C’mon, Mr. France… Earnhardt’s Fault??
by Mick Charles ~ November 30th, 2007 @ 11:58 am. Filed under: Misc. Columns.6,308 reads
Earlier this week I read an article quoting Brian France, after he appeared at the Reuters Media Summit in New York last Tuesday.
He actually inferred that the 13% downturn in ratings was partially Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s fault.
Huh?
“It would have helped if (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) would have been competitive. He didn’t win an event and he certainly didn’t make our playoffs. And that’s unhelpful if you’re trying to build ratings.”
Brian France, 11/27/07, Reuters Media Summit, New York
While I can see where this may have contributed slightly to the ratings drop, what about:
- Poor television coverage
- Top 35 locked in field
- Three wide at Bristol??????
- The Chase
- 3:00 Race Starting Times
- Lucky Dog
- Unnecessary Cautions
- Reporters acting like they work for the National Enquirer
- Drivers trying to be as tactful as the Secretary of State
- Series ownership with their eyes wide shut to their fan base
- Ticket prices way too high
- Director of Competition that is actually Czar of Conformity
- Cookie Cutter Tracks
- Commercials, Commercials, Commercials
The above list is mostly by MotorSportsNews.Net site visitor Neal S., commenting on a Lou Modestino article, but since I agreed with his list so much, I decided to reproduce it here.
The general feeling among long-time NASCAR fans seems to be that they have been left behind in this more world-wide NASCAR we have now.
I’m not suggesting that NASCAR should just go back to 1985 or something. Those days are past and will never be seen again.
But the 2007 version of Cup racing has gotten so dang boring and predictable. The race outcome is predictable. The celebratory donuts are predictable. The victory lane interview and celebration are predictable. The controversies are predictable, in that they’re non-existant, because everyone’s spooked into being robots.
I can honestly say that I did not watch more than one or two races all the way through all season long.
Something needs to be done.
Do “I” have all the answers? Nope.
But it looks to me like the very successful and popular Craftsman Truck Series is a good model to try to follow.
Oh, wait… wasn’t the COT supposed to drive like a truck? Hmmm…
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November 30th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
As an old X NASCAR fan: today’s races & racers have tried to become bigger than life and it puts me to sleep. Sorry, but you deserve the fall and the falls to come. You are over promoting these events and making robots out of everyone involved. Blaming #8 for the decline does not cut it. Number 8 has been overrated for long time and its time to stop pandering to his fans - it is turning some possible new fans off…
November 30th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
think maybe it was the tv coverage that caused the lack of t v viewrs ? but it seems to cost us alot more each year to go to the races. bottle water $4.00 “someone help this great sport before france destroys it”
November 30th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Although I do not like Dale Jr. come on. He is no more to blame for a drop in ratings than he would be if the ratings were up.
I am a long time F-1 fan and it seems that this is the way NASCAR is trying go however do to NASCAR’s history it will never be as excepted as F-1 world wide.
F-1 is about finess billion dollar budgets per race team orders and international high rollers (Monaco GP anyone?).
NASCAR has always been down and dirty powerfull V-8’s with powerfull MEN wrangling the cars around a track to see who is the best man AND CAR at the end.
You want better ratings…..
Get rid of ESPN and whomever that “female” is in the studio
Lose some of the comercials (there has to be some)
Only call cautions for true hazards
NO MORE LUCKY DOG
RACE BACK TO THE LINE
AND PLEASE STOP NUETERING THE DRIVERS after all this is an emotional sport
November 30th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
You want your fans back ?? Stop making excuses and blaming stuff on the drivers. I am a long time nascar fan and have several thousands of dollars of nascar collectables to prove it. Go back to the rules of ten years ago, stop the chase crap put the fastest 43 cars in the field. Get rid of the cookie cutter tracks,cars and lousey broadcasters. LET THE DRIVERS RACE. This is just my opinion and several of my fellow nascar fan friends feel the same way. A word to the wise.IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T TRY TO FIX IT>
November 30th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
why the loss fo fans? i can sum it up for you mr. france. 1. car of tommorrow (ugly)
2. car of tommorrow (borring)
3. car of tommorrow (iroc racing)
need i go on?
November 30th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Good article, Mick. You done good.
RM
November 30th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I am not one of Jr’s fans, but that comment from France is just a cheap excuse. Real men in charge dont blame somebody else for his own mistakes and lack of vision.
I like racing, especially open wheel racing, but watched every single craftsman, busch and cup race available on tv this year, and I can say I could live without some of those unnecesary yellow flags and small tracks like Martinsville and Richmond. Ok, those are the “heart” of nascar, but not the best friends of a good show, soooo many yellow flags. The real show should be the racing on the track, and not who’s fastest out of pitlane.
France should realize that Jr., the “official” driver of nascar, fox, espn and others, and his charisma wont last forever, so he’d better look for either solutions or somebody else to blame.
By the way, the COT improved the racing, but if at the end there are always Hendrick’s cars on top, that is not a solution.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
You all hit the nail on the head!!
