Friday, June 13, 2008

Accentuate the positive - or else

BROOKLYN, Mich. - There’s a great phrase in the Southern vernacular that you have to be careful about using. It might rub some people the wrong way, but that doesn’t mean it’s still not perfect to describe what happened here Friday morning.

Whenever someone is called on the carpet or brought in to have his attitude adjusted, people where I’m from sometimes refer to that as a “Come to Jesus meeting.”

The phrase refers to the fervor with which a preacher might make his altar call at the close of a service. It’s not meant to be sacrilegious. When you go to such a meeting, you don’t get advice. You get admonition.

NASCAR president Mike Helton, in this instance, delivered the message. He told the drivers in the Sprint Cup Series, by what few accounts we were able to get throughout the rest of the day, that NASCAR is getting fairly tired of hearing complaints about the new car those drivers are racing this year.

There are various ways you could take that.

It doesn’t exactly send the right signal to your fans if the people who’re competing in your sport get out of the car and talk about how bad the racing is, how much they hate their race cars and how frustrated they are at what’s going on.

One of the points apparently made at the meeting and reinforced after it by other NASCAR officials was that fans are paying $4 a gallon for gas on top of what they have to pay for their tickets and hotel rooms to come to a race these days. If people stop coming or don’t watch on TV, sponsors stop paying the bills and drivers don’t make millions doing what they love to do.

All of that is true, to a point. On the other hand, however, it comes off as pretty heavy-handed for the drivers to be told, basically, to shut up and race.

NASCAR officials said the meeting was something they do from time to time, but nobody remembers the last time the drivers showed up for a day’s work and were summoned to a meeting. Drivers were told the meeting would happen at 11 a.m. and practice opened at 11:30, so it was clear that it wasn’t going to be the kind of meeting where there was a free-flowing exchange of ideas.

Naturally, word of the meeting spread quickly to the media. It lasted less than 10 minutes and drivers walked out declining to comment. The signal was they’d been told more about what not to say.

NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter afterward encouraged the media to talk to the drivers about what was said, but after the practice ended at 1 p.m. some of the drivers clearly felt like the less they said the better off they’d be.

So it comes off that NASCAR’s message was “We make the rules, we’re not going to change the rules and we don’t want to hear you complaining about them or talking about how the racing needs to be improved.”

What that implies, though, is that there are things that need to be changed but that NASCAR isn’t going to change them because the drivers haven’t toed the line and kept their mouths shut.

Drivers weren’t the only people who got a talking to Friday. I was told that similar messages were delivered to the sport’s television and radio “partners.”

NASCAR has a problem handling criticism. I know this from personal experience. A lot of the people very high up in that company believe anything that’s not positive is meant to tear down the sport.

What NASCAR doesn’t realize is that the very fans they’re trying to “protect” know when they’re being fed a line of malarkey. They don’t like being told by a TV announcer that the racing is great when it’s half a mile from the first-place car to the second-place car. They know that it’s phoney baloney when guys sit around on a stage and talk about how wonderful things are.

They’ll notice when a driver swallows his tongue for fear of being called to the NASCAR hauler instead of voicing a complaint or criticism that the driver quite likely means to be constructive in hopes of making things better.

After Friday’s meeting, they’ll know if for sure.

60 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe it was Mr. France who is reported to have told drivers on various occasions, "you need us a lot more than we need you." Sounds like Helton did the modern equivalent. Wonder if they issued an ultimatum, keep complaining and you'll find yourself on the outside looking in.

Anonymous said...

Well The France theory is load the wagon the Mule is blind.. Well the mle ain't deaf

Royal John said...

This is clear sign that NASCAR has seen the problem there is with racing. This is also a sign of that they dont know what do to make racing better.

