NASCAR Report Card
With so much going on with the ecconomy, sponsorship problems, the COT issues and the Jeremey Mayfield circus, how would you grade NASCAR on these points as well as others that stand out in your mind? Don't hold back but give honest grades. Share your ideas.
The ecconomy is hurting the sport. The attendance is down at nearly every track. Most tracks are lowering prices just to put butts in the seats, but is it all the ecconomy? I think NASCAR is nearing it's peak. They have saturated the airways with EVERYTHING NASCAR. This brought in the numbers but I don't think they can be sustained. It's very hard to balance between just enough coverage and too much. On this point I give NASCAR a 'C'.The COT is slowly coming around. The teams have made advanements on the handling but I think it is time for NASCAR to give in a little on some of the changes the drivers and teams are requesting. The racing could be better and this would help with ticket sales and interest. What needs to be done??? I'm not a big fan of the COT so I don't know. I like the fact that the drivers talent is more important with this car. I like the safety aspect. I hate that all are so much alike and I hate the wing and splitter. Hard to grade this with only the knowledge of a long time fan, but I'll give the COT a grade of 'B-'.The Mayfield thing is easier for me. I don't like the way this thing has been handled from the start. I'm not convinced by the statements made and the lack of common sence that has been shown. I give NASCAR a 'D' on this issue.The over all health of the sport is showing signs of weakening. As a fan of 30+ years I'm concerned after so many years of increased popularity, that the numbers and interest are beginning to drop. I hope this is not a sign of whats to come. If what I see is correct, the future of the sport will continue to have fewer and fewer sell outs, fewer sponsors that can afford to be in the sport and lower TV numbers. NASCAR really needs to listen to the fans and the teams and get a grip on this. We all know this will not be easy for NASCAR, they have never been known for their listening to anyone. But the days of ruling without with an Iron Hand seem to be drawing to a close. NASCAR must take action in the near future if they want to slow the drop in interest. The biggest thing they could do is get a handle on the money that is destroying the sport. Now is not the time to be greedy, they must be realist and understand the cost of competing has taken the sport to the brink and that real damage is being done.Overall I give NASCAR a 'C-'. I still see enough to get excited when I attend a race or watch on TV. But it pales in comparison to my memories of the past.
Well the coverage that our sport is getting at the moment is kinda sour,like when someone said the athletes in Olympics were all taking illegal stimulates for enhancement,this started a bunch of finger pointing at the innocent ,this might very well open up a sore spot in our sport,but one that can be healed easily if the guys in the tower dont continue to scratch it.The economy will be with us for awhile,we are all feeling it,I would have thought Dodge would have pulled their sponsorship but they elected to keep two teams ..As far as that cot(car of tin) is concerned I believe it is the worst thing going for Nascar racing ..You could have put all 43 cars on the whitehouse lawn and took the numbers and decals off them ill bet money obama could not have picked out Tony's car from Montoya's car much less tell a Toyota from a Ford ,oh wait a minute, was that Dodge?? nooo thats a Chevy cant you see----thats what im talking about.let them run what the car looks like -----then let NASA tell them where to put a spoiler on the car ,one thats the same for all,to slow the cars down to around 150mph---you could regulate the engine size back to 300 in. we cut our teeth on that size so it will work(remember when they gave a weight break on cubes) or ill say this quietly ran 6 cylinders--ive been out run by inline 6's before, I got over it so can you!David Pearson ran a Mercury--Bobby ran a Matador and a Buick--Olds have won races----and Pontiac's about took over in the early 60's even a Lincoln was tested but the boys in the tower said naaa.. So someone bought a cookie cutter and racing is history..Ok Bobby the soapbox is yours or maybe just maybe someone else has a different view, that would be interesting... TAKERS ??---------------------------------------memories
I agree with Johnny! Especially after I had to watch an "EDITED" modified race at Bristol last night on TV so 1 of the 3 touring divisions for "ASSCAR" could get heir show in, by the way I like the Modifieds better!
Anyone who knows me can tell I'm just not a fan of the direction Nascar took. They have an "Ivory Tower" approach to racing like we make the decisions and you will like it. DONE! Well Nascar, you may have brought in new fans, but they will leave and follow where ever the wind blows and the old timers are not coming back. Where do you pull from now? Nascar has a safer racecar but it no longer resembles a Stock Car. Certainly isn't anything from the factories or at least I can't tell. I would like to see something that a Ford, Chevy, Dodge or Toyota fan can actually tell what the make is. Besides a vinyl sticker grill, taillights and headlights. What a joke! The car is a D.I know at Michigan they are slashing the ticket prices for next year and I give the Speedway a B. We have a 16% Unemployment rate here and maybe this will allow the average fan to attend a race. Nascar and the teams ought to be kissing the fans butts for spending money thats in short supply in many households. I noticed that on Johnsons radio communication during the warmup lap he thanked all the people who came out to watch the race. Carl Edwards is good at this too.As far as Mayfield, Nascar better hold their breath that they're right. If not, they will have such a black eye NO ONE will ever trust them again. Maybe it will be Jeremy Mayfields big old darn racing series. I give Nascar a D on this one. If Nascar is wrong, I'll give them a Z.Overall, I think Nascar has failed. The races just don't hold my attention anymore. The Modifieds were fun to watch and I enjoyed the commentary from Geoff Bodine. Still dozed off but that's what happens when you get old.Pete in Michigan
Oh, I forgot Sponsorship. These companies are probably looking at their return on investment even closer now. Can they justify a 10 to 20 million dollar investment in a Cup team while sales are plummeting and job layoffs are happening? I have to admit, Nascar has turned into a 3 hour advertisement (man I get irritated when I see a driver drinking and drinking and drinking the drink they are paid to drink), but the bottom line is the bottom line. I just don't know how long these companies are going to be able to do this. Tough to grade this.Pete
I've seen some of those same fans. I'll have to tell you about the time I toke my family to the All Star race sometime. I feel your pain but the Daytona comment is a bit more than I can think. I'm all for lowering the banking so they will have to lift, but I don't want to see it become a parking lot. That is an interseting thought...let me think about that for a while.
I'd love to see this group of drivers tackle the old Beach Course. Imagine a group of drivers who complain when the sun is out and turn 3 is different to get through than turn 1 have to negotiate dirt and pavement on the same track? They would need the 3-2-1 signs in the turns to tell them when to slow down and would be on the radio asking the crew chief if the car could go through the dirt portion and pavement without loosing the handle. Wonder how that splitter would hold up through the ruts!Just my humble opinion.Pete