Thursday, January 24, 2008

No one was trying to make anyone mad

Final notes, thoughts and observations from the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Lowe’s Motor Speedway:

I swear I had no intention of making anybody from Ford mad Thursday afternoon at the final stop on the media tour. Too bad, because that’s not how things worked out.

Part of the story from 2007 was that Ford’s teams, especially those at Roush Fenway Racing, fell behind early in the season because they were not aggressively testing the car of tomorrow.

Jack Roush said all along that’s because he understood the purpose of a tire-leasing program that NASCAR had introduced was to keep teams from going to other tracks aside from the ones NASCAR had picked out for testing.

What I never could figure out, though, was that Roush had to know other teams were testing their cars on tires they’d either saved from earlier years or bought from somebody other than Goodyear. If he knew that, he had to know his teams might be falling behind. Why did he continue to refrain?

It’s my fault that I didn’t ask him that question before Thursday. But when the topic came back up again I did ask it. I don’t really know if Roush was mad at me for asking it – maybe I asked it so poorly that he felt like I was accusing him of not paying attention or something. He may have not been mad at all, but he sure got exercised in his reply.

“I thought that they (NASCAR) were serious,” Roush said. “I thought that they were going to stop testing. They said they were going to control the testing and we were all going to test at the same place. I figured it was a matter of time until the guillotine fell on the people who were testing the cars.

“I wasn’t going to create a scenario where they said, ‘Everybody’s doing it.’ Everybody wasn’t doing it. We weren’t doing it. …I thought it was going to be real bad for the people who were. I was wrong. I misread NASCAR.”

Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology, got fired up, too.

“You hear the words and music and you want to do the right thing,” Davis said.

“We are ethical at the Ford Motor Company, we want to do the right thing. So we held hands and said, ‘This is what we should be doing, this is what we have been asked to do.’ It turns out that we misunderstood or someone changed their minds. Who knows?”

Whatever happened, after Hendrick Motorsports won the first five car of tomorrow races last year and the Ford teams weren’t giving them much of a run for it, several of the Roush drivers started wondering aloud about what was going on.

Carl Edwards said that drivers just started going into offices one day asking what they were going to do about getting beat up so badly. Before long, they’d worked up a full-blown meeting and the decision was made to start testing aggressively.

As reporters sat there Thursday listening to Roush and Davis talk, we could hear something that sounded like springs creaking. They said the seven-post shaker rig was in an adjacent building and you could tell people were working right on through our little visit.

Edsel Ford, the great-grandson of Ford founder Henry Ford, was there and he’d sternly advised reporters “Don’t underestimate our resolve.”

Davis echoed that in even stronger terms when Roush paused to take a breath.

“The past six months we’ve been really pushing it hard,” Davis said of efforts to catch up on the new car. “We’re testing everywhere we can go and we’re testing all kinds of vehicles. I feel like we’ve caught up.

“Sometimes I feel like you need to be a little bit behind and a little bit embarrassed to get your (expletive) together. That’s kind of where we are. It’s together, so look out this year.”

Wheeler weighs in

The Ford guys weren’t the only ones who had their jaws set Thursday.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway president H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler always gets up at the final media tour stop and says a few words. He thanks his tireless staff for the work they do on the tour, thanks reporters for coming and asks for feedback on how to make it better.

When Wheeler got up there Thursday, though, he had something else to say, too.

“Maybe nobody else has said it this week, but ticket sales are flat or down and television ratings are down,” Wheeler said. “We need to make this car of today work so we can get back to the kind of racing where we’re putting those black doughnuts on the doors and not making a felony out of it.”

Wheeler said he thought the most important thing said on the tour all week came at the first stop on Monday when NASCAR chairman Brian France said that the sport needs to get “back to basics” and work on its bonds with its long-time fans.

“I think that’s a turning point,” Wheeler said. “I am glad that was admitted and that we are talking about it.”

There's a schedule and there's a guy

Bruton Smith can be quite the motivational speaker.

At the news conference announcing the new drag strip at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Smith was asked if he can get it built in time to host the inaugural National Hot Rod Association Carolina Nationals on Sept. 11-14 as scheduled.

Smith looked down in the front row where the person who’ll be heading up the project was seated.

“Stand up,” Smith said. “This is him, so if it’s not done in time, now you will know what he looked like.”

That’s looked. As in past tense.

Have Humpy call Dumbo

Speaking of Bruton Smith, he has an idea for a prerace show that shows you just how big he thinks – or maybe how close to insanity he actually is.

I promise you I am not making this up.

“I want to train a couple of small elephants to roller skate,” he said.

“And then, I would take them up and let the jump out of an airplane with controlled parachutes to guide them down on the track. Then you’d let them roller skate around the track and give the winner a bag of peanuts.

"You’d remember that, but we haven’t done that yet. We’re working on that one. The problem is finding a trainer to train the elephants.”

Oh, so that’s the problem.

A fair representation, maybe better

The media tour’s home base this week was the Embassy Suites on Speedway Boulevard, and the people who run that place did Charlotte and Concord proud.

