Mid-week races and a road race in the Chase

dpkimmel2001

Team Owner
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
36,147
Points
1,033
Location
Western PA
Don't hold your breath.

Brian France was on MRN last night. Not sure if anyone had a chance or even cared to listen but here's an article on what he had to say to Eli Gold.

Article link.

Personally I think both were great ideas. I'd tune in to or attend something like a Thursday night race. I'd bill it as TNA brought to you by NASCAR. TNA(Thursday Night Action), but it would grab people's attention.

A Road Race in the Chase simply needs to happen. NASCAR fans have slowly formed a favorable opinion on that type of racing. NASCAR needs fans with a favorable opinion. Nuff said.

Oh, and Tuesday would work just as well. ;)
 
Don't hold your breath.

Brian France was on MRN last night. Not sure if anyone had a chance or even cared to listen but here's an article on what he had to say to Eli Gold.

Article link.

Personally I think both were great ideas. I'd tune in to or attend something like a Thursday night race. I'd bill it as TNA brought to you by NASCAR. TNA(Thursday Night Action), but it would grab people's attention.

A Road Race in the Chase simply needs to happen. NASCAR fans have slowly formed a favorable opinion on that type of racing. NASCAR needs fans with a favorable opinion. Nuff said.

Oh, and Tuesday would work just as well. ;)


Brian does not associate with people who are race fans, how can he make an informed opinion? There is a third road course track out there, I guess with his sister not owning it he won't admit that fans really love it.

My second point is that races are no longer supported by fans in the seats, it is supported by TV contracts. I find it hard to believe that, tired men and women after a hard days work would not love to put up their feet in front of the TV mid week with a cold beer or maybe the grill going.

Mid week racing IMO would be the way to go because most weekends parents are tied up with their kids activities. I think TV ratings would spike.
 
Brian does not associate with people who are race fans, how can he make an informed opinion? There is a third road course track out there, I guess with his sister not owning it he won't admit that fans really love it.

My second point is that races are no longer supported by fans in the seats, it is supported by TV contracts. I find it hard to believe that, tired men and women after a hard days work would not love to put up their feet in front of the TV mid week with a cold beer or maybe the grill going.

Mid week racing IMO would be the way to go because most weekends parents are tied up with their kids activities. I think TV ratings would spike.
I'm not sure which road course that you are referring to as there are plenty out there but which race track owner do you think is willing to give up one of their dates so that NASCAR can throw a road course in the Chase? Man, that's a long sentence.

The television money has already been determined for distribution. Contracts are already in order for the next ten years or so. I don't think that a race track owner would have anything to gain by hosting a mid week race. While I'd go I'm probably in the minority. Gate loss would be huge and that comes directly out of the tracks pocket. What's Bristol hold at capacity? Probably about 160,000. What do they get there now? Still over 100,000. The average ticket price @ Bristol is still well over $100. The gate is still huge and Bruton likes his $'s..... Brian too. Still, like I said, I'd be there.
 
Eh the problem with mid-week racing is that it's very hard to get time off of work for that kind of stuff. I mean what are you going to tell the boss? "Oh sorry, but I gotta take Tuesday to Thursday off because I'm going to a NASCAR race." It'd be much easier to get Friday to Monday off.

If you think the stands look barren now, just wait til you try a mid-week race.
 
Don't think that midweek races is that good of an idea, but love to see a road course race in the chase. I enjoy them a lot more than I do the plate races.
 
Not a fan of mid week races but would love a road course in the chase. Totaling 3 road races.
 
I'd like to see them experiment with the All Star Race on a Thursday night preceding the 600 weekend. I'd do that double in a heartbeat.
 
Eh the problem with mid-week racing is that it's very hard to get time off of work for that kind of stuff. I mean what are you going to tell the boss? "Oh sorry, but I gotta take Tuesday to Thursday off because I'm going to a NASCAR race." It'd be much easier to get Friday to Monday off.

If you think the stands look barren now, just wait til you try a mid-week race.
Most mid-week race proposals only have them during the summer stretch.
 
Love the midweek races. Its one of the things i like the most about the schedules of dirt racing series (like WoO Sprints, Lucas Oil late models, etc...). Tons of midweek races. Would love to see NASCAR add some to the schedule. Battle at the Beach on a Tuesday was pretty cool while it lasted...
 
I'd like to see more weeknight races for the Truck Series and Xfinity Series. Logistically, very tough for Cup. A Monday Night Cup race would be cool though.
 
Quit all the farting around wasting time and get the race started would help more than mid-week races. If anything add more Saturday, throw in some Friday night and road courses and explore maybe a bit of dirting. NASCAR is hamstrung as they really don't run an open circuit, utilizing only those facilities under the corp. umbrella or so it seems. I wouldn't have my TV on a Wednesday night race if I had to get to work in the am, most employers want you at work on time and ready to go.
 
Monday Night Football is played during the Summer? Damn, I've been missing extra months of NFL football. :(

Damn I hate it when my foot get stuck in my mouth. Not being a football fan, I can't tell who plays in what league or when they play.

Can't wait for curling to start.:)
 
We need some sort of schedule overhaul, that's for sure. I'd even take just one of those.

