Nascar '09

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Nascar has turned into a spec series in recent years. That, along with severe manufacturers $$ cutbacks will most certainly change the face of the series. I myself would like to see the series scaled back somewhat with cars built not-to-spec, but by mechanical ingenuity and experience.
As far as auto sales is concerned, with weekly and daily layoff anouncements by major companies nationwide, I myself would not buy a new car and I don't see many others buying either. Can't fix the auto industry when layoffs are the norm. Something has got to give.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

One interesting view.

Same could be said about your avatar.

[coosawjack]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

One interesting view.



http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/16/i...376x1200979994

I REALLY like your avatar....Silverback and I thought that was what you were talking about (One interesting view) at first!!!

Nascar will survive but they too will see A LOT of changes!!

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by am6948

Elmriachi,

If you are close to Fort Worth you can see on in person, NASCAR races are held in April and November.

Correct, I was referring to the LeMans races. I have been to Nascar events at Atlanta, Talladega, Daytona, Bristol and Texas. I'm not an old-timer yet but I grew up on #s 21, 28, 9, 7 and 3. It'll never be the same.

And, in spite my ridicule and incessant harrassment about it not being a "manly thing to use," the kid using the body wash is apparently getting more action than me.

[Ron61]

Originally Posted by Bartruff1

That is very informative and interesting but I think it is still whistling past the graveyard. I am sure the man is telling you what he thinks is the truth but I wonder if he can see the forest for the trees. The Golden Rule is that " He that has the gold makes the rules " and the people that are being ask to provide the gold (The taxpayers/bond holders/stockholders) are going to have to be convinced that there is a positive cost benefit associated to racing and I believe that will be a tough sell. It is my understanding that it is the Dodge Dealers that provide the funding ? They may be in bigger trouble than the Company . It will be interesting to see what happens. I remember siting and watching in disbelief when the World Trade Center came down on that sad day. It was just a few weeks ago that the spokesmen for Fanny/Freddy/Leman Bros/Citi/Goldman/Madoff.. etc were telling everyone that things were ok....well, they weren't

It wasn't that long ago that Bill France was on TV telling everyone that NASCAR had no problems at all and even if the Big 3 completely withdrew it would not affect them in any bad way. That last part could be partly true as the cars are no longer even a reasonable copy of a Ford, Chevy, Etc. But the money they pour into NASCAR for R&D would be missed and I have seen places last year that they didn't show the grandstand in places because of empty seats. I think there will be more of that this year. People have more important things for what little money they have now than paying an exorbitant price to watch a bunch of spec cars run around in a circle. I hate to see any business go down, but I don't feel that NASCAR is vital to the country. I do believe they like the Big 3 will survive, but in a much different way than what we have seen in the past.

Ron

[Bill Bess]

One thing to remember is that "Stock Car Racing" in America is the same as Mother, Apple pie and McDonalds, it ain't gonna go away anytime soon.
I suspect there will be some reductions in the size of teams, less pay and smaller prizes for the drivers.
Hopefully, they will reduce the ticket prices so us "poor unemployed smucks" that appreciate NASCAR can attend a few races next year. If they don't make it affordable, I'll just hang with our local rednecks here in town.

It ain't all bad...there are still plenty of fast cars and good engines that will sustain 9000 RPM's for 500 miles.

[CowtownCobra]

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

One thing to remember is that "Stock Car Racing" in America is the same as Mother, Apple pie and McDonalds, it ain't gonna go away anytime soon

Sounds suspiciously like baseball. I was one of those rabid NASCAR fans going back to the 70's. But anymore, it is about as lively and interesting as b-ball

[Don]

F1 has been very aggressive regarding changes to reduce cost. Could not find the concise summary, but the following article has the changes:

“It will be Formula One as we all know it, but clearly much less expensive.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mot...ts-by-1bn.html

With these changes, F! is getting closer to a spec series

With the specific race sponsor, approx 4 or 5 races do not have race sponsors, and Team sponsor concerns, looks like NASCAR will have to institute additional cost reductions

[Bartruff1]

I have never understood how the France Family was allowed to own the sanctioning body that awards the races and at the same time own several race tracks ??? Even Bernie has more ethics than that ....not much more.

[Don]

RE: Kentucky Speedway:

" The basis of the lawsuit was simple: independently-owned Kentucky Speedway opened its doors in 2000, upgrading its facilities since in hopes of landing a date on the Sprint Cup tour. Instead, it's been largely ignored while other tracks such as Chicagoland, Kansas, Texas, California and Phoenix landed coveted extra dates on the schedule.

