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By the time IROC came along, NASCAR was already on life support.
The idea of open competition is a very American idea, and very un-american propagandists in the MSM and Public Screwels have worked to destroy it.
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I ran a factory stock at Manzanita speedway for the 2000 season. I learned real quick the politics at a racetrack... LOL. It was incredible the whiners and cheaters. We ran a claimer class, meaning they wanted stock motors. With certain rules, at the end of the night, the winner could have his motor claimed for $400... some of these guys had 3K in their motors and wanted to fight or leave and never come back when somebody tried to claim. I rebuilt 2 motors to start the season, i had way less than 400 in both, besides hours upon hours of my time... it took half the season for me to get things figured out and start passing cars. I was only one running a manual transmission instead of automatic... did not shift in the race, took green in 2nd and left it there... almost 60mph lap times... an online friend sent me an aluminum corvette flywheel, stock gm part... after that i finished the season really strong, making the main every weekend and getting paid back a few bucks with plans to run again the next year... come back with same car, next spring, fails with numerous new rules including no aluminum flywheels...
Agreed on IROC too, just saying they missed that lesson.
I think 1987, when Bill Elliot showed up to unlimited with a built racecar and kicked their butts. Then they pushed over 200 at Talladega and Daytona and brought in restrictor plates. After they all started building cars instead of stock manufactured vehicles. That caused more accidents than letting them race. If they were worried about fans, dont sell first 100 rows and let them race. With restictor plates they had no power left to drive away to avoid an accident... they knew the risks they were taking, they knew they might die every time they went to the track... i told my kids i loved them before i went to the track too... a couple people died in the factory stock class at that track.... over its long history. Boring cookie cutter tracks was final nail.
I cant explain it... i had a 55 chevy growing up... at the drag strip every Thursday night for “run what you brung nite” instead of street racing. Still beyond my control at times... somebody pulled up to a light, revved that motor and gave me a nod and i told myself NO... that light turned green and motors spooled up and i am cursing at myself to stop this shit but i usually beat his ass, lifted off the gas and pulled over for 10 minutes to let my leg stop shaking... this was 35 years ago, hopefully statute of limitations have passed, I was lucky enough to never hurt anybody or cause an accident or anything thank God!