Tony Stewart Says It Like It Is - NASCAR = Wrestling

Makes JPM's middle finger seem kinda tame now, doesn't it?

 

WOW!!! I've called NASCar equivalent to pro wrestling for years, but to hear it from an insider...

 

Good for him, he should defect back to Indy!



Yeah right, he isn't gonna pass up all that money.

 

The differance is that Pro wrestling is staged between all involved.
Nascar is trying to make it exciting with too many bunching cautions, but better believe it that the participants are not acting.
He is going to eat these words.

 

NASCAR has always tried to keep the cars bunched up in order to provide closer racing. If it's a runaway, then where's the excitment? - b

 

So true. The culprit is NASCAR, not the drivers. They want to race, the France family is only interested in TV ratings. This car of tomorrow (COT) is going to be the start of the demise of NASCAR as we know it today. The majority of fans, including myself, tolerated the blob mobiles of the last 10 years, but now we will have to watch completely genderless pieces of iron.

As for Stewart eating his words, I doubt it. He is a big draw, NASCAR is not that stupid. I think.

 

+100000

 

Yup, Tony tells it like it is, and he just did! He reminds me of AJ Foyt, more and more.

JPM was fined $10000. for giving the bird to a tv camera. I wonder what Nascar, is gonna fine Tony, for this soon to be infamous quote?

Ciao...Paolo

 

the comment about the core nascar fan being lost...shunned really...that will cause big problems.

the france family will slowly but surely dump most tracks less than 1.5 as they cannot create the ticket sales in the small venues. this is a problem as the fans that have come out to bristol, martinsville, darlington...represent the roots of the sport and nascar is effectively sending the message that history is just that...history. what a shame!

i am actually glad that nascar is seemingly getting what is just...flat sales and tv ratings are taking a hit. humpy wheeler is a friend of mine and a gentleman i admire...it is very surprising for him to publicly admit that nascar needs to be on its best behavior or there may be trouble going forward. humpy has a large interest in the success so his making himself heard is something to note.

speed channel has bet its future on nascar and barrett jackson...i actually hope they get the message and win back we lovers of all racing...not just nascar!!

 

sadly...i think you are right.

 

It'd be interesting to see Stewart lose a few pounds and have a go in an F1 car, I believe the idea has been raised before that he would have a shot.

 

I agree. If not, maybe he could go back to IRL or maybe Champ Car. Hmmm...

 

I think Stewart would be a good F1 prospect as well as Gordon especially, were he a bit younger

 

Yeah remember when Jeff Gordon switched cars with JPM at Indy? Jeff was instantly fast, and he was having a blast. He was smiling from ear to ear.

 

I'm not to sure.

 

Tony has always been a hothead, but at least now he is angry for a really good reason. Nascar's rating have been steadily going down this year. The races are becoming boring, and when I do watch them I can usually predict within 5 or 6 laps, when the caution flag is going to come out late in the race for "debris" on the track. It's just a way of letting the field close up if somebody is running away with the race. I don't believe Nascar is having people get "the call" to win races, but these phantom yellows are almost just as bad. Don't get me started on the All-Star race at Bristol. Those races are so filled with ads and filler, that a 45 minute race, takes 3 hours. It's a good thing there are so many night races now. I know that if I have insomnia, 15 to 20 minutes of the Subway 500 or Dodge Dealers 450 and I sleep like a baby. I just wish that the two open wheel series would find a way to unify so we would have a viable option to this crap.

 

Where were you guys when Tony Stewart said 'NASCAR is run like the mafia - you don't question them, what they say is what you do and if you don't do it, you get whacked'.

I think he may have also compared them to a bunch of Nazi's, I don't recall.

This was maybe 4 years ago.

 

Is that any different than F1 abandoning tracks like Spa and Silverstone to free up room in the schedule for Turkey, Malaysia and Bahrain??

If this were Alonso's quote, everyone here would criticize him for "whining". Sure, NASCAR manipulates races with well-timed "caution" flags to ensure exciting finishes. Is this any different than the Marshalls at Italy giving Alonso a ridiculous penalty for "obstructing" Massa during qualifying to preserve Ferrari's contention for the title?

I don't know what is worse, manufacturing photo finishes with caution flags or processional racing with no on-track passing like F1?

 

While I often agree with you and respect your insights, I think you are making a completely wrong comparison here:

While it is sad that F1 cuts off some of its historic roots expanding into new continents, countries, cities and markets makes a lot of sense. And quite frankly in a purely purist sense expanding into countries outside of Europe is what F1 really should be about: A global competition, not a European contest. It is pathetic enough that the US wins "World Series" in Baseball, Basketball etc by competing with two or three other nations at best, but I digress.

Also to be fair, a lot of the older venues simply don't cut it anymore in a modern world. While we lament the romantic charm of Silverstone, it is really not up to par anymore in its infrastructure (believe me, I've been there). Other tracks might have it all, but are simply boring (France Magny Cours) or too dangerous for modern cars.

If you like to accuse F1 of manipulating the races then you shouldn't look so much towards the change of tracks, but rather to instances where the FIA comes down with very weird decisions like the ban on replacing tires for 05 (therefore trying to stop the Ferrari/MS winning streak) or by giving Alonso a ten spot penalty at Monza. Or by throwing MS out of the competition for several races to give Damon Hill a chance in 94. Those interventions are done to manipulate the title chase, changing venues aren't.

 

i think spa and silverstone are two of the most important venues in the world. should have been kept at all costs bernie!

 

Abandoning Spa and Siverstone is a crime. Problem is, the loyal F1 fans like me will keep watching and they MAY pick up some new viewers in Turkey, Malaysia.

Question: How many people in Bahrain?

Question: How many TVs in Turkey and Malaysia and do these people have enough disposable income to buy the products that F1 sells?

 

Who says Spa and Silverstone are being abandoned? Silverstone will alternate with France and Spa is just redoing its pits and will probably stay on the calendar.

It doesn't really matter how many people there are in Bahrain. The money is not in the ticket sales but in the TV rights. If the place produces boring races (as I think it does), less people will view it on tv and that will get it axed. At least I hope so.

Speaking of the middle East: In a few years there will be the GP of Dubai and that should be really a great venue for the sport with their F1/Ferrari theme park next to it. I never quite understood the connection to Ferrari until I read that the Prince (?) of Dubai owns a huge stake in Ferrari SpA.

Turkey and Malaysia (as well as China) subsidize their GPs because they know they don't have enough locals to go to the race. They do that because a F1 race puts their name on the map and will eventually lead to tourists and businesses to go there.

PS: I like to travel and visit F1 races. The expansion to new countries offers new opportunities. I've been twice to the Monaco GP, twice to the German GP and twice to the British GP; I'm quite happy to find a new place to travel to. Looking forward to eventually visit Turkey and Dubai.

BUT WHY ARE WE BASHING F1 WHEN THIS THREAD GIVES US ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BEAT UP ON NASCAR?

 

Actually, it is Abu Dhabi, not Dubai, that is hosting the GP and bought a 5% stake in Ferrari. I spent two years in Abu Dhabi and will be there for the Grand Prix. Hopefully you make it as well, I will buy you a beer

LOL