Comments on: ‘NASCAR’s In Trouble.’ We Get It.

By: RJ

RJ — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:55:47 +0000

I actually came across a blog while I was trolling WordPress for Daytona 500 thoughts. The writer is posting a daily “How to fix NASCAR” column. It’s pretty interesting. They have a unique perspective on it. It’s at http://4thquarterpunts.wordpress.com/

They’ve done the season schedule and race day so far.

By: Ramblin~

Ramblin~ — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:03:20 +0000

Did anyone see/read wha “Gina” said~?
I want to see racing too~! I want to see racing too~!
I’m sick to death with commercials and Chris Myers, Yackin Larry Mac~!! There are to many people telling me what is happening rather than letting me see it “Live” like I used to. Remember when we could watch the top ten all day, without missing a thing~?? Nascar has been cutting back spending for teams, it’s high time they find a way to cut back on whatever is necessary, so that all the other true fans and I can watch the race~! I want to see the race~!
Ramblin~

By: Doc

Doc — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:18:46 +0000

I get what you are saying, and to an extent I agree. You keep telling yourself things suck and eventually they do. At the same time, pretending everything is fine doesn’t make a problem go away, and NASCAR has a problem.

I love auto racing. Not just NASCAR, all of it. I like everything from NASCAR to Formula 1, Grand-Am, NHRA, Indy, you name it, I love watching it. Most years I wouldn’t miss a NASCAR race for anything. But last year, by and large, the races sucked. They were boring, so much, I didn’t even care to record them and fast forward to the end. Sometime around September, I stopped watching the Sprint Cup races. Just didn’t care. Maybe it’s all me, but the ratings and race attendance show that I am far from alone.

To be fair, NASCAR isn’t alone. F1 last year pretty much sucked from race 1. The Camping World truck races and the Koni Challenge races were far more exciting.

I am hoping this year will be better. I’m anxiously awaiting Daytona, hoping this year will be worth watching.

By: Richard in N.C.

Richard in N.C. — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:21:54 +0000

I’ve been a NASCAR fan since the King ran hemi’s and still am. NASCAR racing isn’t perfect, but it never was – and still beats what’s in second place in my opinion. At some point in the past 15 or 20 years the so-called print media became more and more negative in its “reporting.” Years ago the print media was king as far as information about NASCAR races – but as more and more races were televised, newspaper stories became less important as far as keeping up with the sport, and I believe the print media (at least newspapers) became more and more negative in their writing in order to attract attention. In my opinion the glass is still more than half full.

By: Gina

Gina — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:50:09 +0000

I prefer to be on the upbeat side, too, but I have eyes and what I’ve seen over the past few seasons has not be POSITIVE. I also got tired of having NASCAR’s management tell me in all kinds of ways that everything was wonderful and as a fan I was just stupid if I didn’t realize it.

I go to the track and watch TV to see exciting racing and enjoy myself, not high speed parades and broadcast crews that just don’t understand that I want to see the race, not single cars or all their high tech toys. Wide angle camera shots people — show me the race, not single car, in car camera or the flavor of the week driver.

For the record, I enjoyed Jeff Owen’s article.

By: John

John — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:48:50 +0000

Supposing that the fans, the core fans that is, have to be told what to think. Is selling them way short.
We/they know what we see, & what we want to see.

P.S.
It’s not Kool Aid, it’s whatever shelled out money to be the Official Drink of NA$CAR

By: RA Eckart

RA Eckart — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:22:48 +0000

Negativity is what brings people to the media to find out more info. For right or wrong. CNBC & Bloomberg had their highest ratings during the financial crisis. CNN ratings spiked for the Haiti earthquake.

In the days of fractured media, everyone’s looking for hits to sell ads in a competitive marketplace. The quickest way is to write a controversial headline or a tease about someone not being happy. The body of your story may even refute it, but you got the eyeballs you were looking for.

Really, it’s always been this way. (See yellow journalism in early 20th century). But now there’s more competition. And writers may not realize it, but they sure notice when their “Dale Junior Might Be Gay?” headline racks up the hits.

The only mistake is when a writer assumes all fans feel a certain way because that’s the feedback he/she gets. Really it’s just a fraction of the folks that feel that way. If you let the McDonald’s complaint department tell you about their food, they might tell you it was the worst stuff ever. But the reality is few people write in to tell them the food was fine.

99% of people may be satisfied with something. But 1% makes for great TV/columns. They get the attention because they’re different and have passion. That draws eyeballs.

As soon as I realized this, it made it easier to go back to the words of Caledonian Record writer Big Bigelow, “If you’re not having fun, don’t bother the rest of us who are.”

By: Mrs. Goodman

Mrs. Goodman — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:38:23 +0000

We live in a free country. Therefore, we have the right to think as we please.
Those of us who a realists understand the precarious position in which NASCAR finds itself unsettlingly placed.
Bottom line, it basically sucks.
Know it, believe it……and those of you who wish it well, all the best to you.
Personally, I’m just tired of the same ol’ schitck, and the idea that Danica Patrick will be a saviour is ludicrous.

By: gh

gh — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:28:10 +0000

dont be so hard on Jeff or the others because they have a job to do,, now the real question is why didnt they get a real job to begin with?? is it because the general population has a thirst for information?? accurate or relevant hasnt mattered for a long time people,, in others we asked for it so live with it..

By: Las Vegas Greg

Las Vegas Greg — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:06:48 +0000

Fired up here for the weekend / the season. I woke up at 5 am and the first thing I did was check the lelevision schedule for the SPEED channel. Then, I went to the restroom. True that.

Later today, I may go stand at an intersection with a sign and seek donations to buy tickets for the races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway later this month.

“Will work for tickets”