NASCAR AT INDY? LET'S GET REAL FOR A MOMENT
Current NASCAR
Yep, Dave, Nuff said! Thank you.
Forum Activity for @tim-leeming
NASCAR AT INDY? LET'S GET REAL FOR A MOMENT
Current NASCAR
Thank you Mr. Biscoe. When you agree, I feel really good.
NASCAR AT INDY? LET'S GET REAL FOR A MOMENT
Current NASCAR
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.
updated by @tim-leeming: 08/06/18 08:00:31PM
Racing Through History Special Guest for July 26th
Administrative
I hope to have a large audience for this special guest. If we can getting him telling stories, you will know what it was like in the glory days of Late Model Sportsman. I think the 60s and 70s will always live in my memory for the local racing these guys put on.
Racing Through History Special Guest for July 26th
Administrative
I will welcome a very special guest to the show on Tuesday evening. A competitor in NASCAR's Hobby and Late Model Sportsman Division in the decade of the 70s. A memory like a steel trap and good stories to be told. I think you all will really enjoy this guest..
Join us.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM
I have this feeling that...
Current NASCAR
I totally agree Dave. Even I, as famous as you made me, can't help them now.
I have this feeling that...
Current NASCAR
That is a great piece Dave, and you are sure correct about it being relevant today. I was working press during most of RJR's involvement in the sport and I can't imagine any company in racing taking better care of the press than RJR. Ralph Seagrave T. Wayne couldn't be beat at their courtesy to the press.
Have you noticed we're half way through the year and NASCAR has yet to give any concrete answer to what company will replace Sprint.
I have this feeling that...
Current NASCAR
I won't go into detail of the telephone conversation I had yesterday afternoon with someone very, very close to the Dale, Jr. situation. I think the major issue now is the fact that NASCAR is facing losing its most popular driver, something they definitely do NOT need at this juncture. From what I know, or was told, the only hand NASCAR has in this is folded hands in prayer that Junior will come back. It would behoove all of us to watch closely what is unfolding here, or is about to unfold.
Promoting the young guns is something NASCAR definitely needs to be doing. We have good young drivers coming along who will finally present a future to the sport when it seemed there was no future. Yet, having said that, we must wait and see.
Lil Bud Moore
Administrative
Lil Bud has supported this site from the beginning. Lil Bud is a friend or mine, a really good friend of mine. I want to pass this along to all you others who also know Lil Bud and whose lives have been touched by the opinionated man with the marvelous sense of humor.
Lil Bud suffered a stroke several weeks back. His recovery was progressing, not a rapidly as he, nor anyone who loves him would like, but nonetheless progress was being made. Now the word comes down today that Lil Bud has just been diagnosed with ALS. One may call that a very unfair world, but knowing Bud, he's probably thinking of it as just another thing he has to overcome.
As always, prayers would be appreciated. What a blessing he has been to me personally, and to this site.
God bless you Bud Moore, the "Little" Bud Moore.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM