The effect of instant gratification on NASCAR

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

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Gone are the days of great rivalries in our sport. Gone are the days of the free speaking driver. Okay, maybe not gone entirely but certainly muffled. In this day of the instantaneous forms of multimedia it seems like more harm may be coming to the sport than good at times.

A little more than a week ago at Martinsville there was some excitement after the race between Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson followed immediatly with irate Jimmie Johnson fans or simply non Biffle fans flooding the Twitter world with rants of, How dare he touch that NASCAR Champion like that? Shortly after we get an appology from Biffle to the many Jimmie Johnson fans. The short lived rivalry was dead. Sure we had a little bump on the backstretch of Texas but that's as far as it will go. Years ago this could have actually turned into something. At the very least, a little more entertainment.

AfterTexas Keselowski makes some comments about the muscle of Jimmie Johnson's car. Kinda of insinuating that something may be going on there. Once again immediatly followed by rants of how Keselowski should keep his mouth shut and that he's a bad representitve of the sport. This is probably going to be followed by a more subdued Keselowski.

Maybe that's what today's NASCAR fan wants? At the same time we bitch when we think the drivers are boring. I miss the days when the drivers could show more of their personalities.

I'm as guilty as the next fan of this. I've had my share of rants about Kyle and his tantrums.

Next year the instant gratification becomes even moreso as all tracks will have WiFi capabilities. Great. Now I can bitch about everything right from my seat at the track without being concerned as to if I'll have a good signal.

\rantoff
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Gone are the days of great rivalries in our sport. Gone are the days of the free speaking driver. Okay, maybe not gone entirely but certainly muffled. In this day of the instantaneous forms of multimedia it seems like more harm may be coming to the sport than good at times.

A little more than a week ago at Martinsville there was some excitement after the race between Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson followed immediatly with irate Jimmie Johnson fans or simply non Biffle fans flooding the Twitter world with rants of, How dare he touch that NASCAR Champion like that? Shortly after we get an appology from Biffle to the many Jimmie Johnson fans. The short lived rivalry was dead. Sure we had a little bump on the backstretch of Texas but that's as far as it will go. Years ago this could have actually turned into something. At the very least, a little more entertainment.

AfterTexas Keselowski makes some comments about the muscle of Jimmie Johnson's car. Kinda of insinuating that something may be going on there. Once again immediatly followed by rants of how Keselowski should keep his mouth shut and that he's a bad representitve of the sport. This is probably going to be followed by a more subdued Keselowski.

Maybe that's what today's NASCAR fan wants? At the same time we bitch when we think the drivers are boring. I miss the days when the drivers could show more of their personalities.

I'm as guilty as the next fan of this. I've had my share of rants about Kyle and his tantrums.

Next year the instant gratification becomes even moreso as all tracks will have WiFi capabilities. Great. Now I can bitch about everything right from my seat at the track without being concerned as to if I'll have a good signal.

\rantoff
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I remember how tough it was on you at Eldora without a signal, the technological age is truly upon us. :D
 
Its because in the internet age.. nothing is good enough because theres always something better. No one will ever be satisfied with anything ever again. Its human nature... I love the drama. I might call someone a moron but I still cant wait to see if Kez dumps Kyle lol.
 
Are today's fans really any different than the fans of 20 or 30 years ago? I don't think they are. Back then fans acted the very same way they do now when things like Kesolowski's repeated rants about other drivers pushing the 'grey area', while his team has too much integrity to do that.

The only difference in today's fans and the fans of the past is that because of the internet, the opinions of today's fans are seen instantly by millions of people.

You can't really the expect fans of today to not express their opinions because it may affect the way drivers might react to it. nascar fans have always done that, and always will. To lay all this on the fans of today is missing the the real cause of it, which is the world wide web.

The fans of today are no different than the fans of the past.
 
gordonite said:
Are today's fans really any different than the fans of 20 or 30 years ago? I don't think they are. Back then fans acted the very same way they do now when things like Kesolowski's repeated rants about other drivers pushing the 'grey area', while his team has too much integrity to do that.

The only difference in today's fans and the fans of the past is that because of the internet, the opinions of today's fans are seen instantly by millions of people.

You can't really the expect fans of today to not express their opinions because it may affect the way drivers might react to it. nascar fans have always done that, and always will. To lay all this on the fans of today is missing the the real cause of it, which is the world wide web.

