In Texas, drivers are on fast track

FORT WORTH, Texas — Qualifying results for the Busch series race at Texas Motor Speedway had just been posted Thursday evening, and pole-winner Shane Hmiel was studying them.

Why was it, he was asked, that the four fastest qualifiers were all relatively young guys?

Hmiel issued a bit of a chilling answer.

Because, he said, none of those four drivers had wives and children to worry about.

The implication being, of course, that TMS is a nerve-tester.

Perhaps, the nerve-tester.

Texas, which has been billed “one of the fastest tracks in NASCAR” in recent years, now may be “the fastest track in NASCAR.”

The claim is debatable as it is based on qualifying speeds, and qualifying speeds can be significantly affected by atmospheric conditions.

But last year, Texas did boast higher qualifying speeds than Atlanta Motor Speedway, the track that had held the “fastest track” title since, basically, restrictor plates were introduced at Talladega and Daytona.

The speeds at Texas have earned the attention of the drivers and NASCAR.

“I think you definitely have to be brave here,” driver Greg Biffle said after Thursday’s qualifying run. “Especially in qualifying trim.”

The speeds at Texas have not climbed past those at Atlanta. What has happened is that the speeds at Atlanta have sunk below those at Texas.

The track surface at Atlanta has aged and seasoned. It has become a little slicker and, hence, a little slower.

Last year, the top qualifying time in the spring race at Atlanta was 193.575 mph. For the fall race, it was 191.575 mph.

At the Texas race a year ago, the qualifying speed was 193.903 mph.

Hence Texas’ right to proclaim itself as the circuit’s unofficial fastest track — even if the Atlanta race came back to log a faster qualifying speed this year.

Master promoter Eddie Gossage isn’t particularly thrilled with being the president of the fastest track in NASCAR.

Gossage, in fact, is uneasy about the label. He worries about safety. And he worries about NASCAR.

“The fans say they don’t want (restrictor) plate races,” he said. “The last thing I want is for NASCAR to say, ‘Well, they’re going so fast that we’re going to have to put plates on them’ ” at Texas.

Gossage, who said he would love to see the speeds reduced at his and other tracks, said he has had no discussions with NASCAR about making Texas a plate-racing track.

NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said, however, internal discussions have been held on the subject.

Hunter said there are no immediate plans to require plates at Texas. However, NASCAR is concerned about the speeds at Texas and would like to see them reduced.

He said requiring plates would be a last resort, and that he hopes such measures as NASCAR’s Car of the Future program will negate the need for plates, and that plates are a “last option.”