I’m starting a new weekly feature here on Examiner. It’s time to try and give the fans a voice. Each week we’ll take a topic and ask for your comments on it.
This week, the first week, the topic came from a meeting I had with Matt Kenseth at the NASCAR Media Day for the upcoming Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday.
Part of the day was spent racing with Matt and the media using go-karts brought into the Speedway by the Richard Petty Driving Experience on the road course Daytona uses for karting events each year.
There were three heat races and a main with the top two media members from each heat advancing to the main. Matt was part of all the heats and was of course put in the back of the field. The first two heats, Matt would dive to the outside and pass most of the field, and would go on to win both heats. I started eighth in the third heat on the inside of the last row. Well by now the field was onto Matt’s starting technique and when he tried to dive to the outside he was blocked. I dove to the inside and was leading when the field got to the first turn and I never looked back. Being able to say I beat a NASCAR champion is a story for the grandkids and was a lot of fun.
By the way in the final I started third but was spun out by Dave Rodman from NASCAR.com. He was very apologetic afterwards and it was all in good fun. Rodman would end up tangling with Matt allowing Jeff Wackerlin from RacingOne.com to score the win.
After the racing I asked Matt if he ever took time to ask questions of fans.
“I do all the time actually,” he said. “When I’m doing appearances or just hanging out with the fans when I’ve got some extra time I’ll always ask them questions. I think its fun when you get some down time and can get to know some different people.”
Matt also said he asks things such as what fans like or dislike about racing. That got me wondering, looking at NASCAR as it is right now, what do you like about racing? What don’t you like about racing?
That's this weeks topic...let me know what you think.
Comments
Like - that the NASCAR drivers, for the most part, are accessible and nice to fans. Many of them take the time to stop and chat and autograph things for us.
Dislike - souveniers and clothing are all made in China. Clothing for ladies made only in small sizes. I hate wearing tee shirts all the time.
Hate the COT! The Checker Cab of race cars. It is as tunable as a cinder block and twice as ugly. Like the road courses. Fans get to turn left and right so why shouldn't the drivers do the same!
The racing has seemed dull ever since the cot came in. Don't know why but it has. Also I am sick of hearing about Junior all the time.
Dislike - The blatant manipulation of the races with the phony cautions and penalties. The COT which has killed off any chance of real racing and the loss of the brand identity of the cars. The every tightening noose of fan access to the drivers. They're nowhere near as accessible as they were 5, 10, or 20 years ago.The poor quality of the boradcast and NASCAR telling the networks what they can and can't cover. The revisionism and PC aspect that have overwhelmed the sport. The leadership which does't lead, but either dictates or does nothing.
Like - The "little guys" like Robby Gordon and Carl Long who are trying to live the American Dream and keeping the hope for the underdog alive. The few remaining family operations that are left. The Truck Series, which has the best racing of any of the NASCAR series. The few remaining traditions that haven't been revised or changed.
How about the chase that has created points racing even worse than ever where drivers refuse to tangle with each other (see Tony Stewart chastising Reutimann at the Coke 600 rain delay for racing him!*gasp*) Plus the cost of going to watch these borefests are way out of hand. The racing stinks and when you throw in Lucky Dogs,out front advantage,and team orders seemingly becoming worse,then you have 4+ hours of wasted time. I personally dropped my Dover and Michigan season tix pakages (2 tracks with terrible traffic btw).
Strongly dislike this top 35 b.s. or any kind of provisional. Should be top 43 fastest, everyone else goes home. If Jeff, Tony, Dale, etc. aren't fast enough, oh well, try again next week. Make qualifying actually mean something.
Like - Good, hard racing; short tracks;
Dislike - top 35; Race for the Chase; Lucky Dog; cookie cutter tracks; political correctness
The chase because it's made points racing start from the begining of the season; the IROC car that doesn't drive worth a darn, poor or biased coverage from the broadcast partners; inconsistent start times; too much pre-race fluff and not enough post-race coverage; Digger, so many commercials you can't follow the race; no through the field and the fact that I have to use my computer AND listen to the radio coverage to have a clue as to what is going on in the race.