The fans of today are no different than the fans of the past.
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No, the fans aren't different. Times are different. They had no way to interact like they do today. That's the difference. The fan's voice is now being heard louder than ever. I don't necessarily think that is always such a good thing. That is what I was trying to express. There are certainly good things about it but I think it hurts the sport as well.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
...The fan's voice is now being heard louder than ever. I don't necessarily think that is always such a good thing. That is what I was trying to express. There are certainly good things about it but I think it hurts the sport as well.
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There's no doubt it's not always a good thing.

At least that's what Mikey said.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
No, the fans aren't different. Times are different. They had no way to interact like they do today. That's the difference. The fan's voice is now being heard louder than ever. I don't necessarily think that is always such a good thing. That is what I was trying to express. There are certainly good things about it but I think it hurts the sport as well.
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Oh, I agree with this 100%. Racetracks have shut down entirely because of "commentary" on TwitFace. There used to be a time when, if a racing fan didn't enjoy their experience at a race, they'd talk to management and management will offer them free tickets or something and convince them to give the track another chance. The same time, if drivers had a complaint, they'd take it up with track management. Now, there are tracks that genuinely do not give a fluck what fans or drivers think. But we now live in an age where every single complaint about a racetrack is put right on TwitFace. That's just today's society though.

Sometimes, when people complain about a track or entertainment complex on social media or anonymous message boards, the fallout's happened long before anyone can even see it.

All in all, we need a restoration of civility.
 
I do agree that fans today, for the most part, are the same as fans of the past. The biggest difference isn't so much with the ability to express themselves quickly via the internet, it's that the internet provides a layer of anonymity that allows them to respond with more venom than if the discussion took place in person. The amount of responses also plays a part in that before the internet all a driver was exposed to was what they heard personally. I don't think they cared what "somebody else heard" about them. But when they can see the comments directly, and the sheer volume of comments, makes a bigger impact on the drivers than ever before. Combine all that with the political correctness of NASCAR in this day and age, and a driver has no choice but to apologize because that could have an adverse effect on their ability to attract or keep sponsors. These days the "court of public opinion" seems to be more important than the facts, and the money follows that politically correct opinion. You can't blame a driver for wanting to protect his career, that's why IMO they have to bite their tongue and apologize.
 
So what is it, then, that people are attempting to achieve by negatively blathering on about that 4 hours of their life that they'll never get back but probably didn't mean SFA anyway?

We've got 168 hours in a week but choose to allow those few hours that it takes to watch a race cause us so much distress that we take to social media to let the world know about it..something is FUBAR.
 
I think NASCAR should encourage Keselowski to run his mouth, not stifle him. I used to despise Kurt back in the day, and wasn't a Kyle fan either, but I like what Kurt has become and I actually enjoy what Kyle brings to the sport. I still think Denny Hamlin is a little crybaby bitch, but at least he has personality. Drivers showing their emotions and starting rivalries is great for the sport.

I think the issue goes beyond the media and twitter and all that; I think sponsorship is what keeps the drivers on their toes. Sponsorship is hard to come by, and every sponsor wants a model citizen.
 
I don't know that they should encourage it but maybe stay out it and if we fans want to take his comments so personally, so be it.
 
Prior to the mid 80s most of our information was provided by MRN. That was great but maybe rose colored glasses, after all it was their job to cover the competition.

There was more wonderment or what seemed like discovery. The cars looked like Detroit, so you had more evolving body styles.

Tires were less reliable or bigger variable, a domaint car could get a bad set and the instant game changer was in play.

Drivers were more rowdy and less dependent on having to conform to a Hendrick/Penske/ Gibbs/Rousch type of template.
Bobby Allison is a good example, he switched rides every couple of years, he was going to do it his way. Nobody can afford to Cowboy it that way anymore.
 
SlicedBread22 said:
Its because in the internet age.. nothing is good enough because theres always something better. No one will ever be satisfied with anything ever again. Its human nature... I love the drama. I might call someone a moron but I still cant wait to see if Kez dumps Kyle lol.
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:angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry:
 
You had a lot more smaller tracks and more contact and reasons to fight. Not my thing, an occasional scuffle is OK, but I am glad that has changed. Twitter opinions aren't as important to me as they are to some, there have been so many erroneous reports and opinions on Twitter, it isn't that credible or important. But on the other hand drivers and celebrities who make a living being popular..and some even have talent, Twitter is a must, free publicity.
 
