NASCAR considering radical changes to playoff system

Pisses me off that they even consider doing something dumb enough to drive hard core fans away from the sport
 
Once upon a time, drivers, if they didn't already own the car that they were driving, were paid by owners to drive race cars for the purpose of winning races.

Then folks started keeping records and began awarding season championships.

If I could be assured that NASCAR has entirely eliminated the fabricated excitement that they love bringing to the track on race day, I'm ready to let them throw darts, if that's what they decide to do, as a method of detemining the season championship.

I'm tired of fighting this fight . . .
 
I don't know how this will end up.. but being a new fan to NASCAR ('09).. When I was first learning about NASCAR and found out there was playoffs I was excited. I've always been a hockey fan so..... anyway I think that they could be right in this attracting more new fans because lets face it... some of u old timers are on ur way out... NASCAR needs fans 30 years from now too... I don't think this is the right way to do it... changing the rules every year is somewhat controversial and just annoying.. but if it does create those intense moments they will be hyped up by the media.. "Oh my god! Did you see what happened in the race at SoNsoTrack?!"... which will have non NASCAR fans seeing the news and may attract some new guys.. I believe NASCAR is more of a family sport in that Im thinking most fans became fans at a young age watching NASCAR with their parents. To get the new ones interested, they're going to manufacture excitement... it may not be real... but when they're on the track it won't make a difference... how many more non NASCAR fans do you think know who Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin are after the incident at Auto Club? I'd guess probably a lot, I'd also guess that a couple people tuned in the following weeks to see if anything came of it.. and maybe saw something they liked... they could be life long fans now because of one intense race finish...the first race I ever watched got me hooked... and it was a fuel mileage race Brian Vickers won... like I said when I first started following NASCAR.. I got excited at the idea of a playoffs system... I believe the only reason most of you aren't is (obviously) because you liked it the way it was before. Im sure if I had watched back then I would agree... but I didnt, and the new fans didnt either.. I get that its stupid driving old fans away for new ones... and Im really not trying to be a dick but like I said earlier.. the new ones will be around longer.. and I think that's one of the main things theyre doing here. Not saying it wont be a total screw up, time will tell.. either way it makes absolutely no difference for me.. Ill be watching every race for the rest of my life no matter how they muck it up.
 
Nitro Dude said:
I don't understand why they would even think about changing it if 80% of their hard core fans are against it. That just doesn't seem very smart to me.
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That's because hard core fans are hard core, and they won't go anywhere. People can talk crap about leaving the sport, but when they fire the engines we simply cannot help ourselves. NASCAR cannot screw this sport up no matter how hard they try.
 
The only thing that I really see coming out of this proposed change is an added excitement level at one track..... Homestead. Other than that it's still all just racing. I don't think the proposed changes will taint the Championship any more in my eyes than the Chase did to the sport already.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
The only thing that I really see coming out of this proposed change is an added excitement level at one track..... Homestead. Other than that it's still all just racing. I don't think the proposed changes will taint the Championship any more in my eyes than the Chase did to the sport already.
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Well what about Dover, Talladega and Phoenix... doesnt sound like much but what about the two drivers within points of each other with 20 to go and only 2 positions determining whether they move on or not.. or even better.. if theyre fighting for the lead.
 
I am not a huge fan of the chase as it stands but the France mafia is getting desperate here. Anything to sell another ticket and make a bigger circus out of the sport. The cars are the problem and not the points system.
 
If the changes take place Michael Waltrip will have more chances to have his drivers take somebody out so another of his drivers can advance, makes sense to me.
 
SlicedBread22 said:
I don't think how this will end up.. but being a new fan to NASCAR ('09).. When I was first learning about NASCAR and found out there was playoffs I was excited. I've always been a hockey fan so..... anyway I think that they could be right in this attracting more new fans because lets face it... some of u old timers are on ur way out... NASCAR needs fans 30 years from now too... I don't think this is the right way to do it... changing the rules every year is somewhat controversial and just annoying.. but if it does create those intense moments they will be hyped up by the media.. "Oh my god! Did you see what happened in the race at SoNsoTrack?!"... which will have non NASCAR fans seeing the news and may attract some new guys.. I believe NASCAR is more of a family sport in that Im thinking most fans became fans at a young age watching NASCAR with their parents. To get the new ones interested, they're going to manufacture excitement... it may not be real... but when they're on the track it won't make a difference... how many more non NASCAR fans do you think know who Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin are after the incident at Auto Club? I'd guess probably a lot, I'd also guess that a couple people tuned in the following weeks to see if anything came of it.. and maybe saw something they liked... they could be life long fans now because of one intense race finish...the first race I ever watched got me hooked... and it was a fuel mileage race Brian Vickers won... like I said when I first started following NASCAR.. I got excited at the idea of a playoffs system... I believe the only reason most of you aren't is (obviously) because you liked it the way it was before. Im sure if I had watched back then I would agree... but I didnt, and the new fans didnt either.. I get that its stupid driving old fans away for new ones... and Im really not trying to be a dick but like I said earlier.. the new ones will be around longer.. and I think that's one of the main things theyre doing here. Not saying it wont be a total screw up, time will tell.. either way it makes absolutely no difference for me.. Ill be watching every race for the rest of my life no matter how they muck it up.
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So you think that ruining NASCAR's championship system will gain a few fans? Why can't we try to gain fans without so many silly gimmicks? It's a wonder how NASCAR survived (and grew) before the chase.
 
