Whats wrong with Nascar?

due to ticket prices. If tickets were cheaper, the stand would be full.
 
PushRodV8 said:
due to ticket prices. If tickets were cheaper, the stand would be full.
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Some of this can be blamed on the tracks. Chicagoland requires fans buy a package for the weekend, but at least they haven't gone too PSL's... yet.
 
the younger generation like subarus and rice rockets, not rumbling v8's and muscle cars. look at the new camaros, challengers and mustangs. its not the young generation that is typically buying these cars
 
SuperTex14 said:
Some of this can be blamed on the tracks. Chicagoland requires fans buy a package for the weekend, but at least they haven't gone too PSL's... yet.
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Chicagoland quit with the package deal about five years ago.

Not only did you have to buy Cup and Nationwide tickets, you had to get a ticket to the IRL race too.

It was brutal but when the economy was clicking they still had sell-outs, even with the package requirement.

Nowadays you can get single race tickets.
 
Nitro Dude said:
A 60" flat screen with surround sound, and a nice comfortable lazy boy recliner in a nice cool air conditioned room, doesn't really help them fill their seats.;)
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True. But you miss the experience of being at the track.
Then you need to consider the cost to get there and back, lodging, food, adult beverages.
Lodging is/was the killer. A 100 buck a night room goes for 500+ a night during Daytona speedweeks.
 
The ticket price of going to a Cup race is no more out of line than almost any other professional sporting event. In many cases it's far cheaper to buy a NASCAR ticket for one of their best seats than it is to get a comparable ticket to a, in my case, Steelers, Pirates, or Penguins game. By far the largest cost of attending a race is the travel, food & lodging. The race ticket is relatively cheap by comparison.

And along the lines of what Bobw said..... I don't care how big of a tv you have, it'll never compare. You're only fooling yourself if you think otherwise.
 
hidesert cowboy said:
the younger generation like subarus and rice rockets, not rumbling v8's and muscle cars. look at the new camaros, challengers and mustangs. its not the young generation that is typically buying these cars
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Not this guy :bleh:
 
hidesert cowboy said:
the younger generation like subarus and rice rockets, not rumbling v8's and muscle cars. look at the new camaros, challengers and mustangs. its not the young generation that is typically buying these cars
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I don't think it's the younger generation not being into these cars, but more that they can't afford them. A new Mustang, Camaro, or Challenger with a V8 is probably gonna run at least $30K. Even if you opt for a used one, there are other expenses related to these type cars; such as high insurance rates, horrible gas mileage, and repairs since a lot of used muscle cars have been abused. I'm sure the 19-year old fry cook at McDonald's would love to have a new Mustang GT, but has to go for the '96 Honda Accord instead ;)
 
Johali said:
For anything above general admission the track should have the girls from the local gentlemans club come by to entertain the fans, that would increase attendance. Beatcha to it greg. :D
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This used to happen in the old Snake Pit at Indy, before Tony George 'disneyfied' it.
 
Tighter economy, I can't afford to go to many hockey games anymore, at least football tickets are still reasonably priced. I remember going to the mall on boxing day and heard a pin drop.
 
gandb77 said:
NaSCAR ATTENDANCE IS
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Nascar attendance is down, TV viewership is down, races are boring and drivers who don't win are the biggest earners. Why is this?
Here are some ideas:
1. Not enough emphasis is given to winning a race. The points differential between first and second, etc is
almost nil. 1 point

2. Race teams. Having race teams creates situations where teams helping team members is totally unfair
to non-team racers and very difficult to manage.

3. Cars are designed for drafting and aerodynamics which make passing very difficult.

4. The Chase itself. Under the current point system, just staying in a race is preferable rather
than racing to win.

5. Allowing the media to promote the favorite drivers even though they are non-winners.

Whatever happened to racing to win?
Can these thing be corrected. Well we'll see?

THIS IS WHAT I MEANT TOP POST.
 
Bobw said:
True. But you miss the experience of being at the track.
Then you need to consider the cost to get there and back, lodging, food, adult beverages.
Lodging is/was the killer. A 100 buck a night room goes for 500+ a night during Daytona speedweeks.
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Yep...Watching all the toothless mutant rednecks wandering around drunk...Even in classier areas of the country like Chicagoland, you can pick the southern boys right out of the crowd...lol...Rebel flag bandanas and a six pack of tall boys they paid $36.00 for...Although...some of the checkered flag bikini tops are mighty nice...on the other hand some of those whales need to look in the mirror before they leave their doublewide........
 
hidesert cowboy said:
the younger generation like subarus and rice rockets, not rumbling v8's and muscle cars. look at the new camaros, challengers and mustangs. its not the young generation that is typically buying these cars
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Yep.

