2015 NASCAR TAILSPINS

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Woody8318

Guest
I have been a NASCAR fan since the first race I attended at the 1975 Daytona 500. During the season, my entire life evolves around getting home in time to watch practice sessions, qualifying and of course the races. Of course if for some reason I cannot get home in time I try to plan ahead and record them.

Well unfortunately that all came to an end at the 2014 season. I became so disheartened with the new Chase format that it sickened me. Not to mention the circus like antics NASCAR put on with the pre-race intro ceremonies at Homestead. I thought I was watching a WWW Wrestling event.

NASCAR has been so intent on making changes to try and get tv viewership back up and put fannies back in the seats at the tracks, that they have have lost sight on what made NASCAR great in the first place. And that is just plain good old racing. Just as simple as that.

This new kamikaze elimination format is a joke, and certainly does not reward the drivers who perform the best thru out the entire season. Ryan Newman almost winning the championship is a great example of what I am talking about. Thank god Kevin Harvick won and not Newman!

My prediction is this, tv viewer ship and fannies in the seats continues to plummet, and in 2016, NASCAR will once again make major changes to try and get fans back. Bill France Sr is turning in his grave.
 
I agree Woody . Nascar will likely market racing as a bunch of 'one off ' events , like golf .. If 'season long ' points are kept , they will be further marginalized , like golf . Basically , the viewers will be asked to tune in to 'the weekly big event' , ie Daytona or Bristol or Talladega . Viewers won't have to tune in every week to catch up .They will then put their big stars in a 'grand finale' at the end of the year . Nascar won't make changes to get old racefans back , because they are such a minority. Bill France Sr. is no longer turning in his grave , but the middle finger is visable now.
 
I can see why ppl dont like it... but its exciting and made for great racing.... which is really what we all want. Even after my driver got screwed out of a championship by this system I still like it.
 
SlicedBread22 said:
I can see why ppl dont like it... but its exciting and made for great racing.... which is really what we all want. Even after my driver got screwed out of a championship by this system I still like it.
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I do as well and my driver got the short end of the stick also.

It seems the older I get, the people I know really don't like change and I wonder sometimes if that isn't because they don't want
to have to use their brain cells to much.
I have seen men put away their cell phones because they don't know how to use them and they resist learning. Heck when I need too learn to do something on these gadgets I just go for a walk and stop the first kid and let him show me. :)
 
Pete:Team Penske said:
I do as well and my driver got the short end of the stick also.

It seems the older I get, the people I know really don't like change and I wonder sometimes if that isn't because they don't want
to have to use their brain cells to much.
I have seen men put away their cell phones because they don't know how to use them and they resist learning. Heck when I need too learn to do something on these gadgets I just go for a walk and stop the first kid and let him show me. :)
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LOL yeah thats probably it.... damn new fangled points! I just dont get some things ppl say....

like above.... "...that they have have lost sight on what made NASCAR great in the first place. And that is just plain good old racing. Just as simple as that."

This new points system made for some of the best racing in years and it lasted the majority of the season... let alone the excitement of the chase races. Its better than good old racing... its good old racing and you have to perform or ur done. Simple as that. Not sure why everyone hates it.... if your driver cant keep up the good performance then they lose.... I guess people liked watching someone have to finish 15th or better at Homestead to win the cup.

I hate jacks after this season... but I still like the points sytem lol
 
I love this sport as much as I ever had with the exception of my main driver no longer behind the wheel. The racing is as good as it has ever been IMO. I've not lost any desire at all to attend or watch the races on television. I hated the Chase when it was first implemented and still don't like it as much as crowning an overall season champion but it is what it is and this is by far the best version of the Chase to date. The Chase ain't going anywhere so I've learned to deal with it.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
I love this sport as much as I ever had with the exception of my main driver no longer behind the wheel. The racing is as good as it has ever been IMO. I've not lost any desire at all to attend or watch the races on television. I hated the Chase when it was first implemented and still don't like it as much as crowning an overall season champion but it is what it is and this is by far the best version of the Chase to date. The Chase ain't going anywhere so I've learned to deal with it.
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You must have this paragraph saved somewhere lol
 
Here's the issue I have with folks against the current format/Chase. Yes there exists a possibility for anomalies to happen, no question there.

