Time to end the Sprint All Star fan vote

[DougS]

Was anyone surprised when they announced Carl Edwards for this years fan vote? Was anyone surprised when they named Joey Logano as last year?

The fan vote was introduced in 2007 and the first recipient was Kenny Wallace. Probably the only true fan vote winner.

In 2008 Kasey Kahne and his brand new Budweiser sponsorship was voted in and won the entire event.

In 2009 Home Depot the official home improvement store of NASCAR saw an unproven rookie Joey Logan sweep into the All-star race (amongst rumors of laptops installed in all home depot stores nationwide so employees could regularly vote)

And here in 2010 the first 27 million dollar a year sponsor gets in after 18 months of sub-stellar performance and an 8th place finish in the open.

And here's a 2011 prediction. If Jr's season continues steeped in mediocrity he'll be in the all star race next year as his 10 year automatic qualifier status runs out.   

It's time for fans to turn on the lights and stop acting like mushrooms that NASCAR continues to feed us.

[FS_Amy]

I didn't vote because I really have mixed feelings on it.  One one hand, other sports have a fan vote for their All-Star events-in baseball, the fans choose the entire starting lineup.  It's an exhibition event for the fans, and the only way for fans to have a say in who gets in is through the fan vote.

OTOH, if most fans believe the fan vote is fixed anyway (and I'm not saying I buy that Carl Edwards got the most votes either), and they aren't being represented by the driver they actually CHOSE in the first place, then why bother to continue?  The problem with online fan voting is that results can be skewed...perhaps the way they did it in baseball years ago (paper ballot to those at each game) would produce a more accurate result...

[CodeBlueEMT]

 I never bother to vote.

[20forLogano]

I agree.  The voting method is so scewed and a person can vote a ton of times a day.  Heck how do you think Bill Elliott always won most poular driver.  Because his fans voted thousands of times a day.  Not saying he wasn't popular but you get what I am saying.  If they truly wanted a fan vote than do it by only letting one vote per computer per day.

[Chris]

Maybe we are part of the problem..
We all say "we never vote"....  I'm right there with ya...

What do ya say we ALL do this next year...
Lets Vote IN a "Norm Benning, Morgan Shepherd, etc... How about Regan SMith  Give that extra money to start in the ALL STAR event to a guy that struggles, and NEEDS it to keep going... Smith had a car good enough to be competative last night.
Heck if if we voted in Norm,.. and he parked on the frst lap.. GOOD FOR HIM>  He needs it worse than all the dirvers with multi-million dollar sponsors
Kind of have a deal like they had on American Idol a few years back.. Everyone keep voting for the WORST singer (that Senjia dude..??). 
Like to see something go to "the little" guy... WAY too many things in the world now where the Golden Rule applies.. (those with all the gold make all the rules)

Of course since all the "counting" is done behind closed doors,.. who knows..  Ambrose may have "really" won the voting.  Unless this is all done "up front" NASCAR is going to oput in whoever they want anyway.

[Blu]

Of course since all the "counting" is done behind closed doors,.. who knows..  Ambrose may have "really" won the voting.  Unless this is all done "up front" NASCAR is going to put in whoever they want anyway.


Couldnt agree more Chris

[scott b]

I don't vote, don't care, & didn't watch the All-Star race.  It's become to gimmicky.

Although, I must admit, I might have watched if they announced in advance Denny and Kyle getting into each other would be the main event...   

[skool]

Well, as a Carl fan, of course I was glad he got in. (I only voted once!) On the other hand, I say dump the vote and let the top 2 or 3 from the 'qualifers' in the main event.