In really taking this all in, this race is yet another reflection of what kind of people NASCAR is trying to appeal to and what they think is the answer to bring fans back. When you really look at the stages, the chase, the playoffs and even the new Pit road changes (which were done to "Create Drama and excitement"), NASCAR is about making this a show. No where is this more present then at Restrictor plate races and even more so today with the barely new changes for the cars (apart from the Camaro) and the banning of adjusting ride Height. Its less about actual racing and more about forcing a result through an idiotic series of decisions and gimmicks. I was watching a video not too long ago and the first thing that sprung to m,ind was what Carl Edwards said in 2009 after the Talladega race when he mentioned "NASCAR puts us in this box". When you take into consideration them forcing the drivers to race through the stages and stage points AND the tight no passing below yellow line rules, that applies so much to today's race and restrictor plate racing in general (hell, even racing throughout the schedule).
That last lap itself was a product of this and it just so happens this allowed Fox (and NASCAR more importantly) to cement the Dale Earnhardt coat riding they've been doing for the last 20 years. Austin could have moved to the outside but from what I'm seeing and observed repeatidly, he still would've turned Almarola the way that run was going and if he would've backed off, not only would he have not been able to come back but he would've caused a yet another massive pileup. There was no other way that race was gonna end other then THAT kind of pass. You want to really blame anyone, Blame NASCAR for making This "Box" that every driver has to comply to. Blame NASCAR For making what has to be the biggest BS of an scripted action flick since literally anything Micheal Bay has made (just with less explosions). Blame them for the NASCAR you see now and not the NASCAR you used to see, the one that was rough and tumble because the drivers were and not because NASCAR made a heavy-handed narrative that drivers, teams AND broadcasters have to comply to. The WWE jokes and comparisons are there for a reason: Because this isn't a sport, its a show. Its not a racing series, its a television series with a season that is too long and has gone way past the point of overstaying its welcome. Doesn't matter how much money gets flushed down the toilet and no matter how close anyone gets to being hurt or injured or even actually getting injured, its all part of this action drama. Lost someone to cancer or got someone fighting Cancer? More drama to the narrative. Lost a Pit Crew Member? More Narrative. Got a team owner that is hospitalized and in a condition that may be in a critical (thankfully, that didn't play out), more narrative.
Only reason I'm even willing to still watch is due to both Darrell Wallace Jr being the breath of fresh air this sport so badly needs and because the recently appointed Truck series General Manager Ben Kennedy, who from what I hear is being groomed with the goal of replacing Brian France (which is a telling sign in the France Family).
That's an action detrimental to stock car racing and a half.