StandOnIt said:
You had a lot more smaller tracks and more contact and reasons to fight. Not my thing, an occasional scuffle is OK, but I am glad that has changed. Twitter opinions aren't as important to me as they are to some, there have been so many erroneous reports and opinions on Twitter, it isn't that credible or important. But on the other hand drivers and celebrities who make a living being popular..and some even have talent, Twitter is a must, free publicity.
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Twitter is the worst. Facebook is bad enough for some of this stuff but it's not completely anonymous. The anonymity of Twitter is why there's so much venom on there.
 
nascar is to blame too, they kept trying to reinvent the wheel.to bring the social media people into nascar.
 
Johali said:
In my opinion twitter and facebook are an abomination and scourge on the free world, okay maybe a little overboard but I really don't like either one.
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HERE HERE, What he said!!!!!!!!!

Also I might add that money is the root of all evil. Do ya think for one second that" Joe's Buck Stove" gave one rats ass how many people Jack Spratt made mad last week . Nah But A big corp. sponsor oh yea they care. they care a lot. You can figure the rest out..............
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
A little more than a week ago at Martinsville there was some excitement after the race between Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson followed immediatly with irate Jimmie Johnson fans or simply non Biffle fans flooding the Twitter world with rants of, How dare he touch that NASCAR Champion like that?
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Out of curiosity, let's say Richard Petty and I were driving to a NASCAR track in different cars. We get into a fender bender in the parking lot and I get out of my car and grabbed and screamed at Richard Petty, would that be appropriate?

I love when drivers get upset and get mad at other drivers. But, I don't think very highly of Biffle and don't think he has earned the right to get in Johnson's face like that. I would have the same reaction if Danica or Travis Kvapil had done the same thing to Johnson.
 
not only do we have all the social media, but we have sponsors reacting to whats said on social media. If you want to know what gets the drivers attention its upset sponsors. Add to that we have seen heat applied on a sponsor and an entire organizations existence put at risk by a social media uproar. yeah look for more vanilla drivers in the future.
 
KevinWI said:
Out of curiosity, let's say Richard Petty and I were driving to a NASCAR track in different cars. We get into a fender bender in the parking lot and I get out of my car and grabbed and screamed at Richard Petty, would that be appropriate?

I love when drivers get upset and get mad at other drivers. But, I don't think very highly of Biffle and don't think he has earned the right to get in Johnson's face like that. I would have the same reaction if Danica or Travis Kvapil had done the same thing to Johnson.
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But he tore his bumper cover :lol2:
 
hidesert cowboy said:
not only do we have all the social media, but we have sponsors reacting to whats said on social media. If you want to know what gets the drivers attention its upset sponsors. Add to that we have seen heat applied on a sponsor and an entire organizations existence put at risk by a social media uproar. yeah look for more vanilla drivers in the future.
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Yeah, the powers that be are reacting to social media more than ever which is kind of weird.
 
Johali said:
In my opinion twitter and facebook are an abomination and scourge on the free world, okay maybe a little overboard but I really don't like either one.
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Butt some nice looking women have a twitter! :)
 
The drivers cant even fart without it making headlines. I dont get the personality cultism either. I really dont want to know their favorite color, poem, music, or even quote. Just too much information.

If they want to post bikini pictures of their gfs/wives or both that'll be ok, but the other stuff is garbage imo, it aint racin.
 
In my opinion , the MWR scandal this year (which may still have disasterous side effects for Nascar ) was a product of the internet . Twitterers wanted heads to roll and they got it . The actions MWR did were underhanded and rotten but nothing that had not been done before . Nascar could have handled it without distroying it's own credibility along with bringing down MWR. I pray that it's over.
 
ted@economy said:
In my opinion , the MWR scandal this year (which may still have disasterous side effects for Nascar ) was a product of the internet . Twitterers wanted heads to roll and they got it . The actions MWR did were underhanded and rotten but nothing that had not been done before . Nascar could have handled it without distroying it's own credibility along with bringing down MWR. I pray that it's over.
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The MWR scandal was a product of MWR.
 
ted@economy said:
In my opinion , the MWR scandal this year (which may still have disasterous side effects for Nascar ) was a product of the internet . Twitterers wanted heads to roll and they got it . The actions MWR did were underhanded and rotten but nothing that had not been done before . Nascar could have handled it without distroying it's own credibility along with bringing down MWR. I pray that it's over.
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how can it be over when they are the people that nascar trying to reach to be new fans?
 
ted@economy said:
In my opinion , the MWR scandal this year (which may still have disasterous side effects for Nascar ) was a product of the internet . Twitterers wanted heads to roll and they got it . The actions MWR did were underhanded and rotten but nothing that had not been done before . Nascar could have handled it without distroying it's own credibility along with bringing down MWR. I pray that it's over.
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There are some people who are never going to like nascar. They will use the MWR *itchmond case to back up their criticism, but they were never one of us to begin with.

