fGood Monday morning after NASCAR's annual trip to Indy. What do you all have to say about what you saw? In the stands, on the track?
As for the stands, even though the size of those grandstands can dwarf a good size crowd, such was not the case yesterday. There is no getting around the fact that, for all intents and purposes, the stands were empty. Oh, there were a few warm bodies in the seats, but any effort of NASCAR to make that "crowd" exceed 40,000, in my opinion, is an outright lie. Sort of reminds you of what's going on in politics, huh? On top of that,a friend of mine who covers races for the press was in the press facility yesterday and told me this morning the place was deserted. What NASCAR hypes as their Grand Event, second only to the Daytona 500, couldn't draw enough press to cover the race.
Wait!!! Did I just call what unfolded on my television yesterday a "race"? Surely, after four cups of coffee this morning, I should be more cognizant than to use such a word to describe was what a parade, for the most part and a Kyle Busch show for the other part. I am trying to recall, as I sit here this morning, if there was even ONE green flag pass for the lead. I don't think so. Frankly, from what I recall, there was some passing back in the pack, but, as usual, the clean air deal kept the leader out front and allowed him to pull away with great ease.
Yes, I watched almost all of the race. I think I missed lap 122 to lap 140 as I has other things to do at that time. I still watch races with the continuing hope that one day NASCAR is going to realize it is committing suicide, slowly and painfully, with each presentation they puton the track. NASCAR likes to brag about the record number of close finishes they've had in the past two years but fail to mention those close finishes are about the only"racing" we are seeing on the track, and I can't help but wonder how many of those close finishes are orchestrated and/or manipulated by race control.
NASCAR is the one sport on the planet that has complete and total control over their participants. Drivers and crew members are fined when they make any negative remarks about NASCAR. To NASCAR racing has become the "on the track product". What???? They don't even call it racing. It is a product. It is a product, in my opinion, failing miserably. Yet there is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING being done to save it. A few changes to aero packages here and there which accomplish little to nothing because NASCAR will not return to what worked. Sometimes things of the past work better. Like the old fridge in my house when I was a kid. It had been in the kitchen for as long as I could remember when my parents decided to buy a bigger one when I was about 12. The old one was moved to the back porch and later into my Dad's workshop garage. During the course of their lifetime, my parents went through probably 10 new fridges as the newer ones lasted only 8 to 10 years. A repairman once told my Mom they were made that way so you would have to buy a new one every 10 years at least. That old fridge? When my Mom died in 1998 and we were cleaning out the workshop where the fridge was, I noticed it was working and inside were three ice cold soft drinks. So, you see, sometimes the old things are better. To my knowledge, that fridge had never been serviced.
Many people far more knowledgeable about the sport have commented that the schedule needs to be shortened as well. I agree. And part of the process in a shorter season would be getting Indy off the schedule, and removing at least one race from Pocono, Loudon, Texas, and Talladega. Bristol could stand to lose a race date as well as the crowds there are dwindling faster than the winds in an F-4 tornado.
Why do I continue to watch? Because the sport has been a part of my life since age 5 and I am approaching 70 this October. I want to see the sport survive. I want to see the sport REVIVE. I keep hoping that someone at the switch will wake up and make it happen but week after week I am subjected to the same excuse for a race. I do admit the competition has been better at some of the tracks when aero packages were changed. Why can't NASCAR make the changes permanent and let's go racing. Those "splitters" on the front of the cars could go and racing would improve substantially.
It is a sad Monday. There wasn't even a traffic jam trying to exit the track yesterday. I understand all 130 cars in attendance had cleared the parking lot before that idiotic tradition of "kissing the bricks" had commenced. At least one Busch, little Brexton, had sense enough to know that is a dog a pony show not worth his time. Dale Jarrett should be ashamed for starting such a stupid tradition and NASCAR should be fined for actions detrimental to the sport for allowing it to continue.
Ok, that's it for today. I have laid off writing Forum posts here as some enjoy criticizing my negativity when it comes to my comments regarding the sanctioning body from hell. I don't mind the criticism, but what I can tolerate is the mindlessness of those who claim there is nothing wrong with NASCAR these day. There is plenty wrong. Some folks say NASCAR is too big to fail. Is it? If what is happening today is not "failure", then how do you define failure?
Thank you for reading.
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 08/06/18 08:00:31PM
Everybody tells me to quit living in the past and enjoy the present. That includes admonitions to enjoy the mediocrity of current NASCAR racing.
There was a time when what is now Xfinity Series racing enjoyed a glorious event in the Indianapolis area. Beginning in 1982 and continuing for 30 consecutive seasons, we raced the Xfinity Series (known in 1982 as the NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series) at the wondrous 5/8th-mile oval in Clermont, Indiana originally called Indianapolis Raceway Park.
The event enjoyed wonderful promotion by the Kroger Grocery chain and showcased a who's who of NASCAR weekly racing veterans, up and comers and scattered Cup drivers. The first year winner before a sellout crowd was Morgan Shepherd, with "Terrible Tommy" Ellis the only other car on the lead lap. For 30 years this event played to a sellout audience and was a terrific TV event.
Then one day, Brian France and his brain trust decided to turn an outstanding race with capacity crowds into a mediocre event with nobody in the stands by moving it to IMS. Only a higher power knows what thoughts swim in the brain of Brian France.
Today, the NHRA is crushing NASCAR with big crowds, exciting events and good television. Many forget that the NHRA was responsible for staging the wonderful IRP NASCAR events. Perhaps Brian would consider subletting the management of NASCAR to the NHRA. Below is the August 1982 IRP NASCARLMS race preview clip as it appeared in the Daytona newspaper, giving full credit to NHRA.