State of NASCAR: Are you happy or are you disillusioned?

[smyler]

Now that the end of the season is upon us, I was just wondering a couple things.  I know that everyone that comes on here must be a fan, otherwise they would not waste their time, so after the year that we have had I'd like to hear if people are happy with the direction they see racing going in, do they have no real opinion or do they wish NASCAR would do X or Y?

What are you most happy with and what are you most unhappy with?

[Cangal48]

Smyler: 

I'm probably going to be attacked by making the following statement, "but NASCAR has not disillusioned me thus far in the Chase."  Then again, I've only been watching it on tv since May 2006, but again have followed the sport for years.  I am proud and honoured that JIMMIE JOHNSON IS POINTS LEADER GOING INTO HOMESTEAD.  (PLEASE DON'T SEND ME DEAD ROSES OR BLACK ROSES WITH LONG THORNS IF JJ WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP)  Jimmie proved yesterday why he is the best this year and RESPECTED by fellow teammates and drivers alike.  This team has worked through some bad luck in this chase, they deserve all the glory of a championship season.  MAY IT RAIN DOWN UPON THEM COME NEXT SUNDAY!!!!

Where the disillusionment might possibly rear its' ugly head would be the "broadcasting" and at times "officiating by NASCAR PTB)."  I have problems with biased commentating namely NBC.  Neilsen ratings indicate a decline of viewership throughout the course of the Chase, NASCAR isn't boring it is the commentating that makes it boring.  The outright favouritism in support of Dale Jr.   I don't care how GREAT HIS FATHER was, I don't care that Jr. is carrying on tradition in the sport, I am so tired of hearing JR. THIS JR. THAT, CAMERAS ON BOARD. 

If you take an overall view of NASCAR as it is now, I say "we have to change the thinking of the televised portion of the sport.

Nancy

[smyler]

In this forum I called JJ to win it and Kevin to finish 2nd.  Still could happen that way.  I am happy you are active with us, Cangal! 

[Cangal48]

Appreciate that, Smyler.  This is a great board!

Nancy

[paulfan]

re the tv coverage has been awful.  Last week in the Busch race they went to commercial break and came back under caution.  No explaination whatsoever on the reason for the caution.  In a later incident I saw that Paul Menard had a HUGE bandaid on his front fender. 

There is no excuse for them not keeping me advised on cousin Paul (and his competitors).

[falcon325]

Hey smyler. 

I still like going to an occasional race and enjoying the whole atmosphere.  I appreciate all the drivers and the fact that, for the most part, they're decent guys who you wouldn't mind holding up as role models for your kids.  I like the soap opera of who is mad at whom and who has been caught being "creative" this week. 

I don't like anything remotely connected with the word "France."  They're a bunch of filthy rich bastards who only want more, more, more and don't give a rodent's rectum about the fans, particularly the old school fans who made them their billions. 

I hate the Chase, the bogus debris cautions, the COT, the Chase, the California speedway, the Chase, the excessive TV commercials and determination not to do split screens or time sponsorship (they do that is soccer), the Chase, the high ticket prices, the Chase, the "Drive for Diversity" affirmative action program, the Chase, the disrespect to the Confederate battle flag, the Chase, the loss of North Wilkesboro, the Rock and the Southern 500, the Chase and generally the lack of respect for the integrity of the sport.  Oh, did I mention that I really, really hate the Chase?

I mourn the loss of so many of the old school drivers and the lack of continuity with drivers and sponsors.  Yeah, I know that drivers have always retired and new ones come on.  And I know that sponsorships have always changed.  But it used to be that you could glance at the other end of the track and know instantly that Earnhardt and Wallace were swapping paint, Harry Gant was leading, and the Valvoline car and the MacDonald's Ford were nose-to-tail.  Heck, I still look at the Tide car and think "Ricky Rudd."  Now, with so many new drivers and so many special paint schemes--made necessary by the need to bring in extra sponsors and to sell die-casts--it's hard to tell who is who.

