I was watching a program telling us what is wrong with Nascar as far as the racing goes. It seems that much of what has been said on here over the years was also part of the reasons given on this program. It makes you wonder why Nascar keeps going in the same direction even when it is failing the fans both at the track and the TV viewers.
It seems the first idea thrown on the table at every meeting is the one they run with even if it has shown to be wrong. Over the last 5 or so years, it seems they just hire more people and of course their main objective is to increase today's profits even when they know it will do harm to the sport in the future. It took years to get rid of the COT thinking and they really haven't improved anything since. They come up with a quick fix and the engineers figure away around so that it negates the fix.
There are only two things that will help, one of the main fixes is to send cars home that can't pass the inspection on the second try. Fines and small penalties have done nothing to correct the thinking of car chiefs and CC to some degree.
The second biggest change is the monitory fines. Sending a car home is the biggest fine because the sponsor is now pissed. MWR fines cured that organizations cheating and it will do the same for all the others. The small teams (who are not a real problem) but HMS, JGR, Penski and RCR will sit up and take notice when the fines start at $500,000. and go up from there. Ten race suspensions for any car chief that unloads a car that is intentionally outside the bounds of the inspection by a certain percentage.
Drivers should not be deducted points based on the decisions of the team or their mistakes
however the penalties for their actions should be increased. Staying out on a flat tire hoping for a caution and then causing a delay of the race should be held in the pits for a minimum of 5 laps. The penalty must be greater than what happens if he pits for repairs. Drivers intentionally causing an accident in retaliation ( see Matt K and Jeff G.) should receive a 5 race suspension for both that driver and his car on the first offence and all penalties carry over to the next season.
All this does is slow the games played so now what about the car? There have been so many changes since DE died that drivers have no real fear any more. Nascar has to take a step backwards and bring the danger aspect of racing back. I say let the cars fly if need be. I don't remember any driver dying because of barrel rolls, flip overs ( See Rusty Wallace replays). It has always been the sudden stop of the car that has killed people.
If you want Nascar to become popular again bring back the danger that goes with it, just don't kill them doing it. With all the safety devices and soft walls today it would be hard to kill a driver but injury and pain will teach them to be better drivers. Fear is a great teacher.
Backing down off my rant stool.