November 30th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
France should be the leader of france. Let the fastest 43 race and send the rest home. Maybe france is receiving protection money for the top 35 each week.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I am a retired race car builder and forever NASCAR fan It’s all about the money………………commercials/$ fat teams/low caliber TV announcers the second half of the season/a bunch of matchbox cars that are almost the same in all aspects/no more personal touch in building them,driving,tweeking,etc.,etc.,
November 30th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I agree with all your comments. I usually tape the race and FF through the commercials and the boring comments……Show the racing…..
November 30th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
The GOOD NEWS is since NASCAR has refined it’s racing to the current state and people wish it was like it used to be that they will now find their way back to the local dirt track. This is where it IS like it used to be.
Hopfully the real race fans will bored enough to get off their couch on Saturday night load up the kids and find their real racing fix at the local track. A place where you see the un-sponsered emotions of people from your area being themselves, doing what they do for the pure love of racing (they sure aren’t doing it for the money).
Your local track is a place where it is as real as it gets. Nascar has hurt the local tracks and the local racers over the past few years. They are struggling to survive. Most of the local guys welcome anyone just showing an interest in them or their racing, love to talk to fans, welcome kids to sit in their cars and for the price of a NASCAR ticket you can probably get your name painted on the car as a sponser! You can easily get envolve and get to know each driver personally.
So the next time someone complains about NASCAR just tell them to go see some REAL racing at their local track.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Here are my problems with watching NASCAR on TV:
- I agree with Stripw above - get rid of ESPN and that female in the studio
- Stop changing to college football
- Show all of qualifying. Qualifying is fun to me.
- Get rid of the celebrities in the ESPN studio during qualifying or the race. They offer nothing to the show.
- Get rid of Ted Brewer and that silly Tech Center thing they do. Is pointing to a tire while trying to explain “tire pressure adjustments” technical imput?
- Get rid of that silly Wind Tracker or what ever they call that effect of drafting. They could be making it up with a random generator for all I know.
- Stop all of the commercials.
- Brent Mussberger standing in front of a podium with the track in the background.
It goes on and on. I am tired of watching NASCAR races.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
your all right with your points. the sport has become way to politically correct. be good boys , no bumping or we will sit you in the corner for time out.let the drivers drive. thats what they are paid millions of dollars to do. emotion should be part of it.whats that saying, “RUBB`INS RAC`IN”.let um rub then!! get rid of the “luckydog”, tear up the concrete and put Bristol back the way it was before. just wait, remember they are tearing up Darlington so that they can ruin that too. bring back the excitement.all we can do is hope this year is more exciting. maybe we will have a fist fight on the back strech at DAYTONA, bring back the past.if only Dale Sr. was still with us!
November 30th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
NASCAR is and has been boring for the past few years and nothing we as fans can say or do will change that. I was raised in Indiana where motor sports are King. From Drag Racing to Open Wheel to Stock Cars, if it’s got a motor those Hoosiers love it . Today I would never waste my dollars or time to see a NASCAR race. If I want excitement I go to a professional Drag Race, the Nitro powered cars that shake the ground at 330 mph, baby that excitement. Hope to see you at an NHRA pro race.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I love racing! NASCAR nolonger represents racing. Others have said it but let me repeat; COT, cookie cutter tracks, lucky dog, the chase, and especially - “Lets all be nice to each other and get along” please let them race and if that means they sometimes do a little bumping and rubbing, well grow up boys that’s racing. Lots of guys complained about Montoya this year but he was trying to race, toward the end I guess he tried to be polite and not be too aggressive.
I will watch two kids race their tricycles if they are into it. I watch F1 (that may end soon too since they want to make all the cars alike but it may be interesting this year without the driver aids. I watch CART, IRL, LeMans and everything else that is still racing, but much of it is getting boring.
ESPN should be renamed the NASCAR network. But it is overkill! And lets have people in the booth and commentators who actually know racing and have some connection with racing. former basketball players, people like Brent M. who really don’t know racing should be prevented from broadcasting.
OK, Brian, how soon after you took over did the ratings begin to fall?????
November 30th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
just when i thought nascar might be worth watching they start the chase the lucky dog ect. #8 fans just #3 leftovers!!
hendricks got rid of a much better driver for #8 makes sense of course if your a pinhead! france is wrong to blame someone who couldn’t win a race. NHRA is the one to watch (lots more excitment hands down always has been) just hope they learn from nascars mistakes not to mess up a good thing. nascar get rid of the restrictor plates and those cot cars that might help (yawn)
November 30th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
I have been an Earnhardt fan since I was 13 years old, now I’m 37 3/4 and still an Earnhardt fan. I am not saying this just because Dale Jr. is the one that I root for every weekend, but for Mr. France to blame #8 or ANY driver for that matter is an outrage!
What about the decline he (#8) faced after he made his announcement to move to Hendricks? Ever since he made that announcement everything that could go wrong did go wrong, but yet Truex Jr was becoming a shining star at DEI. Sounds like the management caused the “decline” for Jr. just as your management is the reason for the ratings decline.
