Comments on: The Best And Worst Of NASCAR In 2009

By: Big Daddy Wiltone

Big Daddy Wiltone — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:12:02 +0000

Best, I start my Nascar season with the 24 hours of Daytona. Go figure. Tony was incredible 3 years ago driving on “two” wheels for so many laps until his second shock mount failed. So much for stressed members.
And then the next year. The rain stopping the field for four hours. 1/4 of the race track was under water. “Real” racing Drama.
I also rememberi Dale and Jr. sharing a car in the Corvette Class and almost winning.
And then Jr’s crash the next year with fire and Jr. saying that “someone (Daddy) pulled him from that car.” That was a miracle on live Television.
And Kudo’s to all the other NASCAR drivers that participate in this race.
It is the way that I like kick off the Nascar racing season.
Worst. Speed channel needs to go 24 hours for this race. I bet that there are others that think like me.
One more Best. Dave Despain

By: Bob wilton

Bob wilton — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:17:08 +0000

Best , No tire problems at Indy. Also Buying $40.00 seats @ X track and sitting in the EMPTY $120.00 seats. And Tony and Ryan doing well. And of course Mark also doing well.
Worst, Jr. not doing well. And my favorites at RCR’s lowsey season. I guess you can tell I am a Chevy guy. Also worst. Nascar just does not get it. The COToday is not a race machine. It is a boat. It can not pass in the wake of the boat in front of it. It is that simple. Think fluid dynamics.

By: West Coast Kenny

West Coast Kenny — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:31:17 +0000

T.C. and Journo,

BEST: Your site. You two find stories and angles which broaden our understanding of the sport both on and away from the track. Your decision to moderate the comments encourages thoughtful and intelligent discussion. I always learn something from reading your site, and much of the time, it comes from your readers.

Without TNI and DalyPlanet, I probably would have bailed on the season a few weeks ago.

BEST & WORST: The 48 team winning its 4th Championship. Do not misunderstand me. This might be the most amazing sports record I will see in my life. I can’t think of another which comes close. Chad and Jimmie and Rick and the team deserve our utmost respect on this achievement.

That said, I’m underwhelmed. As I said in an earlier column I have an “absence of like” for Jimmie. He’s a decent person with incredible talent and work ethic. He’s just not very interesting to me. He seems so buttoned-down. Just once I want to see him frown. FROWN!

I guess the other thing which bothers me about Jimmie Johnson, and I’ll admit this is bias, is that he reveals my driver, Junior, as just another driver in the field.

BEST: TNT’s coverage. They got it right. Even without the online component which perfectly complemented the television racecast, they did everything right. Except their portion of the season was too short.

BEST: Mike Joy. Quiet excellence in the same vein as Vin Scully.

BEST: Mark Martin. Thanks for showing us that class and success go hand-in-hand. Hat tip to Rick Hendrick for making it possible.

BEST: Marcos Ambrose. Hat tip: Max Papis. I hope you get a full-time ride next year. Such joy is contagious.

WORST: ESPN’s coverage. Too many close-ups of the leaders and too much focus on the Chasers. One the Chase begins, ESPN treats the coverage as if it’s an IROC event. The other cars are just an afterthought; part of the track to be passed by Jimmie Johnson or “50 year-old Mark Martin.”

I love Dr. Jerry Punch. But his promotion to the booth is the ultimate example of the Peter Principle. He’s got sources and stories second to none, but he should be telling those pre- and post-race and from the pits.

WORST: The season is too long. I might feel differently had this not been another repeat of 2007 and 2008; an inevitable 48 championship.

WORST: Those obnoxious “thinking with your dipstick” commercials. Why in the world was he Scottish? Yes, Home Depot, we get it that Joey Logano is a rookie.

Thanks again, fellas, and readers.

West Coast Kenny
Alameda, California

By: jrjunkie88

jrjunkie88 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:52:02 +0000

Worst: Dale Jr’s season
Best: Dale Jr’s season being over.

By: Journo

Journo — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:18:12 +0000

Thanks Ric!

By: Rich

Rich — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:07:58 +0000

Good: HMS what a program. JJ and crew are the men, like them or hate them you have to give them their due. As a Stewart fan glad to see his and Newman’s teams do good this year. Mark Martin having a great year.

Bad: Mark not winning the championship. Michael retiring. The current 10 race chase. The current points system.

By: Ric

Ric — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:07:37 +0000

Best: The big wrecks this year that the drivers were able to walk away from!!
Best: JJ, MM, HMS making history!
Worst: Media not covering other drivers during the chase!!
Worst: Media not covering enough of the other drivers during most of the season! Why repeat everything over and over. Get info on the other 35+ drivers and lets hear about them.
Best: This website wish I found it years earlier!!!!!

By: JT

JT — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:24:45 +0000

The good: All three series made it though the year in fairly good shape and will be back (and better) next year. When the economy was crashing, I really was afraid that the Truck Series was a goner earlier this year. Thank goodness they made it through okay!

Also good, Mark Martin running like he was 20 years younger and having a great year.

Another good one, Joey Logano, who put his first full seasons in NNS and Cup to good use, showing that he might just be the “Tiger Woods” of NASCAR. Expect bigger and better things from this kid.

JJ and Chad are the men! Winning 4 championships in a row is nothing short of phenomenal.

Marcos Ambrose and Dave R. put MWR solidly in the game with their great runs this year.

As for the bad – Fans getting hurt at the Spring ‘Dega race is unacceptable.

By: knobcreekfan

knobcreekfan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:03:58 +0000

One more worst….
Drivers continue to think they are too good/important/busy to do interviews..storm off and/or shove reporters and fans out of the way. Spend a day following Richard Petty. See how many autograph/picture requests he turns down.

Clint Bowyer…you were interviewed what 2 times this year? And your interview at Bristol was what…3 words and 2 seconds before you stormed off? You are not THAT good. You are not THAT in demand. Opportunity knocks but once. Take it. Fine say what you think…maybe don’t throw f-bombs, but tell us what an idiot that guy is. We are fine with that. Watch some tapes of Sr coming out of infield car centers. He can learn a few things.

By: Doug in CA

Doug in CA — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:52:23 +0000

So many bests and worsts: Martin and Montoya’s seasons are bests; the Homestead race was terrific. The ABC broadcast team was excellent; so was the midseason team with Petty and Dallenbach. The RCR season was a worst, as was the mergermania surrounding GEM, Yates, and Petty. But you want one of each, so here goes:

Best: Johnson wins #4. You may not be a Hendrick fan or a Johnson fan (I’m not), but this is a tremendous accomplishment and deserves the appreciation of anyone considering himself a NASCAR fan. I like colorful personalities as much as the next guy (I’m a fan of both Montoya and Stewart for that reason), but Johnson seems to be a very decent and thoughtful guy who will be a great representative of NASCAR. His comments in the ceremonies yesterday convinced me of that.

Worst: the Mayfield saga. The suspension itself was bad enough, but the collapse of Mayfield’s life was painful to see – suing his stepmother, having to sell off his house – just sad to watch.