NASCAR: Do we need both the Lucky Dog and the wave around?

Since NASCAR brought in the wave around rule I've been wondering if we really need the Lucky Dog as well? It seems like it's almost getting too easy to get back on the lead lap. Even drivers who have gone two or three laps down are sometimes able to get back on the lead lap. I think now that we have the wave around and the cars a lap down who don't wish to pit under a caution get the chance to drive around to the back of the leading lap pack, we should maybe ditch the lucky dog rule. The Lucky Dog is giving a driver something for nothing whilst if he takes the wave around there is still an element of luck and strategic skill involved to ensure he doesn't go a lap down again. I know it's good entertainment to have lots of cars on the lead lap at the end but at the same time there has been more than one occasion where a driver has messed up and gone several laps down but still ended up getting a (undeserved) good result thanks to getting the Lucky Dog a number of times. I would be interested to know what other NASCAR fans on this forum think.

No, we dont need it.
But NASCAR do.
That way, they can keep a larger number of cars in contention for a good finish, so the average fan can still believe his favorite driver is still in with a chance to win. And that after the race has finished, NASCAR can brag about how after six million miles of racing, the whole pack was still only separated by three seconds.

I like it. It's part of the rules and the smart drivers and crew chiefs play to the rules. It's an interesting twist and it creates additional "races within the race" which I like.

Thats the difference between an entertainment establishment and a racing establishment.

One wants all the cars on the lead lap to race each other and the other seems to try hard to remove people from the lead lap and kill competitive racing.

I seriously wish Americans could run F1. Stuff like 3 teams turn up with the DDD at the start of 2009, Americans would have fallen over laughing while telling them to "put them back on the trailer and try again next race".

yes we need lucky dog because getting the wave around still doesnt put you in contention unless theres another caution very soon after.

It hurts NASCAR integrity as a sport. I'd rather see drivers race as hard as they can to unlap themselves.

I don't care what series it is but if you are a lap down, you should stay a lap down.

I hated seeing backmarkers being allowed past the safety car in F1 and the same is true in Nascar (albeit I am not an avid viewer).

yes we need lucky dog because getting the wave around still doesnt put you in contention unless theres another caution very soon after.

That was what I was trying to get at. The Lucky Dog is something for nothing, does a driver really deserve to get a whole lap and be fighting for leading positions in the race for free? With the wave around there is a bit of a gamble, if there is another caution soon after then the driver scores. If he then has to make a green flag stop he could possibly end up losing that lap again or possibly two laps at a short track.

I dont like the lucky dog. How fair is that to the race leaders ?? It's not. If you get lapped, you get lapped, its part of racing.

I like it without it what do we get?

ull be a lap down at the back of the pack at restarts, so you would have to pass the *entire* lead lap cars to get back on the lead lap, and if theres a caution u get sent to the back of the que if you havent managed it.
also if a lead lap car doesnt pit there isnt a wave around? wasnt harvick doing something like that at dega so there wasnt a wave around?

IRL doesnt have lucky dog and waive around, and apart from texas, and another race where the stars align, how goods the racing? mostly pants