Standard start times bring sport back to comfort zone

For all the crap NASCAR takes -- some deserved, admittedly -- the decision to return to earlier, uniform start times for Sprint Cup Series races is a step in the right direction.

Obviously fans will embrace the more standardized TV times as well as the green flag dropping within 20 minutes of the posted broadcast time.

(Personally, the change means that my buddy Donnie has one less thing to gripe about. Each week he asks the same question: When is green flag? The understanding being that he doesn't give two lug nuts about "TV time" as it stands now.)

"In 2010 we will get more consistent start times, and frankly earlier," NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said on a teleconference Wednesday. "Our research has shown that our core fan would like to watch racing a little earlier, which is a little counter-intuitive to most television programming.

"Between consistency and earlier start times we know we will be delivering what our fans have been telling us they want for some time," he said.

Returning to 1 p.m. ET start times harkens to the days of listening to the races sitting under a mimosa tree, eating homemade pimento-and-cheese sandwiches (washed down with a Sun Drop) at my grandmother's house in Lynchburg, Tenn. My uncles were race fans and got me hooked early.

And yes, David Pearson is the greatest stock-car driver who ever lived. I learned that from my Uncle Jackie and I believe it, still. My Uncle Richard pulled like a John Deere in a field of muck for Bobby Allison, then equally as hard for Dale Earnhardt, and contended his brother was bribing me with Zero candy bars to root for Pearson.

The 1 p.m. ET start times also bring a return to the sanctity of Sundays: church, lunch and racing, in that order. That was lost somewhere along the way and it's good to see that routine (hopefully) will be rote for the next generation of fans.

Double-file restarts and a return to standard start times are positive changes for the sport. While many are howling about lower TV ratings and sponsors moving their dollars to other marketing platforms, NASCAR is doing what it must to remain relevant in a changing sports landscape.

Give NASCAR credit for recognizing (read: listening to the fan base) that changes were in order. Give NASCAR credit for taking advantage of the times. Give NASCAR credit -- because too often we throw France & Co. under the ... COT, as the case may be.

Granted, there remain issues -- real or perceived -- that need addressing. However, NASCAR is not satisfied with the COT and continues to do research and development on the new race car. NASCAR is working with the tracks to lower ticket prices to make race weekends more affordable for families. NASCAR is doing a lot of things behind the scenes that you nor I know about; I am confident that any potential changes will be in the best interest of competition, first, the fan base, second.

In the end, if the competition is there then the fans will follow. And knowing when to tune in to watch the race is a great first step.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.