What is Wrong With NASCAR From the Eyes of an Old Fart/Fan
General
Looking forward to part 4
Forum Activity for @alex-fl-racing-fan
For those trying to find the blogs
Administrative
It's easy! Just check out the black bar on the top of the page. In that list, you'll see "Activity," "About," and, if you keep going, "Blog"!
updated by @alex-fl-racing-fan: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
Need a Translator? I can help... maybe
Current NASCAR
I think I'm going to return to the blog-o-sphere to help explain my perspective on this issue. Because it is not just NASCAR.
Who is the greatest race car driver of all time?
General
I'd have to side with Patrick on this one. Mario competed in and was an all-time great in IndyCar, Formula 1, sports cars, and dirt open-wheelers. He also had moderate success in stock cars (he didn't run those much). And his IndyCar success came in several different eras with championships in 1965, 1966, 1969, and 1984.
Most of today's drivers embarrass themselves whenever they step into another kind of car unless it's an IndyCar or F1 driver hopping to sports cars, which I haven't yet been able to figure why it's been that way throughout racing history. But yesteryear's NASCAR drivers (e.g. Allison, Earnhardt, Labonte, etc.) did hop into the sports cars with success, while today's drivers are often the reason why the team doesn't win. And I only bring up the sports cars because it's the one series where drivers almost all the others (minus U.S. short tracks) are all together in one place. I'd say it's the downforce and steering wheel differences; NASCAR drivers are the only ones with real steering wheels and stick shifts (albeit they often don't use the clutch anymore) still.
Mario Andretti was also one of the best race car drivers in the world even when he was in his 50s, being the oldest driver to win a closed circuit IndyCar race. So he had longevity, success in various disciplines, and all while being someone admirable out of the car as well. And he's so amazing he still drives the Indy two-seater.
In response to Sandeep's post, it's difficult to assess a Kevin Harvick or Carl Edwards because he has never run anything but stock cars.
updated by @alex-fl-racing-fan: 02/03/17 08:47:43AM
Who is the greatest race car driver of all time?
General
It's definitely not Jimmie Johnson. Or Dale Earnhardt. Or Richard Petty. A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and Jacky Ickx don't make the cut either. Michael Schumacher and Jackie Stewart are nice, but it's not them. Even David Pearson and Ayrton Senna can't lay that claim.
It's all a matter of opinion. And while certain criteria demand certain drivers, the opinion is in the choice of criteria. What's the criteria? Wins, titles, personality, quality of car, etc.?
Need a Translator? I can help... maybe
Current NASCAR
I think I fully understand what it all means. It sounds like fields are being cut to 36 cars in 2018, with 36th-40th all getting one point this season.
Short explanation: fans were driven away by gimmicks, so NASCAR is trying to lure them back in with gimmicks.
updated by @alex-fl-racing-fan: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM
First Active Driver to Become a Pit Reporter
Trivia
Don Tarr? NBC? 1970? Daytona?
updated by @alex-fl-racing-fan: 01/17/17 07:34:08PM
Carl Edwards retiring
Current NASCAR
http://www.racer.com/nascar/item/137608-nascar-edwards-to-announce-retirement
Fascinating stuff... he's awfully young, but then again Ned Jarrett was only 34 when he called it quits.
updated by @alex-fl-racing-fan: 01/18/20 05:20:38AM