I think there is only one thing that keeps the racing reasonable good from time to time - Kyle Busch.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone told Helton, (or Brian) they are not Big Bill or Bill Jr.?
In this day and age of media saturation NA$CAR can be viewed recorded replayed and reviewed and fan reviews of the junkercar ain't all that great.
If NA$CAR has seen the problem ( finally) they created by fixin' something that wasn't broken to start with - maybe they should get out of their own way and Let the Crew Chiefs fix it!

Anonymous said...

David, thanks for letting fans know what came of the "announcement" Snider made on The Morning Drive today, cuz Speed certainly didn't.

I hope drivers give you a true answer when you ask a question in the future.

So much for letting them show their true personalities.

Excellent article and blog.

Thanks again, Shirley

Anonymous said...

NASCAR's "we're doing you a favor" attitude is one of the reasons I stopped watching. That and the fact that the racing is absolutely horrible. After seven years of development and months of on track experience, the COT is still producing lackluster racing...much to NASCAR's chargin. It seems to me that the drivers should be the one telling NASCAR to shut up and fix the racing because NASCAR sure isn't going to listen to the drivers on input on how to make it better. Maybe it would be best for NASCAR to collapse under it's own massive pile of field fertilizer and then maybe someone will figure it out, but I wouldn't count on it. RIP NASCAR; you were fun for awhile but now...not so much.

Anonymous said...

Come on Poole, first you generate your own quote out of thin air - "“We make the rules, we’re not going to change the rules and we don’t want to hear you complaining about them or talking about how the racing needs to be improved.” - then you use the quote to profess what the quote "implies." - "What that implies, though, is that there are things that need to be changed but that NASCAR isn’t going to change them because the drivers haven’t toed the line and kept their mouths shut."

What kind of crap is that? Did you learn that trick from the Dan Rather School of "Journalism?"

Having pointed out the obvious (that Poole is smoking crack), and fully admitting NASCAR has had a Come to Jesus meeting one has to ask how is this different than any other major sport in America.

They have all done similar things in the past and they will be repeated.

And considering the ludicrous "discrimination" suit filed this week it's hardly surprising they would attempt to quell any other "bad press" that may happen in the next few days.

Anonymous said...

Helton, Hunter, Darby and France can say all they want to about the COT being so good till their tongues fall out, but it is still a piece of garbage and all us fans can see it and have been able to see it from day one. It's not the drivers fault. It's the idiots named above. They just want drivers to lie to the fans and bow down to their iron fists.

Anonymous said...

I believe the last time Nascar had a meeting like this was shen the initiated the 'crapshoot' format. They didn't like the drivers dissing the not-a-playoff 'playoff' format, and told them to shut up at that time. It's obvious that Nascar would rather bury it's head in the sand than fix the obvious problem. As a fan who has watched Nascar for over 40 years, I'm well aware of the 'quality' of the races I've seen so far this year. I don't need drivers to tell me that when 90% of the 'passes' for the lead happen on pit road, I'm not seeing great racing. But then, Brian France has always made decision based on his opinion that race fans are idiotic sheep that will swallow whatever he dishes out. 'Back to Basics' my a**.

Kimmer said...

Poole Rooles!

David, you are my favorite writer. You shoot straight and you know the sport inside and out.

Thank you for keeping NASCAR (somewhat) honest.

Anonymous said...

DAVID- A "Come to Jesus" is so you'll see the light. Maybe the point of the meeting, assuming it occurred, was that drivers need to think first and make their comments in context - and not just shoot their mouths off to get their sunglasses and drink sponsor on camera.

It's a little strange that many drivers complain all the time, but Carl Edwards complains about almost nothing. Wonder why?

Now if you do know, who told the drivers to shut up? Or to not be truthful?

Sounds to me like you're just speculating on the point of the meeting.

Anonymous said...

Heavy handed NASCAR strikes - once again.

NASCAR is in a downward spiral - falling attendance, poor economy, COT, huge lawsuit, Bruton Smith and more.

To me it all points to poor leadership - Brian France.

Anonymous said...

