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What has flowers got to do with nascar?? Nothing !!! And no body wants to see wreck cars pictures. Like the ones that msp posted. But, what is really DISG...
Fan columnist: NASCAR needs to promote races, not championship
By Calvin Rowland
Thursday, October 23, 2008
SceneDaily
The core of NASCAR is the race itself. Not the first 26 or the last 10, but that one race a person attends each year. Being at the race track is how a person becomes a NASCAR fan. Once you are familiar with who the drivers are inside the cars, it becomes very interesting.
Kevin Harvick doesn’t care if you’re a rookie or old-time veteran, he will call you out. Ryan Newman does not roll over and let anyone pass; you have to earn it. Tony Stewart is 100 percent charitable off the track, but in that car he is 100 percent animal. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is extremely cool. When Junior speaks, you can’t help but believe him. He’s been in front of the camera for his whole life. He comes across as very honest and sincere. This is why I was completely shocked by Junior’s comments after the Martinsville race.
I have never, ever believed NASCAR would alter the natural outcome of a race, but Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s comments about NASCAR bunching the field together by having cautions late in the race has left me wondering.
All rational thoughts would lead a person to believe that what Junior said simply cannot be true. It would cause complete devastation of the sport. This type of fraud would no longer allow NASCAR to credibly be called a sport. Sponsors would no longer continue to be involved. Issuing cautions unnecessarily during a race is much too risky for NASCAR to attempt. So why did Junior say that?
NASCAR should emphasize the race, not the championship. The championship is interesting because fans all enjoy watching the races and seeing which drivers frequently finish first. Don’t misunderstand. Fans are curious about who wins the championship, but 42 other drivers will not win it. Fans tune in to see where their driver finishes and to see an exciting race.
Fans don’t attend races because of the championship; they attend to see world-class drivers and watch a great race. What race will a fan remember the most this year? The one they attend. This is an intuitively core reason fans were resistant to the Chase For The Sprint Cup; it took emphasis off a great race at each track separately. It de-emphasized the importance of the other races not in the Chase. For example, who in his right mind would attend the California race next year in February when he could now attend a race at the track during the Chase?
NASCAR should do everything in its power to ensure that fans have a great race, but it must do so honorably, sincerely and most of all legitimately.
We are witnessing history. Jimmie Johnson might have some pretty bad luck in the four remaining races, but his crew chief, Chad Knaus, won’t allow that to happen. There is no need to bore you with how excellent Jimmie Johnson’s stats are at the next few race tracks. Atlanta Motor Speedway is next, and let’s just say Johnson runs well there. You are witnessing a team that will probably go down historically as one of the best Chase-era championship teams ever.
Mentioned Drivers: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
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Comments
12 responses to "Fan columnist: NASCAR needs to promote races, not championship". Post a Comment.
Mary Reeson said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 6:57 AMI too was shocked, but when junior speaks out he knows people listen, therefore I think there may be something to this.
Report as AbuseWe don't want to think these things but in all honest truth, Nascar is desperate to have exciting races and too many of them have been anything but with this cot car!
How many races have there been that ended without a caution in the last few laps this year? Way too many! JMO!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBillie Brooks said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 7:04 AM"NASCAR should do every thing in it's power to ensure that fans have a great race, but it must do so honorably, sincerly and most of all legitimately."
Report as AbuseThe above statement should be listed as "The Joke of the Week"!!!
