I Used to Love Nascar - But not Any More

What, in the name of Richard Petty, is happening towill slowly show with wavering attendance and
my NASCAR? I want to fall in love again. I want totelevision ratings.
get that feeling back-like an old relationship that 
fizzled and you're still trying to figure out the classic(1) RACE TRACKS MUST BECOME MORE
WWW question...What Went Wrong? Let's go backCOMPETITIVE: Daytona, Talladega and Bristol give
to the good old days-the year 2001.the fans the most competitive and exciting races for
 your dollar. These six races in a 36 race season allow
NASCAR was popular but only to a certainus to watch close bumper to bumper racing with the
demographic-the good old boys of the South. Dalepotential of a caution at any moment. These three
Earnhardt Sr. died in the first race of 2001-thetracks exhibit one common characteristic...deep
Daytona 500. Ironically, his death struck a chord withbanking on the turns thus creating high speed action
fans and non-fans alike;suddenly NASCAR reached aand close racing...and yes accidents. The appeal of
new level and elevated the sport. Dale Earnhardt Jr.racing is danger. Not so much risk that someone gets
became the icon apparent after that tragic day, notinjured but a sense that one wrong move or mishap
by choice but by birthright. This unfortunate momentcould create an edge for one driver and the end of
in time by virtue of one tragic moment put NASCARthe day for another. That's drama and that's what
in primetime ratings territory.fans want. The majority of tracks do not offer such
 excitement. Most of the tracks offer single line racing
With this new found success came corporate moneywith the superior car slowly picking off cars one by
and lots of it. Suddenly race teams becameone; no three wide racing...just safe racing usually
super-teams, leaving the less fortunate behind. Thosedominated by the 12-15 elite teams.
owners that already had a super-star racer could 
afford to add to their stable of studs. Jeff Gordon(2) REVENUE SHARING WILL CREATE PARITY: Let's
spawned Jimmie Johnson, Rusty Wallace spawnedspread the wealth a bit to ensure the future of this
Kurt Busch, Mark Martin spawned Matt Kenseth, Gregsport. Television revenue should be disbursed
Biffle and Carl Edwards etc. etc. All of the sudden,accordingly to the weaker teams and down to the
young drivers became the stars, leaving Dale Jarrett,stronger teams. With more cash, the little guy could
Ricky Rudd, Sterling Marlin, Terry Labonte, Bobbyafford the technology necessary in gaining an edge in
Labonte and Kenny Schrader behind... and insignificant.racing. Hendrick, Roush and the other SuperTeams
The very men that carried the momentum left byneed some competition or fans WILL become bored
Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison in the infamouswith the same drivers winning.
1979 Daytona 500 fist fight on CBS(The first Nascar 
race nationally televised in it's entirety). In this article I(3) CAUTION FREE RACING=CARS TAKING HUGE
gave you a breakdown of what brought us to theLEADS=BORING RACE: The elite teams are so
NASCAR we know and love at this point in time. Insuperior today that these cars are establishing big
Part 2, I will speak and offer comments on whyleads early in the race thus leaving the bottom tier
NASCAR will dwindle in attendance and T.V. ratings inteams a lap down, in some cases, 25 laps into the
the future, unless things change significantly.race. This, coupled with the drivers "playing it safe"
  for the first three quarters of the race has made
Once, just once, I would like to see Kyle Petty win aviewers impatient with the broadcast and reaching
race in NASCAR...or finish in the top 5 or the top 10.for the remote. I've been to three races in New
Heck, 15th place would be something to see. Petty,Hampshire and can vouch that about forty percent
Bobby Labonte, Elliot Sadler, Michael Waltrip orof the fans are out of their seats and searching for
anyone outside the top 20 in standings have nosouvenirs or food(or beer) after about 20 laps. Of
chance of being so lucky...or consistent. Today, incourse, most are back watching for the last 20 laps
NASCAR, your charisma, charm and looks dictatebut I cannot say as much for the television
how well you will perform throughout the season.viewer...the race is probably forgotten about at this
 point.
I have a theory; if you have 2 of the 3 
characteristics, you will have a much better(4) TOO MANY COMMERCIALS DURING
opportunity of getting a ride on one of the top tierTELEVISION BROADCASTS: Isn't racing one big
teams. Top 20 driver, pretty much guaranteed. Thecommercial? Just look at the cars, the driver's and pit
other drivers on the cusp or borderline of these traitscrew's uniforms...heck, the scroll at the top of your
get a drive on the remainder of teams or thescreen has a sponsor changing on screen every 10
Nationwide Series...the others with talent...well, youminutes. Too many commercials=lack of interest. A
can tune into the Craftsman Truck Series. A wealthybetter way, if all the commercials are necessary for
Sprint Cup team and it's sponsors(multi-billion dollarESPN, ABC, FOX etc. to break even, why not have a
corporations) want the best drivers who cansplit screen with the race broadcast continuously? In
represent their particular brand. It's no coincidenceany case, the networks have to bring the race back
that the Sprint Cuppers look like Hollywood "A" listto the fans and not show themselves as some
celebrities and the Truck Series drivers look like...well,greedy money machine.
everyday, average people. 
 (5) MORE FOCUS ON THE LOWER TIER DRIVERS
The squeaky clean Sprint Cup Series is in danger ofDURING BROADCASTS: Every driver in racing is
alienating its core fans by offering a product thatimportant. Even if the chances of winning are slim for
used to be competitive and exciting into predictablesome, every driver WANTS to win and improve
and dull. The Truck Series, which has not beenevery week. One driver that has a season under
affected as much by big money, has become thehis(or her) belt is a year of experience and growth
predominantly more competitive and captivatingmentally and technologically for the the driver and
series. This is Sprint Cup racing at it's peakteam. We, as race fans, need to see a part of each
excitement years, 10-15 years ago. Any one of theseracer and their strategies(and pit stops) throughout a
drivers has a legitimate chance of winning and this,race. Watching Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
more than anything, is why we attend or tune into afor the majority of the broadcast does not allow the
race or any sporting event in the first place...thefan to fully appreciate the drama that is racing. I'd like
outcome is not a guarantee or lock. Sprint Cup is into know how fast Kyle Petty is going, how many
danger of becoming too predictable...the top 12laps Bobby Labonte is down, if Mark Martin's car is
drivers have an 80% chance of winning a race. Torunning well or having problems.
paint a better picture, if you were betting on NFL 
games and guaranteed these odds, you would beI feel that the networks see a lot of these drivers
able to buy your own NASCAR team in a few years.as background scenery, to use a movie analogy. By
 leaving these drivers in the dust and focusing only on
Formula 1, considered to be the highest tier of autodrivers with a high Q rating, the networks are only
racing, has for decades been the highest tier ofreinforcing the fact that the NASCAR Sprint Cup
materialism and excess. The product is secondary.circuit is dominated and ran by the elite.
North American race fans have always put a 
premium on quality of product...the NASCAR productLet's hope that the people of NASCAR do not turn
is in danger of losing its base fans because thethis amazing sport into Formula 1 and alienate a
product has become secondary. Here's what mustsector of fans...I want to LOVE NASCAR again...not
change or the NASCAR fans interest and patiencejust like it!