Question for avid NASCAR fans

buckaroo

buckaroo

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The Swap Rides thread made me think of a question. I know that one of the downfalls of the Indy 500 fanship was the seeming over the edge number of foreign drivers. It was interesting when Teo Fabi raced, but soon more and more top drivers from all over the globe, especially Brazil, began to take over the top rides...not that they weren't worthy of those rides. But I do know that many fans began to grumble about that. We all know that the open wheeled series is making a comeback, but its nowhere near what it was in the late 70's and early 80's. In the late 80's and early 90's, NASCAR began to fan out not just trackwise, but also more and more drivers from all over the country began making headway into the series. There are still grumbles from many fans that the sport has left it's roots, the south.

My question is what would you think if half the field was driven by foreigners? As a fan of racing, I really enjoy "racing", no matter who is driving. With the growth of NASCAR seeming on the wane, or at least stagnant, do you think that adding an international fare would help or hurt NASCAR?
 
buckaroo said:
The Swap Rides thread made me think of a question. I know that one of the downfalls of the Indy 500 fanship was the seeming over the edge number of foreign drivers. It was interesting when Teo Fabi raced, but soon more and more top drivers from all over the globe, especially Brazil, began to take over the top rides...not that they weren't worthy of those rides. But I do know that many fans began to grumble about that. We all know that the open wheeled series is making a comeback, but its nowhere near what it was in the late 70's and early 80's. In the late 80's and early 90's, NASCAR began to fan out not just trackwise, but also more and more drivers from all over the country began making headway into the series. There are still grumbles from many fans that the sport has left it's roots, the south.

My question is what would you think if half the field was driven by foreigners? As a fan of racing, I really enjoy "racing", no matter who is driving. With the growth of NASCAR seeming on the wane, or at least stagnant, do you think that adding an international fare would help or hurt NASCAR?
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That's a good question Buckaroo. I don't have an answer, but I'm sure that there will be plenty that will.:)
 
I couldn't care less as long as the talent is there. But, I just love racing.
 
You think the fan base is falling now? Add 20 foreign driver and see how bad it gets.
 
buckaroo said:
My question is what would you think if half the field was driven by foreigners? As a fan of racing, I really enjoy "racing", no matter who is driving. With the growth of NASCAR seeming on the wane, or at least stagnant, do you think that adding an international fare would help or hurt NASCAR?
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i don't think we'll see half the field driven by foreigners anytime soon, probably never. i do think 6-12 is realistic and would help the sport. i don't think the indy 500's decline in fans had much to do with the influx of foreign drivers. that imo was due most to the cart/irl split. both series suffered because of the split.
 
buckaroo said:
The Swap Rides thread made me think of a question. I know that one of the downfalls of the Indy 500 fanship was the seeming over the edge number of foreign drivers. It was interesting when Teo Fabi raced, but soon more and more top drivers from all over the globe, especially Brazil, began to take over the top rides...not that they weren't worthy of those rides. But I do know that many fans began to grumble about that. We all know that the open wheeled series is making a comeback, but its nowhere near what it was in the late 70's and early 80's. In the late 80's and early 90's, NASCAR began to fan out not just trackwise, but also more and more drivers from all over the country began making headway into the series. There are still grumbles from many fans that the sport has left it's roots, the south.

My question is what would you think if half the field was driven by foreigners? As a fan of racing, I really enjoy "racing", no matter who is driving. With the growth of NASCAR seeming on the wane, or at least stagnant, do you think that adding an international fare would help or hurt NASCAR?
Click to expand...

The question is good, and the answer is simple. 15-20 years ago, we really didn't know many people, past our city limit sign. Like you say, 10 states away, was foreign to most.
Today, with 200 channels, and unlimited net' access, it's easy to explore, and relate, or reason with a driver from any portion of the globe.
Simply put, the world got smaller, and we all become neighbors.
MoMike
Marcos Ambros for example.
 
I think Nascar fans, would like Hamilton. He would provide some excitement for the sport, he is a likeable guy. We have already seen Raikkonen come into nascar and I think that could lead to at least a full time nationwide ride. The most hated guy that come from f1 was American, Scott Speed. I think racing fans nowadays broaden their horizons, and racing of all kinds is now more accessible. I don't think their will ever be a international boom, in Nascar but fans would be OK with 3-5 international drivers.
 
I wouldn't mind seeing a more diverse field in terms of drivers, however I think NASCAR and Stock Car racing in general will always be seen as a redneck sport. I mean they did try to spread the sport Internationally, but I think the only country that accepted it was Canada.
 
I personally don't care where/when someone was born but I do, however, find this interesting...

