearly the same speeds and drivers de-throttling with less frequency, passing has declined.

Through 15 race there have been 94 fewer lead changes than last season at the same juncture, while only three times have winning pass occurred with 10 laps or less remaining (Fontana, Kansas, Michigan).

However, despite the obvious monotony and drivers loudly vocalizing their displeasure, NASCAR executives publicly stated hesitation to issuing any rule changes that might offer a jolt -- both for this season and next. A plan to use last month’s All-Star Race to test a potential 2016 aerodynamic package was scraped due to concerns about readiness and what direction to head.

The stubbornness seemed to follow NASCAR’s standing operating procedure from yesteryear. Even though a large section of the garage called for rule modifications, officials said no. If change was to come, it would be on NASCAR’s timetable and no one else’s.

Behind the scenes, though, a break from the norm was afoot. Choosing to solicit the opinions of those with firsthand experience and knowledge, NASCAR asked drivers to select a small number of representatives that would meet with executives to discuss a variety of topics. Highest on the agenda were potential rule changes and matters of safety.

For a sanctioning body that had once suspended one of its most popular drivers for attempting to unionize, this was an extraordinary measure. Previously, drivers aired their grievances not collectively, but individually inside NASCAR’s hauler.

The first drivers’ council was held May 30 at Dover International Speedway and included Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin among others.

Afterward, those who participated raved about being afford a change to have a say. Gordon called it “one of the coolest things I’ve seen happen in this sport since I’ve been in it” and said he wished the formation “had happened long before my final year.”

“To be able to sit in a room and have a lot of drivers that have a unique perspective on it I thought the panel was fantastic,” Gordon said June 5 at Pocono Raceway. “I thought the openness of the conversation was amazing. I thought that it was all very positive.”

From that conversation came further indication that a new way of thinking had encompassed the NASCAR offices in Daytona Beach, Fla. and Charlotte, N.C.

On Tuesday, NASCAR executive vice president Steve O’Donnell unveiled a new rules package to be implemented for next month’s race at Kentucky Speedway designed to generate more lead changes and side-by-racing.

“We’ve certainly talked to the drivers,” O’Donnell said. “That’s no secret. There are some drivers who are very vocal on wanting to pursue this angle. There are some who actually like a very different rules package, so it varies. But I would say all are aligned in terms of the package that we’re heading into for Kentucky.”

Although stressing the package is only for the July 11 race, O’Donnell said if NASCAR is happy with what it sees the new package could be applied elsewhere. And that includes utilization on the 10 tracks hosting Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff races, five of which are similarly sized to Kentucky (1.5-mile).

“We’ve been very, very vigilant in talking about tighter racing,” O’Donnell said. “I think we’ve achieved that in terms of first to 43rd. You see that those teams are closer than ever, but we certainly want to see more lead changes on the racetrack.”

Whether a shorter rear spoiler and wider splitter will dramatically enhance the competition remains to be seen. More changes are likely still needed. If drivers had their preference many would have NASCAR restore horsepower to the levels of last season, and for Goodyear to incorporate softer tires.

But those discussions are for another time. Because regardless of how Kentucky and the remainder of the season plays out, Tuesday showed NASCAR’s listening. And that’s a significant first step.