USA TodaY: NASCAR Identity Crisis

Don · #1 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:15 PM

A starting point would be to not have the Fox " Digger " and reference to the lap gained as the " Lucky Dog " , which I think was originated by the Fox race commentators, possibly Darrell Waltrip. Like the double file restart time has come to consider eliminating the lap gained by the first driver a lap or more down from the racers on the lead lap.

Another consideration would be more forthcoming on race comments, such as those expressed by Kyle Petty on TNT race coverage. Comments by FOX that the stands are also filled, when race coverage shows a number of empty seats , does not help the creditability factor.

Realizing the sponsors paying the bills have to be kept happy, the expression of filling up with " Sunoco " race fuel gets overused and lacks sincerity.

USA Today :

" When NASCAR was born on the sands of Daytona Beach, Fla., 61 years ago, its fan base likely wasn't much different from its racing heroes. A sport spawned by moonshine running starred undereducated white males from the South who subsisted on modest incomes. "

" As it returns to Daytona this weekend for a July 4 race celebrating America, NASCAR is coping with maintaining the interest of a fan base that increasingly reflects the country's 21st century sophistication Statistics say its followers are richer, smarter and more technologically savvy than ever. "

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor...y-crisis_N.htm

Seagull81 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 05:44 PM

Get rid of the 43 car IROC race and bring back run what you brung like the old days. Get rid of ground affects and put real drivers back in the cars. There is nothing stock about what they run today and nothing on the road that looks like them, except Ricers with picnic tables bolted to the back. But I don't think the tea and crumpets crowd would go for that.

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 02:17 AM

If they went back to the old standards then Helton and his version of our Govt. wouldn't have total control over everything from the springs and shocks to the carb. NASCAR hasn't been about racing for years. Just another side show for money and to promote their favorite drivers. I watch the Rolex series and other road races when they are on and skip NASCAR and their high speed parade laps. And the darn caution laps take up at least 1/4th of each race. Any time they make a mistake and show the stands, there are a lot of empty seats.

Ron

Wayne Maybury · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 07:36 AM

How can it be a serious race when a driver gets a lap back every time they bring out a yellow flag? Lucky dog, maybe. Stupid, for sure.

Wayne

Ron61 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 10:39 AM

Wayne,

How can it be a race of any kind when every car is built and dictated to Heltons standards. They all have to have everything exactly the same. Whoever gets out front stays there unless something happens to him as with every car basically having a governor on them no one can pass. I saw one of their TV shows the other day and they are worried about the drop in fan attendance. Maybe if they had races where it was possible for them to actually race it would help.

Ron

Gregg(What's his name)? · #6 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

Wayne,

How can it be a race of any kind when every car is built and dictated to Heltons standards. They all have to have everything exactly the same. Whoever gets out front stays there unless something happens to him as with every car basically having a governor on them no one can pass. I saw one of their TV shows the other day and they are worried about the drop in fan attendance. Maybe if they had races where it was possible for them to actually race it would help.

Ron

AMEN Ron AMEN

rustyBob · #7 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 01:24 PM

NASCAR is finished.......no good raceing, no good fights, a few wrecks wount keep fans in the seats and the "IROC" type cars turned me off . nobody like Davey Allison or Dale Jarrett or Alan Kulwwicki left .

Bartruff1 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

If they went back to the old standards then Helton and his version of our Govt. wouldn't have total control over everything from the springs and shocks to the carb. NASCAR hasn't been about racing for years. Just another side show for money and to promote their favorite drivers. I watch the Rolex series and other road races when they are on and skip NASCAR and their high speed parade laps. And the darn caution laps take up at least 1/4th of each race. Any time they make a mistake and show the stands, there are a lot of empty seats.

Ron

I watch the Rolex series...closest thing to the old Can Am with a greater variety of competitive cars and engines. I can watch the last 100 miles or so of a NASCAR "Race"....but if faux is doing the broadcast I have to mute it.

