Well, well, another NASCAR season has gone by the way. Quite a season, overall, for the three major touring divisions. Some surprises, some not so surprising, but there are plenty folks happy with the way things turned out and many very unhappy with the way things turned out.
First up, congratulations to Matt Crafton for his Championship in the Camping World Truck Series. I managed to watch most of the Camping World races this year in spite of the hugely irritating Michael Waltrip having a microphone in which to spout his stupid remarks. The Camping World had new, young talent racing and some of that young talent prevailed. Matt ran races all year on a Championship pace and all he had to do was start at Homestead and he had it. Not much to hype there, but the commentators managed to make you believe the owners championship battle was THE major battle of the NASCAR season. I really do get sick of hype, or as it is sometimes called, "spin", but I guess they have to do what they have to do to have something to fill air time.
Next, I offer congratulations to Austin Dillon on his Nationwide Championship. I had my hesitant moments before writing that but, bottom line, Austin won so congratulations Austin and Pop-Pop. However, I personally think that NASCAR's manipulation of that race and the Championship is disgraceful and once again, NASCAR Race Control has proved their inability to pull off a subterfuge without astute fans catching on. Please note that the last caution flag was out for 12 laps, in spite of what was sure to be a long cleanup. Note also that the cars were routed down pit road 3 laps of that caution. Also please note that they "waved off" the restart three times. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out NASCAR was busy computing what they had to do to get that hallowed number 3 on the Championship stage, especially with the probability that young Austin will debut that car number in the Cup Series next year.
I am aware that anything could have happened to Hornish or to Dillon that would have altered the outcome, but with NASCAR wasting 12 laps under yellow when they should have red-flagged the event until the mess was cleaned up and then let them race for it. That has been the practice for the past several years. Enjoy that Championship, Austin, and don't let the actions of NASCAR diminish it for you. But, be warned, that when the next big things comes along to displace you and the number 3, you may be on the receiving end of the next bad decision from Race Control. What do those guys in that tower do during the race? Just how many "adult beverages" are consumed before and during an event? Would be nice to know.
Ok, we now have "Six Time". I'm glad. I was getting tired of the "Five Time" nickname. Love them or hate them, Jimmie, Chad, Rick and those boys have learned how to play The Chase system. Here, again, NASCAR bears the responsibility for instituting a points system that can manufacture a Champion in the last ten races. Having said that, we need to also bear in mind that everyone who starts the race in the Daytona 500 come February had the same opportunity Jimmie had. If anything, NASCAR seemed to bear down a little harder on the 48 team this year but still could not, at least not without very obvious actions, stop the roll to six for Jimmie. Oh, I am aware that NASCAR doesn't care who or what may question their decisions, but they had to let The Chase play out, in my opinion, because of the Richmond scandal. They have noticed that a couple of the major sponsors have bailed and more may follow. Even with the lucrative television package they managed to manipulate, eventually the lack of sponsorship will kill what is left of the sport. At least, at the very least, the Cup Championship Trophy does not go to the Land of the Rising Sun for display.
Now, let's talk about the "Open Letter to NASCAR Fans from Brian France" which was posted on the NASCAR site as well as distributed on most social media sites. The letter is dated November 16, 2013, and is entitled "Chairman and CEO thanks fans for passion and commitment to NASCAR". Once again, it appears to me, BZF is clueless as to what is happening in the real world of racing. I will not quote his entire letter here as it would only waste space and time for tonight and we have a really important guest on this show coming up. But I would like to offer a response to a couple points raised by the Master of Misery.
" I have said a number of times that we created the Chase to provide fans with more high stakes. late season competition that goes right down to the final event". Brian goes on to mention a couple of instances where the Chase was close competition. Really, Brian? I guess I have to give you that one but wonder what would have happened if your Race Control had determined a way to fix the Eco-Boost 400 Sunday as they did the Nationwide race. Not so easy, that one, huh? And Nationwide had NO Chase.