However a lot of folks are saying they don't care about all the hoopla surrounding the Chase and pre race stuff, and that's fair enough. As the OP stated he cares about "good ole fashioned racing" and I'm sure many more share that sentiment. The problem I have is that the racing was great, the new format created drama and excitement almost every week and it led to some of the most exciting, action packed racing we've seen in years. I'm sorry but the racing I saw was fantastic and if some thought it was boring, then there's really nothing NASCAR can do to change that.

Is it a purist thing? People just don't like the Chase and no matter how good the racing is, they'll continue to besmirch the Chase and format? Personally I've always liked the idea of having a few select drivers being "elevated" to the Chase and giving the true contenders a bit of extra recognition.
 
@BobbyFord LOL

watch the race, f*ck the chase.
I attribute the great racing we saw to the cars, not to some nanny points system. This racing points system does not award the best driver over the whole season, therefore its a sham. End of story. And it cannot be related to stick & ball sports at all for reasons aforementioned in this forum hundreds of times.

The racing > the points system.
 
3wideinturn1 said:
Here's the issue I have with folks against the current format/Chase. Yes there exists a possibility for anomalies to happen, no question there.

However a lot of folks are saying they don't care about all the hoopla surrounding the Chase and pre race stuff, and that's fair enough. As the OP stated he cares about "good ole fashioned racing" and I'm sure many more share that sentiment. The problem I have is that the racing was great, the new format created drama and excitement almost every week and it led to some of the most exciting, action packed racing we've seen in years. I'm sorry but the racing I saw was fantastic and if some thought it was boring, then there's really nothing NASCAR can do to change that.

Is it a purist thing? People just don't like the Chase and no matter how good the racing is, they'll continue to besmirch the Chase and format? Personally I've always liked the idea of having a few select drivers being "elevated" to the Chase and giving the true contenders a bit of extra recognition.
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Agreed. The racing is fantastic.. better than almost ever... so if that's what they want... what does it have to do with the chase?
 
ChexOrWrex said:
@BobbyFord LOL

watch the race, f*ck the chase.
.
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Are we in the same place? lol

ChexOrWrex said:
it cannot be related to stick & ball sports at all for reasons aforementioned in this forum hundreds of times.
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Sure it can... its opinion... u dont have to compare it but its a sport and therefore has something in common with all of those other sports.. and therefore CAN be compared.... whether u like that or agree with it or not doesnt mean its not true.
 
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Like I said somewhere else... if a hockey player misses a shootout goal in the semi finals and his team doesn't make it to the finals.. do they blame it on the goalie? Nope.... this can be used in the case of Brad Vs. Jeff at Texas.... Jeff missed the shot. Who cares if he scored 65 goals in the regular season... HE MISSED THE SHOT. That's not the goalie's (Brad's) fault... he just did his job.
 
I doubt I'll watch 10 races this year. I'll go to Vegas and Fontana this year but I think this will be my last year at the track. I'm simply losing interest in the sport. Ultimately, it seems a waste of time to watch 26 races when the next 10 don't matter. JMO.
 
BobbyFord said:
I doubt I'll watch 10 races this year. I'll go to Vegas and Fontana this year but I think this will be my last year at the track. I'm simply losing interest in the sport. Ultimately, it seems a waste of time to watch 26 races when the next 10 don't matter. JMO.
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Well that sucks.... but I mean... oh well?

Lol ... and I think you mean the previous 26 dont matter... Just sayin ;)
 
SlicedBread22 said:
Like I said somewhere else... if a hockey player misses a shootout goal in the semi finals and his team doesn't make it to the finals.. do they blame it on the goalie? Nope.... this can be used in the case of Brad Vs. Jeff at Texas.... Jeff missed the shot. Who cares if he scored 65 goals in the regular season... HE MISSED THE SHOT. That's not the goalie's (Brad's) fault... he just did his job.
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That's actually a decent analogy, and even though some say you can't compare stick and ball I disagree to certain extent. There are parallels, after all NASCAR is a team sport too. Much like the team who finishes first overall after the regular season, if they don't perform in the playoffs then they don't win the title. It's called crunch time, and the pressure goes way up because if you don't perform, you're going home regardless of how well you performed earlier on in the season.
 