Mario Andretti and his twin brother Aldo were born into an Italian family in Montona (now Motovun, Croatia), Istria. Their parents were Luigi Andretti, a farm administrator, and his wife Rina.

Istria was then part of Italy, but became part of Yugoslavia at the end of World War II as confirmed by the Treaty of Paris. In 1948, the Andretti family left Montona during the Istrian exodus, ending up in a refugee camp in Lucca, Italy.

They emigrated to the United States of America in 1955, settling in Nazareth in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley with just $125 to their name.

Andretti became a naturalized United States citizen in 1964.


Is there anyone in America more famous when it comes to racing than Andretti?
 
In todays world of motorsports, talent can only take you so far. It's all about what a driver can bring to the table besides the "talent"....You best bring sponsor $$$$$....and alot of it if you want a ride in NASCRAP these days....Dan Wheldon won the Indy 500 last month....Less than a week after the win he was OUT of a ride....A few weeks ago the owner of Go Daddy made a comment that they were behind Danica 110% in whatever form of racing she wants to do...Few and far between can lock themselves into a sponsor like that....

Scott Speed has all the talent in the world in open wheel racing....When he came to NASCRAP he did'nt do so well...Then the sponsor he thought was with him 110% launched him....Today a driver is better off having a good relationship with his sponsor rather than the team owner....
 
MELROSEMAFIA said:
In todays world of motorsports, talent can only take you so far. It's all about what a driver can bring to the table besides the "talent"....You best bring sponsor $$$$$....and alot of it if you want a ride in NASCRAP these days....Dan Wheldon won the Indy 500 last month....Less than a week after the win he was OUT of a ride....A few weeks ago the owner of Go Daddy made a comment that they were behind Danica 110% in whatever form of racing she wants to do...Few and far between can lock themselves into a sponsor like that....
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Danica sold her soul to GoDaddy.
 
SpeedPagan said:
I wouldn't mind seeing a more diverse field in terms of drivers, however I think NASCAR and Stock Car racing in general will always be seen as a redneck sport. I mean they did try to spread the sport Internationally, but I think the only country that accepted it was Canada.
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and Mexico if it hadn't become too dangerous to race there. Dangerous outside the track.
 
During the CART/IRL split of the mid 90's, I sided with the IRL because it seemed their doors were open wider to the Tony Stewarts and J.J. Yeleys of the world. Plus, they raced more on ovals - you know, american style racing.

That said, It wouldn't bother me seeing more drivers in NASCAR who weren't born in the US and didn't come from an oval racing background. I can't see how it could hurt the sport at all. It may even increase competition. Maybe.

Although I don't see any incoming stampede from foreign drivers anytime soon. More like a slow, revolving door.
 
My dad took me to my 1st car race when I was 8 years old. It was 1958. It was at a amusement park in Houston, Tx. it was a quarter mile asphalt oval track, I watched A.J. Foyt start his racing career there. You think Earnhardt Sr. was a dirty driver Dale Sr. was nothing compared Foyt, dirtiest driver I've ever saw was A.J. Foyt. I witnessed him run at least 5 other drivers threw and over the wall/fence. Through my high school years I was more into drag racing. I started to get into NA$CAR racing in 1975 after I met DW (I'm sure he wouldn't even remember me) out by his race car that was parked in a hotel parking lot on a trailer (before car haulers). Through the 80s and 90s my favorite driver was Mark Martin. I couldn't care less where the drivers in NA$CAR are from.

I was over at a friends (fellow SHO buddy) house at a BBQ. This guy is a jet engine mechanic and built himself a supercharged SHO that was putting out 430hp to the wheels. Anyway one of our other friends was drooling over Tony's (not Tony Stewart) car. So Tony said to that friend "hey take for a drive" the guy said no at 1st, but then did go drive it, when he got back he said I have to have one. So Tony built him one too. So you say what does this have to do with this subject. Well this is it, the look on my friends face after he drove Tony's supercharged car was the same look on Hamilton's face after he drove Stewart's car. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hamilton come over and get some seat time in a NA$CAR or him going over and telling his fellow F1 friends "man you have to go drive one of those things". I thought Hamilton did very well driving a NA$CAR considering he's from England and drives cars that have steering wheels on the right hand side of the car. I think if Hamilton came over to NA$CAR I would be a huge fan. Other than that I still think NA$CAR needs to drive more road courses.

Anyone else on here other than me that would like to see NA$CAR race a street course?
 
I haven't actually seen many races the past few years, I usually turn on highlights or listen on the radio on my way home from real racing. :beerbang:
 
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