I think this is going to be one of the longest off seasons of recent memory. Probably since the announcement of the Chase concept. That too was an unknown heading into that 2004 season. It proved to be a great idea to some and a complete undermining of the sport to others. We got our little taste last May of a version of the upcoming changes. It seemed that a majority of the fans viewed what they saw favorably. That's the way our in-house thread leaned and it also seemed to be the way outside sources reported. Whatever it ends up being, it is what it is..... until it isn't again. Things change. Things in this sport change all the time. It's kind of like the weather..... You don't like what you see today but chances are you'll like what's around the corner.
People here and elsewhere love to trash the Nascar Fan Council. They say that it's a waste of time because Nascar doesn't listen to the fans. They're under the impression that the powers that be @ Nascar are hell-bent on driving this sport into the ground. The thing is, many of these changes that we are seeing are all things that have been proposed or asked about in a roundabout sort of way. Each and every week, Nascar Fan Council members are asked about their thoughts on the previous race. Subjects such as the satisfaction of lead changes, passing, overall enjoyment of the event and numerous other things. Think about it for a second..... If you've got fans stating that they aren't satisfied with those sorts of things, it's bound to change. A changin it is. They are listening and that could just be the problem.
Just wait though..... There are a lot of other changes that will soon take place. Some we're going to like. Others we won't so much. Shorter races, schedule shakeups, a weeknight race or two. They're all around the corner. How do I know this? I don't really. Just a prediction as the questions are being steered in that direction.
In any event, if you have overwhelming discontent in a product, you'll have change. If there's one thing in Nascar that remains consistent, it's change. Get used to it.