I don’t know how they could have done a better job of setting up the various meeting rooms and meals and hospitality suites over the week. The folks from Lowe’s Motor Speedway and the sponsors and teams and the people who set up all the audio and other logistical stuff didn’t miss a trick that I saw.

If those folks do that kind of job with every meeting or convention that comes in there, they’re representing this area in a first-class manner and they deserve at least this much praise for the job they do.

52 comments:

bearfoot said...

Jack is a smart fellow. I think rather than sitting back waiting for NASCAR to penalize all of the other race teams for testing, he might have made a simple phone call to the boys in Daytona, and ask them if it was OK.

I realize Jack is a little cheap, hence no seven post rig, until his own drivers almost demanded it, but a phone call is less than twenty-five cents.

Perhaps, Jacks crocodile tears were to cover his embarrassment that his team preformed so poorly early last season.

It seems to me that Jack has blamed others for his failing before.

Julie said...

I don't believe the "we thought we weren't supposed to test" defense. It's no secret that Jack was never a fan of this car from the get-go, and I think he was being stubborn about implementing it because he just didn't want to, or he thought NASCAR would change their mind, or whatever. It's not like Jack's never cut off his nose to spite his face before. He rolled the dice on the premise that NASCAR was going to change something and he lost.

Anonymous said...

NASCAR TV ratings are down? Well dah.... Many of us don't care to watch an all Hendrick show.

Anonymous said...

I would and will watch an all Hendrick show as long as it isn't on those cookie cutter tracks. It's the same race week after week. NO passing, NO banging, YELLOWS for no reason, drivers aren't allowed to argue without getting FINED, drivers aren't allowed to voice their opinion without getting FINED, just plain boring! And I guess if you aren't a Chevy fan or a Hendrick fan then it was even more boring for you.

Anonymous said...

I am always confused when someone says that Nascar needs to get back in touch with it's long time fans. I am a new fan, of less than 2 years, and I wonder where does that leave me. I'm also a baseball fan and I never hear a distinction being made between old and new fans in baseball, we are all simply fans. So what does this separation mean in Nascar?

Doc said...

Great Job David... I know the media tour can be tedious at times. But hearing that Humpy story probably made it all worth it...

Anonymous said...

The reason why NASCAR is losing ratings is simple. NASCAR has successfully forced the drivers and crew chiefs to be choir boys. We want to see controversy and true feelings among drivers and crew chiefs without ridiculous petty fines. Real men acting in reality, and not being forced to hide behind the politically correct things to do and say after races. NASCAR is boring now. The "forced discipline or pay an astronomical fine" that NASCAR has regimented is very boring and annoying. How do they really feel after races? Quit fining and suspending crew chiefs for "cheating", just dock driver points. Way too much discipline. Boring. Way too many cookie cutters. I only care to watch Bristol, Darlington, Daytona, Talladega, and Michigan. ...Pocono, Richmond, and maybe Charlotte. For the rest I'll just catch the highlights on the news, if there are any on cookie cutters pathetically modeled after Charlotte. Atlanta was once a good race. Modified to be the same old cookie cutter.

Anonymous said...

anon said "NASCAR TV ratings are down? Well dah.... Many of us don't care to watch an all Hendrick show."

Maybe... but how does that explain the ratings drop from the previous year when Roush had 5 cars in the Chase?

Anonymous said...

a little contreversy woudl be a good thing; too much time spent in pre-race shows that are boring - give us the anthem, the fly over and the command, a quick update on who is where and what to expect today; Jack will be fine, Rick will be fine, Joe will be fine; let the drivers speak their mind, and the owners, and enforce what they need to on the track....and get rid of some of the yellows....let em race!

Anonymous said...

The Cat in the Hat got caught with his pants down, and he just blew it. If you ain't ever been caught cheatin, you ain't ever been trying hard enough. They need to take a page from Chad Knaus.

Anonymous said...

Ask Rick[chevy] how mutch it cost to get a fair shake from nascar,Jack[FORD] sure can't afford it.Just wondering how mutch TOYOTA is willing to pay.General Motors has always bought its way into and out of everything for years that is the main reason I picked FORD years ago.

Anonymous said...

It appears from reading and seeing alot over the past few months on here that only one posters opinions and thoughts are relavent at all...

Roush Fenway will be fine this year and progress alot farther than last.Jack is Jack, love him or hate him , he will NOW find a way to be a step ahead of everything with the COT.

TV ratings are down soley because the coverage is pathetic.NASCAR wont let drivers be themselves without fines and point deductions. So people get the watered down NASCAR effect so prevelant in the sport today...

Anonymous said...

