Since ALL of the "cars" are made the same and are NOT designed for anything other than racing, the "NASCAR" term is a misnomer. The current racing vehicles are not stock cars.
How can anyone cheer for a manufacturer {Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Hudson, Mercury, Olds, Plymouth, Pontiac, and/or even Toyota} when the "cars" are NOT built by the manufacturers?
As a youngster, it was great to cheer for a specific manufacturer. We also had favorite drivers because of the manufacturer's car driven.
Sure miss NASCAR. Can't get into National Association of Cars All Made the Same -- NACAMS.
The current drivers also leave a lot to be desired.
That's what happens when you make people super rich, like flying to race in Leer Jet and arriving to race track by helicopter, then having to live in a multi-million dollar motorhome. Why would they want to lower themselves down to our level and get all hot & sweaty signing autographs. If they were depending upon my support they would be hitch-hiking or riding Greyhound and living in tent.
NASCAR has totally screwed up a good race program, but somehow they seem to keep filling the stands each week with their dedicated fan base.
Ron & Libby Gordon
07 Ford F350 Dually Tow Boss Diesel
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Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow
Couldn't agree more with you all. I still keep up with Nascar, but its just not what it was. We had the same experience with some, but not all of the drivers. I must say the absolute nicest, friendliest, go-out-of-your way drivers we've ever encountered are driving in the NHRA. On the rare occasion when we still go to Nascar races, we try to give them as little of our money as possible: tickets to enter and that's it.
That being said, Go #29! :-)
I think that most of us that were race fans 20plus years back are not much interested in it now. To use their terminology, the new product has been packaged and marketed to a brand new audience. Most of them think it is exciting, and it is if you didn't know what it was originally all about. But very few of todays crop of fans even know the names of some of the characters that made it great; names like Tiny Lund, Neil Bonnett, Donnie Allison, Bobby Issac. And how long has it been since true "owner/operators" like Dave Marcis and Jimmy "Smut" Means were involved in the sport?
Chuck & Pam in NC
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"I must say the absolute nicest, friendliest, go-out-of-your way drivers we've ever encountered are driving in the NHRA."
VolFamily, I have to agree with your statement 100%, unlike NASCAR, you don't need a "pit pass" to get into the pits, just walk through, shake hands & talk to the drivers, they are glad to give autographs, you can even touch the cars.
There are of course times when they are very busy, but in general, they go out of thier way to meet & talk to the fans.
Anothe great part of the NHRA, I get 3 days of racing, for what NASCAR charges for 1 day. I also like the way they qualify,again unlike NASCAR, if you're not good enough to make it on time, then go home, they don't have provisionals, or past champion provisionals, the rules are the same, no matter who you are.
2007 Forester 2941DS
2005 KIA Spectra
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RGordon wrote: That's what happens when you make people super rich, like flying to race in Leer Jet and arriving to race track by helicopter, then having to live in a multi-million dollar motorhome. Why would they want to lower themselves down to our level and get all hot & sweaty signing autographs. If they were depending upon my support they would be hitch-hiking or riding Greyhound and living in tent.
NASCAR has totally screwed up a good race program, but somehow they seem to keep filling the stands each week with their dedicated fan base.
Agree with everthing you said. Except, the stands aren't actually full any more. Look at the stands right now. There are empty seats, and there are still seats available for the race next week. There was a time not long ago, it was sold out months in advance. Few races sell out any more.
Also one other thing to think about. Just because you inherit the gold mine. Don't mean you know where the gold is. Things have kind of went down hill since Brian took over.
In Defence of R Petty. (Not my favorite driver). when he was driving. He would spend hours at the fence signing autographes. Even after he won. But you know he's old now, and maybe can't take it any more. You don't see him on the showes with the older drivers talking about, when they used to race either.
For 20 years, my JOB was going to Nascar races. I've seen Richard Petty in the infield at Daytona, walking down a row of cars as they were leaving, signing autographs at every car.
Yes, Nascar has changed, and for the worse. I also agree, it's REALLY gone downhill since Brian France took over. Like another poster stated, there are LOTS of empty seats at each track EXCEPT Bristol. That's about the only track that is sold out on an annual basis.
Of course, the drivers today leave much to be desired as well. They NEED more drivers like Carl Edwards to improve their image.
Larry & Ann w/Lucy the cocker
'00 Mountain Aire 350 Cummins/Spartan
Toad: '05 Jeep Liberty Ltd.
I'll quip in on the NASCAR bash -
National Association of Same Car And Money (you do the anacronym...)
I think alot of it came about when the "young guns" came into the picture... Still like Matt and Carl though...
The other issue is I don't the the word INTER anywhere near NATIONAL - Domestic Based manufacturers... I know that's a whole other thread...
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