I was a true blue (red at the time) fan of Nascar, making sure I was in front of the TV to watch the race every weekend, but since the COT and the inconsistencies of the “cheaters pentalties”, it has become quite boring and I honestly did not watch the last 6 races.
Heck, I finally went to my first Nascar race in June of this year. It was extremely exciting and I enjoyed every minute of it, including the 90+ degree temperature that day. I kept saying I was ready to do it again, but after the decline in the “excitement” toward the last few months of the season, I am beginning to think it isn’t worth it.
Mr. France, you are going to see decline when you don’t sell tickets because of not only what I said previously, but also because gas prices and everything else going up and the middle class people (who are most of your viewers and attendees) are being laid off and their pay is not going up. Things need to change and change fast. Thank you!
November 30th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
For Brian France to make such a statement about Jr. being the reason that ratings down, goes to show just what kind of idiot’s are now running(ruiening) Nascar,What a complete [censored].
November 30th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
It is pretty sad that you have to place blame on drivers! You don’t think it was any of the changes you are making to the sport? Why is there a need for “The Chase”. Why not have to earn it from the get go the way it was. You think making these changes is helping the sport it is a main reason for fans losing interest. Let’s follow the leader.
As for taking shots at Jr.that is unfair, his fans still remain his fans and still chose him to be the most popular driver for the fifth year in a row. If you want to place blame on a team you need to blame the whole team and it’s owner. Theresa Earnhardt is a main factor for the DEI team to have the hardships they have had. If Dale himself were still alive DEI would still be a strong contender in the Nextel series. But since his death little by litte DEI has fallen on their face and to the back of the pack. And Theresa can blame herself. You cannot drive a car into the winners circle if the equiptment fails time and time again. So if you want to take a shot at Jr. you should take it at the whole team and the pocketbook that runs it. If Dale were still here money and technology wuldn’t be an issue because DEI would have the best of the best. So Mr France you can’t blame Jr when the wicked stepmother wants to cut corners and not do what it takes to have a winning team it is many factors and you will see the change in the 2008 season. When Jr will drive for a team that wants success. So Mr France if you want to place blame on some one be a man about it and blame yourself cause “YOU” are your worst enemy and the reason for your loss in ratings.
November 30th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
1.It doesn’t take 4 hours to find out who has the fastest car.
2.Out of 43 cars, only about 25% even have a chance to win a race.
3.The middle third of the season is on cable tv, Not every nascar fan pays to watch cable.
ps. I record every race & watch without commercials, that gives me more time to spend sunday afternoon with the ones I love…
November 30th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
The drivers, for all their star qualities they think they have, are just plain boring. I don’t like any of them. The old gentleman drivers are gone.
November 30th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Why blame Dale Earnhardt Jr.? Its not his fault that the ratings were down 13% ESPN’s Coverage plain sucks,3 minutes worth of commercials every 7 minutes,then you have that stupid car of tomorrow with the wing on the back.I can understand trying to make it safer but to use a wing on it I didnt know I was watching the touring cars in Australia.Put the spoiler back on the car like it was.Then Nascar plays politics with the title sponsor Nextel telling teams that they cant run a certain paint scheme because it conflicts against Nextel who now changes the name of the series to the Sprint Cup in 2008.These companies pay to have their logo on the cars and the fans support them,buying their products. I am not a big fan of Nextel and Sprint therefore I will not buy one of their phones.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
I certainly am not a Dale Jr. fan,but blaming him for VASCAR”s woes is like saying AL GORE is rookie of the year. Dalr jr. only did his fair share to ruin nascar. No single individual can ruin it all alone, save, MR.FRANCE. It has been proven that he alone can ruin it beyond repair. Who, besides the France family, is profiting from this bucket of bolts called COT? It was concieved by the family
and forced upon the teams and owners by the Family. Wake up, evertyone,I think the FRANCE family has an interest in the COT… So now that they have realized a few million $’s, lwets park it too, and race a real car.. After all, Isn’t NASCAR for NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STOCK CAR RACING? Lets race STOCK CARS. Thats what King Richard raced and got 700 wins, DUHHHHHHHHH! I am now subscribed to a satelite TV reception service and , in my area, most likely wont recieve the channel that carries the races, I WILL NOT MISS THEM…../FIX THE MESS!!!!!
December 1st, 2007 at 12:24 am
For all you fans that think nothing of jr.,you might better go get you a case of mountain dew and enjoy the show next year,he’ll start off by winning the budshootout and 5 or 6 cup races next year!!! #88 roll on
December 1st, 2007 at 1:33 am
I agree with the person that said the broadcasters are boring, Jerry Punch is so bad, he knows nothing about Nascar. He puts me to sleep. And just because you can drive a race car doesn’t mean that should be in the booth. Rusty is ok but D W is better. Another thing about ESPN 2 is that they are not commited to Nascar. When it’s Happy hour you see football, they you see 30 minutes of Nascar. I think that everything, but the races should be on Speed, they understand what the fans like. I like watching the all the practice and quals. that is the kick of to the weekend. I love it all.
