It's also clear that many people want to live in the past as though technology has stopped. You can't go back to what we had in the 70's, 80's or 90's just as we no longer have drivers like Petty, Earnhardt, Waltrip, Allison, Pearson, et al. Racing back when those guys were racing was totally different than it is today, yet the object is still the same, getting across that finish line first. As long as the racing is competitive, it's fine with me, no matter what the cars look like. .
You wrote a good piece, Buck. I omitted most of it in this quote because I agree with all that you said. I do have a couple of retorts as to the above section.
(a)
It's also clear that many people want to live in the past as though technology has stopped. Speaking only for myself I have no desire to revisit those eras, for multiple reasons. I also am not adverse to technology. In fact, I wish NA__AR would advance to the 21st century and allow fuel injection, FWD and all the other technological advancements made in the automotive field. The technology involved in the advances in safety speak for themselves, and I assure you I have quibble with that. But don't confuse technology and the actual racing of past decades; it's apples and oranges.
(b)
just as we no longer have drivers like Petty, Earnhardt, Waltrip, Allison, Pearson, et al. Racing back when those guys were racing was totally different than it is today, yet the object is still the same, getting across that finish line first. Sure we do. Shrub, for one. Greg Biffle for two... It's the constraints that NA__AR and the corporate sponsor place upon them that is different. That and the fact that they no longer have to race for food money, though if you examine the history you'll find that in their hey days the ones you mention didn't either. They were comparatively pretty solid in their finances. The big difference is that the Championship didn't have the high priority it does today. Junior Johnson, in an interview with Bob Jenkins, of ESPN, said it best, "The Championship didn't mean that much to me. The money was in the winning and I always figured that if I won the race, the championship would take care of itself." Today they "Big picture" race, which leads to points racing and NOT taking that breath taking move to get to the front of the pack, but rather to play it safe and "Just have a good points day."
(c)
As long as the racing is competitive, it's fine with me, no matter what the cars look like. I see your point and I
generally agree. However, and this is just "A thing" with me, IF a racing series presents itself as a STOCK car racing series, then I want the cars to look at least halfway STOCK. I follow a lot of different series and generally they are the same as they were 30, 40, 50 years ago, EXCEPT for the technology and car design. NASCAR, OTOH, has undergone a complete metamorphosis and has become sometime totally different from its roots. The racing isn't even the same. Sorry, mate. Rightly or wrongly, that just isn't OK with me.
Thanks for weighting in. I enjoyed your post.
