Fast Times

A NASCAR BLOG BY Kris Johnson

Should fans vote a driver into all-star race?

May 17
I’m no Humpy Wheeler, but I do have a prediction for tonight’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: The driver who gets voted in by fans will not win.

I know, I know … hardly going out on a thin branch there.

In the four years since a driver has been added by fan voting, Kyle Petty came closest – and really, not so close at all – finishing eighth in 2006.

During Nextel’s inaugural season as series title sponsor in 2004, Ken Schrader was the first driver to be voted in and he finished 13th.

In 2005, Martin Truex Jr. garnered critical support from his then-teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s fan base. He finished first in the fan
vote and last – 22nd among 22 cars – in the all-star race.

Last year, Kenny Wallace received the nod from fans and finished 16th. Nothing against Wallace, mind you, but does he deserve to be in such an elite field without racing his way in through the Sprint Showdown?
 
The bottom line: All-star events really should be reserved for top competitors and entry should be gained on merit alone.

From a sponsor perspective, you have to applaud Sprint for creating such a successful tie-in to one of the sport’s most exciting races. It obviously engages fans who also utilize the company’s service.
 
But the end result, in my opinion, is a slightly diminished competition.
   

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Comments

7 responses to "Should fans vote a driver into all-star race? "
  1. 1
    Worm Dirt said:
    May 17, 2008 at 8:02 PM

    Ha, ha, HA!!!, ha, ha, ha, HA, HA!!!!!, Ha!!!, ha, ha, ha..........NO SERIOUSLY......Ha, ha, ha, ha, hee, hee, hee, ha, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yeet, yeet, ha, ha, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  2. 2
    Timothy Schultze said:
    May 17, 2008 at 8:54 PM

    What a JOKE just like the FAN VOTE JJJJJJJJJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  3. 3
    Chris Pontiff said:
    May 17, 2008 at 9:02 PM

    i witnessed one of the most boring races tonight

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  4. 4
    Jennifer Nelsen said:
    May 18, 2008 at 2:19 PM

    Yes we should. Last night Kasey won the fan vote and won the race. He proven that we (the fans) voted the right driver in the allstar race. Thanks to the fans that voted for Kasey. WOO HOO.

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  5. 5
    Jim Varga said:
    May 18, 2008 at 2:44 PM

    Well, how wrong you were and frankly Kasey belongs in the race more than some of the current drivers who were in - the guys won 7 races in 3 years - not too shabby. You spoke too soon, eh? WAY TO GO KASEY! You proved the fans were right!

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  6. 6
    jim blazek said:
    May 19, 2008 at 8:40 AM

    Tough job you got there Kris-making those wrong decisions.

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  7. 7
    Robin Drummond said:
    May 20, 2008 at 12:25 PM

    That should have been a pretty safe bet, Kris! I would have never thought Kasey could win on old tires. Really old tires. It just goes to show you anything can happen in a race. Who'd a thunk?

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