"assuming it occurred'

Uh...Richard? The NASCAR folks, Darby and Hunter confirmed the meeting happened. There are numerous other stories and reports about this meeting from other news outlets. It's not something Mr. Poole just made up for our amusement.

I'm assuming you don't believe that men actually landed on the moon, do you Richard?

Great job on stating your opinion, Mr. Poole. I find you very eloquently state the issues which cause my frustrations with the people who own and manage NASCAR. And who are going to micromanage it into the ground if they're not careful.

Anonymous said...

"one has to ask how is this different than any other major sport in America."

When has the NFL, MLB, or NBA gathered ALL of their league athletes, who are scattered all over the country, together for an unannounced closed-door meeting?

Examples, please. And don't say mandatory rookie meetings/training for first year league pros. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kenseth, Burton, et al, are nowhere near being rookies so that particular example is completely invalid.

Anonymous said...

David, read the blog every week but first time I have responed. Excelent opinion on the situtation. Really disapointing if this is true.

Dictatorships always fail. Hate to see Nascar go down this path. Why not just admit that there is a problem with the COT, cant be fixed during the season but are working on it and will spend the three months of off season focussed on improving the racing? Isnt that a better message to all parties, especially the fans?

Anonymous said...

Men landed on the moon? - yes, I watched it, and now I've seen the acknowledgements from NASCAR.
The key point is the message of the meeting - and, apparently, David is only speculating on what the message was. There's a huge difference in the drivers' being told to shut up versus being told to think about what they are saying and not going overboard.
As I recall, Dale E. thought radial tires were going to ruin the sport.

Anonymous said...

"What NASCAR doesn’t realize is that the very fans they’re trying to “protect” know when they’re being fed a line of malarkey. They don’t like being told by a TV announcer that the racing is great when it’s half a mile from the first-place car to the second-place car. They know that it’s phoney baloney when guys sit around on a stage and talk about how wonderful things are.

They’ll notice when a driver swallows his tongue for fear of being called to the NASCAR hauler instead of voicing a complaint or criticism that the driver quite likely means to be constructive in hopes of making things better."

***Clapping*** here David. You said it perfectly!

NASCAR has been a "France family way or hit the highway" run business/sport for all of it's years. What ultimately Brian but more Helton and Darby - the current control freaks -- don't realize or refuse to admit is that the fans aren't as naive as they used to be "back in the day", and with all the electronic news analysis/discussion available plus the very sophisticated options for viewing and following a race, they can't "fluff up" the racing action.

Now Helton, Darby, France, et al, have shot the sport in the foot. And so much for NASCAR telling drivers to voice their opinions and "be themselves" at the beginning of the season. They did by giving their opinions on the new car and NASCAR tells them to shut up. Good grief!

Anonymous said...

Man,

I'll tell you what. I'm about tired of NASCAR's shit. Charlotte was a good race and Talladega was a great race other than that its been horrible. Atlanta, Dover, Vegas, and California have been some of the worst races I've seen in my 20 years of being a fan.

I'm a Bobby Labonte fan, so NASCAR has me for 4 more years I guess. After that man, this shit is getting sucky and more sucky.

Fix the damn car. Don't fix the drivers. Fix the damn car Dumb Dumb France.

Anonymous said...

The drivers are making millions and jillions and they still complain about "the car"? lol Maybe they should give their ride to a more appreciative person and go back to their previous grease monkey and Taco Belle jobs? Somehow their "new found wealth" has jaded their recall of where they came from and how fortunate they really are. After all, it doesn't take a genius to drive a race car and there are many folks standing by and ready to take their place just in case "the car" is way to much for them to handle? Perhaps a donkey cart would be more to their skill level? lol

Anonymous said...

An - "When has the NFL, MLB, or NBA gathered ALL of their league athletes, who are scattered all over the country, together for an unannounced closed-door meeting?"

Guess you've never heard, nor read of the MLB and NFL attending all training camps/spring training sites to lay down the law on the lunatic TD celebrations, gambling, out of control drug usage, "come to Jesus" meetings on unauthorized uniform ads and how unis are worn .... etc.... etc

Too bad.