3wideinturn1 said:
That's actually a decent analogy, and even though some say you can't compare stick and ball I disagree to certain extent. There are parallels, after all NASCAR is a team sport too. Much like the team who finishes first overall after the regular season, if they don't perform in the playoffs then they don't win the title. It's called crunch time, and the pressure goes way up because if you don't perform, you're going home regardless of how well you performed earlier on in the season.
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Exactly. I see why they say NASCAR cant be directly compared in some aspects... but that's really only because stick and ball has always had playoffs and NASCAR hasn't..... now people will say something like "every team doesn't face every team every game in stick and ball".....even in (let's say) hockey... sure they dont face every team every week... but the points they earn go against all those other teams. In hockey you can be behind 6 other teams in points and still make the playoffs because you were in the top of your division. Every win matters and you really ARE going against every other team every week because if they win and you dont thats a 3 point swing. Is it fair? Maybe not... but its the rules. Deal with it.
 
BobbyFord said:
If the previous 26 don't matter, then how do the next 10 matter?
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Because they're the playoffs... and then someone wins a championship? lol

The previous games don't matter in any sport once you make the playoffs.... the regular season is about making the playoffs and nothing more.... because thats how u win the championship...what makes NASCAR so special that they should?

The regular season.. in all sports.. is about making the playoffs.... then its about stepping it up and beating the best to win the championship. Only difference in NASCAR now is that you REALLY have to step it up... which IMO is a good thing
 
I feel pretty much like dpkimmel above.
loved racing before. hated the chase for crowning a champion from day 1. still love racing.

as far as us "OP" not wanting to learn new stuff...

I remember when I couldn't believe why my parents wouldn't set a VCR for a timer recording. now I get it. no smart phone with apps for me! I only need a phone to make and answer calls!

and I also don't have near as many brain cells as I used to! but what I do have... well:

http://incolor.inetnebr.com/mjboesen/Literature/Buffalo_Theory.HTML
 
SlicedBread22 said:
Because they're the playoffs... and then someone wins a championship? lol

The previous games don't matter in any sport once you make the playoffs.... what makes NASCAR so special that they should?
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I'm not going to waste my time watching 26 races that don't matter. Like I said, I'm probably going to watch 10 races or so this season. I'm just saying that I'm losing interest in the sport since the silly playoff format.
 
BobbyFord said:
I'm not going to waste my time watching 26 races that don't matter. Like I said, I'm probably going to watch 10 races or so this season. I'm just saying that I'm losing interest in the sport since the silly playoff format.
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Thats fine.. Im not saying you should.. to each their own... I like the racing... I couldn't care less if there was a champion at all really.

"36 exhibition races? They'll still be racing though right? I'm in!"

Lol
 
BobbyFord said:
I'm not going to waste my time watching 26 races that don't matter. Like I said, I'm probably going to watch 10 races or so this season. I'm just saying that I'm losing interest in the sport since the silly playoff format.
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I hear what you're saying, but can we really say that any races matter in the grand scheme of life? No not really, it's just a form of entertainment. That's why I watch them, to be entertained and to enjoy my very limited free time.
 
3wideinturn1 said:
I hear what you're saying, but can we really say that any races matter in the grand scheme of life? No not really, it's just a form of entertainment. That's why I watch them, to be entertained and to enjoy my very limited free time.
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Grand scheme of life? It's not that philosophical.
I have a lot of free time. I'm just going to choose to do things with my free time that matter to me. NASCAR doesn't matter so much to me anymore.
 
I'll be honest, the only part I don't like about the new Chase format is the points reset. I'm actually okay with everything else.
 
BobbyFord said:
Grand scheme of life? It's not that philosophical.
I have a lot of free time. I'm just going to choose to do things with my free time that matter to me. NASCAR doesn't matter so much to me anymore.
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You're right, it's not that philosophical. It's just entertainment, and if it's not interesting or doesn't matter to you then fair enough. My only point is that none of the races REALLY matter, it's just fun, exciting entertainment and we should take it for what it is. If you're saying you don't care, then so be it. If you're saying I'm not watching because the first 26 races don't matter, then I'm suggesting perhaps that's flawed logic.

If you've got lots of free time, then you SHOULD be doing the things that matter to you. All the power to you, that's what's it's all about anyways. I still care about NASCAR, that's why I'm still interested and will still watch it, but whatever floats your boat.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
Honestly yeah. If there wasnt a points reset then I'd dislike it a little less :D
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Now I would concede a points reset for Homestead, for no other reason that beside the "Gotta win this to get the Championship", Homestead is a pretty boring track, let's be honest.
 
I'm still not a huge fan of the new format, but I can live with it. I eventually decided I don't want the format to interfere with my enjoyment of the racing.
 
SlicedBread22 said:
Because they're the playoffs... and then someone wins a championship? lol

The previous games don't matter in any sport once you make the playoffs.... the regular season is about making the playoffs and nothing more.... because thats how u win the championship...what makes NASCAR so special that they should?

