Posted on 03/22/2006 11:54:47 AM PST by colonel mosby
There's no disputing NASCAR's phenomenal growth in recent years. The sport sprouted from it's Southeastern roots and opened tracks in Kansas City, Chicago, and California. Fortune 500 companies lined up to sponsor cars and drivers. Networks paid $4.5 billion for a TV contract. Officials say the fan base is 75 million.
But, in its race to claim a place beside other professional sports in a world of glitz and glitter, NASCAR is jeopardizing the grass roots fan base that helped build it.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
Our interest in the sport has been declining since Dale Sr. died. We do watch more of the Busch races and Craftsman truck races now. I still wonder if the massive growth is the result of a "fad" or if it will last.
I hate to see a lot of the older tracks go-N.Wilkesboro, Rockingham, Darlington, etc.
Today, for me, the most exciting races are the speedway dirt bike races and I don't see many of them anymore. Short dirt track, high speeds, no brakes, can't beat it!
They want to breathe life back into racing and get the south back to them, start having real stock car races on dirt tracks(remember the moonshine runners), JMO. Thanks for listening.
Ironically, the NHL's financial and labor troubles in the last couple of years may end up being the best thing that ever happened to the league. Once the sport was forced to admit that it has no real future on national television, it effectively reverted back to the old days when teams relied entirely on local ticket, television, and merchandise revenue. So a Canadian city like Winnipeg, which dropped off the radar from the NHL's standpoint back in the 1990s because it doesn't have any impact on television ratings, has suddenly become a hot hockey market again and will likely get an NHL team back.
They usually say "Shalom and Amen" after the prayer don't they?
Well, heck. They stopped giving out cartons of cigarettes. There's no incentive to go.
Instead of wanting to keep the foreigners out, you should invite them to race, so you can beat them, and prove we're the best.
If we never race them, we can't say we're the best.
But not 'Allah Akhbar'? Trouble's a brewin...
They were making money hand over fist, from rabid fans that almost literally worshipped "their" driver. But, that wasn't enough, apparently. Many of these formerly rabid fans are losing interest in NASCAR. Some have begun following NHRA, some have gone back to basics with the dirt tracks.
I'd be willing to bet that authentically "stock" late model American cars, raced at the old, traditional tracks, would draw enough interest to be workable. A classic series targeting certain eras might go over well, too. Seeing old Hudsons roaring around Darlington might be entertaining. Same with Super Bees, Daytonas and all the other factory-modified cars from the late 60s - early 70s
And what happens when Ford/Chevy/Dodge start losing to Toyota?
Great minds and all that. See my post #23!:)
NASCAR is not -- nor has it ever intended to be -- a truly competitive sport along the lines of professional football, golf, basketball, etc. It is basically a combination of a traveling carnival and an entertainment extravaganza.
Toyotas will probably win more often than not.
not that I care.
The new tracks are cookie-cutter and boring.
Most of the new drivers look like they came out of a Hollywood casting call, instead of from a shade tree garage operation.
NASCAR is going Hollywood, and the real fans are going............ going...............going.............
As we all know from history ("Volume III of Norm's Adjusted History of the South"), partying was invented in New Orleans and it worked its way northward over the years and that never bothered us a bit. We're still better at it, and the same could also be said about NASCAR racing.
You are so wrong! The Rock n' Roll Wrestling Connection made wrestling into what it is today. Capt Lou Albano, Classy Freddy Blasse, Bobby The Brain Hennan. The hayday baby, the hayday.
Before it was little local Wrestling Federation with fat guys in body suits. Now its roided guys in body suits.
My personal fav. Superstar Billy Graham, Ivan Putski, Macho Man Randy Savage (when he was a bad guy), etc...
Nascar teams have become a collection of corporate advertisers billboards. And Once and awhile, they actually race cars.
The drivers appear more like whores touting their wares, than drivers.
"Ohh the cameras are pointed at me, quick tire changer guy, throw me a sport bottle with our sponsors logo on it so I can pretend I'm drinking from it! Ohhh yahhh, CHA-CHING BABY!!!!"
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