Brian Talk
General
Dave, I admire you! I always have since my introduction to you, but to post this and not comment at all takes a REAL man. I admit, due the Rules of Engagement and the threat by Jeff to kick an offender off the site (which has happened to me once already), I must temper my thoughts with very kind words. I recently discovered quite an amazing fact about contributions by NASCAR and some of its subsidiaries, to political action groups AND to political parties. To say I was shocked at what I discovered is an understatement. But, considering the overall opinions and performances of Brian Z. France, I should not be surprised that his political leanings could stand a "track bar adjustment". The beauty of our country is that people are entitled to opinions and entitled to express those opinions. The statements made here by Mr. France smack of the same rhetoric that the main stream media continues to put out about the improving economy. Frankly, I am not seeing that in Columbia, SC. Frankly, in several conversations I had in my travels this weekend with folks from several areas of the Carolinas, I am not seeing where the economy is making any sizeable improvements, if any at all. I am sure Brian is quaking in his loafers (without socks) as Sprint considers what they may or may not do with future sponsorship. Sprint may have two more years on that 10 year contract but we all know just how easily contracts can be broken and after 15 quarters of losses, can bankruptcy be out of the question and that would end the Sprint Cup pretty quick?.
I see Brian makes reference to the demographics he wishes to inspire if the sport is to continue to grow! My position has been, and will remain, that to court the 18 to 36 year olds, without giving them the historic basis of this sport, is fraud, deceit, and plain out depriving those fans of a base on which to build a real loveof the sport. As for increasing tv ratings, where is he pulling that? The reports I've seen don't show that but I don't have access to the NASCAR magic lamp of tv ratings. And fans in the stands???? Come on. Every race I watch is more distinguishable by the empty seats in the stands than the action of the track.
I will say this again, and continue to repeat this mantra forever. I love stock car racing. I want NASCAR to succeed. I want to see the sport grow. I want to see closer points races, more competition, and drivers with personalities of their own rather than personalities created by media demand. I want to see cars that look likes STOCK cars, not cars that look like a Pokemon creation from Anime studios somewhere. We had it all once. We let it slip away, or maybe it was ripped away from us. I love the memories. I want to make more. But at my age and with what's going on in the sport, the likelihood of wonderful memories from future events in highly doubtful.Remind me, some day, to tell you my memories of the 1964 Daytona 500 and how I was there to see it in person.
As Bob Hope used to sing, "Thanks for the Memories". I'll add to that "for racing way back then, when drivers were the men who made the engines roar and the fan's spirit's soar". Ok, so I stink as a song writer, but you get the drift. Think of Buck Baker versus Kyle Busch. Think of Fireball Roberts versus Carl Edwards. Think of Lee Petty versus Kevin Harvick. Which ones are the racers and which ones are media manufactured glamour boys? Consider that question carefully!