If Humpy Wheeler reads this blog -- and I hope he does -- Amen Brother! Couldn't have said it better. If you look hard at 2007 it was a crappy year -- and no I am not talking about Hendrick winning, COT, 2nd CA race date or all of the items we discuss on these racings blogs. If you look hard NASCAR in one year nearly sucked the life out of this sport. Guys were getting fined every Tuesday by the hordes (not whoreds). It was a Mickey Mouse show. How could all these drivers and crew chiefs be that wrong? Nearly everything they did was wrong. The net effect was a sport that looked either like a joke or totally unethical full of unethical boobs. It surely looked like joke officiating. A lot of been talked about over debris cautions. BUT IT SHOULD BE BEATEN INTO NASCAR's head every chance anyone can get: guys to throw a caution to manipulate the race is criminal, certainly unethical and most assuredly anti-competitive. And I don't want to hear it from NASCAR. Stewart said what every real fan and many news media know, that this yellow rag has been thrown to manipulate the sport. It's just wrong. NASCAR is so afraid their product is that tenuous they have to manipulate it. They did it many years before COT with adding or shaving the spoiler size every two weeks. That has hurt this sport in terms of attendance and ratings just as much as the fines and pushing down drivers' personalities. It's about control guys. Uncle Sam does it and NASCAR does it. When is the last time Uncle Sam told you the truth?

All I can say if you can help change it Mr. Wheeler, please do before these boys run this sport we all so love into the ground.

Anonymous said...

I guess the more I think about it the more I havve to relate this whole "COT" deal to the IROC series. Did someone ask "IROC"? Yeah remember it? It provided some real close racing but it was well, not fun. It didn't draw like Nascar wanted it to and now it is toast, history, gone, KAPUT! While it provided a few, key word "FEW" races to be excited about, it more or less died on it's own. I forsee the COT deal doing the same or NASCAR as a whole will tumble down the same road. No one wants a stage, they want competition, creativeness, speed, and to watch an underdog have a chance. Given the current situation the underdog is toast because without the millions it takes to put an engineered to death car on the track they are DOOMED before they even begin. It's truly a situation where the glass ceiling is being met in the way of money and only the extremely rich survive. Good for those who are rich, bad for those who are not, and BORING AS HECK. NASCAR has managed to sell their product beyond the cost most can afford and who really gives a crap watching billionaires play with their toys. I say have at it fellas, destroy your money-making arses to no end because I for one don't care to watch you play such nonsense. NASCAR is going to succumb to the same crap that has killed the spirit and fun of the stick and ball sports, MONEY! You'll not get any more of mine, I've been raped enough. When others figure it out, NASCAR will be saying they remember when.

Anonymous said...

anon - "It didn't draw like Nascar wanted it to and now it is toast, history, gone, KAPUT!

Better check the history, IROC wasn't sanctioned by NASCAR and didn't run it in any way.

IROC failed because it turned into nothing more than a NASCAR drivers on NASCAR tracks event.

In addition it was held in N. America's and the EU's summer season and that impacted who could race and when.

Anonymous said...

Dave - "BUT IT SHOULD BE BEATEN INTO NASCAR's head every chance anyone can get: guys to throw a caution to manipulate the race is criminal, certainly unethical and most assuredly anti-competitive."

Criminal? Criminal Dave?

OK I have to ask, just what alleged law was allegedly broken?

What part of the U.S. Penal Code of a States Penal Code is it listed under?

Geesh, talk about over dramatic rhetoric!

Anonymous said...

anonymous who posted at 8:23 PM on 1/25 is correct about the underdog not having a chance like they used to.

marc, why do you have to take everything someone says so literally. Dave said "criminal" just to make a point. You need to chill out a little.

Anonymous said...

MArc...
You need to go work for NASCAR, since you have the same mentality as "The Powers that Be."

You know EVERYTHING and it's YOUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY.

Were you an abused child ?

Let others have thoughts and opinions and recognize that people have a right to think and feel.

Stop being a bully or even better, start you own blog so no one can read it.

Anonymous said...

Hey MArc Diane was right I was making a point. But you are pretty lame man because here it is in a nutshell: would you like to find out that the NE Patriots used a ball that the NFL helped to build that was better than any other football out there? Now if you aren't a Pats fan and if that were true then it would make you mad -- a mad lame man (or woman as the case may be).

Lemme tellya MArc-ie do you want to really know that the sport you enjoy is cheated up? Is fake? If you are a REAL race fan then you want the expertise of the drivers to duke it out on the speedway with the cunning -- not cheating -- of the crew chiefs -- or NASCAR -- behind the scenes making it happen. I have seen Bobby Allison Cale Yarborough David Pearson Dale Earnhardt Ricky Rudd Ricky Craven Kurt Busch Richard Petty Fred Lorenzen Leroy Yarbrough Ralph Earnhardt Harry Gant Tommy Houston Butch Lindley Jeff Hawkins Alvin Neighbors Jeff Gordon Dale Jr. and countless others do wonders in a race car. Pure talent lame man Pure talent. And they do it on these race tracks across the country to millions of fans every year. Why do we have to have it 'tricked up'? Why should this be like politics of the day? It ain't what you do, it's what people believe you do.

My point Lame Little Man is that this sport has gotten away with this a long time -- taken legitimate wins away from competitors via yellow flags. I am not a Jimmie Johnson fan but I remember one he clearly would have won but for the fact of a Lame Yellow flag. Jeff Burton was victim of one in 2006, although it was a driver that did that one.