I don't like their application of the rules. They make the rules vague and then apply them if and when they want - no consistency!
I’ve been a NASCAR fan since the late ‘50’s and never thought it would become an IROC series. NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint series are now nothing more than the former IROC series….same cars, drivers from different racing series and too much control by the NASCAR Gods.
I would propose a series, where the clock would be turned back to racing a la ‘60’s and ‘70’s racing. It would be refreshing to see the cars brought into the modern age, with overhead cam engines, electronic fuel management systems, electronic suspension control and cars using factory sheet metal so a Ford would look like the street version, Chevy, etc… Factory sheet metal would also reduce sheet metal costs for the teams. The series Gods would only police safety equipment by using the safety features of the COT. Teams would be able to do some REAL innovation, a la the ‘60’s-‘70’s era and not be stifled by all the NASCAR rules. Let the engineers and mechanics do some tinkering with the engines, drive train and suspensio
Like: Racing!! Any kind, cars, trucks, go carts, even COT's.
Hate: Manipulation. Anything done to "make it more exciting". Friends, auto racing is exciting all by itself. If you don't believe that statement, haul your butt to a go cart track and do about 50 laps with others on the track with you. Or take the Petty or Gordon Driving schools for a real look at what your heros do every week.
Dislike the COT, the 'Chase', the Top 35. cookie cutter tracks that are NOT designed for 3500 pound stock cars. Not enough short tracks. Scripted, inadequate TV coverage that ignores 80 % of the field.
Like that it's still better than Indy car races.
I was a fan of nascar until the last couple of years, I hardly ever watch a race or attend on now, the management needs to learn how to manage the farce with Mayfield and Long are typical of the stupidity that runs amuck in nascar. Also the favoritism shown,
About the only thing I like was when Tony Stewart was willing to tell it like it was, but it seems that nascar has supressed that now. By the way the capital letters for nascar were left out intentionaly, they don't deserve the effort.
Likes; COT (just needs some alterations like get rid of the splitter) Bristol and RIR, very little else.
Dislikes; Top 35 (if you can't qualify then you can't run), Digger, Lucky Dog, Politically Correct Crap, Running on bump stops, Pocono, Everyone always praising nascar (B.S.).
Nascar has turned into a bean counter Big Brother and has forgotten who got them to the point that they are at. Return to the roots and remember who brung ya to the dance.
Would like for Nascar to quit the Chase and start making the race more important!
Need to start paying points and or money to lead laps, this would put a "rabbit in front of the driver"and make them try to lead instread of "Taking a Top 5" and going home!These is no incentive to lead now but one lap!
I agree with Mike the phony debris cautions, COT,inconsistent rules and penaties, such as Carl Long, favoritism hurts Nascar!
Likes= improved restrooms, parking at some tracks, Lower ticket prices at some tracks this year!
Like: The way racing was pre Brian France.
Dislike: The COT, the Lucky Dog rule, the top 35 rule, etc. etc. etc.
Like - still the most interesting and competitive form of motorsports on the planet. Most of the drivers are genuinely good people who we can be proud of, unlike say the tattooed thugs of the NBA.
Dislike - The Chase, as it encourages points racing AND cheapens the championship. The lucky dog, BS debris cautions, inconsistent enforcement of the rules, the obsession with reaching "new markets", the horrendous, biased TV coverage, Nascar's idea that the show is more important than the racing.
Most of all, I HATE Brian France, because he ignores the wishes of fans while he simultaneously insults our intelligence by insisting he knows what we want.
Like: the drivers and teams.
Hate: Late starting times, COT, The Chase, Restrictor plates, top 35, lapped cars lining up alongside the leaders, for restarts, NASCAR leaving it's roots and trying to appeal to the people who consider them a fad. No wonder they have lost their appeal, if they turn their backs on the "embarrassing" fans who got them where they are.
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