I run a 1999 Subaru Impreza RS in the local Rallycross, and all the younger guys love it. The show up in Subaru Impreza WRXs, Mitsubishi EVOs, and Hondas.
 
It's not worth what it cost to go to a race anymore. The races are the same race you want to ten years ago but the prices are out of control. Camping, gas and tickets. if you go the same day as the race the traffic will make you crazy, hours to go 2 to 3 miles.
 
Nascar is a shell of what it used to be.

Fan's can't relate to current drivers.
No longer can you drive what the drivers race.
Chase
Drivers are more marketing reps than race car drivers
The Waltrip/McReynolds effect (everything is over dramatized to the max)
Over the top self promotion
Over saturation, I'll never understand why nascar tries to compete with College Football and the NFL.

and most importantly, they abandoned their core fan base years ago. I've said for a long time that nascar was a fad, when it was no longer the "cool" thing to do, Nascar would be in big big trouble because they ran off the core fan base.
 
If I could change only one thing the skins would be high on the list.
Factory skin, metal, composite material whatever they call it, reinforced braces underneath would be ok and no twisted distorted sisters either. If it has inferior aero then tough titty, change brands are deal with it, I think the brands would be happier, and the cars would look better as well. More manufacturers would probably get involved and gear heads would feel more connected with their favourite brands.
 
gandb77 said:
Nascar attendance is down, TV viewership is down, races are boring and drivers who don't win are the biggest earners. Why is this?
Here are some ideas:
1. Not enough emphasis is given to winning a race. The points differential between first and second, etc is
almost nil. 1 point
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Actually there's always at least a 3 point spread between 1st and 2nd. Winner gets at least 47 points, 44 is the maximum a 2nd place finisher can get.
 
Bobw said:
True. But you miss the experience of being at the track.
Then you need to consider the cost to get there and back, lodging, food, adult beverages.
Lodging is/was the killer. A 100 buck a night room goes for 500+ a night during Daytona speedweeks.
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I can't argue with that. You make valid points.
 
I have to tell you gandb77 , that is a pretty lame list.It's not likely you are a fan , so I'll tell you a couple of things .
#1. No emphasis on winning ? That's what racing is , trying to win . Any racer not trying to win (or finish as high as he can) will be fired by the car owner and the sponsor.
#2.Racing teammates are unfair? Economy of scale makes multiple teams a must in todays economy.
#3. Car design makes aero problem? Tell it to the manufacturers and the car buying public .Nascar just has to race them.
#4. Chase makes it better not to win? Someone forgot to tell Matt Kenseth and Home Depot .
#5.Allowing media to promote their favorite driver ? A little thing called 'freedom of the press' is standing in Nascar's way .
 
At Loudon ,between camping @ the track ,tix for 3 days ,souvenirs, food , DRINK, gas and other incedentials , it was up to $550.00 . Saturday there were 4 races and that was worth the coin . Sunday not so much....A better product would be a nice return for my investment ....
Going back next year again...... BUT ...we're going to Martinsville for the First time next year . Gotta get one of those hot dogs I've been hearing about.....
 
lisa_c said:
I'd like to point out, I think we forget, there is still a lot right with Nascar.
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if your sitting at home and watching the races, but it cost a lot of money and vacation time to be at the races. the races aren't the same as the ocean to her anymore. we will be in OC MD this weekend.
 
last couple trips to the dragstrip both here and salt lake and irwindale showed me most of the guys racing cars are racing imports rather than american rear wheel drive cars of any type, yeah there are some still there but its not what it used to be. the demographic that is interested in racing isn't the same one that would enjoy nascar. I often have people who aren't fans tell me oh the cars are just driving in circles.
 
hidesert cowboy said:
last couple trips to the dragstrip both here and salt lake and irwindale showed me most of the guys racing cars are racing imports rather than american rear wheel drive cars of any type, yeah there are some still there but its not what it used to be. the demographic that is interested in racing isn't the same one that would enjoy nascar. I often have people who aren't fans tell me oh the cars are just driving in circles.
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someone said the young kids can't afford the muscle cars anymore. They only know front wheel drive.
 