And lemme tell you Lame Little Man (or woman as the case may be), I speak from experience. I am not in this sport anymore but I was in the early to mid 1980s. And I saw a lot Lame Little Man. I was a nobody on a team but it was a big-time team then and I remember in 1984 at the last Atlanta race that a current Cup driver had a deal with us. He slowed on the race track and stalled to cause a yellow flag so that we wouldn't go a lap down. Real little MArc. But that's not the story. The story is if you think little drivers and crew chiefs are the only ones with this brilliant idea of how to manipulate a race then you are smoking something that maybe we all need to keep us in lala land instead of reality. So the next time Little One that you shell out $125 for a ticket and pay $150 for a $49 hotel room pay $3 a gallon gas and buy cardboard hamburgers for $8.50 and pay $10 to park to walk a mile and bust your but up to the mile-high seats -- draggin your $60 T-shirt made in China -- expecting to watch a great race only to have to put up with drunks and flying chicken bones (Gawd vutta country!) then to have to drag yourself back and get in a line longer than a train car to exit the speedway to sit on Speedway Bullyvard for 3 hours, ask yourself would you want the officiating to be honest...If you don't want it to be honest then you get what you pay for. If you do then you only have to voice your opinion that NASCAr needs to curb their tendencies to want to manipulate the outcomes of races. No I don't believe in Grand Conspiracies of doing it every race or anything like that. But I do believe they throw these things at certain times and do not at others and it makes then look like amateurs. So that's my story Little Man and I am stickin to it. But I tell you one thing I would like to get a few of the NASCAR boys -- current and past -- on the stand to have them testify about some things. Lookit Big Boy they didn't call Junior Johnson's team the "Company Car" for nothin. Remember him? The guy that was looking for a sponsor for his team and got RJ Reynolds ear and them turned them on to NASCAR? Remember that? Somewhere in the 1970s and what did happen? Didn't the series come the little ole WINSTON CUP. At least 12 wins at Bristol? Well Junior is and was a great piece of this sport's history. But he didn't do it by himself. I would love to line up Tim Brewer Jeff Hammond DW and have them swear to jesus all their wins were legit. Remember way back when Bobby Allison sued NASCAR? He did so, or threatened to, because he was over the rules' line and got whipped by Richard petty in a race that he knew he should have won. Why? Bent broke whatever the rules himself so he knew the only way he could be beat was by someone who bent broke or skirted the rules themselves. But Boy! did it take Bobby A LONG TIME to win a Cup championship. Hey read into it what you will. All I am saying is that today with so many eyes watching lets have a clean race where the guys race each other for the win instead of politics. You will never hear a word out of any self-respecting driver or owner or crew chief my man because they all have won one or two of these things that way and they make a dam good living doing what they love. So they will turn their back on a few unpleasant things to go racing. But they all know it and sometimes they let it slip. Tony Stewart did. Ahhh! He will say know that he was flappin his jaws but he knows. And he was taken to the woodshed for it. They likely told him, 'ya know boy, we sho don't need yo kind on our race trax. we's can surely git along without you here. Not many real Tony Stewart fans anyway. We won't skip a beat my man'...Message delivered. You think that scene in Days of Thunder is all Hollywood? Think again Little Man. That was real. And don't believe me watch Junior's Back in the Day...You can see those guys wreck for 20 mins sometimes before they throw a caution! Chou.

Anonymous said...

I have been a long time fan and my frist race was around 1959 0r 60 and it was the fire cracker 250. I have held tickets to richmond for about 15 years and it is with out doubt the best race that is run. The only problem is $180.00 dollars for a 30.00 dollar hotel room. When NASCAR called as to why I did not renew my seats that is what I told them. I know they canot control the prices but we the fans can. Just leave them empty for a race or two and they will adjust. I can afford to pay to go but its time for me to stand up and say no more. There was a time when the race was on I was in front or the tv but not now as the coverage is lousey and going shopping with my wife is a better option. I own a place in Myrtle Beach and have tickets for darlington but it's mothers day weekene and that is a bad weekend to be 500 miles from the mother of your kids. Some one said back to the basic and what did that mean. I belive it means back to real racing and if you can't stand the heat get out of the k. you need some real drivers and not just a face to sell something. someone that will knock your block of if you wreck them. do unto others is a great way to race.

Anonymous said...

anon - "MArc...
You need to go work for NASCAR, since you have the same mentality as "The Powers that Be."


Really, that must mean you feel we both agree and that NASCAR would ask the same question, "What 'law' was broken?"

You know EVERYTHING and it's YOUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY."

Where was anything close to that thread said?

"Were you an abused child ?"

There it is, the last bastion of someone with no valid counter argument, use name calling, invective and childish accusations.

"Let others have thoughts and opinions and recognize that people have a right to think and feel.

Stop being a bully or even better, start you own blog so no one can read it."


Wow, what strange mental powers I have. Powers I never KNEW I had. Powers that with a simple few words disallow someone, anyone from commenting.

And BTW, your powers of observation are approaching nil. Use that thing called a mouse and click my name, it will direct you to my blog. A blog that is in fact have many readers, if very well acclaimed in the racing blogosphere and with the slightest bit of reading in the NASCAR category you would soon learn your previous suggestion of my working for NASCAR wouldn't fly.

