Let’s start with my tongue in cheek post about the “sell out” for the Phoenix Cup Race. I posted that our own TMC Chase, who contributes so much to the site, had announced earlier in the week that he would be attending that race, thus the sell-out. That was intended as a light-heart compliment to TMC Chase and fortunately, for me, he accepted it as that. However, there were comments to the post, and many more comments on the other social media site I visit, pointing out that Phoenix had removed more than 37,000 grandstand seats, thereby making the current 51,000 capacity an easier sell out. Maybe I knew that and just forgot it, but it doesn’t matter for the purposes of this Legendtorial. What does matter to me is that the comments and e-mails I received, from fans of all ages and from all over the country, were negative as to NASCAR. In fact, some of these folks were absolutely livid over the way NASCAR is conducting business. But, I will get into that a bit later.
Next, let’s discuss the Camping World Truck Series practice incident between “Bubba” Wallace and another driver whose name escapes me. I saw that accident, and the several replays, and heard about both Bubba and the other driver being called into the NASCAR trailer. I will say this and leave it to stand alone. I had respect for Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, even though his initials are “D.W.” I thought, and still think, that he has a great deal of talent for driving, at least in the Camping World Truck Series. But what is this running across the track to slap the still strapped in driver in the truck that accidentally brushed D.W. and caused the wreck? I think that was crass and uncalled for and certainly not a quality I, as a potential sponsor, would want in my driver. Seems as though NASCAR has brought in “thug” racing. I don’t like it, but you know what? No where was I able to find information about that incident on any NASCAR page although other incidents between other drivers made the video highlights. Go figure that one out for yourselves. I have my own opinion of why that is.
Now, let’s talk about the manipulation of races. Hate to beat a dead horse, but we need to call NASCAR out on this one. The caution flag thrown with about 20 to go was for a piece of tape off the mangled Go Daddy Junk pile riding around some 10 laps down. A piece of tape! Not even bearbond, simple tape. Any half blind member of the France family could have seen what it was and to further add insult, the tape was up out of the groove. I posted a little comment about that on the other social media site I frequent and the comments there are a riot. What I didn’t know, because I only got home to see the final 57 laps, was the earlier caution thrown for Joe Nemechek’s close encounter with the wall. Please note the operative word here is “close”. Several folks told me he never touched the wall but they threw the caution anyway.
As to these unnecessary caution flags, and don’t throw that “safety issue” at me when the last one was clearly for a piece of tape out of the groove, was it NASCAR’s attempt to lessen the points damage suffered by the JGR team? Was Dollar General only performing like a 50 cent run? I know that is a conspiracy theory, but hey, we’re coming up on the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy day in Dallas and they still haven’t settled that issue. It is my feeling that Toyota is putting a lot or pressure and money onto and into NASCAR to find a way to take the Sprint Cup home to the Land of the Rising Sun. To think of NASCAR acquiescing to big bucks for which it has a definite “yen”, is not a huge stretch of imagination. Homestead should be a real adventure in international relations. I understand NASCAR has ordered three additional yellow flags to be on hand in case the flagman should drop one or two, or wear one out waving it to keep the racing close.
Now, speaking of close racing and the ridiculous, ludicrous, absurd, sickening, disgusting Chase, let me say this. In the Camping World Truck Series, Matt Crafton has already won that Championship simply by starting the Homestead race as h e has a 46 point lead over second place Ty Dillon. Ty has a 4 point lead over James Buescher so that will be the focus of the ever screeching Mikey Waltrip during that broadcast Friday night. I thank the wonderful technician who invented the “mute” button for my remote. Can’t listen to the truck race as it isn’t broadcast on radio here, but you can bet I won’t be listening to the poster child for stupidity. I’ll just watch in silence. But, you know what? There is NO Chase in Camping World Trucks.
Ok, let’s go to Nationwide. Austin Dillon has an 8 point lead over Sam Hornish who has a 55 point lead over Regan Smith. Eight points, Baby, that is going to be a good one. Of course, seems the broadcast team the past three or four races spend more time discussing the owners standings between Penske and Gibbs. Could that possibly be they do not want to call attention to the fact that the drivers’ championship is so closely contested here AND THERE IS NO CHASE INVOLVED. How about that.