"As good as the Chase has been for our sport, we want more". "We're on a mission to make racing the best it can be". I had to laugh out loud on that statement. What planet is little man hanging out on these days. Does he not notice the empty seats? Does he not read of the declining television ratings? Does he even care? Brian, you're damn right WE, meaning WE the fans, want more. Your lip service to the sport has worn thin Dude so you can keep your mouth shut on that one. He goes on to explain how NASCAR Research and Development continues to work on matters to make the competition even better. Excuse me? What you don't seem to realize you Pillsbury Doughboy wannabe is that it was NOT NASCAR Research and Development that gave us the great racing we had in the 50s and 60s. As Bill Blair, Jr. would say, you could go to the junk yard, get a car, engine, transmission or whatever and bring it to your shop and make your car run. We had innovators then that made the sport work, and work well. Bill France, Sr. ran a tight ship but he did allow folks in racing to use their skills and talents to make the cars all they could be (sorry about that you Army Recruiters but it seemed to fit). When NASCAR Research and Development got involved, we are handed first the Car of Tomorrow, one of the biggest insults to the sport ever introduced. Now we have the "Gen-6" edition of what is supposed to represent the "Stock Car" in NASCAR. Admittedly, it is better, but it is still not what you can buy from a showroom. Not even close.
To those of you who will immediately start shouting about all the safety improvements, I'm aware of that and I give you that point. But, the same thing could have been done with a more stock version that what runs the circuit these days. There is no innovation now. There is no advantage for a team to work on advances in technology because it's been proven that IF NASCAR didn't come up with it, then it's not acceptable. All of you who are quick to call Chad Knaus such a cheater need only to look on the NASCAR list of officials to find the names of those who brought "cheating" to a whole new platform.
I had really intended to go back through the season in all three touring divisions to list a number of inconsistencies in NASCAR's enforcement, or lack thereof, in their own magic book of rules. But, I think, after the Nationwide event in Florida this past weekend, I need not waste my time going back through what NASCAR has done.
I've said it before and I'll repeat it again. I am very fortunate to have been allowed to come along when I did. I'm only a couple years older than the NASCAR organization and I discovered the sport in 1952. Through the 50s and 60s, and maybe even into the 70s, the sport flourished because of people like me who believed in the people driving the cars. We believed that the Plymouth we could buy off the showroom floor was as good as the Plymouth winning races. Same for Fords, Chevys, Mercurys, Pontiacs, Studebakers, well you get the picture.
Lastly, as to BZF, he writes, actually I'm sure some professional writer wrote for him, that he understands that fans sometimes agree with NASCAR and sometimes not. But, he assures us, a quoting now "Please know wherever you stand on these issues, we appreciate your passion for NASCAR. It does not go unheard or unnoticed". If that is true, Brian, to whom are you listening? Don't you see the empty seats? Again, I ask, what planet are you calling home these days. You are so far off base, as is NASCAR as a whole, that it is amazing you could even give away all those free tickets in Homestead to all the illegal aliens with a promise that ICE would not interfere. One way to make it look as though you have a crowd.
Look around you Brian. Fan disgust is everywhere. Fans are bailing out of the sport faster than a Hemi on a pole run at Daytona in 1964. Remember those days? I doubt it. I doubt you even remember where you put your car keys.
Ok, as to Donovan McNabb's comments as to whether or not Jimmie Johnson should be considered an athlete. I watched that interview but I didn't even know who McNabb was. Furthermore, I don't care. I worked around the NFL for a number of years with both players and coaches thanks to the attorney with whom I worked. I will leave it alone except to say it would take an entire NFL team to equal the IQ of Michael Waltrip and you know what I think of Michael's IQ. If that offends anyone listening, go drink some Gatorade and get over it.
I haven't even taken time to count the number of days until action gets underway in Daytona in February. Oh, I know I'll watch the race but if all those who have pledged to bail on the sport after this season actually do that, then I may be the one person Nielsen ratings would want to call. I recall, very vividly, the first Daytona 500 I watched on tv after so many years of attending in person. When Ken Squirer was wrapping it up and CBS was rolling credits to some calming music after the torrid battle of the race, I had a lump in my throat because I was not there in the infield as I had been for so many years. I can truthfully say that now they couldn't get me there if I had a police escort all the way into the track and were given seats in the most exclusive suite at the track. It will never be what it was and what it was was wonderful. Gone with the Wind as Margaret Mitchell would say. And as Rhett Butler said, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn".
