New nose for 2011, what do you think?
General
The growth I spoke of are the number of fans. Those are the numbers that attract sponsors. The truth is this, the racing today is tighter and the competition is better than it was in the 60's, 70's or 80's. I agree the cars don't look like the cars rolling out of Detroit and I say "THANK GOD!" The cars of today look awful. They don't meet the rules you refer to and the lines are terrible. The current Impala would be a worse car than the Ol Caprice, and we all remember that Ugly thing.
I agree with your thoughts about the Southern 500 and wish it could have been left alone. The date was moved and I hate that it was, but I'm still a fan. As for your thoughts about local tracks, I couldn't care less... thats just me. I hate dirt and always have. I enjoy the saturday night races in Nationwide or Cup and wish there were more. When I was a boy in the 60's and 70's, I dreamed of making it in racing one day. My dreams never led me to Cherokee Speedway. I never wanted that, I wanted NASCAR, and from 1982-1984 I made it and work on a Cup crew and traveled with the team to as many races as possible. I loved it, Ireachedmy dream. My love for this sport isn't limited to only the things I agree with, but the competition and the excitement of the races. The rules and changes you speak of does not limit the excitement that can be seen on any given weekend. I work with many fans of Dale Sr and I'mdisappointed by the number of them that lost interest in NASCAR when Dale died and haven't watched afull race since.They're Dale fans, Not NASCAR fans. I am a NASCAR fan.
I wish the cars looked like the cars of my memories, but bodies change and NASCAR tried to change with them. Over time the speeds grew, improvement were made and little by little we end up with the rules of today. Deal with it, either watch the races and be a fan or turn them off. I prefer to watch and cheerfor for the teams and drivers of today, but remember and cherish the past.
Dennis Schalm said:
"If the sport hadn't evolved I honestly don't think we would have seen the huge growth the sport has been blessed with."
What real growth? The only growth financially has been to NASCAR and some of it's owners. A mid-level team would kill for the money that Gannassi, et al, get from one of those little decals near the rear tire of there cars. They would end up being the primary sponsor on that car. There only seems to have been "competition growth"because each manufacturer has at least one "super-team".
When Jr.Johnson was approached by R.J.Reynolds to sponsor a car, and he found out how much money they had in their budget because they couldn't advertise on TV anymore, he told them they need to sponsor the whole series and sent them to NASCAR. With idea that the money would benefit more teams than just his. You won't see that today. NASCAR is even trying to get the money before teams get a chance at it.
Bill France, Sr.'s way of doing things. If your car ain't fast enough complain to themanufacturer, or change brands. As long as the wheel base was at least 115" long the way it rolled off the assembly line, as X inches high, and X inches long, and X inches wide, and an engine that was no larger than X cubic inches, Then you had a race car.
I agree with the safety advancements, but don't be too quick to give NASCAR all the credit for that. They know a good idea when they steal one.
Built for racing chassis, OK. Body, whatever one your enginemanufacturermakes that fits it (within certain parameters). Templates, of course. Bad aero, talk to the manufacturer, not to the rules maker. Then let's go racing.
Stock Car Racing didn't HAVE to get big. The "improvements" you're talking about is killing the local racing scene. It was special to see a race on TV. It made you kill to want to see one live and in person. And when you couldn't, you were at the local track knowing that if it was on TV it wasn't going to conflict with your Saturday nightpilgrimage to the local bull-ring where the guys you see on TV now, learned ALL the ropes about racing. Not just driving, but not needing an engineer to set-up your car for you. {Unless you were Alan Kulwicki, or Ryan Newman, and went to college yourself.)
Happy Holidays!
Bumpertag said:
Thats quite and rant Jim. I understand many of your points but can't let myself get that worked up. I miss the Good Ol Days but I understand that the sport had to change in order to survive and continue tp grow. I'm not happy with much of what we see in todays NASCAR, but I still love it. If the sport hadn't evolved I honestly don't think we would have seen the huge growth the sport has been blessed with. With growth comes sponsor dollars, with sponsor dollars come technology, and technology brings change. Change is a given and most of the change has been good for the sport. The safety, reliability and increased competition are a byproduct of the good things that have happened in the sport and I'm grateful for this. I don't like the looks of the COT, but I understand how we got here. I enjoy NASCAR today, but it can't measure up to my memories from the 70's. It has changed... but it still has the FLASH and EXCITEMENT that attracted me in 1972. Sure I would love to see a TRUE Chevy, Ford or Dodge be competitive on the track, but I understand that those days are long gone.
