Lots of problems and causes, but as with Tony George’s ruination of the Indy 500 the youngest France generation let the marketing tail wag the racing dog.
A cup only holds so much water. When the sun going behind a cloud or a flock of birds taking off merits a sponsor mention, you are in Overkill Land.
I just happened to watch some extended race footage from 1996-97 and it was amazing to see the focus on the competition i.e. the racing. Minimal graphics for the running order, sparse commercial interruptions, no fake yellow flags, no celebrity nonsense, no charity appeals, etc.
A new balance must be struck. But will the same people who abandoned Rockingham and sought out Sparta bleeding Kentucky listen to reason?
The spousal unit (wife) isn’t into nascar as much but will have it on and when it isn’t practical to go hang out elsewhere, I try my best to ignore it.
However, what little I pick up on is an endless drivel about all kinds of meaningless details and overloaded effects on screen.
“as with Tony George’s ruination of the Indy 500”
Don’t forget that Roger Penske played a HUGE part in that clash of egos.
As an Indiana resident, it pains me to remember what the Indy 500 used to be.
The demise of USAC began with two events, Tony Hulman’s death, and the 1979 USAC plane crash that took out the top USAC leadership. That plane was piloted by my first flight-instructor, Don Mullendore.