Unknown said...

I personally was scared at the way Dale Jr looked after last week's race. The other drivers looked pretty bad too.

Why doesn't NASCAR do a better job of being PRO-active in addressing the racing, the cars, etc.? Then they wouldn't come across so defensive or poor immitations of Bill France.

Poole said it right-the racing fan has a very sensitive BS meter. Seems NASCAR tends to peg it frequently.

These "come to Jesus" meetings do nothing to strengthen the sport. It seems like another way of saying to the drivers "shut up and race according to OUR company line". I don't know-isn't that the same philosophy that led to some drivers' deaths which Nascar then spent unknown money to create a "we care" R & D publicity campaign? If they really are receptive and constantly changing, someone needs to do a better PRO-active PR campaign and include the drivers in this information.

Anonymous said...

There have been countless opinions on how NASCAR can create better racing through improvements to this car by several drivers and crew chiefs. These comments normally involve more adjustability to different areas of the car. These teams have been boxed in too tight.

Rather than address the issues that have been raised by the people that truly know what they are doing, NASCAR chooses to silence the source.

The inherent problem that arises with the censorship plan, is that NASCAR cannot silence the fans. Hopefully they won't succeed in silencing all of the media either.

Good job David.

Anonymous said...

DAVID,YOU ARE ONE OF THE WRITERS THAT TELLS IT THE WAY IT IS.KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.AFTER THIS MEETING THERE IS GOING TO BE LESS GUYS TELLING THE TRUTH.(A GOOD EXAMPLE IS ROBIN MILLER),HE TOLD IT THE WAY IT WAS,BUT NOW OUT OF A JOB.

Anonymous said...

David,

Nice post. I think NASCAR loses two ways. First, they came out as heavy handed dictators crushing free speech. Secondly, now that we know NASCAR only allows "happy speak," how will we know what's real and what's just said to appease NASCAR?

Anonymous said...

"I believe it was Mr. France who is reported to have told drivers on various occasions, "you need us a lot more than we need you." Sounds like Helton did the modern equivalent. Wonder if they issued an ultimatum, keep complaining and you'll find yourself on the outside looking in."

Bullcrap. I could remove four drivers from NASCAR and the audience and people at the track would be a third of what they are now. NASCAR needs Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson. If the IRL-CART split ever happened in stock cars, is there any doubt whatsoever the fans would follow the drivers?

Anonymous said...

Is there any clearer sign that NASCAR is becoming/has become an American version of the FIA?

Anonymous said...

Brian France seems to be arguing the following: if the drivers don't complain about what a piece of crap the COT is, fans won't .....because, well, because fans are too stupid to realize what a piece of crap the COT is.

Real respect for the fans don;t you think?

Monkeesfan said...

So Brian France, you want people to "accentuate the positive"? Well, spell out what the positive is. Give us a legitimate positive to accentuate, because otherwise all you're proving is that you;'re a brainless idiot with a bullying streak and zero clue how to run a racing sanctioning body.

Anon #19, you're ignoring that driver complaints about this car are based on what is manifestly visible to the naked eye.

Monkeesfan said...

"The fans NASCAR wants to 'protect' know when they're being fed a line..." A better summation would have been, "The fans NASCAR wants to 'protect' know they're being lied to by the sanctioning body."

While NASCAR has long had a difficult time accepting criticism, Billy France at least listened to it - in contrast Brian France absolutely refuses to listen, which only shows how little he understands racing or leadership.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the fans could assist in coming up with positive comments for the drivers to say.

For example, "One good thing happened this week--no one on my team exposed themselves to a NASCAR inspector."

Anonymous said...

And the France/NASCAR hate-fest continues.

