Is NASCAR going on a downward spiral? What to do to stop the bleeding?

JJ_14

JJ_14

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I think it's quite simple actually. NASCAR wouldn't even exist without the golden years. Many consider the golden years of NASCAR to be in the mid 2000's. The popularity of the sport was at an all-time high.

What I'm saying is, there is proof that NASCAR can be successful. They just have to study what worked for them in the past, that resulted in the insane popularity. Replicate those things and I think the sport could start heading in the right direction again.

The points system is an issue. I think the Chase for the Cup format was way better.

For NASCAR, the most fitting quote is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". They had a good thing going, Brian France Jr. stepped in, and ever since then, NASCAR has been struggling.

Every race, when you think the controversies are over, something happens. Yesterday's race saw some shenanigans as we all know. For the past few years, it seems like every race has controversy, and it just keeps getting worse.

I'm torn on the car, because it looks good and replacing it is unlikely. The gen 4 cars were amazing. The roaring sound from the engines in those things was something to behold. These cars sound more like airplanes than actual cars, something to keep in mind.

I was watching highlights of SVG's last race in Australia and came away impressed by the cars in that series. They actually resemble stock cars. I think NACAR could learn a thing or two about the Australian series when it comes to cars.
 
JJ_14 said:
I think it's quite simple actually. NASCAR wouldn't even exist without the golden years. Many consider the golden years of NASCAR to be in the mid 2000's. The popularity of the sport was at an all-time high.

What I'm saying is, there is proof that NASCAR can be successful. They just have to study what worked for them in the past, that resulted in the insane popularity. Replicate those things and I think the sport could start heading in the right direction again.

The points system is an issue. I think the Chase for the Cup format was way better.

For NASCAR, the most fitting quote is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". They had a good thing going, Brian France Jr. stepped in, and ever since then, NASCAR has been struggling.

Every race, when you think the controversies are over, something happens. Yesterday's race saw some shenanigans as we all know. For the past few years, it seems like every race has controversy, and it just keeps getting worse.

I'm torn on the car, because it looks good and replacing it is unlikely. The gen 4 cars were amazing. The roaring sound from the engines in those things was something to behold. These cars sound more like airplanes than actual cars, something to keep in mind.

I was watching highlights of SVG's last race in Australia and came away impressed by the cars in that series. They actually resemble stock cars. I think NACAR could learn a thing or two about the Australian series when it comes to cars.
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Winston Cup was the Golden Years
 
I’ve done my fair share of complaining and rants, but I still tune in to every race I can. I wonder how many who say “I’m done with this sport” legit mean it. Like, is the sport really in a deep decline and losing a significant amount of fans? I’m guessing probably not.
 
Brentford said:
I’ve done my fair share of complaining and rants, but I still tune in to every race I can. I wonder how many who say “I’m done with this sport” legit mean it. Like, is the sport really in a deep decline and losing a significant amount of fans? I’m guessing probably not.
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The fanbase is statistically much smaller than it was during the peak of 2007.

I've barely watched this year. Last year I tuned in every weekend. This year whenever I did turn a race on, it ended in a chaotic green-white-checkered.

I miss when races would usually play out under green to the finish. I miss when drivers took care of their cars and raced hard but within reason instead of becoming bulldozers. It's lost its charm for me, at least for now. I don't see myself watching too much next year, either.
 
cheesepuffs said:
The fanbase is statistically much smaller than it was during the peak of 2007.

I've barely watched this year. Last year I tuned in every weekend. This year whenever I did turn a race on, it ended in a chaotic green-white-checkered.

I miss when races would usually play out under green to the finish. I miss when drivers took care of their cars and raced hard but within reason instead of becoming bulldozers. It's lost its charm for me, at least for now. I don't see myself watching too much next year, either.
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So for you, it’s not so much NASCAR’s fault as much as it is the new generation of drivers? Gordon, Dale Jr, Johnson, Stewart and Harvick are all gone. This statement obviously isn’t true for everyone as I know TRL doesn’t have a driver, but I assume not having a driver to root for makes it much easier to not watch. I know with the NFL, if Detroit isn’t playing, I may or may not watch. Respect is something that just doesn’t exist near as much as it used to. People in real life don’t show much respect to others anymore, so certainly these young guys with cars to use as bulldozers aren’t going to either.
 
