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Burning issue of the week: How to improve NASCAR
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With a down turn in the economy, and some stagnant 2008 TV ratings NASCAR finds itself at a cross roads. It must adapt to a new environment that will rely heavily on revenue from TV contracts, which means NASCAR must supply a product that makes for good TV. This is a few ways that could accomplish that.
I cam across these two stories at scenedaily.com, the first by Rea White, makes the case that the races are simply too long, and the second by Jared Turner which gives a few tips on how to improve the overall NASCAR product.
First and foremost Cup races are way too long. That is a simple fact. Any TV production that lasts more then three hours is too long. The basic argument here is beyond the Daytona 500 each 500 mile race could be trimmed by 100 miles without a negative impact for the competition or the fans.
For the most part I think that assertion is correct. However it would take away a key element of NASCAR Cup racing and that element is strategy. Let’s face it watching guys drive 500 miles in a circle is boring, but when you add the element of strategy it makes it exciting. Short pitting, two tires or four, one can of gar or two, suspension adjustments, and all the rest are what makes NASCAR cup racing a true sporting event. Shortening the races would eliminate some of those choices.
Now the Truck series proves that the fans would be ok with the elimination of the strategy aspect. Truck races are so short that pit strategy rarely makes a difference in the outcome. My question then would be if we already have this in the Truck series why would we want the same thing in the Cup series. I don’t think that will work out.
Let’s face it strategy in cup racing makes all the difference; Chad Knaus is the main reason why Jimmie Johnson is our three time defending champion. He is clearly smarter, and eager to makes the changes that will get his car and driver to the front. Changing the length of the races would severely impact his influence of the outcome, and that leads us into the next step of improving NASCAR.
We must have a new champion.
A lot of NASCAR critics point to the fact that races and points titles seem pre determined. In a lot of ways they are, predicting NASCAR races isn’t all that hard. Please believe because I use to do it for a living, and it was the easiest money I ever made.
In 2008 beyond Kyle Busch rises to Superstar status was the only real surprise. In fact over the last few years the driver to win the Brickyard 400 has gone on to win the Points title some three months later. That is three months of a fore gone conclusion. These problems are ever more magnified as more and more Fantasy Team owners take long hard looks at NASCAR stats.
But it like this, if I can tell you who will win the title based on a race in August, why would you watch the rest of the schedule? It’s pretty simple, you wouldn’t.
In the end though, NASCAR will need a big time rivalry to spur more interest in the sport. If Carl Edwards can antagonize someone to the point that we see some old school Dale Earnhardt Sr. action on the race track, then casual fans will have a reason to watch.
Granted fighting is not exactly Politically correct but it works for the NHL, and I guarantee you it would work for NASCAR. Think about the 2007 season, I guarantee that on any NASCAR pundit’s most memorable moment list of that season is the scuffle between Juan Montoya and Kevin Harvick at Watkins Glen.
NASCAR needs more incidents like that not less. This sport became famous for a fight at the end of the 1979 Daytona 500, in this respect NASCAR, the teams, Drivers, and most importantly the Sponsors must remember this sports humble beginnings.
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