It will always be that way. All we can do is raise our children right, and pray to God that they dont marry one of them.

* the itchmond line aint mine, somebody else was the originator.
 
FLRacingFan said:
Greg Biffle or Brad Keselowski shouldn't care about what some clown like myself thinks. That stuff is just fun to comment on.
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Perfect analysis. It's an over reaction by sponsors and /or drivers to change based on twitter rants. nascar should be explaining to sponsors the black hat / white hat roles that make it more than just racing. Sponsors should embrace reasonable driver emotional outbursts for what they are, entertaining emotional out bursts.
 
ted@economy said:
In my opinion , the MWR scandal this year (which may still have disasterous side effects for Nascar ) was a product of the internet . Twitterers wanted heads to roll and they got it . The actions MWR did were underhanded and rotten but nothing that had not been done before . Nascar could have handled it without distroying it's own credibility along with bringing down MWR. I pray that it's over.
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I think the taped conversations shown on TV with the voice transmissions spelled out in big white letters had more to do with it. "Pit, you want me to pit? yeah pit, we need the position". Twitter was more of an outcry, me too, reaction that let Nascar know also that we the fans caught what went down.
 
FenderBumper said:
Perfect analysis. It's an over reaction by sponsors and /or drivers to change based on twitter rants. nascar should be explaining to sponsors the black hat / white hat roles that make it more than just racing. Sponsors should embrace reasonable driver emotional outbursts for what they are, entertaining emotional out bursts.
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I don't agree that sponsors are over-reacting. They are not sponsoring NASCAR because they like racing, they are here to sell product. A HUGE part of that is managing the corporate image 100% of the time, in real time. They simply have no choice but to react when 1000's of people start posting that they will never use/buy their product because the driver they sponsored said/did something.

That's not going to change. What needs to change is sponsorship model.
 
Of course the other drivers fans are going to say stuff on twitter. It's part of the show. Fans have been yelling the same sheet in the stands or at their TV's for years. Now that they do it in print, the sponsors think the sky is falling and over react.
 
KevinWI said:
Out of curiosity, let's say Richard Petty and I were driving to a NASCAR track in different cars. We get into a fender bender in the parking lot and I get out of my car and grabbed and screamed at Richard Petty, would that be appropriate?

I love when drivers get upset and get mad at other drivers. But, I don't think very highly of Biffle and don't think he has earned the right to get in Johnson's face like that. I would have the same reaction if Danica or Travis Kvapil had done the same thing to Johnson.
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Don't let my avatar foll you. You won't strike a never with me by using Richard as an example for anything. I only use that likeness because he represents NASCAR in my eyes although I was never really a fan of his.

In reading your response I think you missed the whole point of my post. I wasn't arguing what was right or wrong about the Biffle/Johnson moment. There's plenty of posts on that elsewhere. I'm talking about the social media effect after that. I'm thinking that in years gone by, before the days of Twitter and the like, that could have been an ongoing thing between those two. I think Biffle came with a quick apology because of the instant outcry that years ago would have gone virtually unnoticed. Who knows what the real reason was for Biffle to respond so quickly? I'm thinking that it is sponsors that put the pressure on him to respond due to what they see on social media but we will never know for sure. The days of true rivalries are lost IMO. Sponsors can't afford it.
 
I think Kez was saying this last week. I'm not sure it's true for most drivers though. Judging by the boo's JJ got at M'ville, it's hard to see him winning much social media support if he had actually done anything wrong.

Could it be Biffle was so out of line he made 3M and Roush look bad? Hell, Roush must already be taking heat from sponsors about Matt becoming a strong contender simply by walking out the door.

The 16 team did a lazy repair job on that bumper. I guess they expected everyone to race Biff differently after Jr rammed him earlier. Hel, Greg should have gone after Jr, who was driving a bit like his Dad in that race.
 
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