January 3, 2011
By Matthew Pizzolato
Matthew Pizzolato
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Despite all of the changes that NASCAR officials have made recently in a strenuous effort to restore fan interest, television ratings continue to drop. It's no secret that the recent economic struggle the country has gone though in the past few years has affected NASCAR in areas ranging from sponsorship dollars to fans being able to travel to races. Yet, the economy is showing signs of improvement. Why isn't NASCAR?
Last year's championship race was one of the closest and most riveting in recent memory and the racing is as competitive as it has ever been thanks to the Boy's Have at It policy that officials instituted last season.
Some place the blame for the lack of interest in NASCAR squarely on the shoulders of Jimmie Johnson because he is winning all the time. That idea is ludicrous. If winning an unprecedented five consecutive championships has had any affect on NASCAR it has been to create interest and draw people to the sport.
Long time fans of stockcar racing say that they hate the Chase point format and claim that they don't watch the races anymore because of it. That is the wrong attitude to have because all those fans are doing is injuring they sport they love, or used to love. The Chase is here to stay and isn't going to be replaced, so fans may as well get used to it.
NASCAR officials have made a myriad of changes in recent years in just about every aspect of the sport. The problem that NASCAR is having is that they have made too much change -- too fast, and are suffering the consequences for it.
People in general are naturally resistant to change. When they find something they like and get comfortable with it, they want it to stay the same. However, that just cannot be, not in today's world.
As much as drivers and fans have hated it, the Car of Tomorrow was a necessary change because it greatly improved driver safety. If the COT had been introduced into the sport earlier, how many fatal accidents might not have occurred?
Every major sport has evolved over time, from the equipment the participants use to the playoff formats used to determine championships. And so NASCAR has been forced to change in order to stay relevant, or the sport would have fallen by the wayside.
NASCAR has been forced to evolve; they have just had to do it in a hurry because for years they were enjoying a golden age as stockcar racing increased in popularity and overtook the more popular open wheel racing. Everyone involved with NASCAR became lethargic and resistant to change and now they are paying for it.
Remember the old adage. The only thing that stays the same is that everything changes.
There's nothing wrong with NASCAR at all. The declining ratings the sport is experiencing are simply a growing spurt. While the ratings may never recover to the level enjoyed during the golden age of NASCAR, the sport will be around for many years to come. It just won't be the same old NASCAR.
If you would like to learn more about Matthew, please check out his web site at matthew-pizzolato.com.
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.