Let's compare the first Southern 500 held on Labor Day, 1950, on a mile and a quarter track. Seventy-five cars started that first Southern 500. The 1951 Southern 500 had 82 starters. Just for fun, let's throw in the August 12, 1951 race at the one-mile dirt track in Detroit where 59 cars started. Or the 44 cars on a half-mile dirt in Morristown, NJ on August 24, 1951. A total of 59 cars started the first Daytona 500. That same year, 50 cars started the Southern 500. The 1960 Daytona 500 started 68 cars. Heck, in the 1959 Daytona Modified-Sportsman race, there was a 37 car crash that really messed up many of the 73 car starting field.
I never quite understood the formula NASCAR used to compute the amount of space each car required on the track but to say 43 starters on the half-mile at Martinsville and the 43 starters allowed at Talladega sort of baffles even my mathematically challenged brain. But there was a formula because I saw it once printed out on NASCAR's own site. Then the question becomes "why 43 starters instead of 44?" That would have had 22 rows of cars. Oh, I've heard the 43-starter deal was either the "Petty Rule" to allow Richard in when he failed to qualify, or the "D.W. Rule" for the same purpose. Whatever the reason, it makes little sense to me.
Now, this year, 2016, the field has been reduced to 40 cars, with 36 starting spots guaranteed to the "Charter" holders. Sort of stinks, does it not. But wait!!!! The past four races saw only 39 cars show up to qualify. The 40th car is nowhere to be found. I have read that the money/brains behind this charter idea is out beating the bushes to find one more team to fill the 40 spots so things don't look so bad. Frankly, if you own a Charter, and there are only 39 cars showing up to qualify, doesn't the value of that Charter diminish? How does it not?
The number of allowed starters seems based upon some magical formula NASCAR has devised to set the number allowed to race. The fact that they haven't made the allotted number in the past four races is explained away, in fact just this week by Steven O'Donnell, NASCAR'S master of spin (in close competition with Danica). Steve alleges the Charter allowance is doing exactly what NASCAR expected and the best is yet to come. I find that rather difficult to accept but that's the spin being put on the debacle by Spinning Steve. I would hate to hear Brian try to explain it. So, at the end of the day, it is what it is! (Had to throw that in there).
But, back to JAck's theory of why the same number of cars are allowed to start on all the tracks, no matter the size. I would really like to have that explained in a way the common fan could grasp the reasoning behind it. With 40 cars on the Martinsville track, it is somewhat crowded. With 40 cars on the Talladega track, there's lots of room. Frankly even more room than needed since all the cars race in a tight pack. Again, I need someone to explain that to me, someone not affiliated with NASCAR, which came up with the rule.
Now, while we are on numbers, let's talk about television ratings. Thankfully, we don't have to worry about that this week as NASCAR took the week off. Yet, as we review what has come down from on high so far this season, the ratings are dropping like a deflated Goodyear Blimp. Attendance at the track, which is not officially announced, can be seen with the human eye to be less than full, or even approaching full. How does NASCAR rate a "sellout"? NASCAR has stated that two of the races this year were "sellouts" yet the overhead shots from the blimp show vast areas of empty seats. So, folks are either buying tickets and not showing up, or there is a huge line at the restrooms. Try as I may, I can find no more truth in the NASCAR press releases than I can in political rhetoric going around these days. Truth is the elusive element missing in society today, and nowhere is that more evident that in NASCAR. I think when you add into the equation the number of "comp" tickets handed out to sponsor employees, etc. the situation is even worse than we can imagine.
Now, another interesting fact. I read this week where NASCAR no longer releases figures on purses won by the competitors. Perhaps this is a clandestine effort by NASCAR to benefit the Charter Holders by confusing the IRS. NASCAR's own statement on that matter said it was part of the advantage of being the holder of one of the coveted NASCAR Charters. Just another smoke and mirrors game by NASCAR to keep fans from realizing what is really going on in the sport.
How long will it be until ONLY the 36 Charter holders will be the ones showing up to race? And then a couple of those Charter teams fold as sponsors begin to bail from the sinking ship? Word is already circulating that some major sponsors are very unhappy at the slipping attendance and the declining television ratings week after week. There are 277 days remaining in 2016, the last year for Sprint involvement and still the only word coming out of Daytona is that they are exploring all their options to find the perfect fit. With what they have going on, if they find any "fit" at all, it is going to have to be a company more interested in tax write-offs than gains from their advertising money. You know, it's almost funny that with all the hundreds of NASCAR fans I know, not ONE, repeat, not ONE has admitted to using Sprint. AT&T and Verizon are the main ones used by fans I know. That is not to say there are Sprint users in the fan base, it's just I can't seem to find any. If you are a Sprint user, good for you. You help pay for those helpless young ladies with the painted on smiles always standing in Victory Lane wondering exactly what it is they are supposed to be doing.
So, tonight I'll thank my buddy JAck Redd, for the interesting exchange of e-mails regarding this subject. Also, JAck, thanks for your support of my efforts to secure a place for accurate NASCAR history to be displayed without the influence of those who would re-write it to fit some pattern they have perceived to be acceptable to the new fans, and sponsors, they seek to recruit. NASCAR, by the numbers, in case you haven't figured it out yet, every rating that matters for success just doesn't exist for you anymore. You have thrown away the best of what was and ignore any efforts of those willing to help you regain what you have lost. It is sad, but, by the numbers, 5-4-3-2-1 is not counting down a launch farther down the Atlantic Coast from Daytona, but is, perhaps, counting down the total destruction of what was once a grand and glorious sport. You have 39 cars showing up now to qualify. How long before it is only 30? Then 20? Then 10?