Now, Sprint Cup. After Phoenix, It is Jimmie Johnson 28 points ahead of Kenseth who is 6 points ahead of Harvick who is 23 ahead of Kyle Busch. The television crew spent more than 10 minutes Sunday after the race reminding us of JJ’s awful time at Homestead last year as well as setting forth several scenarios whereby Harvick could actually come from 34 points behind and take the spoils. I don’t doubt Harvick could do it under the right circumstances. Realistically, however, is there really a chance of both Johnson and Kenseth having such a miserable race in one event? Really? Yeah, I know, anything can happen but I seriously think we would do better watching for these unwarranted caution flags, pit road speeding penalties accessed at NASCAR’s discretion and not subject to appeal.
I am in at least weekly contact with a large number of avid race fans, as well as those active in the sport in one capacity or another, as well as some of the true pioneers of the sport. Admittedly, those with whom I communicate most often seem to think along the same lines I do, and that is why we have those connections. With the exception of one or two out of a couple hundred, the consensus is turning nasty for continued support of NASCAR. I guess it was summed up pretty well by the host of a radio show I listened to last night. I withhold his name as I didn’t get permission to use it, but I will for future reference. He said he had finally determined when and why it was that he began to lose interest in what NASCAR does. He thought it may have been the COT and admits that was part of it. He thought it may have been The Chase and admits that it was a huge part of it. His final determination was that everything wrong in the sport is spelled B R I A N with France at the end. I threw in the fact that NASCAR lost its dedication to tradition, a true Southern value, when the Southern 500 was taken from Labor Day weekend at Darlington. I also mentioned that the demographic NASCAR seeks to impress has only served to alienate its core fans and fails to attract those fans the “experts” claim will become these huge NASCAR fans. I have come to the conclusion that “experts” are usually know-it-all incompetents who acquire the title from other “experts” in some endeavor or another. Just think of this folks, not that I’m bashing education because I believe in it. This country was built by folks with an average 8th grade education. World War II, and we just celebrated Veterans’ Day yesterday, was won by boys, that’s right I said “boys”, with an average 11th grade education. Don’t bother to write me about the Generals being West Point Graduates because it still comes down to the man in the trenches that were experts only in trying to stay alive while killing the enemy. Didn’t mean to get sidetracked there, but I’m simply tired of hearing about the “experts” and their opinions. If the experts are so all-knowing, what is happening to the sport? Why the decline in attendance and viewership on television?
Bill France was not an expert, he was a good promoter. Bill, Jr. was not an expert but he was very good at marketing a product with the help of R.J. Reynolds. Brian Z. France? Really, do we even need to mention him in any context that involves the use of the word “expert”. I think not.
Ok, as we head into this weekend at Homestead, the championships are on the line, with the exception, maybe, of the Camping World Truck series. I would submit that NASCAR, your very existence may be on the line as there are an awful lot of folks sick of your fake cautions, manipulation of races, a rule book that consists of only ONE primary rule which you choose to manipulate however you wish. I would suggest, as a long time fan who wants the best for MY sport, that you consider what you have done and what you are doing. Don’t you dare kill the sport so many fine men and women brought to life, nurtured and of which they were very proud. You, NASCAR, have lost your way. You seem to be floundering in a sea of “expert” advice that is so far off target it is meaningless. There those of us willing to help. Listen to us. We aren’t designated as “experts” but we are fans, many of us who helped build the sport in one capacity or another. We don’t like failure, we weren’t raised that way. Listen to us. Otherwise, I think, you’ll be listening to almost silent grandstands and the sound made by rapidly exiting sponsors for your lucrative television package. How long will the networks show your races without sponsorship dollars? So then, pay-for-view? Got news for you Brian, it’s going to be a cold day in the hot place before you get a pay-for-view dollar out of the Legend!