PeopleAreStrange said:
So you think that ruining NASCAR's championship system will gain a few fans? Why can't we try to gain fans without so many silly gimmicks? It's a wonder how NASCAR survived (and grew) before the chase.
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Because this generation is lazy and easily bored.. but once theyre fans they'll stay that way and NASCAR isn't going to lose fans... I don't care what any of you say I know youll all tune in anyway.
 
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SlicedBread22 said:
Because this generation is lazy and easily bored.. but once theyre fans they'll stay that way and NASCAR isn't going to lose fans... I don't care what any of you say I know youll all tune in anyway.
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You musta got your crystal ball shined up to claim to know what someone else thinks, believes or is going to do.
 
I'm fine with the proposed system. Be interesting to see how it plays out.
 
Anybody who has watched racing for 10+ years continuously will not just "leave" the sport. I promise you they will still root for their favorite driver and bash the points system.
 
SlicedBread22 said:
Because this generation is lazy and easily bored.. but once theyre fans they'll stay that way and NASCAR isn't going to lose fans... I don't care what any of you say I know youll all tune in anyway.
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LOL

NASCAR has been in decline since the early 2000s dude.
 
There's one possible motive for the new Chase format that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet: Danica Patrick. Sure, she's far from a threat most weeks, but on the plate tracks her chances for a win increase significantly. If she somehow manages to pull one off at a plate track a la David Ragan last year, boom, she's in the Chase. France knows there's no way in hell she makes the Chase under the current format, even with a win.
 
Whoever is screwing up the chase just be in cahoots with the NFL as well. Thinking about removing the PAT
 
ChexOrWrex said:
Whoever is screwing up the chase just be in cahoots with the NFL as well. Thinking about removing the PAT
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Ain't that the truth......................

Missed five PATs last season. I wonder how many fifteen yard field goals were missed. Put the ball across the five and score three, no need to kick. Maybe the NFL will start tossing more phantom penalty flags.

My first thought on this thing, NASCAR wants celebrity or two in they think won’t or may not make it in on talent alone. Someone else mentioned Patrick – bingo.
 
Whether I cut back or stop my trips to the tracks, cut down or stop watching nascar on TV or stay the same is my and the wife's business alone and no one else's. It's a personal decision and no one can be so arrogant as to try and say what we will or will not do.
 
Smoke14 said:
If this is true, it is time for a change.

NASCAR has to know if people aren't at the track or watching races on TV. the sport will die.

I'll keep an open mind and see how this turns out.
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The sport itself wont die out obviously, but there is no doubt that NASCAR is no longer growing in terms of popularity.
 
PeopleAreStrange said:
So you think that ruining NASCAR's championship system will gain a few fans? Why can't we try to gain fans without so many silly gimmicks? It's a wonder how NASCAR survived (and grew) before the chase.
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Exactly, gimmicks won't save a sport in decline of viewers and attendance. It's racing and trying to take on structural elements of binary sports works as well as those sports (football, baseball, hockey, etc.) having their leagues determine their champions by adding up who had the most, touchdowns, runs, or goals in a season.

They're different for a reason.
 
Let me start by saying I am a diehard race fan.

From what I see posted here and read elsewhere, NASCAR attendance and TV viewing has dropped quite a bit over the last ten years. In my opinion, if NASCAR doesn't do something, this trend will continue.
 
Smoke14 said:
Let me start by saying I am a diehard race fan.

From what I see posted here and read elsewhere, NASCAR attendance and TV viewing has dropped quite a bit over the last ten years. In my opinion, if NASCAR doesn't do something, this trend will continue.
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I wonder when the downward trend began, it'd be interesting to see if it correlates with the implementation of The Chase.
 
SpeedPagan said:
Okay, so The Chase isn't responsible for the downward trend seeing how it started in 2004....dammit....
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Yeah that just isn't true.

The early 2000s were very solid. I think the true downward spiral began after 05.
 
nascar is more and more a reality TV show than a real sport. It started with the chase point system.

It took me a few years to accept the chase point system, but I don't fret about nascar rule changes anymore. nascar is entertainment to me, nothing more.

I just don't take it as seriously as I once did.
 
gordonite said:
nascar is more and more a reality TV show than a real sport. It started with the chase point system.

It took me a few years to accept the chase point system, but I don't fret about nascar rule changes anymore. nascar is entertainment to me, nothing more.

I just don't take it as seriously as I once did.
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Same here man.

I honestly just watch to see Jeff Gordon win his share of races.

I dont put much stock on points anymore. Its pretty much a joke and pinning your hopes on someone getting lucky 10 weeks in a row takes all the fun out of watching a race.

shark77 said:
It'll be gone if you're the only one watching.
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Ouch. lol
 
SlicedBread22 said:
.... but I wont be.... that's the thing lol
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It was just a reply to your logic taken literally. Everything ends someday. Will NASCAR end in the next 10 or 20 years? Probably not, but it will if only one guy is watching.
 
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