427sharpe · #9 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 02:03 PM

Items for the s*it can:
1-Restrictor Plates
2-COT cars; I want to see differences Fords, Chevrolets, etc...
3-Helton
4-Carburetors
It's time for NASCAR to step into the age; let the wizards loose on fuel injected small (4.2 - 4.6 L) SOHC or DOHC V8's (or even V6's) that must be based on production engines. Bring down displacements to limit speeds, but bring back racing on the superspeedways instead of 2 columns interspersed with crashes. The 'Car of Tomorrow' was/is a joke that made NASCAR a spec series, and one a whole lot less entertaining that Formula Ford. Let me know when they start racing again; but 'til then I will watch Koni Challenge and SCCA on Speed.

Silverback51 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 06:36 PM

All they need is a few elephants and a couple dancing bears and the circus will be complete.

rustyBob · #11 (**permalink**) 07-06-2009, 08:53 AM

NASCAR couldnt wait to throw Jeremy Mayfield under the bus........who's next? how about Brian France or Mike Helton takeing a drug test?????........oh i'm sorry did i say that outloud.

SPF2245 · #12 (**permalink**) 07-06-2009, 09:14 AM

It's sad, even Tony Stewart...one of the most diverse and outspoken drivers seems to have been beat down by Nascar. I watched his post race interview after this weekends race and he just seems deflated. I'm not sure what the solution will be to get the excitement back, but it is obvious that this current car and race format isn't working as well as it should. I'll give Nascar credit, they do try to change things to make it competitive, but I believe in trying to make it "good" they end up watering down the actual race. As for Kyle Petty, good lord...the guy raced for HOW long and won how few races. Get someone with more credit with the fans to call the races.

fsstnotch · #13 (**permalink**) 07-06-2009, 09:23 AM

I honestly believe that the only reason Tony is still racing Nascar is to make the money and please his fans. He gets his real kicks out on the dirt damn near every weekend where the REAL racing happens!

Ron61 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-06-2009, 10:55 AM

I think that you are right about that.Tony really loved the dirt tracks and he has made Eldora a great track since he bought it. I think Eldora is the one he bought. I don't even like to listen to the NASCAR mandated interviews. It is so rehearsed and lacking in any true emotion that I just wont even watch them. I do watch the Rolex series and like road racing. Kyle Bush screwed up in the race there too as he kept locking the tires up and missing the turn.

Ron

RodgerH · #15 (**permalink**) 07-06-2009, 11:08 AM

How many of you miss the days when REAL racers drove REAL cars and let their REAL emotions show?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-uf8lxFoR0

I for one do!!
Rodger

4RE KLR · #16 (**permalink**) 07-06-2009, 11:10 AM

I think NASCAR has forgotten it is a blue color sport.

I haven't watched it for a couple of years, and have no reason (or desire) to go back doing so.

Many of you have said, it really isn't a race if every car is EXACTLY the same. Next thing you know someone else will be building the cars and they will draw straws to see which one they get.

Oh, that's right, they are already doing that.

Next NASCAR headlines:
"NASCAR pronounced DOA at The Brickyard"

Wayne Maybury · #17 (**permalink**) 07-06-2009, 12:39 PM

NASCAR has grown into a big time race series. In doing so, they have tried to become all things to all people. They want to attract new fans who are are only interested in the latest rage while the true-blue fans want to continue to watch the real NASCAR racing series where the teams run cars that are not all the same.

The old fans are die hard Chevey or Ford or Mopar fans that drive the brand that they root for. The new fans want to see close finishes and don't know a Toyota from a Chevy. NASCAR almost always waves a yellow flag with a few laps to go so that everyone can get new tires and some gas and which almost certainly ensures a close finish since the field is so bunched up. Some times it makes me think that the script writer from a soap opera or the WWE is in charge at NASCAR.

Wayne

fsstnotch · #18 (**permalink**) 07-06-2009, 12:54 PM

Tell me Tony doesn't look like he enjoys this much more!

This is old Tony ala 1999
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfy6Ign3cUE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH753we_FO0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaFDOd8zK7o

rustyBob · #19 (**permalink**) 07-06-2009, 02:09 PM

that was raceing at it's best.........if that happened today there would be huge fines and suspensions .........

95CobraR · #20 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

I watch the Rolex series and other road races when they are on ......there are a lot of empty seats.

My favorite race series is the Grand Am Koni Challenge (real production cars). My second favorite series is the Grand Am Rolex series. But talk about empty seats...no one attends these road racing series events.

I thought the Nascar Daytona race was interesting entertainment (esp. the last lap).

RIP to that poor Digger guy. He was involved in an incident.