Last week in this column, I printed some of the many emails I've received from readers concerning why NASCAR is losing so much of its fan base - as evidenced by slumping TV ratings, empty seats in the stands, and a growing sense of frustration (dare I say, boredom?) among many long-time fans.
I promised to share more of your comments this week, and here they are. Combining these opinions with the last ones, you start to see many recurring concerns, most of them pertaining to policies of the Brian France era: The Chase, the COT, the top-35 qualifying rule, the sameness of the cars, the debris cautions, the TV coverage, the political correctness, and so on. For example:
NASCAR has abandoned the fan base for a quixotic vision of the direction they think the sport should go. The COT and the Chase are examples of meddling the fans completely out of racing … The roots of NASCAR was various auto makers' products racing each week based on the same cars they sold. Now, it is ugly cookie cutter race cars costing hundreds of thousands of dollars each, with less than a dime's worth of difference between any of them. I like them safe, but NASCAR's rules are ridiculous. - Gary
I have become so sick of the "debris" cautions and the 15 cars that start the race for something they did last year, not how fast they qualified, because they COULDN'T qualify. The Chase is pathetic … There is no passing (at least not on purpose, only if ordered by the team owners). I was an open wheel racer at one time and loved it. After I retired and went to a lot of open wheel races, I enjoyed the passing and real racing ... The only NASCAR races I enjoy any more are the road courses - they actually seem to get to race. - Larry
I think to fix NASCAR it needs four things: 1) With 43 drivers in a race, the points should be - to win is 43 points, 2nd is 42 points, on down to last, 1 point. 2) No top 35 rule. Everybody has to qualify. No champions provisional. 3) Top qualifier - 5 points. 4) Kill the Chase format. Just my opinion. The way it is now I have quit watching - BORING. - Steve
I've been into nascar racing (no longer deserving the capitals) since the late fifties, what I could watch on TV sporadically. I've had season tickets at Michigan International Speedway since 1974, but have gone to the races there since 1969. Next year I will not be attending races at MIS, nor any nascar races elsewhere, because it isn't what it used to be. I liked it when they ran the cars that the makers produced and if they didn't perform, it was the maker who brought another model out or made some revisions. The COT is just another spec racer. I predict that in the somewhat near future that nascar will have a nascar motor that everyone runs. It's the last item that they don't control. - Rich
I wish that someone could get NASCAR to do something good for the sport for a change. ESPN has ruined NASCAR the minute they "took over." I would like them to do away with the top 35 drivers. Let the top 43 drivers run - that is the true racing. I would like to see NASCAR be consistent in their rulings. I don't care for "green, white, checkers." - An Old #3 Fan
What to do? Go back to the basics: Provide a spec that sets minimum weight, displacement, induction and maximum fuel tank size. The cars must fit the model of the production car they represent and there needs to be a minimum of 500 models of that car sold. Provide the fuel at a predetermined octane level. Add the safety equipment as now mandated. Then let's go racing. Now you will sell out a year ahead of the race. The television audience will grow. Those that have left will return. The innovations will add to the sport and its mystique. I seem to remember at the beginning of stock car racing there were no rules; you run what you brung. And by the way, the race for the Chase begins on the first race of the season and ends with the last race of the season. The excitement will be back in the race, not in the crash. - Lewis
I have been a stock car racing fan since I was six years old in 1953. My father managed a stock car track in the tiny town of Camden, Ohio. So I've been raised around stock cars. NASCAR has been my life since the start … The lucky dog and the top 35 are ridiculous. Week after week we see faster cars go home and then we have some that, because of a champion's provisional or top 35, race that don't even go fast … This is the first year that I have got so fed up. I used to have withdrawal symptoms from November to February, but not this year. This year couldn't end fast enough. When is NASCAR going to wake up? The poor and even medium class people can't even afford to go to a race, and why would anyone want to anymore anyway? - Pat
As far as I can see, the fans were more into the races when truly all the cars were not so highly identical. I am sure the local machine shops who specialized in race work are also mad at NASCAR for their current rules. NASCAR, wake up - let innovation win races. There will never, ever be new track records to strive for under the restrictions in place now. - Unsigned.
Let's try something new and exciting. Send a loud, clear message on cheating. If you get caught, the entire team is suspended from the next regular scheduled event. Racing events limited to two days (except for Daytona Speed Week and the All Star Race). Limit the number of tires for a race - enough of this crap (of) firing new tires on the car if it is not handling - what you got is what you got, get up on the wheel, drive the car and shut up! All races maximum 300 miles or 300 laps (depending on track size). Give a halfway bonus of $20K and 10 points - no more sandbagging, drive it like you stole it! Take the restrictor plate off and let them have at it. Give the car and race back to the drivers and make them earn their money. Lets bring back Saturday night racing along with the excitement. - Brian
I have been watching NASCAR since the 70's when it was first broadcast on a major network and I have been going to the local short track since 1968. My biggest problem with NASCAR (there are many) is the Race for the Chase. I don't know how they can say it makes it more exciting. I (and many others) think it really stinks … I have many friends that have also lost interest. We used to HAVE to watch the race on Sunday, but now it doesn't matter if we do. NASCAR better wake up before they can't fill the seats anymore, because it is going to happen. I have already given up four of my NHIS tickets and I am thinking about giving up the rest of them. I have a lot more complaints but I'm sure that you have already heard them all (top 35 rule, provisionals, scanners, cost is out of control, sponsorship money, commercials, TV coverage, etc.). Good luck to NASCAR and BRIAN FRANCE because they are going to need it if they don't figure it out. NASCAR is not and never has been a "one ball sport' so there is no need for a "playoff". - Don
My 10 cents worth - NASCAR Fan since the 70's, but over the past few years follow it less and less. Winning via pit strategy, fuel mileage, lucky dog pass, too many big money multi-car teams, cloned drivers, cookie cutter cars, COT, "the Chase" - rapidly going the way of F1 - BORING! The good news is, I've returned to my roots - short track racing. Drivers with real personalities (not 10-second sound bytes) actually racing door to door for fun - giving it their all for the pure joy of racing. Action-packed, affordable, and above all...FUN! - Mike
Going to the track to watch a race has gotten completely out of hand. It costs twice as much to go watch a race and you get to see less because no one is racing anyways until the last 50 laps. It's costing so much to race anymore that soon the only teams that are left to race are racing against teammates. It's going to be hard for all of them to pull over and let the other teammate lead a lap. The smaller teams will be forced out because of sponsorship, because they can't get in the race or if they do, not being shown on TV because they are running in the back or because they had to worry too much about getting in the race and not having time to work on getting a car set up for racing. What this all boils down to is, BIG Money has killed racing. Its all about Big Business now and not putting on a great race for the fans. In 25 more years, people won't even remember NASCAR - it will change names so many times we won't know if it's the Bud Pole or Nextel Cup or Sprint or Alltel Pizza Hut Cup." - Unsigned
I hope that last email is wrong in this respect - I hope that NASCAR won't be forgotten in 25 years. There is still time to save the sport, but the powers that be need to take a cue from Wal-Mart - "roll back" all the recent policies that have taken the sport down this self-destructive path. Restore the real drama, excitement, and yes, even a bit of the danger before it is too late.
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.
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