Dale Jr. gets blamed for everything that is wrong with the sport, thats easy. It only shows what is really wrong the sport. Lay of Junior, he doesn’t deserve all that crap. The reason that some men don’t like him is because the women do. I think you understand. Yes I an a Dale Jr fan and very proud to be. Yes I have of thousands of dollars of Junior stuff and and can’t wait to get more. IF IT WASN’T FOR JUNIOR YOU WOULD HAVE ALOT WORSE RATING MR FRANCE. Real fans watch when your driver wins or looses.
December 1st, 2007 at 1:46 am
Hey I know everyone wants to blame the COT, The Chase, and the Lucky Dog but I believe they made for some better raceing and for Hendricks beating the pants off everyone nascar should allow more testing. The big problem it the broadcasting what are people who really don’t know anything about racing doing in the booth and come on every time a flag was droped (caution or green) during the race it was during a commercial the least they could do is go to a side by side so that we can see these key parts of the race. I also know several people who don’t whatch anymore just because half the races are on channels that they don’t recive. I missed the all star race for that reason.
December 1st, 2007 at 2:04 am
Yes, we all agree that B.France look like the problem not Dale jr. and the man to put nacscar back on the right track is Bruton Smith he is a business man and racing is his business, I doubt that will happen, but with nascar struggling with ratings and the “wonderful COT”, you can’t loose money just to stay apart of Nascar, you will have to take the bull by the horns and put racing back to the way it was, with the fans first and some pushing shoving, but if it continues downward Bruton has the abillity to start his own series and get back to making drivers earn the big money, on some dirt !!
December 1st, 2007 at 3:30 am
just a thought I happen to watch a race from the early 80s a while back and I had forgotten what it was like to see nothing but racing on the tv screen. No lap counter,no position and all that bull,and no sponcers names popping up along. I know thats what keeps the dollars rolling in for them but it sure was a joy just to see the cars racing and nothing else. And would someone please stuff a sock in ol DWs trap for a few laps
December 1st, 2007 at 3:39 am
WAIT is Brian France still sniffing that funny stuff? Thanks to Andy Hillenberg for buying Rockingham. I just ordered 2 tickets for the May ARCA race..Bet it will be better than good old NA$CAR now.
December 1st, 2007 at 3:53 am
Bring back tracks like the rock
December 1st, 2007 at 6:45 am
Brian France is an Idiot… If he dies and they preform an autopsy . When they open his skull , all that will come out is $ signs. Lets see… Why are ratings falling ? Well when you have 2 or 3 teams that are in control of NASCAR , why bother to watch ? No one else has a chance…
December 1st, 2007 at 7:14 am
Brian france has raised ratioalization to an art form. It didn’t stop with him blaming sagging TV ratings on Junior. Nascar Authentics also blamed him for the multi million dollar losses in souvenir sales! I know he’s the most popular driver, but I had no idea that Nascar would live or die by what Junior does, and it has nothing to do with decisions made at the top to water down the sport!
December 1st, 2007 at 7:57 am
If you want to blame someone just look in the mirror. You lost fans and more with your so called rules changes.
First mistake you made was taking the life of Dale Earnhardt Sr. So now lets blame Jr? Good to see that you do remember that Dale Earnhardt Sr himself put you where you are today.
So lets go back about 10 years and watch them really race. I quit watching because you made your drivers puppets now. Rubbing is RACING. Not any more it is don’t get to close or you may wreck someone.
I was not a Dale Earnhardt Sr fan, but I sure do miss him as millions of fans do. Dale gave us pure saturday night track racing every week. So go back and remember where you came from and how you got there. That is where your fans left with your changes.
December 1st, 2007 at 8:19 am
Ratings continue dropping. I’m part of that statistic.
I was bored with the product so I switched to other forms of auto racing instead. Try watching an open wheel telecast (IRL, ChampCar, WOO, USAC) or ARCA, ASA, anything with wheels and a driver. The coverage may still need more help but the racing is better. My best diversion is watching a real race on the weekend. Find a local bull ring and watch the stars of tomorrow live. The popcorn is cheaper and you can take the whole family for the price of one NASCAR ticket.
If you enjoy NASCAR watch NASCAR but be glad that almost every minute of track activity is televised. No other division of racing can say that. The coverage is still better than the delayed, edited coverage of the 70’s. Try watching other forms of racing and maybe NASCAR will improve their product to get you back and the coverage of other divisions will improve also with the increased viewership. Plus you’ll find something else to watch in the rare moments that NASCAR isn’t on TV. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.
December 1st, 2007 at 8:51 am
first to joe santana there is nothing wrong with a female being in the booth if she knows what she is talking about. I have been a racing fan since I was a small child, now 40 I probably know just as much if not more about nascar than some men do so think before you speak or clarify what you say, now with that said I agree with everything else said. My family and I along with friends try to watch the races but when espn takes over for the season you get poor video coverage, poor signal with no pictures most of the time, football coverage with no improvement after several calls and emails to local cable providers,espn and nascar asking for help so we may watch the races. Everything else from everyone else pretty well said.