The problem is that two companies have pretty much dominated the schedule and neither one of them are going to give up any dates for new and interesting tracks.
 
Does anyone else find it hard to believe that the owners of Sonoma and Watkins Glen would be hesitant to move their date to the Chase? If I were either track owner, I would do practically anything to become part of the Chase. I think Brian just realizes those tracks hold less seats, which equates to a greater likelihood of less revenue that can line Brian's pockets. He's the one telling those tracks to not even bother considering joining the Chase. How do I "know" this? Brian never even considered adding a 3rd road course to the schedule in favor of a current track (probably 1.5-miler) losing its date. And why is that? Back to my previous point...road courses have less seating options and less chance of bringing substantial revenue to the sport.
 
Does anyone else find it hard to believe that the owners of Sonoma and Watkins Glen would be hesitant to move their date to the Chase? If I were either track owner, I would do practically anything to become part of the Chase. I think Brian just realizes those tracks hold less seats, which equates to a greater likelihood of less revenue that can line Brian's pockets. He's the one telling those tracks to not even bother considering joining the Chase. How do I "know" this? Brian never even considered adding a 3rd road course to the schedule in favor of a current track (probably 1.5-miler) losing its date. And why is that? Back to my previous point...road courses have less seating options and less chance of bringing substantial revenue to the sport.
Watkins Glen has better attendance than most ovals do. ~ 95,000 each of the last two years.
 
The problem is that two companies have pretty much dominated the schedule and neither one of them are going to give up any dates for new and interesting tracks.
I don't have any faith in SMI but at least NASCAR now basically owns or holds the lease to places like Iowa, Road Atlanta, and Sebring. Bruton Smith would never let RA happen though.
 
Since the perception is that the Chase was a success this year, we sure have seen and heard a bunch from Brian France. Dude loves to hear himself talk. Loves people loving what he is saying more. Won't listen to those who don't agree with him.

I digress.....I don't want a road course for road course sake. These cars are made to go left. They are not sports cars. I have never felt that Sonoma suited the technical characteristics of the cars. While the race is somewhat entertaining, it is also somewhat of a cluster. The cars don't look right there IMO. Watkins Glen suits the Gen 6 very nicely. This should be the prototype for any road course consideration for NASCAR. I am not sure if I like the idea of Road America--the Xfinity races are kind of silly there IMO, and I sure as hell don't want them on the purpose built COTA. If I had my way, we would reduce the road courses to Watkins. Short enough with corners that are manageable for these cars.

Mid week races would be a difficult draw. People travel to NASCAR events. There really isn't a home crowd. The only place I see that as a possibility is Charlotte. Might work there.
 
Artificially trying to increase ratings isn't going to help, Baseball has been trying to do this for years and its only hurt them. Money needs to be spent on the product, not on trying to come up with promotions and ideas to make more people watch TV.
 
More road course racing at any time is a winner.

Problem is, the short track and road course races are the lowest rated race broadcasts. Consistently.

At some point, those of us who want to see good racing are going to have to admit that casual NASCAR fans prefer Kentucky and Kansas over Watkins Glen and Martinsville.
 
Want me answer?

Take TMS's chase date, and give it to COTA. Boom, same market and puts a road course in the chase. But Bruton would never do it, not in a million years.

I have a better idea that would be possible.

Swap a ISC race with homestead. Got that?

Now run homestead's road course for the season finale.
 
Problem is, the short track and road course races are the lowest rated race broadcasts. Consistently.

At some point, those of us who want to see good racing are going to have to admit that casual NASCAR fans prefer Kentucky and Kansas over Watkins Glen and Martinsville.

thank goodness ...those idiots at fox / nbc ...:einstein: ...signed on for entire season ........for 10 yrs ....huh ?
 
I have an idea, 1) Break up the monopoly of the two companies that owns about 98% of the tracks on the NASCAR schedule. 2) Then you can add in more interesting and variety of tracks.
 
Problem is, the short track and road course races are the lowest rated race broadcasts. Consistently.

At some point, those of us who want to see good racing are going to have to admit that casual NASCAR fans prefer Kentucky and Kansas over Watkins Glen and Martinsville.

Short tracking is my all time fav, the road course races get better and better all the time and I believe will continue to do so. IMHO, short track and the road course really bring out the best of drivers and consequently the worst also, got to love that!!!!!!!!! this ain't about friggin freight trains.
 
Want me answer?

Take TMS's chase date, and give it to COTA. Boom, same market and puts a road course in the chase. But Bruton would never do it, not in a million years.

I agree 100%. I would love to see a Cup race on a proper road corse track with tons of runoff. I think it be some of the best racing all season long. Use local cautions and let'em run.
 
I'd like to see them experiment with the All Star Race on a Thursday night preceding the 600 weekend. I'd do that double in a heartbeat.
I'd like to see that too actually. Maybe even try moving it around to different tracks. As far as a road course in the Chase, YES!!! Midweek races, IDK. I always forget about the Wednesday truck race at Bristol every year lol.
 
no night races in the middle of the week, have to get up at 3 am. road course in the chase YES.
 
Back
Top Bottom