BUT I thought the evil power brokers "silenced" the drivers? Can't tell it by the words issued forth by Harvick and done so far after the MIS meeting:

"There are a lot of them that disrespect the sport week in and week out and they act like a bunch of 18-year-old punks, which most of them probably are, and they just need to grow up," Harvick said. "If we all move in the same direction, things will get better, as they would in any business, whether it's the media or the drivers or the owners. Everybody here has the same goal and that's to have a successful sport."

"Funny" how everyone wants to jump on Poole's made up quote and his guesswork at what happened in the meeting to launch into more guesswork and speculation based on thin air.

Anonymous said...

monkeesfan - "While NASCAR has long had a difficult time accepting criticism, Billy France at least listened to it - in contrast Brian France absolutely refuses to listen, which only shows how little he understands racing or leadership."

Won't listen huh?

Who was it that decided less than a week after driver complaints about heat build-up in Dover decided to put sensors in the cars this week to ensure driver safety?

Was it the Tooth Fairy?

Anonymous said...

I frequently disagree with David, and every time I get mad enough at him to just spit, then he writes something like "PENNIES FOR WESSA."

I hope everyone will read it and do what you can.

David, thanks.

Monkeesfan said...

marc, is that the best you can come up with? It ddn't do anyon any good in he heat a Pocono, did it?

Where has Chuck Sullivan-France listened and done anything to take out the COT's aeropush? Where has he listened to actually make the racecars raceable? Where has he listened to actually cut costs? Where has he listened to make the racing better in fact, not just by shuffing deceptive scoring loop stats?

He says he wants to get the sport back to basics - where is it happening?

Monkeesfan said...

rojola, that may be he best summation yet - they have zero clue what to do. And why is that? Because they are not racers and do not understand what racing is about.

Monkeesfan said...

Marc, you're playing dirty pool in accusing Poole of fabricating a quote.

You whne about "the France/NASCAR hate-fest" as if the criticisms are not legitimate. Nothing is further from the truth.

Give s a reasn to bliev in Brian France - a legitimate reason.

Mike Hutton said...

After reading the post and the replies so far, I have too many thoughts to share, so I'll just leave it at this:

Thank you David.

Anonymous said...

I have to admit, its kinda funny that NASCAR's hard push to IROC itself has lead to them having all the problems F-1 has, from the big teams spending way too much money on technology to the fact that no one can pass because there's too much of an aerodynamic disturbance made by the cars. And that the solution seems to be to just tell everyone to shut up and deal makes it all the more comical. I guess they could just throw 3 times as many debris cautions and put restrictor plates on every track. Maybe that would help?

Terri said...

Thanks David. Does Nascar think the fans are naive bumpkins and can't see what's going on. That the "CON" doesn't perform, the racing has become boring, a parade for 4 + hrs, with most of the excitment on pit road. Now Nascar is pointing the finger at the drivers and owners for being the "bad boys" for not playing Nascar's lie to the fans game. Give it a break, the fans are much brighter then Brian, Mikey and all those boys in the Golden Tower credit us. We see what the CON can't do, that is not fun for the drivers or the fans. Yep, blame the drivers on the cost of gas and their comments for fans not coming to the races. Maybe the Golden Tower should get off their butts and look in the mirror and see what they haven't done for the fans before they point the finger. Did they forget their get back to the roots with the fans? Remember the fans buy the tickets, support the sponsors, etc. MAN UP Brian...you need to remember the Nascar fans. The drivers never forgot.

Anonymous said...

monkeesfan - "Marc, you're playing dirty pool in accusing Poole of fabricating a quote."

What dirty pool, he made that shit up, do YOU see the quote attributed to anyone?

Do YOU find that quote anywhere within ANY NASCAR story anywhere online?

If so, link please. If not go aways your far out of your league.

more monkeesfans nonsense - "marc, is that the best you can come up with? It didn't do anyon [sic] any good in he heat a Pocono, did it?

Read them and weep, it wasn't an isue until Pocono, you're so far out of the 24 news cycle as to be laughable.