December 1st, 2007 at 8:59 am
Pretty stupid comment by Brian France. Pointing the finger at Junior for poor ratings when all the facts say otherwise is absolutely absurd. Stirring up the “Junior Nation” isn’t going to increase the ratings either! Brian France has reached an all time low now in my estimation!
December 1st, 2007 at 10:01 am
The problem with responding to these columns is that Nascar obviously pays no attention . They will not read anything that they don’t think paints them in a good light . So lets try this . If all of the fans ( and ex-fans ) that respond to these columns really want to be heard , someone needs to publish an e-mail address of an actual Nascar official , or web site that goes directly to Nascar offices . Then lets tell them directly what we think about the top 35 rule , the lucky dog rule , the debris cautions , the pricing of tickets and food , the Car Of Today ( or tomorrow ) and the comments of France , Helton , Darby , etc. If they receive 200,000 e-mails , and 196,000 are against all of these items ( and they will be ) maybe they will realize that things need to change NOW .
December 1st, 2007 at 10:04 am
Being a Nascar fan for over forty years I’m sad to say I’m through wasting my time with what passes for racing the last few years.Quit watching and spending money on the big boys and support your local tracks and drivers,they need it,everyone knows Nascar doesn’t.
December 1st, 2007 at 10:12 am
RATINGS ARE DOWN DUE TO:
COT
TOO MANY CAUTIONS
ALL ABOUT MONEY
December 1st, 2007 at 10:22 am
FALLING RATINGS:
COT
cautions
STARTING TIMES
TO MANY CHANGES
FRANCE JR
December 1st, 2007 at 10:31 am
You are exactly right and I thought I was the only person on the planet that felt this way. NASCAR is stuck up there own butt’ so far they can’t see reality. Brian France thinks everything is so wonderful but does not have a clue what is actually going on. I have been a fan for over thirty years and it gets worse every year. Money money money has ruined it for the teams and the fans but NASCAR is making out like a bandit. Drivers cannot be themselves and teams are having to spend money on engineers to tell you how to set the car up which takes away from the driver crew chief communication. And this COT thing has already gotten out of hand and now they want to change the Busch series (Nationwide ir whatever the hell it is this week ) cars so those under funded teams will spend more money that they don’t have. The list goes on and on and I feel that the media that is not under NASCAR’s little finger are the omly one’s that can prompt change. Thanks for your article and your time !!!!!!!!
December 1st, 2007 at 10:43 am
The problem with nascar is the cookie cutter everything. In the glory days of nascar the cars were actually cars off the dealers floor. Today you have a template for all the cars. It matters little if its a ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota the cars themselve are exactly the same. NASCAR will only regain its popularity when they figure out part of the fun is the competition not who is the pretty boy of the moment and all the cars have to be exactly the same. Lets have some real competiton between the brands let see some real racing without cautions put up to keep theleader from running away or helping someone catch up from the back. I understand the France family has always run NASCAR but atleast in the old days people were allowed to try new things and bring thier best to the track. As it is now they are all bringing the same car that look exactly alike and its boring
December 1st, 2007 at 11:25 am
Brainless Brian is a moron! If NASCAR wasn’t a family owned business, he’d have been out on his butt 3 years ago! NASCAR could care less what any of you have to say, get use to it or find another sport that cares to follow!!!
December 1st, 2007 at 11:30 am
france is an idiot. Three reasons,
1. cot
2. chase
3. espn
December 1st, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Racing should be racing…change rules to ‘run what you brung’ within certain limits…let Goodyear , Bridgestone/Firestone and Hoosier duke it out; nobody should lose two or three laps because of a flat tire; limit the number of pit crew members …not the pit road speed…trying to watch a certain speed can be distracting and just as dangerous as 100 MPH on pit road. I’d like to see the big three and everybody else racing what they sell. I hsd season tickets to MIS from ‘85 to ‘92…stopped going ’cause the traffic was too much…won’t go now because the races aren’t enough.
GMM
December 1st, 2007 at 2:35 pm
I see many many good comments here . I too used to be an avid nascar fan , unfortunatly the FRANCE way of today’s nacar has turned me off too. I seen a comment about going to your local tracks to get the fix . This is an excellent suggestion , you get usually more than 1 class of race cars , heat races , and usually very exciting 30-50 lap feature races all at a cost of the fraction of a NASCAR event .
I am blessed to live in Indiana where there are several tracks to choose from , I went to the Brickyard 400 seven times , every year I spent almost $1000.00 per event , I can go to Andeson speedway , Mt.Lawn speedway , IRP (ORP) now , and go to every race of the season and enjoy good fast racing for a season at the cost of 1 nascar race.
