NASCAR not interested in mandatory cautions

By Jenna Fryer

Associated Press

Published: Thursday, July 5 2012 4:15 p.m. MDT

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Tony Stewart adjusts his safety equipment before going out on the track during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, July 5, 2012, in Daytona Beach, Fla.

John Raoux, Associated Press

Summary

Bruton Smith has an idea on how to create more excitement in NASCAR.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Bruton Smith has an idea on how to create more excitement in NASCAR.

NASCAR President Mike Helton doesn't sound very interested in the billionaire track promoter's suggestion to throw bogus cautions to bunch up the field.

Smith argued last weekend at Kentucky that long green-flag runs are damaging NASCAR and floated his idea on creating mandatory cautions.

On Thursday, Helton said NASCAR fans don't want manufactured drama.

Helton says fans want races to unfold naturally, and he believes NASCAR's green-flag racing is as exciting as any auto racing series.

Many drivers also seemed opposed to throwing mandatory cautions.

Carl Edwards said NASCAR would be headed down a slippery slope, and Sprint Cup points leader Matt Kenseth said he opposed the idea.

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