It's November folks, and for race fans, that is a signal that the end is near. The end of another season, to be sure; that part has not changed. But this year marks the end of other things. After Homestead, we shall have seen the last of the "top-35 guarantee." The change won't be perfect, as there is no limit on the use of provisionals, but it's a marvelous start. It is something the fans asked for and got! Mr. France, we all know there is more to do, but I was raised properly, so on behalf of a lot of very happy fans, I thank you Sir, for listening to and finally heeding the fans of stock car racing.
In the season coming to an end, we saw the Camping World Truck Series roll back into The Rock, to a sell-out crowd. What could be greater than that? How about this, from Rockingham Speedway President, Andy Hillenburg? "Fans, drivers, teams; everyone embraced our 2012 event," said Hillenburg. "I'm happy to announce that with their help, we'll do it again in 2013; bigger and better than ever before." Tickets are already on sale, with adult tickets ranging from $20 to $35 and kids age 12 and under half-price.
And... gentle readers, have you all noticed that the Camping World Truck schedule for next year is not yet set in stone and revealed to us, the fans? If you haven't heard the scuttlebutt surrounding that, please put on your sunglasses so the light won't hurt your eyes, and come out of your cave. Eldora! There, I said it! This past Sunday on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain (9:00 PM, SPEED), Dave welcomed NASCAR President, Mike Helton as a guest. The topic of trucks running at Eldora arose... as planned... and Mr. Helton did absolutely nothing to shoot down the idea. Instead, he rather resembled a grinning cat with feathers still on his lips.
If this one is pulled off, and I do think it will be, it will be probably the greatest move back to what made racing fun to begin with, probably ever. Think about it. The Rock was dead, but she now lives again, thanks to Andy Hillenburg and a whole lot of folks that care enough to fill her up each time the gates swing open and the engines fire. Bet all those big cookie-cutter tracks wish they could say that! Was that when you began to sit up and take notice, Mr. France? When the Rock could sell out but Bristol stood half-empty... for the night race?
[caption id="attachment_2950" align="alignright" width="150"]
Fairgrounds Speedway Marker[/caption]
There is one other curiosity that has me believing that we will soon be seeing NASCAR's first dirt race since The King won a 200-lap feature at the old Fairgrounds Speedway in Raleigh, NC. (That of course, is the last dirt race for the Grand National/Cup cars. The Truck Series did not exist until 1995) Eldora owner, Tony Stewart, announced a week or so ago that the wildly popular "Prelude to the Dream" race would not run next season, citing scheduling problems. That has to make one ask, "Scheduling of what or with whom?" It didn't take this aging mind but a tiny fraction of a second to go to those trucks, which I believe are ready and waiting to do battle on that sweet little bullring. Mr. France Sir, if you have any doubt about the results of this trial balloon, you can rest assured that it will soar unto the heavens and beyond! For my younger readers that have never been to a dirt race, give it a chance; I promise; you will LOVE it!
Now, having found some very good things to look forward to as we end this 2012 season, there is another topic that I feel we need to address one more time... or frankly, as many as it takes to bury The Chase. Mr. France, we fans are well aware that The Chase was initiated by you in an effort to counteract the effect of the NFL running opposite NASCAR races in autumn. I believed then, and I believe now that it was an unnecessary move on your part to combat an enemy that really didn't exist. For instance, our Daytona 500 existed well before their Super Bowl, or Stupor Bowl, as I'm fond of calling it.
For many years, the NFL scheduled their game around our biggest race, and everyone was "cool" with that. In short, we all played together for the benefit of everyone. In light of that simple fact, I believe your "marketing advisers" were incorrect in suggesting that we duck and run for cover by moving the Daytona 500 to a later date. This past February, that left Speedweeks with a huge hole in the middle, with the 500 coming two full weeks after the Rolex 24-Hours of Daytona, and by the way, NO Super Bowl in that time frame. That was and is poor scheduling Sir, especially when it causes that 18-35 demographic to lose interest and move elsewhere.
We are nearing the end of the 9th year under this system... which, by the way, was said to be prompted in part by Matt Kenseth's "boring" run for the 2003 Winston Cup. Please note who won Sunday's race at Martinsville and just took over the point lead from Brad Keselowski in the soon to be departed Dodge. That would be Jimmie Johnson. Now, this is in no way an indictment of Jimmie on a personal level or otherwise, but we were promised excitement in exchange for giving up a perfectly good over-30-year-old point system. Should Johnson win, it will be his SIXTH Championship out of those aforementioned nine years. When does the excitement begin?