The regular season.. in all sports.. is about making the playoffs.... then its about stepping it up and beating the best to win the championship. Only difference in NASCAR now is that you REALLY have to step it up... which IMO is a good thing
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The part about the regular season not meaning anything in other sports isn't entirely true. In most sports, a team's regular season record determines whether they're home or away in the playoffs, as well as the strength of their playoff opponents. What NASCAR gets wrong in this regard is just simply resetting everybody to equal points. There's really no seeding based on regular season performance, unless you want to count the handful of bonus points the drivers get in the first round to fight off the Almirolas and the Allmendingers of the world. That's why bonus points earned in the regular season should also be given at the beginning of the 2nd and 3rd rounds instead of being scrapped after Dover.
 
For what it's worth, I never really cared about NASCAR one bit, other than the business I had inside the garage, and "rooting" for the drivers and teams I work with. I never stayed for races unless I had to stay, or went to any races when I wasn't needed there in person, or watched any on TV unless I had to. This season was different. I stayed for most of the checkered flags. I watched races on TV. I even attended two races I didn't need to go to simply because I wanted to.

This format has officially rung my bell. OP might be out, but count me in...
 
When I think of some of the crazy stuff drivers do for their sponsors, I can't help but think of this:

$(KGrHqJHJBoE8fEV)eWCBPJ!Bl,udw~~60_35.JPG
 
ChexOrWrex said:
watch the race, f*ck the chase. ... The racing > the points system.
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This.

Say you could only attend one race. When your butt is in the seat and the cars are going around, will you care if it is a Chase event? I suspect not. They're all going to be there and racing just as hard either way.

I've gone to a few local tracks while traveling. I didn't know the drivers or the local standings. I never learned (or cared) how they finished the season. I just knew I watching drivers new to me on a track I might never see again. Sit back and enjoy it and screw the big picture.
 
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BobbyFord said:
Grand scheme of life? It's not that philosophical.
I have a lot of free time. I'm just going to choose to do things with my free time that matter to me. NASCAR doesn't matter so much to me anymore.
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If that's the case, would changing back to the old championship format make any difference in your interest?

Regarding other sports' regular seasons, the NBA regular season really is pointless. More teams make the playoffs than not. I think the NHL is the same way. With NASCAR, about 35% of the drivers make the 'playoffs', comparable to the NFL's 37.5%
 
Woody8318 said:
I have been a NASCAR fan since the first race I attended at the 1975 Daytona 500. During the season, my entire life evolves around getting home in time to watch practice sessions, qualifying and of course the races. Of course if for some reason I cannot get home in time I try to plan ahead and record them.

Well unfortunately that all came to an end at the 2014 season. I became so disheartened with the new Chase format that it sickened me. Not to mention the circus like antics NASCAR put on with the pre-race intro ceremonies at Homestead. I thought I was watching a WWW Wrestling event.

NASCAR has been so intent on making changes to try and get tv viewership back up and put fannies back in the seats at the tracks, that they have have lost sight on what made NASCAR great in the first place. And that is just plain good old racing. Just as simple as that.

This new kamikaze elimination format is a joke, and certainly does not reward the drivers who perform the best thru out the entire season. Ryan Newman almost winning the championship is a great example of what I am talking about. Thank god Kevin Harvick won and not Newman!

My prediction is this, tv viewer ship and fannies in the seats continues to plummet, and in 2016, NASCAR will once again make major changes to try and get fans back. Bill France Sr is turning in his grave.
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I kinda wanted Newman to win ............... just for giggles
 
Kyle18fan said:
I kinda wanted Newman to win ............... just for giggles
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Same here! I wanted to see Brian France stumble and sweat through a press interview as he tries to pull some half-ass explanation of how a guy with no wins won the Championship when the new "Chase for The Sprint Cup" was all about winning.
 
SpeedPagan said:
Same here! I wanted to see Brian France stumble and sweat through a press interview as he tries to pull some half-ass explanation of how a guy with no wins won the Championship when the new "Chase for The Sprint Cup" was all about winning.
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Yep, thats what I was hoping for, it would have been an interview worth watching.
 
SlicedBread22 said:
Yeah but to win he would have had to win that race so........
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Well, assuming that Sliced Bread still had that disastrous pit stop, Newman would only needed the other two drivers to DNF to clinch the title without winning. :)
 
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