Heat takes toll on drivers at Pocono 500

NASCAR to probe hot cars, ventilation

It's pretty sad when you can't even do a good job being a liar.

Anonymous said...

Once again Poole finds the haystack rather than the needle that resides within it.
Drivers are a spoiled lot. They live a life many dream of having. Financially independent, ability to travel and do the things they really want to do rather than others who have work to make ends meet.
Nascar did nothing more than remind them they could be back working in a body shop or installing trailer hitches for $12 an hour and worrying about how to fill the car up with gas or make the daycare payment for the week....

Julie said...

Marc, what job is it that you hold in NASCAR again? I guess insulting fans by telling drivers that we wouldn't know what to think if they didn't tell us wasn't enough... they have to send forth minions to insult them on Internet boards, too.

Because I may not get back here I'll go ahead and add this now. If you don't work for NASCAR, I'd be surprised if you knew half the things that happen in NASCAR that most fans never hear about that Mr. Poole is exposed to.

Many of the drivers have already talked about this issue, and Hamlin is on record as saying it was all about not criticizing the car and that he didn't remember the fans even being brought up in the meeting. I've no doubt that Helton and Darby were out there telling the press what the meeting was about as an example to the drivers of what their lines should be. Fortunately, Tony Stewart is pretty stubborn when it comes to stuff like this.

Anonymous said...

what ever happened to drivers being able to show their personalities and opinions? only when it suits NASCAR? people watch for the entertainment value of the competition. It is just not where it needs to be given the choices available to the fans. Brian France needs to go. It doesn't matter who his dad and grand dad were. He is not either one of them.

Anonymous said...

Jr. won! Jr. won! Jr. won! All is well in NASCAR world! All is well! David, do you think this will cure all the b@tching and complaining that profilgates NASCAR world every week? If I believed in Moody's black helicopters, I'd say the fix is in. Jr. wins, everybody shuts up. What meeting on Friday? Didn't you hear! Jr. won!

Monkeesfan said...

Marc, so tell me when NASCAR made the changes needed to combat the COT's heat again? "It wasn't an issue until Pocono." Wrong; if you'd paid attention it had been an issue for awhile; Pocono merely brought it to the fore.

And don't come back with the crock about Poole fabricating a quote - you're the one fabricating something here like you fabricate arguments for Chuck Sullivan France and the COT.

Don't insult people's intelligence anymore, Marc. I don't like to be lied to and it's all you do. You have to because you can't conjure up a legitimate defense of Brian France or the COT - no matter how hard you may have tried, you're batting .000. So either start changing your opinions or cease writing altogether, because you are not qualified as a member of the human race to have an opinion, never mind qualified to have an opinion about racing.

Anonymous said...

NASCAR can pull this shit because they have don't have any competition from other stock car series and they know it.

They are the only world-class stock car racing available with the biggest names and the biggest sponsors.

Where else are you the fan going to go to watch big-time professional stock car racing? ARCA? That series is practically on life support. Nearly all of the smaller series and tracks across the country have some form of NASCAR affiliation. You can't get away from them.

Because of this lack of alternatives, NASCAR has no real incentive to lift a finger to anyone's criticism of how bad things have gotten. They know that despite providing a markedly inferior product, you have no choice but to deal with it because nobody else offers stock car racing at this level.

Although CART and the IRL just re-joined after a bitter and devastating split that nearly ruined both series, I'd say it is about time that another top tier stock car series should be created to compete with NASCAR.

New tracks would be built in places that markets are screaming for stock car races. They would be fan-friendly and driver approved tracks that promote side-by-side racing and great views, amenities, and parking. These tracks would not be the cookie-cutter crap that has put the sport to sleep over the past decade, but fun exciting tracks that share the competitive qualities of NASCAR's finest tracks like Bristol.

These tracks would NOT be under control and ownership of the sanctioning body as NASCAR has and continues to practice, but would be built by independent franchise owners that would adhere to specific safety regulations and other guidelines as set by the new series.

