We finally made it to the opening weekend of the 2009 NASCAR season. As I write this, all we’ve got left to do is qualify the Nationwide cars, and then we can get into some real racing! Since this is sort of my last off-season post, I just wanted to share some thoughts on a few different topics. I’m going to jump around a little bit, so bear with me.
Top 35 and Franchising
There has been a lot of discussion over the last week or so regarding all the points and number swapping between teams, and who it left in and out of the first five races. I know that it bothers some people, especially those who have favorite drivers that are on the outside looking in. Personally, I don’t care either way. It did seem a little crazy this year because there was so much swapping, but again, don’t care.
What I do want to point out here though, is that for everyone who wanted a “franchise” system put into place for NASCAR so that owners who could no longer afford to race could at least get some value in return for their involvement in the sport, what do you think all this points swapping is? If there was franchising in NASCAR and all these teams that we lost were “franchises,” and the departing owners sold their “franchises” to other entities, we’d have a whole bunch of points and number swapping! So you want a franchise system, but you don’t want points swapping. Hmm…
And for those of you who watched the Duels today, did you see Scott Riggs and Jeremy Mayfield race their way into the 500 with teams that were put together only a few weeks ago? It was certainly amazing to see. But guess what? With franchising, those guys would have never gotten a chance to even attempt to qualify. Mayfield and Tommy Baldwin are working on shoe string budgets with a lot of volunteer help, and would not have been able to afford to purchase a “franchise.” These two teams are exactly the reason we should never have a franchising system. Our sport was built on guys like this.
Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!
Once the season ends in Homestead, it always feels to me like Daytona is light years away. The off-season seems to drag on. But now that we are back, it feels like we just got done. I always look forward to getting back to Daytona, because it’s great to see all my friends at the track again. And I’m always ready to get those first pit stops of the season under my belt.
On top of that, I think we are in for a great weekend of racing. All three races have plenty of story lines, and we might be in for one of the best Daytona weekends in history. If you were planning on only watching the 500, you are going to miss out. Tomorrow night’s Truck Series race and Saturday’s Nationwide Series race will provide plenty of fireworks. I certainly recommend watching both.
We Are the #2 NASCAR Blog
I’m sure many of you saw this week that we (The NASCAR Insiders) were featured in Sports Business Journal. It was the first major media mention for us, and it was big. What you might not know, is why we were in the mag.
Every year, before the season starts, there is a website called Sports Media Challenge that ranks the top 10 NASCAR blogs based on their influence, community, and relevance. This is our first year appearing on the list, and we debuted at number two! Only Jay Busbee’s blog, From The Marbles, beat us (and rightfully so, Jay does a great job and is a friend to TNI). We have worked very hard to make this site something people would enjoy, but we couldn’t have done it without you. So thank you for making us the number two NASCAR blog on the Internet!
And Finally...
Since I’ll be busy this weekend (you know, doing the whole pit crew thing), Journo is going to go back to holding down the fort on weekends because he is attached to his laptop and has web access. I hope that everyone is as excited for the 2009 season as I am. Enjoy all the racing from Daytona, and if you see pit stops, look for me! I’ll be the one changing tires…
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on Feb 12th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
TC, I have never been a fan of the top 35 rule nor have I been a fan of Franchising, I beleive that all teams need to quailify their way into any and all races. What I am a fan of,,, I think NASCAR needs to reward the entire group of chase teams, 10 or 12 what ever it may be. The top 12 should be rewarded by NASCAR for their stellar preformance the prior year. I feel that these teams need to be rewarded up and above the rest of the series players, who did not preform as well as the top 12. My thoughs tell me that NASCAR needs to dump the top 35, changing it to the top 12. Change it so the top 12 from the prior year make every race during the current year. Make eveyone else quailify. Make it so 30 cars qualify and there is one champion provisional. This would resolve the issue of selling points. I don’t beleive that we would ever see a top 12 team sell their points. it would be a rare occation to see someone sell their points. Problem resolved. Good luck this weekend. I’ll be watching.
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 7:11 am
Been reading your site since it started and it’s great to see other people think so too .Good luck this weekend stay safe and watch your to toes. Mr.Ed
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Congrats on being in a great blog position. I think most of us know a good blog when we read them for awhile. You guys do a fine job and your efforts show in the content. Thanks!!
Does someone know who that great looking Sprint girl in victory lane is? What a DOLL! I can see why she is on TV every time when the winner pulls in. She adds more than DW to a telecast without saying a word.
Good luck with your race team for the year.
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I watched the Duels on Speed last night – absolutely awesome races! Even most of the guys already locked in the show “drove them like they stole them”.
As for the Top 35 rule, I think it is interesting that every team with full-season sponsorship made the show for the 500. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think that has happened for a few years. Therefore, I think the Top 35 rule is doing what it was intended for, giving sponsors some reasonable level of assurance that their car will be able to race and not be towed home after missing the show.
That said, I agree with Steve that 35 lock-ins are too many. I think 20 or 25 guaranteed spots are enough.
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Congrats on #2, long time reader, you guys do a great job. The new rule change I’m not a fan of, the ends were much more exciting, whether they were “fair” or not. Oh well, I just saw a video posted on one of the other blogs, check out http://www.slotcar2009.com for some action/comedy.
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Congratulations on your #2 ranking – you definitely deserve it. I came from The Daly Planet one day and have kept up the habit daily. Thanks for your great work!
Cheers, AFMSgt
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Hey everybody thanks for the kind words. We were both thrilled and shocked to be included among such great blogs.
Zieke- That is Monica Palumbo the current Miss Sprint. She is adorable and very friendly.
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Steve,
If there was no Top 35 rule, what would happen if a couple of the top cars got crashed in qualifying? I would hate to plan my vacation around a race, spend almost a grand in air fare, hotel, tix, and meals only to find out my driver didn’t make the race.
T.C. and Journo, please make sure all NASCAR fans who have DirecTV know that HotPass will be on this weekend with 4 driver channels. No charge. I talked to an operator at 1-800-DirecTV who said the first 5 races would be on, free.
795 – Kasey Kahne
796 – Jimmie Johnson
797 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
798 – Carl Edwards.
If you don’t have DirecTV, ask a friend with DirecTV for their membership number before you sign up. You get $50 off and they get $50 for bringing you in.
West Coast Kenny
Alameda, California
on Feb 14th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Kenny,
If there was not a top 35 rule most likely you would see much better racing. It was not very many years ago when NASCAR did’nt have the rule,The racing was great.
back in the day you did’nt have the sand bagging during the quailifying because you had to race your way into the show.
As far as spending a grand to go to the races and miss your driver because he did’nt make the show, it’s no different than going to a football game and having your favorite player injured and out of the game. Things happen.
Plus if your favorite driver did’nt make the race on time, he would most likely have a provisional to fall back on.
I understand your concerns, I feel as a fan they are very valid. I as a fan and a racer beleive that any driver and team should have to race their way into the race. NASCAR is free enterprise business, not a franshise. It seems that everyhing NASCAR has done to make changes recently has brought the sport closer to IROC racing, that is something I don’t like because we all know what happened to IROC.
on Feb 14th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Steve,
Go ahead and make the comparison to football, but I think it’s not valid. Football is a team sport. The difference between the definitions of “team” and “individual” sports is fairly obvious. I just looked it up in the dictionary, because you said it with such certainty.
If NASCAR granted provisionals to ensure the most popular drivers made the field, I can’t see how that’s different from the Top 35.
West Coast Kenny
Alameda, California