With Toyota, the COT and the open-wheel aces flooding in, it's hard to imagine where this sport will be five years from now.  I may not be watching.

[skool]

Toyota coming in is no big deal.  The rules state that car entered into the race must be manufactured in the USA. It says nothing about who owns the company, which is good because Dodge would be right out. Dodge is owned by the Germans.
Camrys are made in the USA. And don't give me that crap about Japs/Pearl Harbor as some try to do. At the time we fought the Japs on one side of the world, we were fighting the Germans on the other. NO big deal.

As for the rest of NASCAR, Brian France has made it a joke. Luckily I have a column that I can bitch about it in!!!!

[AfterShock]

  Japan?

  Germany?

  France?

And now you're telling me that NA$CAR is a STATE?
What's NEXT?
Foreign drivers?

Good Golly man!
I'm too disillusioned to be happy.

Ain't nuthin' all American no more?

 

I hear rumor has it that the Brian is experimenting with destruction derby now.
That could bring back the viewers who've become disillusioned with NA$CAR.
Ya reckon?

LAST CALL !!

Rubbin' is Erasing (the evidence).
That's the law according to the Brian.

**Brian, Brian
Brian of the jungle......
WATCH OUT FOR THAT TREE!!** 

One should never drive while doing coke at the same time.
That would be detremental to stock car racing.
Not to mention palm trees.

That woman who called the action in is obviously not a NA$CAR fan.
Or, was she?
Hmmmmmmmmm

Probably just a tad disillusioned with all the improvements made lately.
Oh well, like they say in Tinsel Town --- That's "Entertainment".

BaDeeya, Badeeya, BaDeeya
That's all folks!
(Silly Wabbit) 

Anyway, all's well that ends well.
We can all feel safer now that Kurt Busch is an honorary deputy sheriff.
I wonder if Florida will do the same for the Brian?
Seems ol' cousin Carl ain't the only lawman in town these daze. 

[PlanoHarvickFan]

Uh, shockey....we already have foreign drivers....what about Juan Pablo???

[Tyyrus]

Well for one thing , more parity in Driver Interviews...Eg: Mark Martin (My Favorite) No surprise..Eh ! But again
just an example. I have seen him twice on Track Side ,  once on Wind Tunnel , numerous other times on or during Pre-Race or Post Race Interviews..etc ! Hey don't get me wrong he's my guy..Man ! But thats not
the Point ! Then there's Junior , Johnson , Gordon , Burton , Stewart...yada..yada..Yada..how about a Mandatory Driver Interview Sessions throught the Year for at least the top 35 Drivers. Hey , let the Fans get to know all the Drivers 1st hand. Not everyone Roots for the top Ten..Baby ! Hell no wonder their having trouble finding Primary Sponsors (5-10 Million) when Nascar only Highlights the Choosen Few. Hell , even the cameras still keep panning only through the top 20.and on ocassion tail of the field if Junior or Mark or Tony
or the rest of the Good Old Boys are caught up in traffic ! As far as the chase , no problem ..the problem is as already stated and obvious , are the Flagrant ,  Phantom & frivilous , Damm Cautions. The Lucky Dog at 1st wasn't to bad , especially on the Super Speedways , but with all the Phoney Cautions , even a free pass is sleezy..Man ! Well I guess thats enough venting for today..Thanx..Ty !

[Cowboy271]

Disappointed would best reflect my current feelings about NASCAR.  I've been following NASCAR for almost fifty years, and the last few years have almost turned me off completely.  I was in favor of the Lucky Dog rule before NASCAR appeared to be using it to manipulate the field with all the mysterious debris cautions.  I used to think there were two statistics to indicate the "closeness" of a race; the margin of victory and the number of cars on the lead lap.  These two statistics are no longer valid indicators IMHO.  They've been skewed by the aforementioned Lucky Dog and mysterious cautions.  Drivers don't feel the need to race every lap anymore, all they have to do is hang around, if they get too far behind, they'll eventually get their lap back.  This results in several non-competitive cars on the lead lap at the end of the race when everyone actually begins racing; the slower cars get in the way and out comes a caution/red flag and then the stupid GWC.  I hate like Hell to watch four or five hundred miles of "racing" to see it end with a two lap shootout.