Somehow I don't think calling BF People's Commissar of NASCAR Affairs (PCNA) on a regular basis would endear me to the point of finding employment there.

Anonymous said...

Amen friststatehillbilly. I just hope that Humpy Wheeler can keep up the pressure. He has the right story to tell. If this COT truly cannot be raced in close competition and NASCAR cannot admit a wrong and make adjustments then by the end of this year you can stick a fork in NASCAR because they are done as a big-time sport. They have a certain and total arrogance about them that is clouding their vision. We need vision not arrogance or control. Just rewind back to when the COT first appeared and what happened? Drivers and crew chiefs were saying that something wasn't right; that something was burning inside the car. And then something did burn at races. And it was the safety foam. But NASCAR says 'you guys are installing it wrong.' Now, unless I really missed some important inside info here, these guys weren't installing it wrong the design or placement of this foam or something was really wrong and it was an unhealthy thing for the drivers. So they got that fixed but not without embarrassment to some extent but to me more embarrassment for not admitting it up front and getting on top of it. How long will it take them to admit the COT is a dog? If it really is A LONG TIME I bet. If it's not then all is well. But Johnson and Johnson did something in the 1980s that is still used by universities and business teachers around the world in case study. They came clean in a thing called Tylenol and made the world safer and did it in a truly professional way. Does NASCAR have the guts to do something like that? This is a defining moment in the history of the sport. Those charged with the care of the sport must be focused. The fans and competitors aren't as stupid as NASCAR thinks.

Anonymous said...

diane mc - "marc, why do you have to take everything someone says so literally. Dave said "criminal" just to make a point. You need to chill out a little."

Someone makes an overblown, inaccurate, hyperbolic comment (not to mention false) and I have to chill out?

Anonymous said...

MArc,

Please go away. You're an awful, opinionated bully and no one likes you.
Spare humanity and move to Saturn.

Anonymous said...

Shut up MArc and turn on the tube man. Rolexin, Rolexin, Rolexin! Let's go racin boy's! It's 24 hours time. Man, now there's a racing series that has come in its own. I may drop Cup like a cheap date and go Grand Am. Those are beeeUtiful racin machines. That's a win for the France family. Jim France gave rebirth to Grand Am racing. Hmmm, maybe we need to have him at the NASCAR Cup helm...

Anonymous said...

dave - "Hey MArc Diane was right I was making a point. But you are pretty lame man because here it is in a nutshell:"

I could care less about your Numerous Felons League (NFL) I gave up every major sport with the exception of NASCAR and auto racing in general over a decade ago.

"Lemme tellya MArc-ie do you want to really know that the sport you enjoy is cheated up? Is fake? If you are a REAL race fan then you want the expertise of the drivers to duke it out on the speedway with the cunning -- not cheating -- of the crew chiefs -- or NASCAR -- behind the scenes making it happen.

Based on the number and amount of fines levied NASCAR seems to not want that also. You point is?

And the point of a long list of NASCAR drivers is? So what, I went to my first live Daytona 500 in 1964 and attended over 200 events since then.

The day someone can produce a memo or other verifiable documentation that proves NASCAR purposefully tossed a Yellow to alter the outcome of a race it's all theory, and conspiratorial one at that, that rivals Area 51 and 9/11 nutcases thought process.

Does it appear that way, at times yes. Are they consistent in its use? Yes. But to take use a flag, that in most cases CAN also be argued was tossed for safety reasons is nonsense.

"I am not a Jimmie Johnson fan but I remember one he clearly would have won but for the fact of a Lame Yellow flag."

yadda... yadda... yadda and etc.

SO? There isn't a drivers fan base in existence that hasn't felt the same way. That should be someone's first clue. IF NASCAR WERE tossing yellows to favor one team or driver they are doing one hell of a piss poor job of it because in the last 4 years of blogging I've seen and read the same complain from every drivers fans.

"And lemme tell you Lame Little Man (or woman as the case may be), I speak from experience. I am not in this sport anymore but I was in the early to mid 1980s."

You were if I chose to believe it.

"So the next time Little One that you shell out $125 for a ticket and pay $150 for a $49 hotel room pay $3 a gallon gas and buy cardboard hamburgers for $8.50 and pay $10 to park to walk a mile and bust your but up to the mile-high seats -- draggin your $60 T-shirt made in China -- expecting to watch a great race only to have to put up with drunks and flying chicken bones (Gawd vutta country!)"

And that is different in ANY other major U.S. sport? How?

Sorry, it's not. The Yankees, or rather their vender charges, charge $9.50-$10.75 for sandwiches, and it will soon cost 29$ to park you car in 2010--double the current $14 rate.

Have you billed your Visa Card with 10 grand or so to attend the Stupid Bowl this week? Regardless, compare those prices with NASCAR's "super bowl," the Daytona 500. There is NO VALID COMPARISON to be made.