Brentford said:
So for you, it’s not so much NASCAR’s fault as much as it is the new generation of drivers? Gordon, Dale Jr, Johnson, Stewart and Harvick are all gone. This statement obviously isn’t true for everyone as I know TRL doesn’t have a driver, but I assume not having a driver to root for makes it much easier to not watch. I know with the NFL, if Detroit isn’t playing, I may or may not watch. Respect is something that just doesn’t exist near as much as it used to. People in real life don’t show much respect to others anymore, so certainly these young guys with cars to use as bulldozers aren’t going to either.
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It's a combination of everything. The playoffs format/championship feels empty to me. I haven't been able to find a driver to pull for like I did for Jeff Gordon, and now that he's been retired for almost ten years I think I just won't find that magic again. The new car looks great, but it ruined road course racing and most short track racing. I don't like the broadcasts (too many commercials during green flag action, don't like most of the broadcasters on either Fox or NBC, cameras/directors don't show much of the mid-pack action). The amount of advertisements is just over the top now, with mini adverts during the broadcast even between commercial breaks. It's basically everything.

I realized that I used to watch every week more out of habit and fear of missing out, but once I let go of that and stopped tuning in, I found that I really don't miss it. I've probably watched four whole Cup races this year, and I find that I really enjoy having my Sundays be more open and not feeling obligated to do things around the NASCAR time slot.
 
JJ_14 said:
I think it's quite simple actually. NASCAR wouldn't even exist without the golden years. Many consider the golden years of NASCAR to be in the mid 2000's. The popularity of the sport was at an all-time high.

What I'm saying is, there is proof that NASCAR can be successful. They just have to study what worked for them in the past, that resulted in the insane popularity. Replicate those things and I think the sport could start heading in the right direction again.
Click to expand...

Oh I've had a plan waiting and ready to go for 15 years now.

Step 1- bring back full season points.
Step 2- hack and shutdown the global internet to make online advertising impossible and force full season sponsors back to the cars. Also, ban the wraps, PAINT ONLY.
Step 3- throw Johnson, Gordon, Stewart, and Dale Jr. through a time machine to get them back to the peak of their careers.
Step 4- brainwash America's youth and indoctrinate car culture back in them. Do we want standardized tests in high school? No! Require standardized drivers licenses!

My serious answer- that ship left sailing long ago, and like a poorly equipped global exposition in the 1600s, it ain't ever coming back.
 
Speedbowl14 said:
Step 4- brainwash America's youth and indoctrinate car culture back in them. Do we want standardized tests in high school? No! Require standardized drivers licenses
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That's the job of the automobile companies. Make cars people can get excited about, not 10 different crossover models that are all ugly.
 
donthaveanickname said:
That's the job of the automobile companies. Make cars people can get excited about, not 10 different crossover models that are all ugly.
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Trucks and "Crossovers" are what sell.

I've talked about it before, but the number of people who buy $90,000 trucks and never use them to tow anything and never put anything in the back because they don't want to scratch the bed is absolutely insane. I legitimately have had friends who own big ass Triple Diesel V8 pickup trucks with dual Borla exhaust systems and lift kits ask to borrow my truck because they can't/won't put something in the bed of their truck. I tell them no every single time.

Some of these trucks now have beds that are so short that I can fit more stuff in the trunk of my Toyota Corolla.
 
I will admit, I've been watching the last 30 or 40 laps on the DVR when I get home from my hunting camp on Sunday or Monday. I also watch NHRA way more than cup. After what I saw last Sunday at Martinsville, it is making me less and less interested but, I have not quit yet.
 
JJ_14 said:
I think it's quite simple actually. NASCAR wouldn't even exist without the golden years. Many consider the golden years of NASCAR to be in the mid 2000's. The popularity of the sport was at an all-time high.

What I'm saying is, there is proof that NASCAR can be successful. They just have to study what worked for them in the past, that resulted in the insane popularity. Replicate those things and I think the sport could start heading in the right direction again.

The points system is an issue. I think the Chase for the Cup format was way better.

For NASCAR, the most fitting quote is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". They had a good thing going, Brian France Jr. stepped in, and ever since then, NASCAR has been struggling.

Every race, when you think the controversies are over, something happens. Yesterday's race saw some shenanigans as we all know. For the past few years, it seems like every race has controversy, and it just keeps getting worse.

I'm torn on the car, because it looks good and replacing it is unlikely. The gen 4 cars were amazing. The roaring sound from the engines in those things was something to behold. These cars sound more like airplanes than actual cars, something to keep in mind.

I was watching highlights of SVG's last race in Australia and came away impressed by the cars in that series. They actually resemble stock cars. I think NACAR could learn a thing or two about the Australian series when it comes to cars.
Click to expand...
Nascar is only interested in "Money" that's why all parts go through their bank account.
 
Brentford said:
I assume not having a driver to root for makes it much easier to not watch.
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I find it much easier to watch now that Matt Kenseth has retired, and since I quit playing fantasy racing. I can appreciate the race as a whole instead of concentrating on a handful of drivers.

And for the record, NASCAR isn't going anywhere. The networks just threw $7.7B at it. Attendance and viewership is down across all live sports, although not all to the same degree. Tennis isn't where it was in the '70s and '80s but it's healthy.
 
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