The only downside is once local drivers succeed and move up , like I seen in Jeff Gordon , Tony Stewart , Mark Martin (in ASA) Kenny Irwin , Ken Schrader and Adam Petty , Rich Vogler and many others , you won’t get to see their driving styles as much.
HAPPY RACING , NASCAR you have a lot of work needing done , I honestly hope you fix it before all of your fans leave you.
December 1st, 2007 at 3:11 pm
For Mr. France to blame Dale Jr. for his shortcomings is absolutely ridiculous. Junior isn’t the driver his dad was, that’s obvious. Will he ever be? Let’s see what he does with Hendrick equipment and his same old tired crew chief. To further address Brian Frank’s comments, isn’t it ironic that as soon as he took the reigns at Nascar, it seems like everything has gone to hell in a handbasket. This is an organization that needs to be run by people who are inherently equipped for the job through years of racing experience, both on and off the track. It seems that Brian France “thinks” he knows racing because his Dad did. He couldn’t shine his father’s shoes. It happens over and over when second generation’s “kids” take over a successful operation their parent or parents toiled so hard to start up and build. In comes the “new blood” with all kinds of hairbrained ideas to “improve” on what has worked for years, only to fall flat on their faces. Get rid of Brian France, drive the “Car of Tomorrow” into a wall and “Let’s go racin’” And while we’re at it, let the drivers who post the best times qualify to race and if you go home, come back next week and try harder! Isn’t that what competition is supposed to be all about? This is just my opinion, I could be wrong!
John Kida
Disgruntled, soon to be former Nascar fan
December 1st, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Blaming Dale Jr. makes no sense….The high cost to attend a race, the fact the races are boring, the tv package is horrible, the COT, and the Chase are the reasons for the decline, not Dale Jr. If anything that should say despite him being the fan favorite, not even Dale Jr could keep the fans interested. The last time I checked real race fans watch whether or not their driver is having on off year…its called loyalty and dedication. But NASCAR wouldnt know a thing about either.
December 1st, 2007 at 4:30 pm
It’s certainly NOT Jr.’s fault. I concur with all of you above: C.O.T., playing too too nice, Rusty? as commentator (yes he knows racing, but he’s TERRIBLE & BIAS!!!!!!) Way to many commercials & they promise you if anything happens on the track they cut away from the commercial & come right back? They LIED to us!!!! You ruined Bristol!!! The chase is crummy, you’ve rooked Jeff Gordon out of 2 championships. Racing is racing! It is NOT football, baseball, basketball with playoffs. It’s suppose to be 36 races to see who’s best. So what is someone pulls away from the pack like Matt Kenseth did. That just showed that he had the most consistent cars that year.
I agree with the comments made by Bruton Smith(or whoever he is that owns 1/3 of the tracks that NASCAR runs) Let driver’s show their feelings, let them bump and rub. No C.O.T., no chase. Give more points to the drivers that win a race. Nascar fans are becoming extremely disgruntled and unless something changes in the next year or two I would predict that Smith could start a league of his own, taking only the best of the rules from Nascar and I would bet that MOST of the drivers would jump ship from NEXTEL cup. He also said first place in a race should pay about 70% of the prize money and who ever heard of paying money out for last? 2nd place would pay out about 20% and the rest to the top 10 or 12. That would MAKE them race for the win and not just drive around in circles for 500 miles for a check.
Now that would give em all incentive to win and that’s what WE WANT!!
Ya better be listening NASCAR, or you’re in jeopardy of losing it ALL!!!!!
December 1st, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Blame yourself France. Lets get back to the fastest cars and best drivers. I believe most of us could drive the COT. Isn’t it called Raceing. The current tracks are fine, take the restrictions off, let the crew chief build a race car, let the owner hire a driver that can drive a race car and let’s race. Remember when Racing was fun? I am happy to have rediscovered my Friday and Saterday nite local tracks again,and will fiqure out my Sunday activities next season. And who gives out TV contracts? (crap)
December 1st, 2007 at 7:30 pm
I agree with most everything said above. I especially agree with post #38 by Mike C.
Suggestion::::: if NASCAR doesn’t have a direct e:mail and they won’t read anything we post if its negative, how about a few hand made signs that can displayed from the stands. I am sure a few thousand of those would get someone’s attention.
I would like to add that brian france sitting at the awards banquet friday night, reminded me of The Godfather, reeling in all the accolades from his
subordinates.
ps…I’m going to make my sign now!!!!
December 1st, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Nascar you people havn’t got a clue! Your ratings have been falling since Dale Sr. pasted away, you have been trying to fix everything so that nobody else will get hurt or killed! This is Racing you knucle heads! These drivers know what could and will happen if they get stupid and they are the ones that have to live with itor die from it. Go back to bumping and banging on each other and lets do some racing, kind of like they do in the trucks. Oh yeah! loose the damm restrictor plate racing.