As far as being hit by chicken bones... too bad sorry foe ya, it shouldn't happen. But that and many more idiotic displays occur at every sports venue in America and abroad. Don't blame NASCAR for the lunatics in society that makes every ones tip to the ballpark of race track a misadventure.

Anonymous said...

anon - "MArc,

Please go away. You're an awful, opinionated bully and no one likes you.
Spare humanity and move to Saturn."


Now I MUST say THAT'S funny!

Incorrectly call someone a "bully" while telling them to go away and move to saturn is way past HI-larious and borders disjointed lunacy.

Here's a newsflash for you, to take anything seriously from someone who is either to lazy to post a name other than "anon," or worse, have so little pride in their statements they chose not to is worth about as much as the proverbial steamin' pile left in the woods by a park bear.

Anonymous said...

MARc - you're a pistol!

"The day someone can produce a memo or other verifiable documentation that proves NASCAR purposefully tossed a Yellow to alter the outcome of a race it's all theory, and conspiratorial one at that, that rivals Area 51 and 9/11 nutcases thought process."

I don't have a memo, but my mind still works and I remember last season there was a yellow for a piece of soft debris that was down out of the groove that cost Tony Stewart (a real racer from the midwest) the win. It was obvious he had built a safe lead but was destined to fail in a few lap finish. Go NA$car - if it weren't for a fun day out with friends, I would stay home and knit while listhening to Bluesville on XM.

G in Maine

Anonymous said...

gail - "...I remember last season there was a yellow for a piece of soft debris that was down out of the groove that cost Tony Stewart (a real racer from the midwest) the win. It was obvious he had built a safe lead but was destined to fail in a few lap finish. Go NA$car"

Yep, my mind works to and if you'll notice I never said controversial calls haven't been made. They will happen, in every sport.

One simple question, is it possible from your comment - "Stewart (a real racer from the midwest" - you favor that driver more so than say... a Gordon or Johnson that is from OMG the frickin' west coast!?

Is it possible that may have slanted your opinion of the incident?

That aside, for anyone to think a multi-billion dollar industry would put that business at risk with consistent and blatant favoritism towards a single driver or team is poppycock.

Anonymous said...

Hey MARC,

Nope, I had a mental lapse because as a USAC type fan my favs wheel w/o fenders. That includes all those guys too. Now don't go Jr. on me because I appreciate the late model/modified drivers.

Here's a suggestion for the restarts after a caution period (regardless of the reason for it), throw a red, space the cars around the track at the intervals they held pre-orange, drop the green rag and get it on.

If I were to win a contest for any race week-end of my choosing, I would opt for the Knoxville Nationals. BTW that's not in TN.

gail

Anonymous said...

Reading these postings, that's a half hour of my life I'll never get back. I have to agree with Dave on this one. Quit yer bickerin' and turn on the TV, we're racin' at Daytona for 24 hours!

Anonymous said...

g in maine - "Here's a suggestion for the restarts after a caution period (regardless of the reason for it), throw a red, space the cars around the track at the intervals they held pre-orange, drop the green rag and get it on."

Throw a red? How does that address the many complaints that races are WAY too long as it is?

Hey what the hell, why not "pull an NFL" and allow TV timeouts for commercials and stop all the cars for them?

Sorry, unworkable.

Better suggestion (IMO): Maintain the Lucky Mongrel with this exception, institute what was started in the Busch East Series (now Camping World whatever series). Line-up restarts with all lead cars at the front of the field. Whoever was awarded the Lucky Mongrel, if there is one, is in the first row/slot and each lapped car lines up in order behind him/her.

That totally eliminates lapped cars being in the way of the leaders on restarts and still allows the lapped cars to fight among themselves for position.

IT's worked very well during last season and I'd bet a buck or two the rule will be in Sprint Cup within a year or two.

Oh, and BTW, a laps led bonus should only be paid for passes made under green flag conditions.

Anonymous said...

gt's_girl "Reading these postings, that's a half hour of my life I'll never get back. I have to agree with Dave on this one. Quit yer bickerin' and turn on the TV, we're racin' at Daytona for 24 hours!"

Sorry, widh I could, the 24 hours isn't available where I am. I have to be content with watching the Speedcar Series and Asian GP2 this weekend.

Anonymous said...

marc, sorry you can't watch the Rolex 24. It starts now on SpeedTV if you get that where you are.

Anonymous said...

"marc, sorry you can't watch the Rolex 24. It starts now on SpeedTV if you get that where you are."

Nope not avail here (Philippines). And don't feel sorry, I don't miss 4,000 repeats of "Pinks," or non-stop and idiotic NASCAR reality shows.

Anonymous said...

Hey MArc, I give in; you win. I am no match for such superior intellect. I got my up&cummins handed to me by you. You are it. last word and all. Good deal. Checkered flag. Just one question though: did you mom have any kids that lived?

Peace

Anonymous said...

ha ha Dave! love the sarcasm.

marc, first you say you widh (sic) you could watch the 24 hours, then your not sorry you don't have speed tv, which is it? If there's something you don't want to watch, don't turn it on!

Anonymous said...