A driver's union would need to be created, so that drivers and teams get a fair say in the on-going operation of the series. Instead of being told to shut-up, as in NASCAR. Every major stick and ball sport has a player's union. Drivers should have one too.

The way to get it started is that several high profile teams in NASCAR would need to just pack up and leave to go race in the new series. Sponsors may not like it at first, but they'll pay money to get any chance to slap their decal on a Tony Stewart race car.

And the fans would follow. NASCAR forgets that the reason fans still watch is because of a fan's loyalty to their favorite DRIVER. Sure, people root for a particular manufacturer or sponsor, but the real passion lies with the driver. And NASCAR has already eliminated much of the manufacturer loyalty by forcing the CoT down everyone's throats. A car that doesn't exist except in a NASCAR engineering diagram and one that no stock car fan can go to a dealership to buy.

NASCAR's arrogance and hubris has opened a door and left an opportunity for somebody to step in and bring back real stock car racing, with real production cars, competitive tracks, and fair and equal organization throughout.

Anonymous said...

seems that nascar and china have had the same policy for centuries--except no jail time for dissenters--yet

Anonymous said...

Anonymous......maybe you don't remember, but I do. Open wheel racing was more popular than Nascar up to about 1990-91. Nascar owes most of its success in that era to ESPN. As the network became available to more and more households, more and more people watched NASCAR and its popularity grew, eventually outstripping CART. The disasterous split of CART and the IRL grew out of of frustration of owners in dealing with Tony George, but a NASCAR split like you are proposing would have the same affect on stock car racing. Auto racing of any kind is still a niche sport. Despite consistant TV ratings, it will never have the popularity of the NFL, MLB or the NBA. NASCAR my outdraw the average NBA or MLB game on a given Saturday, but compare the TV ratings for the Daytona 500 and the NBA finals. Splitting the sport is simply not feasable. There is a finite audience, finite fan base for spectators, and most of all finite dollars available for sponsorship and capital to build new infrastructure. Ask the folks in Colorado Springs how much they enjoy the NASCAR and Indy car races they get every year at thier track. Ask Bill Davis where all the monet is to sponser his cars. Ask Sarah Fisher, the most poular IRL driver til Danica came (and Helio danced) why she can't get dollars to run her operation.

Anonymous said...

controlboy....

Good points. However, it appears that NASCAR is accusing the wrong people (drivers, teams) of saying things that are "detrimental to the sport".

NASCAR needs to look in the mirror. NASCAR's leadership are the very people that are detrimental to the sport. Not the drivers. Not the teams. Not the (few remaining) track owners. Not the sponsors. And definitely not the fans.

In fact, it would seem that NASCAR is lashing out and blaming just about everyone else for the criticisms of the sport. A sure sign of a belligerent and arrogant entity that simply will not be told where they are dead wrong.

NASCAR has always run their series with an iron glove. No mystery there. But since the passing of Dale Sr. and Big Bill, that iron glove is crushing everything in it's grasp. There is no longer a counter balance to try to keep at least a small bit of the megalomania in check.

For the past several years NASCAR's leadership has progressively become a more paranoid dictatorship who fears their power might be threatened or usurped in some way.

As somebody posted earlier, dictatorships always fail. NASCAR is looking at a bleak future if they don't get an attitude adjustment.

And they'll only have themselves to blame.

Anonymous said...

monkeesfans - "So either start changing your opinions or cease writing altogether, because you are not qualified as a member of the human race to have an opinion, never mind qualified to have an opinion about racing."

What's the matter simianfan, couldn't find Pooles quote anywhere but here after he dreamed it up.

You'd have just as much luck locating any major bitch-fest from drivers about heat prior to Pocono either and is the prime reason you "demand" I change my opinion.

You know what, you don't even qualify as a blog roach any longer, you're just an insufferable prick.

Anonymous said...

