Yeah, unfortunately, NASCAR sees any opportunity to promote their undercard series and will use "name" drivers to sell tickets. Agreed, the lesser series should be for the up-and-comers but NASCAR wants asses in the seats, therefore they put "Cup" drivers in trucks and Grand National (whatever it's called now) events. BHW
I'd rather have some driver's that mean something to mix it up with, maybe not every race, but for sure get to drive against them. It provides a measuring stick. When Joey Logano, or Kyle Larson would win a nationwide race against cup drivers, that means something for their career in a big way. Personally, I'd make some tracks exclude cup drivers, but not an outright ban full season. Make it where cup drivers could only run the lower series in the cookie cutter 1.5Mile speedways. Bristol, Brickyard, Daytona, etc, they would be excluded.
By the same token, where else in the world do we see top shelf drivers going "back to their roots" by taking on occasional competition in ladder series? By all means, lets inform Lewis Hamilton that he has to make x-amount certain appearances in GP2 in order to be sure that seats are filled. Lets tell Mark Webber that he has to go back to the Bathurst 1000 to assure asses are in the seats at Mount Panorama next year and see what the reaction is. Only NASCAR has this kind of crap, f-ing f-NASCAR and everything f-ing NASCAR stands for. BHW
I miss watching NASCAR, the coverage just isn't worth it anymore, and there isn't a point to following the points now either. :\
Agreed. Not sure why there is a points system in place in NASCAR as when they get to the absurd "Chase" portion, the points are wiped clean and everyone starts back at 0 again. NASCAR isn't selling racing any more, they're selling the hype. The broadcast networks have two or three hour pre-race shows which is practically what networks do for the Super Bowl each year now. It's so over the top now that anyone who can sit and watch these baffoons for more than ten minutes needs to have a serious chat with themselves. All the canned hype, all the over exposure which no event can ever live up to. It's too bad (that) talented drivers have to put up with all the NASCAR nonsense. BHW
Mucho respect BW, but it's happenin' to all racing, not just NASCAR. Opening wings in F1, BoP in just about everything else, blaahh, blaahh, blaahh. It's all about the show nowadays... A shame. Flip side, I (I presume we...) lived thru the better years....
It is getting bad, and you forgot the .... push to pass ????? Next up is brake lights across all racing and turn signals, and "tickets" or yellow flags for Jon compliance. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr Or like college football, yellow stays out until they get all the commercials done.
It is not getting bad. It already is bad. Nein! I forget nut-hing! My "blaahh, blaahh, blaahh" blanketed the rest as opposed to "etc." And on another note, to those that find some series and even single races "boring" because it's not "close racing"...Scr*w you!!! When rules were set and you came prepped to the rules, the best usually did dominate and it was "boring" to those who were clueless about what goes into it behind the scenes. If you want IROC I know, I know..."What's that???"...Google it!) (which I enjoyed, to a degree), you've virtually got it in NASCAR, Indycar, and in a sense sportscars (with the crapola BoP's). 'Set of rules, do your best. Don't penalize the superior; raise your own bar. Mediocrity sucks. I apologize. Thank you for letting me vent .
When ever anyone said Jeff Gordan was retiring, this was his last race etc, I'd always say, maybe last full season, but definitely not his last race. Looks like he's stepping in the #88 for two races.
Gordon still has a supply of 300,000 "Farewell" t-shirts, hats and trinkets lying around to sell from last year which should be going for rock bottom prices this weekend. The whole thing seems kind of strange as after a driver (or football player for example) retires, they sign off on it with the sanctioning body (or league) and as such, it is in writing and, Brett Favre aside, there's no coming back. Seems as though Hendrick could have brought up one of their young prospects to fill in for Jr, Jr, Jr,. It may only be imagined that this is NASCAR meddling in order to keep a "name" driver in the car during their poster boy's absence. BHW
that's because other pro sports have players unions, franchise tags, and complex performance contracts that racing doesn't have. that said I am a bit disappointed that a Hendrick or JRM development driver isn't getting the opportunity. Alex Bowman would be the obvious choice.
But Indy is arguably the second-highest profile race there is, so sponsor-wise that's probably not a good place to start someone like Bowman. Now, Pocono, that would have been a much better place for him, so I halfway-agree with you.
Bowman ran last week at New Hampshire. why didn't Gordon run there? you're right, this is a pure marketing play (recall that Gordon spent much of his youth in Indiana)
Looked like all of 5000 people in the stands - might have been 5500 if Gordon was there. Remember when New Hampshire fought to get a race? Doesn't look good...,
14 'T'aint necessarily to fill seats these days. 'More to get exposure on TV and Jr's sponsors will get more airtime with Gordon at the wheel than they could ever hope for with Bowman or anybody second string....
50k is the consensus number. granted it's hot as hell in Indy today (mid 90's and humid), but still...this race used to be a guaranteed sellout at 250k+, and premiums for tickets on the secondary market. how the mighty have fallen.
Wow, just wow... Isn't the "Brickyard" like NASCAR's second biggest payout behind Daytonner? For the fans, or lack thereof, it could be down to the stockers appearing to be completely pedestrian vs. Indy Cars on the track. That, and usually the 400 is a complete borefest. BHW
WTF is NASCAR doing. Red flag the race then restart under yellow before the track is ever clear of debris. the they driver around for XXX laps under yellow before taking the green. Looks like they wanted to finish the race in the allotted TV time. What BS. And then another totally uncalled for wreck back straight. I guess if they restarted with 6 or 7 left they would be restarting until midnight. Honestly, I don't know why I watch NASCAR anymore. Got to go, another restart coming up.
NASCAR lost many fans when they went politicaly correct. They got a woman racin and everyone knows that's bad! Damn next thing they'll won't to be president of the US!!
Uhoh, this doesn't sound good. Ya'll are telling me that a NASCAR race was a train wreck debacle? Hard to imagine... BHW
Indy actually is pretty exciting with NASCARS. To me, much more interesting vehicle to watch go around the track than the ugly current gen Indy car. The problem, is the race "management", erh, result massaging. Yellows just conveniently come out when certain drivers in need of points are about to go a lap down. Its even worse with the current points system. For me, it was watching a good race going on sitting in the stands of the Coca Cola 600, a blisteringly fast lead car was about to be dropping the field to about 5 lead lap cars. For no reasonable evident reason that any camera could find they halted it all for "debris". 30+ cars took a wave around. Combined with 13 cars in a 12 car chase, and I lost my interest. The cars are cool, the drivers are great, but the championship is a joke.
