It's all Dale Junior's fault

[Bucky Badger]

Overall NASCAR television ratings were down about 13 percent in 2007 as compared to 2006. But NASCAR chairman Brian France said during a Reuters Media Summit in New York Tuesday that he was not worried NASCAR’s popularity is slowing.

“The margin of error for all the sports to manage their business smarter is more narrow,” France said.

But France also pointed to the failure of NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., to have a strong season hurt the sport’s television ratings.
“It would have helped if he would have been competitive,” said France. “He didn’t win an event and he certainly didn’t make our playoffs. And that’s unhelpful if you’re trying to build ratings.”
France said double champion Jimmie Johnson might be the NASCAR’s next star despite his laid-back personality.

“The storylines we talk about are driven by rivalries, driven by personalities, and they’re also driven by dominance. Dynasties are all not bad for sports.

“Jimmie’s in the early stages of what may be a dynasty. He’s back-to-back champion in the stiffest of competition.

“But has he gotten to the status of Dale Earnhardt Senior?” France said. “Of course not. It takes a long time and your personality has to come out there too.”

France called Johnson “the Tom Brady of NASCAR,” in reference to the clean-cut quarterback of the New England Patriots.

“He’s a California good-looking guy that does everything perfectly,” he said. “That’s his style.”

Cup Scene

http://autoracingsport.com/nascar/france-blames-nascar’s-downfall-on-earnhardt/

 

[Betsy]

Reading between the lines..

Overall NASCAR television ratings were down about 13 percent in 2007 as compared to 2006. But NASCAR chairman Brian France said during a Reuters Media Summit in New York Tuesday that he was not worried NASCAR’s popularity is slowing.

“The margin of error for all the sports to manage their business smarter is more narrow,” France said.

But France also pointed to the failure of NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., to have a strong season hurt the sport’s television ratings.
“It would have helped if he would have been competitive,” said France. “He didn’t win an event and he certainly didn’t make our playoffs. And that’s unhelpful if you’re trying to build ratings.”
France said double champion Jimmie Johnson might be the NASCAR’s next star despite his laid-back personality.

“The storylines we talk about are driven by rivalries, driven by personalities, and they’re also driven by dominance. Dynasties are all not bad for sports.

“Jimmie’s in the early stages of what may be a dynasty. He’s back-to-back champion in the stiffest of competition.

“But has he gotten to the status of Dale Earnhardt Senior?” France said. “Of course not. It takes a long time and your personality has to come out there too.”

France called Johnson “the Tom Brady of NASCAR,” in reference to the clean-cut quarterback of the New England Patriots.

“He’s a California good-looking guy that does everything perfectly,” he said. “That’s his style.”

Cup Scene

http://autoracingsport.com/nascar/france-blames-nascar’s-downfall-on-earnhardt/

But France also pointed to the failure of NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., to have a strong season hurt the sport’s television ratings.
“It would have helped if he would have been competitive,” said France. “He didn’t win an event and he certainly didn’t make our playoffs. And that’s unhelpful if you’re trying to build ratings.”

Does that mean Dale unknowlingly has his hand in their shorts? Do they think he has em by the short hairs? Maybe he should speak up more often just to see how much weight he really has...being the most popular driver must mean something to NASCAR!
Betsy

 

[TexasRaceLady]

But it is totally unfair to lay all of NASCAR's troubles in TV land at Jr's doorstep.

 

[barelypure]

See all of y'all thought I was crazy but I've been saying all along that it was Lil'Es fault.
Don't matter what the question was, he's to blame...
Bush lied and there weren't any WMDs for us to invade Iraq, it's Lil'Es fault.
The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, it's Lil'Es fault.
See, it's easy...

 

[Bucky Badger]

See all of y'all thought I was crazy but I've been saying all along that it was Lil'Es fault.
Don't matter what the question was, he's to blame...
Bush lied and there weren't any WMDs for us to invade Iraq, it's Lil'Es fault.
The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, it's Lil'Es fault.
See, it's easy...

You got a point there

 

[talley]

When the rules are changed at a whim and there is the foolishness of "freezing the field" when the caution is displayed and then the first car down can make up the lap he lost ("lucky dog") regardless of his position on the track, no wonder folks are losing interest. We call it "taking the racing out of racing". We gave up our tickets at Talladega, Atlanta, and Martinsville back in '05; I find myself falling asleep on the sofa during the races now.

Next year there is the "car of tomorrow"......as far as hubby and I are concerned NASCAR has become the National Association of Spec Car Auto Running.

And if NA$CAR would quit fining those drivers, $$ & points, that show a shred of "personality", maybe the drivers would show some "personality". But the drivers are being financially well rewarded for 'making nice', sticking to 'plain vanilla' media statements and kissing the France Family's collective butt.

Yeah, all that is Lil'E's fault..........

We have really, really enjoyed watching our Green Bay Packers this year.

talley/Judy

 

[Digger]

When the rules are changed at a whim and there is the foolishness of "freezing the field" when the caution is displayed and then the first car down can make up the lap he lost ("lucky dog") regardless of his position on the track, no wonder folks are losing interest. We call it "taking the racing out of racing". We gave up our tickets at Talladega, Atlanta, and Martinsville back in '05; I find myself falling asleep on the sofa during the races now.

Next year there is the "car of tomorrow"......as far as hubby and I are concerned NASCAR has become the National Association of Spec Car Auto Running.

And if NA$CAR would quit fining those drivers, $$ & points, that show a shred of "personality", maybe the drivers would show some "personality". But the drivers are being financially well rewarded for 'making nice', sticking to 'plain vanilla' media statements and kissing the France Family's collective butt.

Yeah, all that is Lil'E's fault..........

We have really, really enjoyed watching our Green Bay Packers this year.

talley/Judy

Redskins here. it's as painful as watching ESPN.

I can't believe they won yesterday.

And my beloved Jaguars are gonna make the playoffs for the first time since 1997!