Controlboy - "NASCAR my outdraw the average NBA or MLB game on a given Saturday, but compare the TV ratings for the Daytona 500 and the NBA finals."

Really, gues you better, ahemm.... guess again.

"The 50th Daytona 500 averaged 17.8 million viewers, a 1 percent improvement over last season (17.5 million). It was
also the second highest-rated and second most-watched 500 ever."

Last years NBA finals... record low....

"San Antonio’s four-game sweep of Cleveland finished with a record-low 6.2 television rating and 11 share on ABC, Nielsen Media Research said Friday. That was down 27 percent from the 8.5/15 for Miami’s six-game victory over Dallas last year and 5 percent under the previous low, a 6.5/12 for San Antonio’s six-game win over New Jersey in 2003. The NBA finals averaged 9.3 million viewers this year."

What were you saying "controlboy?"

You must have "lost control" somewhere along the line or did you graduate from the monkeesfan school of blog commentary where they teach you to toss up anything wishing it to stick?.

Monkeesfan said...

Marc, you accused Poole of fabricationg a driver quote when he did nothing of the kind, and maintain that fiction because you were called out on it. If you had any honesty you'd change your opinions, because there is nothing in the way of truth in anything you write.

Anonymous said...

monkeesfan - "Marc, you accused Poole of fabricationg a driver quote when he did nothing of the kind, and maintain that fiction because you were called out on it. If you had any honesty you'd change your opinions, because there is nothing in the way of truth in anything you write."

"Called out" by who? You?

Apparently you don't know the meaning of the phrase, being called out is also to offer proof of facts in dispute.

Where's yours? Where's your citation of Pooles given quote anywhere within the internet attributed to someone other than Poole that you have found?

I'll give you this much, at least your consistent, consistently wrong and consistently ignorant enough to think people don't see the childish game you play.

Monkeesfan said...

Marc - yes, me. Your assertion about Poole was self-evidently false - he does not fabricate any quotes and never has.

Grow the hell up, Marc.

Monkeesfan said...

Hey Marc, the burden is on you to prove the quote was fabricated given that he doesn't do that and never has. You owe him an apology.

Anonymous said...

david, when you post at thatsracin.com,you act the same way as NASCAR. when you were mod (blackflagyou) you and bob henry booted tons of people because they didn't share your view. pot, i'd like ya to meet kettle.

Anonymous said...

Marc- don't know where you get your numbers for NASCAR and NBA but check again. The 500 pulls a 9 to 10 share and the finals somewhere between 11- 18 share, depending on who is playing. The 500 just does not outdraw the NBA finals.

Anonymous said...

Controlboy - "Marc- don't know where you get your numbers for NASCAR and NBA but check again. The 500 pulls a 9 to 10 share and the finals somewhere between 11- 18 share,"

Lets turn your statement around shall we.... Controlboy, don't know where you get your numbers?

"Cause they are obviously pulled from somewhere south of your belt buckle.

USA Today 2005. - "Overall, the 10.9 rating (percentage of the USA's 109.6 million TV homes) for Sunday's race topped the 10.6 rating for last year's Daytona 500 on NBC by 3%."

Average TV viewership 1974-2008.

2008 Daytona 500. ". The 50th Daytona 500 earned a 10.2/20 household rating/share and averaged 17.8 million viewers,

Game 6 2008 NBA finals. NBA Finals Lakers vs. Celtics Gm 6 12.67 million viewers 5.2/14

What else ya got [out of]Controlboy?

Anonymous said...

Its too late for me to get involved in this one... BUT...

Game 6 2008 NBA finals. NBA Finals Lakers vs. Celtics Gm 6 12.67 million viewers 5.2/14

I was one of them. In case anyone missed it... Celtics 131 Lakers 92.

Boo Yaaaaaa!

Oh, by the way... if I were at work and publicly badmouthed my employer while on duty, such as going on TV or talking to a reportr, I would be fired. And so would all of you. Just food for thought.

http://jetdryer.blogspot.com

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