December 1st, 2007 at 8:47 pm
One reason and one reason only for decline in interest. PREDICTABILITY. Come on. Are you kidding me? Monday morning you can almost guess the finishing order without having seen the race! Until they figure out a way to to keep each race from being a repeat of the week before, they can keep it! Who in the world could get excited watching the same teams succeed and the same ones fail wek after week with no change. And how about those in car interviews during cautions? Could they be more stupid? Come on - get back to racing and stop all the pretty boy crap. Lately I use the race as a sleep aid. Works every time.
December 1st, 2007 at 8:58 pm
What a bunch of crap. He is out of his ever loving mind. Earnhardts lack of a good preformance is not your problem its to many dam commercials and not only one driver. So I think u owe all us fans an appoligy for that comment.
December 1st, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Maybe if they didnt turn each race into an all day event like the super-bowl every weekend. Get the 200 or so cameras to actualy catch the action instead of focusing on the top 5 cars all the time. How many times have you seen someone all out of shape or wrecking while their talking to somone in the pits about Their favorite charity or something. When somone does a 360 at Bristol and makes a cloud of smoke, do you really need 10 laps of caution. I remmber when Sr. spun around and only lost 1 position, they still show that on highlights, no caution there. When you stick a microphone in someones mouth after they where shoved into the wall at 190 mph be prepared to hear some colorful speech. Maybe use 5 second delay in those interviews, dont fine the driver for being human, or take points from him that could cause him to miss the chase.
December 1st, 2007 at 10:48 pm
1. When they start a new season, please start a new season. The fact that the top 35 teams from last season gets a free pass for the first five races is junk, especially with the way teams qualify at Daytona.
2. Do away with the top 35 free pass.
3. If they keep the top 35 free pass, no rookies should benefit from it. All rookies should race into every race. Make it as fair as possible for all rookies
4. If you allow 50 teams into some of the races what happens when 60 teams show up? Somebody is still going to go home.
5. To have all the non top 35 teams qualify at the same time is counterproductive. It’s admitting their teams aren’t as good as the top 35 teams so why are they even there?
6. Right now the top 35 teams are using qualifying time trials for more race setup practice.
7. Everybody runs their qualifying laps and the top 43 teams race.
8. I would like to see only the fastest 30 cars race at short tracks. Everyone else gets their race points from the 31st thru 43rd place by where they are in drivers points.
9. Nobody goes out for practice until everyone has gone through inspection
10. Impound races – save money for NASCAR on facilities and personnel? It hurts smaller teams that may need to tweak their cars right up to race time
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:41 am
I’ve been attending NASCAR races since 1984. As I walked onto the track at Daytona Cale Yarborough was qualifying for the 500 that year at 201.848 MPH. That’s right folks over 200 MPH. That was racing, but unfortunately those speeds came to an end in 1987 when Bobby Allison took down the fence on the front stretch at Talladega.
Restrictor plates were now mandated and although a few teams came close to the 200 mark NASCAR made sure they would never hit it again by making even smaller plates. Before restrictor plate racing you had a maneuver called the sling shot. No driver wanted to be the front runner on the waning laps because he knew he was a sitting duck as the cars behind him would literally sling shot around the man running in 1st. place to take the checkered flag. I saw as many as four sling shots on the final lap at Talladega one year. Then there was the brawl after the 1979 Daytona 500 between Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison and Donnie Allison because of the last lap crash between Cale and Donnie. And let us not forget Ole Ironhead Earnhardt, Junior Johnson, Neil Bonnett, Benny Parsons, Ned Jarret and last but not least Richard “The King Petty. These are just a few of the gentlemen that made this sport what it is today. These men “run what they brung” and put on a show week in and week out that kept the fans on their feet from start to finish.
Today we have a dismantling of the foregone era with high dollar amounts and multi-car teams, broadcasters in the booth that do not know their ass from a hole in the ground, drivers that are heavily fined for driving agressively, and cars that designed and mandated by NASCAR for their equality all in the name of being PC, not to mention the fact that there are now jap cars running around the track. Well let me tell you, I have never been PC nor will I ever be politically correct and neither should NASCAR. This touchy feely crap needs to come to and end and it needs to end A.S.A.P.
Let’s bring back the days of yore, get the jap crap off the track, remove the restrictor plates, get rid of the multi-car teams, have Ned Jarret train today’s braodcasters and start rubbing once again. You’ll see Nascars ratings sore to the levels they were at ten years ago.
And before anyone says that Toyotas are made here in the US I will tell you that no matter where they are made the money ultimately winds up in the hands of the japs and not a one of those cars has a place on a NASCAR track. This is an Amercan sport! WAKE UP NASCAR and quit blaming the drivers for your shortcomings!
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:26 am
Mr France needs to take a good looong look @ his self for the downfall of NASCAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:37 am
Hey #51 Alan Coon, NHRA keeps looking better and better doesn’t it
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:45 am
There is only one way the stock car racing of old will come back to us fans ond that is one name, Bruton Smith, we all know he is waiting to make his move and it looks like that will be sooner rather than later.