I'm sure most NASCAR fans are honest folks, but dont insert the words honest, sincere and legit with NASCAR in the same sentence, its an anomaly!!.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportC N Garner said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 8:02 AMIf my favorite driver is not in the Chase, I become very frustrated with the last half of the season. Calling qualifying for rain without any attempt to try to get it in is so obviously done for the precious top 12. Watching the last 12 races on TV is no fun whatsoever and I cheer for any driver who is not in the chase to win. That's the only way they will receive any notice at all from Nascar and even then very little. Nascar fans are very aware of the stats and don't want them shoved in their faces with every breath spoken during the last 12 races.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportGo 29 Harvick said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 8:10 AMWell said CN - the chase is shoved down our throats last leg of the season - and the qualifing is a joke - if you saw the online poll - majority of people think that no matter what, they should try to get qualifing in - it really isnt fair to the other drivers, and their sponsors for that matter. While my driver is in the chase, I totally agree with CN - there are other drivers and racing going on in the field to talk about.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportGrandma Sharon said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 8:15 AMThe truth of the matter is NASCAR is ruining NASCAR and they don't see it, or don't care. It is basically just like our government and economic situation. NASCAR has become so political. NASCAR is the government, the fans are the voters, and the sponsors - track owners - couple of team owners are the lobbyists. All the control and power has gone to NASCAR's head and they really don't care that much about what the fans think or want. NASCAR is making all these decisions based on what "in their judgement" is best and by the time they realize many of them are mistakes it will be too late. Just as our US government has and look where we are at with that! It has actually been frustrating to watch the slow way the NASCAR "powers that be" are killing the sport, all for their own personal gain. Personally I think they have all forgotten what it is like to be a true "fan in the stands" and that is why they are not effective in a positive way.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportkeisler bobby said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 9:27 AMAlot of folks may not agree with you--I have to agree with you Grandma Sharon.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportK P said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 9:47 AMIn both cases (Nascar and the government) neither really control what gets out to the consumer, it's the media's job to do that. It's the media that sensationalizes the Chase. It's not Nascar controlling those reporters or cameras! It's the media's job to bring the story to consumers. For Nascar racing the story is: the race, the qualifying, the tire issue, the Chase, the streaks, the door-to-door battles (no matter who the drivers may be), the crashes, the technical issues, etc. But no, at least 90% of what the media focuses on during the race is THE CHASE and the top 12 drivers in it. The business owners of media are so focused on getting good ratings cause that's where their pay checks come from. They get caught up in doing what they "think" the consumers want to see, rather then just plain good ol' reporting. FOX has made "entertainment" out of news broadcasting, now all competitors are just playing copy-cat in an effort to win over viewers. All we get as consumers is a lot of flash and no substance.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCarol Hohman said:
Oct 23, 2008 at 7:23 PMFOX NETWORK the worst network ever sports or news and Go Grandma Sharon I am with you all the way on this !!!!!! Bring Nascar back to the fans before it's too late Nascar is Dying a slow painfull death too bad they don't see it
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» Confirm Abuse ReportGlenda Roberts said:
Oct 24, 2008 at 10:02 AMI'm not going to pretend; many fans were not shocked by Junior's remark, we're suspicious about those debris cautions sometimes. I do however believe that the "powers that be" in Nascar LOVE this sport and perhaps they are a bit greedy, but I also think they know that fans want an exciting race. I don't think they've made all the right decisions AND I am not a big fan of "The Chase" and here's MY REASON: I think it blows up the momentum some drivers have going. One bad day can make all the difference not only to a guy who has a big points lead, but also to the guy who might actually have a chance to improve on a week by week basis. I think that not making it into the chase deflates the potential for a few key players each year. I know we've all said it before but if the sanctioning body had added points for WINS when they decided they needed to make a change, it would have made for a much more interesting season. IMHO.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSal Sigala Jr. said:
Oct 26, 2008 at 10:52 PMI erased my comment because I just realized that you were a week behind. But here, I'll help you out.
Report as Abusehttp://community.nascar.com/members/Frevr3fan/blogs/54989
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCathy Rooks said:
Oct 27, 2008 at 3:30 PMI am for one burned out this season. I went to 3 races this year and I was at AMS yesterday. It was almost a boring race. The sun was bad there and it was hard to see. Poor Kasey Kahne had a time with his car all day long. Jr. had some bad luck with his too! But that is part of racing. I just wish Nascar would change back to the old ways of racing. STOP setting qualifying by points. If you know it is going to rain on Friday change it to Saturday. Geez how hard is that! Make it fair and competitive instead of predictable!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCAROL LANDERS said:
Oct 30, 2008 at 10:45 AMevery race i watch,i turn off the volume,got sick of hearing about ohhhhhh the hendrick's cars,and ohhhhhhh june bug !!gag me !! if they are allowed to show who they love, why not see crap on the track for them to bunch up and give someone a better chance to win !!!!i am 64 yrs. old, and this is not racing,not anymore.
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