It was a street fight last Sunday. Despite being on an active United States military base with a significant law enforcement presence, the NASCAR Cup Series race at Qualcomm Circuit on Naval Base Coronado featured rooting, gouging and departures from the standards of polite society.
There were mangled fenders, bent walls and bruised feelings after the 75-lap race around the 3.4-mile, 16-turn temporary street circuit in San Diego. Spinning cars and seven caution periods consuming 11 laps in the 3-hour and 37-minute affair were the result of conduct more suited to the stables than the drawing room.
Certainly when the Cup Series heads a little more than 530 miles north to Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway for this Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350k, decorum and civility will return. After all, it’s Wine Country, where table settings come with fine linens, refined soil grows the finest grapes, sophistication fills wine glasses, and good taste is an HOA requirement. Cup Series drivers will surely read the room, right?…