December 2nd, 2007 at 5:04 am
[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]
December 2nd, 2007 at 6:27 am
NA$CAR has been ruined by Mr. Brian France and his greed. We got high dollar tickets and the COT is the other reason for the demise of NA$CAR! I’m pretty much done!
December 2nd, 2007 at 7:31 am
I am 43 and started going to Darlington when I was 10, it was a labor day tradition. France needs to look at himself and not blame any driver. I agree with what everyone is saying and France needs to start listening to the fans.
*Races start too late, used to I could sit down to eat Sunday and watch the race, now I never know when it starts so I do not bother.
*Cookie cuter mile and half tracks…..boring build another Bristol, or Richmond. Short tracks are way more exciting.
*Don’t forget where you came from….Taking away Darlington for CA…..very stupid The fans in the southeast put NASCAR on the map do not forget that.
*COT….crazy if 1 make has a better car it makes the others try harder…
*Toyota….with there money I expect they will rule like they do in the Truck series, I will quit watching all together.
*Debris Cautions
*Way too many commericials
*politically correct drivers, give me some personality.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:23 am
Years ago when I was in infantry OCS at Ft. Benning Ga., one of my classmates took me home to Hickory Nc. We went to Hickory Speedway where I saw Pearson, Petty, Baker and others battle it out in stock cars. Being from the North, that was the first time I saw bigtime stockcar racing and I got hooked. Some years later I would fly a group of friends every yeat to Charlotte. Many time we would stand for 20 or more laps while Pearson and Petty would run side by side. Night racing is all about money. Joleit is going to nights next year. I still hold 4 seasons tickets for the October races at Charlotte up on row 36 on the start finish line, but I have sold them for the past 3 years. I agree with the reasons listed above for Nascar ratings going downhill, and add to that their rule volation policys. They need to spell it out in there rule book what the fines and penalties would be, not this cover all the bases with “detrimental to stock car racing” They need to be consistant with there fines too, its always different depending on whose team it is. If Dallas pulls a face mask its an auto 1st down, same for every NFL team. They dont keep changing the rule everytime or adding more $$ to the fine for the same violation like Nascar.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:52 am
Well when they made all the changes and 35 cars are already in the race some of the best cars are sent home and this championship 10 race crap. The broadcasters can only talk about Jr Jr Jr bull I gave up on Nascar don’t even bother to turn it on anymore.
Someone needs to start a new race format and compete with Nascar.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:03 am
1. Only cars allowed in the pits under a yellow should be those involved in the cause of the yellow and must go down at least one lap.
2. Either run a day race or a night race not the combos we have seen this year.
3. Don’t fine a driver who has a mike in his face after just being involved in an accident. It the networks don’t utilize a time delay, tough do-do.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make Sprint Cup racing exciting again.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:29 pm
As a Jr. fan I got tried of it being the Hendrick show. That all we felt we heard about. Jeff this and Jeff that and Jimmie this and Jimmie that. There were races that we felt as if the broadcasters did not even show Jr. The are not showing us racing. They show us the leader for 3 laps with no challengers and then go to commercial and then come back and show us the leader again for 3 laps with no challengers. How boring is that? In the meantime we will see on the top of the screen drivers who started in the back of the pack and now working their way into the top 15. Show us the hard driving guys the position changes not just the boring leader 20 car lengths ahead of everyone.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:24 pm
GET RID OF COUNT DOWN TO GREEN,ITS LIKE ANOTHER LONG COMMERCIAL
YOU ALL KNOW THATS TRUE!!YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOOK IT UP BECAUSE I ALREADY DID……..
December 5th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I would like to know if anyone has ever told Brian France exactly how it is.If Dale Sr. Was alive you can bet Nascar would not be in this sad state of affairs. There is no one who will stand up to Nascar because they are too quick with the fines to further Brians wallet. Shame I loved (past Tense). Nascar, No more.
December 13th, 2007 at 11:38 am
I agree with you 100% on why Nascar is losing it,s ratings. I love Nascar and Dale Jr.. Dale Jr. is my favorite Nascar driver, but come on don,t blame Jr. If you would just let the drivers drive, then everything would be allright.
Let them voice their opion,s when they get mad or someone wreaks them. Let it be like it used to be, with banging and drafting. Let,s have some fun, like it used to be.
Jr. is not to blame for the decline in racing. I watched Nascar, even when Jr. was having trouble and I think Jr. Nation watched also.
Get rid of the C O T. That will fix it a little.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
in my opinion nascar wants to control everything. mr france and the nascar orginization want to play god.let the auto industry design the cars, when they take a licken they will do something about it. rember daytona when they ran on the beach. what pictures i have seen there are cars that aren’t all ford chevy dodge and what humility toyota out there running.let all factories run so be it foreign or domestic set some rules and don’t change them for someone for who they are or what they own,or in the middle of the stream. let the drivers drive the cars like it was when dale, bobby, harry,neil,ned,and the list goes on and on. thats when it was great these drivers and others could take a bad car and win with it . they weren’t pretty boys that the only part of a car they new was a sterring wheel.