Marc
I have been been watching your little show the last few days. Awhile back you corrected Me on a comment I made.I read what you advised me to.I was not wrong but you had to condem me for what I said.I feel sorry for you and hope to god you don't own a dog.....

Anonymous said...

Once again I see this has been taken over by MArc...Whats the matter MArc? Is nobody taking your blog serious? Or did your mother not love you enough...OR are you related to David and need to defend his column (sorry Dave i know cheap shot)#5

Anonymous said...

Dave - "You are it. last word and all. Good deal. Checkered flag. Just one question though: did you mom have any kids that lived?"

Glad you think so Dave, but sorry to say you're sadly mistaken, I'm not "it."

And yes she did, and while she was around she taught me to be more civil in any debates, something that apparently is sadly lacking in your upbringing.

Anonymous said...

anon - "Marc
I have been been watching your little show the last few days. Awhile back you corrected Me on a comment I made.I read what you advised me to.I was not wrong but you had to condem me for what I said.I feel sorry for you and hope to god you don't own a dog....."


It would be nice if you pointed to the thread and comment (and the apparent link I seem to have provided) in an effort to further the discussion. You didn't, so you win by default, and join so many others that don't want discussion beyond their tightly held beliefs no matter how right or wrong they may be.

Anonymous said...

anon (#2,209,9587) - "Once again I see this has been taken over by MArc...Whats the matter MArc? Is nobody taking your blog serious? Or did your mother not love you enough...OR are you related to David and need to defend his column (sorry Dave i know cheap shot)#5

"Taken over" anon #2,209,9587 (Geesh, there's alot of you around), how so? Based on available evidence, i.e. numerous comments by others not named "marc" I'd say that's a pretty baseless change.

As for my blog, it speaks for itself, show me one that has been a finalist three of the last four years in the Weblog Awards and I might take some solace in the fact you may be right.

'Til then it's chalked up as yet another baseless charge.

Anonymous said...

gt's_girl - "marc, first you say you widh (sic) you could watch the 24 hours, then your not sorry you don't have speed tv, which is it? If there's something you don't want to watch, don't turn it on!"

What? Quote it, where did I say anything of the sort?

My first response to you bringing up the subject of the 24 hours was as follows: "Sorry, widh I could, the 24 hours isn't available where I am."

Sorry "widh" is not read as it should be ("wish") but the following words within the same sentence are pretty plain to the most casual observer. ("the 24 hours isn't available where I am."

Apparently a casual observer you're not and you may only see what you wanna see.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to address two points. First, as a "long-time" NASCAR fan I'm glad to hear that NASCAR remembers I'm out here as opposed to focusin on gaining new fan base.

Nothing against all you new fans (welcome to NASCAR!) but it's about time that NASCAR considers who all the chagne they are implimenting to "gorow the fan base" is impacting us old boys.

Secondly, from a rules / regulatioons prospecdtive I see NASCAR rapdily comeing more and more like F1. I don't like F1. If I wanted to watch teams who have to work inside such a tight box I'll watch F1.

It's a sad day when the most exciting thing about a race is waiting for the penalties to come out the following Tuesday.

NASCAR need to make some changes - the TV rating and race attendance are sending them a clear signal - let's see what they do about it.

Anonymous said...

Folks, before you get offended by Marc, perhaps you should examine the reasons that you are out here posting. The point is to encourage 'intelligent discussion'. Opinions are fine as well, nobody is against them. The problems seem to arise when people present their opinion as fact. For example, my real life opinion is that there should be no top 35 rule. But that is my OPINION. Shame on me if I present it as fact... i.e. 'NASCAR must abolish the top 35 rule in order to improve ratings' or 'the reason NASCAR is losing viewers is the top 35 rule'. Marc has disagreed with many of these 'facts', but has backed up his statements with facts and links. So why have people jumped all over him and started calling him names? If he is so wrong, provide some data to back yourself up. A link. Anything. If you cant, try this... read what he says with an open mind and then reexamine your position and recognize that you may in fact have missed something and may wish to reexamine your position.

Instead, all we get are baseless charges that (1) NASCAR cheats and alters races by throwing phantom cautions, (2) The CoT sucks and doesn't allow teams the room to break the rules and cheat (hmmmmm, interesting relationship between 1 and 2), (3) The teams with the resources dominate (there's a surprise) which has to stop, unless it involves the CoT which is, as of now, the best solution to decrease costs so the smaller teams can compete which has been one of the biggest ongoing complaints (forget about a salary, or spending, cap; it wont work and will only bring about the all so common charge that NASCAR has too much control over the teams...).

Heres the deal folks. Not everyone believes that NASCAR is as much of a mess as is written. I for one am one of those people, make me an apologist for NASCAR and BF if you like, but in my opinion its not that bad. But if you all think so, the stop watching all together. As you all know, if the TV numbers continue to decline and ticket sales drop, NASCAR will sit up and take notice, and perhaps they will one day 'see the light' of those on the blog who seem to have all the answers. But heres the catch folks... as long as you continue to watch and buy tickets, your complaints will go unheard.