Lodging and transportation are the big money eaters. If the track you're going to allows cooler bags you can cut out ridiculous concessions spending, which sometimes runs more than the cost of the ticket itself. The first two are a different story.
 
BobbyFord said:
900 hp., 3400lb. race cars in a 43 car pack going upwards of 200mph combined with an environment comprising of adult beverages, grilled food, fan camaraderie, etc. What could be better? :D
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nothing better then 43 cars starting engines at the same time. But after 20 years of shelling out more money year after year for the same thing it needs to come to a end .
 
to As far as the OP's list goes, Ted pretty much nailed it, but I'd like to further address the OP's assertion that there is not enough emphasis on winning.

As ToyYoda said, there is a minimum of a three point differential between first and second every race. In a sport where every position after first on the track is worth just one more point than the position behind it, and you have people missing the Chase by a point or two and wheeling and dealing to try to get every single point they can, those few extra points for winning are HUGE.

Still not enough emphasis on winning, you say? How about the three bonus points for every win that are given to each of the top 10 drivers after the points are reset to start the Chase? How about the two Chase Wild Card spots that go to the two drivers with the most wins from 11-20 in the standings? What's that? You're still not convinced? Try telling that to Carl Edwards.

In 2011, Carl had the highest average Chase finish of anyone in Chase history (4.9). To put that in perspective, Jimmie Johnson's highest average finish in the Chase is 5.0 (in 2007, when he won 10 races and the championship), and he's a five time (consecutive) champion. Despite that amazing feat, Tony Stewart won the championship in 2011 even though he was tied with Carl in the points. Why? He won five races to Carl's one, and oh, by the way, all five of those wins came in the Chase.

Not enough emphasis on winning? Winning is EVERYTHING under the system we have now.
 
Winning is not everything in NASCAR, because not finishing is so damaging. It's better to stay in 3rd than to take a chance going for the lead if crashing out kills your hopes of making the chase.
 
sloggie said:
Winning is not everything in NASCAR, because not finishing is so damaging. It's better to stay in 3rd than to take a chance going for the lead if crashing out kills your hopes of making the chase.
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that is why mark never won a championship, he always settle, this the best I can do.
 
Second most popular sport on television. That's with only two or three events on TV a week, compared to 10, 12 games of NFL football which is #1. Beats baseball, soccer, golf on and on. Throw in all the other racing series viewership, and auto racing isn't going anywhere. More to come I believe, with the up and coming Global rallycross series running the little S!!t boxes in a stadium setting. Only thing I can see is a problem with motorsports in general is that the coverage is lacking. I expect that to be temporary. gandb77 is another newbe whiner trying to make Nascar to suit him..dime a dozen fair weather fan. The racing has continued to be more competitive, the car inspections have continued to be tightened, safety has continued to improve and Nascar has continued to listen to the fans.
BTW, the points differential between first and second is not one point. Winner gets 46 points, second gets 42. Not including a point for leading a lap and most laps led which are one point each. Max points day..I am sure you have heard Jimmy Johnson say it is 48 points.

Mr. Gregory said:
to As far as the OP's list goes, Ted pretty much nailed it, but I'd like to further address the OP's assertion that there is not enough emphasis on winning.

As ToyYoda said, there is a minimum of a three point differential between first and second every race. In a sport where every position after first on the track is worth just one more point than the position behind it, and you have people missing the Chase by a point or two and wheeling and dealing to try to get every single point they can, those few extra points for winning are HUGE.

Still not enough emphasis on winning, you say? How about the three bonus points for every win that are given to each of the top 10 drivers after the points are reset to start the Chase? How about the two Chase Wild Card spots that go to the two drivers with the most wins from 11-20 in the standings? What's that? You're still not convinced? Try telling that to Carl Edwards.

In 2011, Carl had the highest average Chase finish of anyone in Chase history (4.9). To put that in perspective, Jimmie Johnson's highest average finish in the Chase is 5.0 (in 2007, when he won 10 races and the championship), and he's a five time (consecutive) champion. Despite that amazing feat, Tony Stewart won the championship in 2011 even though he was tied with Carl in the points. Why? He won five races to Carl's one, and oh, by the way, all five of those wins came in the Chase.

Not enough emphasis on winning? Winning is EVERYTHING under the system we have now.
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