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Permalink Reply by Dave-O on October 21, 2009 at 10:35am

These are not people I would call "experts" in anything but annoying fans via TV reporting. I managed to read the first half of the article before the mix of hypocritical whining and emptyed-headed commentary was too much.

The sport may be in trouble - but it's ridiclous to think these guys know anything beyond how many toes they have...and that's probably a stretch.

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Permalink Reply by Keith on October 21, 2009 at 1:06pm

Maybe he should have interviewed you. When was your last Cup win?

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Permalink Reply by Dave-O on October 21, 2009 at 3:22pm

How does winning races qualify me to be an expert on nascar anymore than it does for these guys? At the end of the day, they have their opinions just like the rest of us. Their involvement in nascar, however poor of quality and long it may have been, is not a guaranteed qualifier of those opinions.

Take Spencer's answer to the first question :

"You talked about the car. A lot of people question the car. They look at TV ratings. You have some fans say it’s boring racing or the races are almost becoming like NBA games, you don’t need to worry about it until the last few minutes. Where is this series now? Where is it headed? If it’s not headed in the right direction, how do you point it in the right direction?


JIMMY SPENCER: I’ll tell you how to point it in the right direction. This series is in trouble. This series is in serious trouble. All you’ve got to do is look at the grandstands. And when you see less and less people involved in this sport. It’s not the drivers. It’s not the car builders. It’s simply competition is not where it needs to be.

Nice Answer Jimmy. Kyle Petty's answer to the same question is just a re-hash of the question itself followed by referring to Dale Sr.

They've accomplished nothing by a vigorous re-hash of all the whining done to date...and that is my opinion.

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Permalink Reply by GrayAntiMatter on October 21, 2009 at 7:47pm

Dead on truth

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Permalink Reply by Jaci on October 21, 2009 at 1:44pm

Something is wrong with NASCAR and someone better figure it out real quick and not wait until the ship has sunk. The stands are not as full and sure the economy has something to do with that, but then the TV ratings wouldn't be down too. You would think that the fans that can't afford to be at the track would be watching on TV. People don't want to watch the races either live or on TV. The economy isn't the only reason.

They tried to make the races more exciting by creating the double file restart, which does lend to some excitement for 10 or so laps until one car gets out in front and runs away from the field. My husband's biggest complaint at Michigan was once the field spreads out after restarts, it's not exciting anymore unless you find someone really loose and then watch for them to either save it or lose it. That way if they do lose it, another restart to make for another exciting few laps.

The TV media focuses mostly on certain drivers, especially during the chase, in the garage area and during the race. Those that aren't fans of that elite group get tired of hearing about them. I don't care what adjustments they are making on Mark or Jimmie's car during every practice each and every week. Let's be more creative and spread the love. Show back through the field where there is some racing action and quit watching the chasers or frontrunners all the time.

Is it the car? Jimmie and Chad have it figured out. How is it they can have a really bad beginning of a race, be a lap or more down, make adjustments and get back on the lead lap and finish in the top ten or better? Other's (not only RGM) just keep trying to make adjustments all night and can't get it figured out? Chad isn't going to give away any secrets, but they have tried Jimmie's setup on Jeff and Jr's cars, and they can't drive it or don't like that setup. Does the car lend itself to a certain driving style or setup? And the tracks play into that somehow. Each track drives differently and requires a different setup that works best with a certain driving style. Somehow JJ is always good, until he runs out of gas.

Yes, there are going to be fans turned off by the Hendrick dominence, just like those that don't like the Yankees or Patriots, but the difference is there are other games going on, so the NFL and MLB aren't going to suffer. We are stuck with one race, which Hendrick driver is going to win this week? Maybe all the other teams should work together and try to figure out how to beat them or maybe NASCAR they should put a limit on how much the teams can spend. Hendrick, like the Yankees, proves that money buys wins.

Hey, maybe if they bring Danica to NASCAR that will fix all the problems!

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Permalink Reply by vak7 on October 21, 2009 at 3:43pm

One thing both Kyle and Spencer have in common is that they say it like they think it. You won't get any politically correct rhetoric out of them. They don't play kissy-kissy with anybody's posterior.

That said, the sport is in serious trouble. But it's probably only those of us that have been following it the longest that even notice. It's a celebrity contest these days and not a sporting event. So fans of this generation will be happy watching their golden boy(s) at the front week after week. They don't have an inkling for the taste of competition, the history, rivalries, or passion that drove drivers back in the day when they actually made a difference. And as long as there's another generation to pass through the turnstiles, all will be well.

Remember, as far as filling the stands, that most tracks added seating when the sport was peaking. So it may not be fewer fans as much as it is more seating. Tracks don't have a 2 year waiting list to buy tickets anymore. I'd be curious as to actual attendance numbers versus 5-10 years ago rather than number of empty seats. TV is another thing. I don't want to follow the Hendrick cars so have no clue what else is happening in the race. I can follow it more closely on PR raceday chat but don't always have the opportunity.

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Permalink Reply by Wheaton56 on October 21, 2009 at 4:44pm

i like the fact they asked those guys.....

You aska driver or team owner they could hurt sponsorship or piss off the wrong people,

those dudes dont cars who they piss off

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Permalink Reply by Pathfinder7 on October 21, 2009 at 6:45pm

For a long time I have said that Nascar has sown the seeds of their own destruction with the damned COT and the "Chase." I am sorry, but the car does NOT even remotely resemble what it is supposed to, ie Chevy, Ford, etc. It may be safer, but the races are so boring now. I detest the TV coverage because that is a joke. As for the "Chase," Oh My God, don't even get me started on that.

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Permalink Reply by Wheaton56 on October 21, 2009 at 8:40pm

in the old sysytem would a guy even be able to catch the lead from 13th place?

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Permalink Reply by Keith on October 22, 2009 at 11:46am

Jack Roush says IHO, the 17" tire will never happen. The cost is too high to do it now. Just another point overlooked in the original designs. They continued to use the old tires.

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Permalink Reply by Keith on October 22, 2009 at 11:53am

Part II of the discussion added.

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