Anonymous said...

nh_nascar fan - "The problems seem to arise when people present their opinion as fact. For example, my real life opinion is that there should be no top 35 rule. But that is my OPINION. Shame on me if I present it as fact... i.e. 'NASCAR must abolish the top 35 rule in order to improve ratings' or 'the reason NASCAR is losing viewers is the top 35 rule'. Marc has disagreed with many of these 'facts', but has backed up his statements with facts and links."

Because as you well know tidy little echo chambers and the denizens that reside in them hate it most when their bubble is burst.

They live in a world that believes "it's me, me and only me," a world that turns the display of an alternative view, supported by indisputable facts, into "you're a bully!"

And it's all too easy on the internet, as the many "anons" in these threads atest to. They have strong opinions (well, some do a select few thoughts come from Uranus or Venus), which is a good thing, but the wrath of the "Anon Gutless Wonders" be upon you if you shake their tree in the slightest.

And frankly a few of these idiots are just what NASCAR left a few years ago. Unfortunately they didn't notice their "use by date" has expired and are still hanging around.

Bob in Boise said...

The ratings are falling and ticket sales are flat. Could it be because the cars are now all identical. Could it be because they only go straight, turn left, go straight, turn left, go straight, turn left, everybody into the pits at the same time and then the big accident. Seen one seen them all. O yeah they last 3 to 4 hours and you have to listen to DW. Believe me Meet the Press is more fun to watch.

Anonymous said...

years ago the manufactures had to sell so many vehicles to be allowed to race that car. Racing was exciting when they had to race what you sell, now they are all the same body just different front and decals. We have some real talent today but no real competition. The cars are the same and the races have become furl mileage tests. Lets put competion back in the sport.

Anonymous said...

anon - "years ago the manufactures had to sell so many vehicles to be allowed to race that car. Racing was exciting when they had to race what you sell, now they are all the same body just different front and decals."

Ummm... no, they had to build "X" amount of cars to be allowed to race that particular model not sell a certain amount of them.

And what would happen if that were imposed on the manufacturers in say... 2010?

They'd in all liklihood pull out of NASCAR. 'Cause with all but a couple of exceptions they don't produce cars that are rearwheel drive, version, with two doors not 4, and are powered by carbureted engines.

The cost of doing so even at the level that was required over three decades ago - which was 500 cars produced for sale - they wouldn't they'd be GONE.

Anonymous said...

why are ticket sales down?
What does it cost for a family of 4 to attend a weekend of racing - 500.00 to 2500.00 on the low side depending if they want chicken bone seats or best you can get.

now compare that to a week long vacation at the beach or the mountains for almost the same cost.

and of course the racing SHOW sucks
let them run its called racing for a reason it's not a drive-a-thon.

nascar tell the tv cameras to stay off the fights, tape the interviews or the arguments and show then on a delay so you can BLEEP out the bad stuff every kid hears on the school bus or playground.

listen to the fans, yes catch the cheaters and make them pay -- not money beacuse they make so damn much no matter the amount its only pocket change to them -- make them sit out a race or 2 -- oh the sponsor will get pissed -- good maybe that will stop the cheating


for now i am going to watch the girls college softball world series where they still come to play the game with heart and desire and the rules are the same fro everybody who steps on the field of play -- guess what if you don't follow the rules -- you sit on the bench or go home!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Abob - "now compare that to a week long vacation at the beach or the mountains for almost the same cost.

How many race cars are at the beach?

"nascar tell the tv cameras to stay off the fights, tape the interviews or the arguments and show then on a delay so you can BLEEP out the bad stuff every kid hears on the school bus or playground."

Stay off the fights? Got proof? How about a super-duper secret memo, bot one to prove your point?

T thought not, move along now. And BTW if NASCAR DOES do that, how is it we see Gotdopn push people in the pits, or Robby slammin helmet across the race track etc... etc?

"for now i am going to watch the girls college softball world series where they still come to play the game with heart and desire and the rules are the same fro everybody who steps on the field of play -- guess what if you don't follow the rules -- you sit on the bench or go home!!!!!!!!!!"

Excellent idea! Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

When Chevy's win, Ford (Jack Roush and fans) complain to Nascar. When Jack put 5 cars in the Chase in 05, we never heard a peep from the Ford camp (until Tony won it). I grew up in Daytona, went to all the races, and all the preseason testing. I remember EVERY year Ford would ask for "help" from Nascar with an extra quarter inch spoiler here, a half inch valence there... so they could compete better with the GMs. Those days are gone with the common body types which is exactly why Nascar did what they did with the COT. Ford can no longer complain that the Chevys have an advantage. They need to work their way to the top, and if that requires a bit more testing, then thats what they need to do. Jack would have called Nacsar the second he heard the Chevy and Dodge camps were testing. Its not a secret they were doing it. One team even tested at New Smyrna Speedway, 15 miles from Daytona. You dont think that was public knowledge?!?! Jack always thinks Nascar is out to get him, and favors Hendrick. But Gibbs has won 3 Cups in the last 9 years, Roush 2, Hendrick 3, Yates 1. If anyone should be complaining it should be the Dodges....