And referring back to the NFL, that august organization has not taken kindly it seems, to the weak effort of NASCAR attempting to one-up them. Games and races used to exist running head to head. Fans are not stupid. We have remotes and we know how to use them, but when well enough wasn't left alone, the NFL came back with some gimmicks of their own. (I'm sorry Sir, but despite comments to the contrary, the entire Chase concept IS a gimmick!) They call it "The Red Zone", and it could prove lethal to racing as we know it when NFL Football is in session. It's an elaborate pic-in-pic on steroids deal, showing all of the key and/or exciting moments throughout Sunday afternoons for the entire season... without commercials!
It is available now in most all markets, on both satellite and cable, making all the big or exciting plays and scores from every game available for viewing in the living rooms of America for a minimal fee. What's more, it's available on our big flat-screen TVs, not just on our lap-top or Pad screens... or heaven forbid, our phones! I would humbly suggest Mr. France, that NASCAR has to step things up in an attempt to combat what appears to be a knock-out punch delivered by the NFL. Remember Sir, you started it. You pushed that Slinky down the stairs and it's picked up speed with every bounce since. It would be an awesome move if NASCAR could devise a Red Zone of its own... perhaps more aptly called the Checkered Zone, the Finish Line or something more race-related. (You could run a contest... name that zone)
It will be difficult for a three-hour race to compete with the fast-moving pace of The Red Zone as it flashes around the country, showing tackles here, touchdowns there and field goals somewhere else, but if there is sufficient action on the track, it can be done. After all, some of us still prefer the roar of engines to the roar of a crowd after a touchdown. We're called race fans. Give us more cameras around the track, not inside the cars. I don't want to ride with the driver; I came to see the dang race! Other fans feel exactly the same Sir. They really do.
As I see it, with the current format, it is virtually impossible to have many "key moments' in the final ten races using the Chase format. We surely don't see them now, and attempts at manufacturing excitement in a race always go awry somehow. NASCAR will have to assure more key moments to even hope to compete with the Red Zone format. (Remember, it runs without commercials) Following only 12 cars for 10 weeks does NOT create all that many key moments, and gas mileage racing creates pretty much none. (Could softer tires be in the offing in 2013? A move back to the 22-gal. gas tanks perhaps?)
Now, how could things be changed to liven up those races and make them more interesting? Here's an idea! Make more cars relevant! Make the cameras follow 43 cars, not just a dozen! In short, go back to what worked well for 60 years and end the Chase. Make the season relevant. The technology is there Mr. France. We, the fans, would love to have a "Red Zone" all our own, and yes, I think many or most would be willing to pay a fee similar to what NFL fans pay, which isn't all that much Sir. Instead of one camera following the first two cars on the track around in endless circles for hours, give us little pics in pics showing all the passing, near passing and near disasters back in the pack that fans see when at the track.
"Key and exciting moments" are the key words. With a Red Zone-like program offering coverage of every exciting moment of the last 10 races, the Chase automatically loses its value to anyone for anything. Honestly Sir, the fans have never seen a bit of value in the format, and you have to be able to see what it's done to sponsorship, which is after all, the life-blood of the sport... and the business, however one chooses to view NASCAR. In 2004, I began jokingly referring to it in my Lady in Black columns as, "The Chase for no Sponsorship." That now sounds quite prophetic Sir, as sponsorship has fled from the sport like a herd of spooked cattle flees a lightning storm.
All right then, it's time that the fans take over and let their views and ideas see daylight. Please, don't be afraid to say what you think, but try to do so in an intelligent and respectful manner. They are listening, and we are being heard. We should be thankful for the good things, while continuing to point out the problems as we see them, along with possible solutions. Mr. France runs the show, but in truth, the sport belongs to all of us, and we share a common cause in wanting to see it succeed and hopefully return to its former prominence.
Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling. It looks so good on you!
~PattyKay
Email: nas3car@gmail.com
Twitter: @MamaPKL
If you've enjoyed your visit so far, we invite you to check out the Stock Car RacersReunion site by clicking here. By simply creating a log-in you will have access to over 100,000 vintage racing photos and thousands of articles, stories and conversations, some with legendary participants whose names you will recognize. As part of our racing family, you are free to enjoy the Chat Room and all Forums will be open for discussing your passion for racing with others of like mind. RacersReunion truly is where legends and fans unite.
