Is it good for NASCAR?

[just a fan]

Just curious what everybody thinks about JJ's dominating the Chase era. Do you think that is is bad for the sport or does it have an impact at all?

I think it is bad for any driver to totally dominate. Fans (especially casual fans) will get bored and lose interest like many already have. I personally hate the chase format in every sense. Auto racing is not a stick and ball sport and does not have to be treated like one. Run the entire season and see who wins with each race being just as important as another.

That being said I think NASCAR will try to keep JJ from winning another championship this year. This will occcur by a timely caution, pit road penalty or possibly a rule violation. Will be interesting to watch.

[Chris]

If JJ drove for any other owner besides Hendrick... I'd be willing to agree NASCAR might try and keep JJ from gaining a 5th title.
I think we have saw this happen already THIS year,  IMO Bowyer got the shaft.. If Bowyer would be driving for Hendrick, then it'd of been close but no penalty... since he drives for RCR NASCAR eliminated one of JJ competitors.
But since It's Hendrick JJ drivers for,...  I don't look for it to happen. (only possibility would be if they could work it so a 'different' Hendrick driver won the chase - IE; Gordon instead of JJ)

[CodeBlueEMT]

 And y'all think I'm crazy because I believe Brian France's day are numbered...

[FS_Amy]

I think people are giving Jimmie too much credit-one driver isn't going to be the demise of the sport.  It survived Richard Petty, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and others who have won more races than Jimmie has and it will survive Jimmie, just like it will survive whoever comes along after him and dominates for a time.

Whether it will survive Brian France is another story entirely...

[CortezTiger]

I think the sport is in a bad....really bad....transition period. Money is obviously a big factor in NASCAR letting the JJ dominance to continue, but I think the sport itself is filled with a lack of young talent who can mix it up a bit instead of just old racers who are still chasing championships in the old system. Other than Keselowski and Logano, there really isn't a young driver to get excited about in the Sprint Cup, and those in the Nationwide get drowned out by the Sprint Cup racers. Most of the Hamlin and Kyle Busch fans just cheer for wins and wait for the team to implode at the end of the season to ruin championship hopes. You hate to keep blaming the economy, but it is NASCAR's biggest external problem which forces many of their mistakes internally I believe. Hopefully things will turn for the better and this will be listed as one of NASCAR's darker periods.

[just a fan]

Amy I don't disagree with your point, but I think we are in a much differnt world than when Petty, Pearson, Earnhardt or even Gordon had dominant runs. Fans then were true to the core fans. Today's fans want to see something exciting and the same driver winning every year just isnt it. It is not a slap at JJ (although I am not a fan) it would be true if it were any driver. The sport is facing too many issues including Brian France to have fans leave out of boredom.

Chris I think this problem is bigger than even "Mr Hendrick". This year may be a turning point year. Too many empty seats even in the sports home town. Something has got to change.

[Tyyrus]

Nah , It was bound to happen . One Driver and talented crew chief exploiting the weakness of the system , in this case the chase playoff format definitely has favoured JJ within the final Races .

[scott b]

I don't think the 48 team's success is at the core of NASCAR's problems (falling ratings and empty seats).

As Amy and others stated, the sport has survived other eras where one driver dominated.

In fact, the most recent occurance, when Jeff Gordon was posting double digit wins for three seasons, was a period of strong growth.

The worst that happened was it inspired an "anybody but Gordon" movement, just as there were "anybody but Dale" and "anybody but Petty" factions back in the day.  Fans didn't seem to loose interest in any of those cases.

I do hate the chase and am not a Brian France fan, in case I haven't mentioned either of those items before. 

[Fathead]

Its not just the 48.   Its everything at once.   Mediocre racing, stupid decision making by nascar, one driver that has turned the championship hunt into a "who is going to finish second this year" discussion, a car that people hate, a championship format that people hate, horrible television coverage, overpriced tickets, a lack of new young talent in the pipeline, the list goes on and on. 


I'll only watch the last few races if I find out that the 48 has wrecked.   Otherwise its already decided.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 The question should be: Is Brian France good for NASCAR? Look at the past seven years and the answer should be simple.

[OregonSHRFan]

CodeBlue, you hit the nail on the head. The man at the top has set the tone and everything else is trickle down and wash out. Brian has set the tone to cheapen real racing for a show. Tony was right a couple of years ago when he compared NASCAR with the WWF. The "media" also has a HUGE role in this as well. They have drank Brian's koolaid and taken the hype to an out of control level.

I don't give a rip about the suspense, the drama, the who is popular today BS that fills the airways. I want to see racing, hear about what is happening on the track with the cars, hear about how teams are making those adjustments.

Has NASCAR gotten too big? Well, I picture NASCAR like a 13 month old lawn dart (CodeBlue knows what that means).   

[KurtBuschFan]

The question should be: Is Brian France good for NASCAR? Look at the past seven years and the answer should be simple.

[just a fan]

No doubt Brian France has done a lot of things that have hurt the sport. As a matter of fact the only positive thing I can think of is letting the drivers have at it and slowing down all of these silly fines and penalties because a driver shows some emotion.

My point of the post was not that Johnson will be the downfall of NASCAR. I do not think he will and yes the sport will survive him. My thought was more of this is just another crack in the wall that may drive some fans away because it becomes predictable. From that standpoint I do not think him winning the chapionship this year is a positive for NASCAR. It may be good to have a villain like Kyle Busch win the championship if for no other reason that to get people to talk about it.

[Montvale]

 OK, lots of things add to the slowing down of Nascar. I think.

 I think Dale Jr's losing is causing more of a problem than Jimmy's winning. And everybody's whining. The drivers all whine too much. We need a Cale and Junior Johnson and some Allison boys to kick up some dust. Brian told them to have at it boys....and most of them don't even know how. Every time they get bumped, they run to the microphone and whine.....boo hoo, he didn't show me respect...do what? What's with the "hood" talk?

 I haven't watched a whole race this year. And never ever stay for the driver interviews.Phfst!
 Enough to make a fan whine.

[Chris]

Preach it brother.... preach it...
Man... folks never appreciated the good old days