The broadcasts don't help my enthusiasm.  They're all one big commercial, whether its an actual commercial or during the race coverage.  During the race, the broadcasters seem mre interested in hyping whatever certain drivers have done off track or what "crap de jours" the network wants to feed you after the race.  I guess they have to babble about something since the racing certainly isn't very inspiring, but there's got to be passes made somewhere on the track.

The "Chase" hasn't done anything for me either.  Chase drivers aren't compelled to race anyone ahead of them if they're the first Chase driver and I don't blame them, but it does diminish the racing.  The COT is another step away from what I used to love...the manufacturers competition.  It wasn't long ago and you could tell the make of the car without paint or decals running at Daytona.  I'd have problems doing that in the parking lot today.

OK, I'm more than disappointed.  They've taken my NASCAR candy away, so I just won't play anymore.

[smyler]

I really can't disagree with all the posts I have seen that point out the negatives, and I have a few of my own that I'll list in another post at a later time, but how about the good things?  There is a reason all of us come to this site and read what others write about this soap opera we call NASCAR.  How about a few reasons why you love it?

The thing I like about racing is that no matter where I go in the country I can go to a bar and I know I'll find at least one friend whom I've never met before because they like talking about it as much as I do.  Yeah, I know you can say that about football or baseball or basketball but I just don't relate to those sports like I did when I was growing up.  It has become, well, I guess you might call it urban.  I don't mean that in a racist way.  I mean those sports have acquired that "in your face" attitude.  I'm not saying there are not some good people in those sports, but they seem to be the exception and not the rule. 

Cup doesn't go that way.  It can be dramatic, fun, a good family bonder, exciting and just plain enjoyable to not only watch a race but to talk about it with friends.  Most of the drivers seem like guys you could enjoy sitting and chatting with.  Wouldn't you love to buy a beer for Tony and just listen to him talk for an hour?  Even if you don't like him (or think you don't) you have to admit he's a character.  Pick your driver, it really don't matter which one because they are almost all decent guys.

As much as I dislike (ok, detest) the idea of the Car of Tomorrow, I'll probably still keep watching, not just because of the racing but because of the community that we are all a part of.  It's kind of hard to talk about it if you don't keep up on it. 

Finally, I bet I can cause a smile on a lot of faces just by mentioning a few NASCAR related things.  Think Jimmy Spencer and Kurt Busch.  I don't even have to say what happened.  You remember, don't you?  Some newbies won't remember, but how about the "Pass in the Grass" (ok, I know he didn't really pass in the grass, but that's what they call it).  How about when Kyle Petty finally opened the Victory Junction Gang Camp?  Now, ain't you glad you are a NASCAR fan?

[Racergiant]

As a NA$CAR insider - I've been disillusioned for about 6 years....

NA$CAR isn't about the drivers anymore.  Nor the teams, fans or sport.

NA$CAR is all about how much $$$ the France family can tuck away. 

NA$CAR gives token promoting for it's series outside the "Top 3".

[falcon325]

As disillusioned as I may be about NA$CAR, congrats to Jimmie Johnson and the 48 team for an incredible season.  Winning the races they did and fighting back from their early problems in the Chase make them true champions.  Coming in first or second for five races in a row when it counted really says it all.

[AfterShock]

It was nice of NA$CAR to throw a little racing inbetwixt the commercials.
Cured my insomnia.

Once again the hype outweighed the actual event.
Sad state of affairs IMO.
Very disillusioned.
But it did give me a jump start on my withdrawls.
However, every season for about the last five years my withdrawls seem to be starting earlier and earlier.

Why do I put myself through this every year?