Four of those five tracks are owned by International Speedway Corporation (ISC) -- a company owned and operated by the France family. In fact, the company currently heads up 12 of the 22 tracks listed on the 2008 Cup slate -- enough to raise some eyebrows, considering that NASCAR's CEO is none other than Brian France. "


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....18/index.html

[Bartruff1]

Originally Posted by Don

RE: Kentucky Speedway:

" The basis of the lawsuit was simple: independently-owned Kentucky Speedway opened its doors in 2000, upgrading its facilities since in hopes of landing a date on the Sprint Cup tour. Instead, it's been largely ignored while other tracks such as Chicagoland, Kansas, Texas, California and Phoenix landed coveted extra dates on the schedule.

Four of those five tracks are owned by International Speedway Corporation (ISC) -- a company owned and operated by the France family. In fact, the company currently heads up 12 of the 22 tracks listed on the 2008 Cup slate -- enough to raise some eyebrows, considering that NASCAR's CEO is none other than Brian France. "


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....18/index.html

I just don't get it...that rulling looks like complete nonsense bordering on corrupt to me....

[Bill Bess]

What's new...the France Family are the ones with the gold, own and control everything......but is it illegal? It certainly is suspect and will most likely prove corrupt at some point.

Bill

[Bartruff1]

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

What's new...the France Family are the ones with the gold, own and control everything......but is it illegal? It certainly is suspect and will most likely prove corrupt at some point.

Bill

In the system of Justice....even Bernie isn't that bad. The only good news for me at least is that Nascar or their sponsers don't get my money if I can avoid it...maybe the house of cards will come down with the next TV Contract....

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Nascar has successfully removed almost all competing circle track racing from TV. Does anyone remember sprint and midget racing on ESPN from IRP? Not anymore. I would suspect that they won't allow any network to televise other forms of racing in order to have Nascar telecasts. Just too many hours of pre-race crap and middle-of-the-week garbage instead of good short track racing. Nascar is a legal monopoly.

[Ron61]

Bill Davis Racing is no more.

http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/head...ney/index.html

Also Fox is wanting to cut back on their coverage but hasn't really said how or what they are going to do.

Ron

[Maurice Johnson]

What is it we love to hate about NASCAR? It's roots are in the same era of technology that our Cobras originated in. Our engines and suspension come out of the same gene pool, don't they? Even over here in Bermuda, where the speed limit (officially) is 35 kph, and the longest straight stretch of road is about 2 car lengths , there is a tremendous following.
Peter Windsor and Michael Waltrip were discussing F1 .v. Nascar on Speed Tunnel one night, and Peter asked why invest millions on a 1950's front axle, when there are other more modern designs. But when I watch these aircraft carriers transistion from straight to corner at 195 mph, I am impressed. Didn't one of these cars beat an F1 around Daytona, I seem to recall the F1 averaged about 180 and the other about 225.

[Ron61]

Bill Elliott holds the record and he set that in the days before restrictor plates and his qualifying lap speed was just over 221 MPH. He was driving a Ford Thunderbird.

A couple of years ago they had Rusty Wallace come to Talladega and run a test with the pre spec car without the restrictor plate and the small blocks they now run. His top speed was 230 and his lap average was around 212 if I remember correctly.

Ron

[Maurice Johnson]

Thanks Ron,

I didn't think my numbers were too far off.
I'm a Grand -Am man myself, family business, kssmotorsports.com., but to quote David Hobbs "it takes some big attachments" to drive a paper thin body shell at 200mph. I respect those "daring young men in their flying machines". even the ones that smell nice with body wash

[Ron61]

Maurice,

Same here. I much prefer road racing and loved the old Trans Am series. If I were younger I would go to Richard Petty's Driving School just to see what it is like to go around one of those oval tracks at high speed. All of the racing I have ever did was on road courses, so I don't have any idea what it would be like to drive one of those cars around an oval. But I can guess at the loss of breath and momentary blackout when they hit the wall even with the new safer barriers which I think is a great thing.

Ron

[Don]

Major sponsors with significant fan exposure are evaluating their Marketing costs:


" DuPont is expected to extend its 15-year-old deal with the sanctioning body, but no agreement has been reached yet, both parties say. Jeff Gordon’s longtime partner is slated to be the primary sponsor on his No. 24 car for 26 of the 36 points races next season, but that number could drop if DuPont sells off some of those races as part of its efforts to control costs. "

Entire Article from Sports Business Journal:

NASCAR targets 4 open sponsor categories

By MICHAEL SMITH
Staff writer
Published December 22, 2008 : Page 04
NASCAR will go into 2009 with openings in at least four categories — rental car, quick-service restaurant, home improvement store and digital photography — while five other sponsors renewed their official status deals.

The biggest defection comes from Home Depot, which has spent the last 10 years as NASCAR’s official home improvement warehouse. It is one of four official partners that decided not to renew its league deal amid budget constraints.

“It’s just a matter of figuring out how to best spend our marketing dollars in a tough economy,” said Home Depot spokeswoman Jean Niemi.

Enterprise, Domino’s Pizza and Kodak also elected to let their official status deals expire. These agreements, which normally range from three to five years in length, typically go for the low seven figures annually.

http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com...rticleId=61004