November 28th, 2010 
T.C. After a few days off following Homestead, both Journo and myself are back to keep things rolling through the offseason. For now, expect new posts from us on Mondays and Fridays, with Ask The Insiders continuing on Wednesdays. We may decide to change things up, but for now, we’ll go with this schedule.
If you follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/nascarinsider), you know that every Monday we ask our followers what their best and worst was from the previous racing weekend. With 2010 now officially in the books, we want to know what your best and worst was for the whole season. Feel free to give us just one of each, or chime in for each individual series (Cup, NNS, Trucks).
For me personally, I’m not sure I can say I have a worst. The whole year really was great, and I can honestly say it was probably the best of my career. I had the opportunity to work with an amazing group of guys, and we got to enjoy a little on track success. There were, as there always will be, some obstacles to overcome, but what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Hopefully I will be able to keep it up in 2011.
Before I close, I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone who reads and comments on the site, takes the time to email us, and follows us on Twitter and Facebook. Giving you inside information and (somewhat) informed opinion that you won’t find anywhere else is what we strive for. We keep this site going for you. I often wonder as I’m walking through the garage, down pit road, or from some far off parking area into the track about the race fans I pass by. Do they read TNI? Are they looking at me wondering if I’m T.C.? Obviously there is no way to find out, but it’s still interesting to think about. Whether the answer to these questions is yes or no however, thanks for stopping by, and thanks for being race fans. We couldn’t do this without you.
This post is now yours. What was your NASCAR best and worst from the 2010 season?
Posted in 
Worst was seeing, over and over, a healthy portion of backmarker guys get absolutely NO attention on the TV screen. I’d sit here, race after race, and wonder – am I gonna see these dudes next season?
Only way to get your sponsor on the screen is to wreck your car, and the only way to get sponsors, or keep racing, is to NOT wreck your car, but then you ain’t on the TV screen.
And, man…good for Kyle Busch and friends that they can shoot fish in a barrel in lower series, but I ain’t watching for them.
Seems like all the people I watch racing for can’t afford to stay in it.
The best? Watching these same people rip some track up just cuz…the Truck series has been damned interesting on this front.
I just wanna see struggling teams be able to go race honest-like, pay their crews, and maybe get enough to beef up their cars. I see them instead bailing out.
And I wonder when I watch on TV if it’s T.C. I’m seeing – you the one that got hit? :p
Best-Bringing back the spoiler and introduction of the Nationwide COT.
Worst-No major design change announcement until 2013 for the cup “cars.”
My best – just seeing a guy like Jamie MacMurray in victory lane and showing the emotion of it all.
The worst – Espn TV coverage…absolutely.
best…kyle busch in trucks and nationwide
worst….kyle not winning the cup
Best-The return of the spoiler and the highest quality of racing since the COT was introduced in 2007.
Worst-Declining fan interest, especially during the Chase with Brian France appearing absolutely clueless at Homestead. Jimmie winning again didn’t help this. Brian, fans still don’t like the Chase!
Best-The schedule changes for 2011, happy Martinsville didn’t lose a race to Kansas and that date came from Fontana.
Worst-A historic track like Atlanta loses a date to Kentucky. Though, Kentucky will probably sell out next year. Also, adding Chicago to the Chase. Another example of NASCAR using the Chase to favor a struggling ISC track.
worst: the tv coverage. I want to see the whole race. I want to see as much of the on track action as possible. I get irritated about going to commercials during green flag racing so they can cover pit stops when they come back(sorry TC). When I was a kid, pit stops were the time for commercials! If something crazy fast stop or an incident occurred, that’s what the replay is for!
Also, I want a wide shot when there is a lead change or passing for position… side car, on car, in car… that doesn’t show me the ‘action’
If the front is stagnant… roll back through the field. That’s what people do in the stands… we look at the whole race… who is where? Who is having what problem? Why did that car go in the pits? Are they coming back out?
I don’t care what the drivers do when they are not in the cars… especially DURING the race. If there is a red flag or something and they need some filler to kill time, roll that footage then. I don’t care about listening to their smack talking during the race either.
I also don’t care about guessing about the points… that’s why they keep score and tally them up… AFTER the checkers!
Also the worst… some of the wonky calls nascar makes, but that is par for the course.
Best:
return of the spoiler! no wings needed in stock car racing!
RCR running strong again! Tho’ they have more work to do.
Chevy wins the Championship… AGAIN!
The racing itself was pretty good… when you could actually see it and enjoy it.
I liked the more consistent start times as well! Thank you NASCAR!
I’m not a Ford guy, but good to see Roush mixing it up again… I like to see some racing amongst everyone!
Also the best: the nascar insiders!
Ya’ll have some of the most thoughtful and relevant articles, week in and week out.
The ‘real media’ could take some lessons from ya’ll, about what we really care about.
The racin’.
Happy holidays and a merry new year.
-W
The highlights for me were mostly in the Truck series. If they would get rid of Kyle Bush & his ilk, it would be even better. The downside has been Bush, Havick & Hamlin wasting their time & energy in Truck & Nationwide only to loose sight of what they are really being paid to do, win a Cup Championship. Hopefully, the owners will demand these drivers do the same.
Worst – ESPN Coverage
Best – Finally someone giving the 48 a run…
The Best: TNI, my DVR, McFlurry wins Daytona/INDY, Jeff on Jeff Texas slap-down, TNI-ATIW, CE blaming BK for his own mistakes, NW Road America & Montreal, heated & relevant discussions on TNI, Daytona Speedweeks, road courses, Richmond, fly-overs, Martinsville, pork rinds, TNI April fools, peanuts, smell of tires, brakes and exhaust, February 2011!
The Worst: lack of a 1st time Cup winner, DanicaHype, drivers that whine, crew swaps, CE blaming BK for his own mistakes, butt-ugly COTs, loss of Jim Hunter, restrictor plates, talented & deserving drivers losing rides to money bags, David Hasselhoff singing our Nat’l Anthem at Fontana (what?), the off season!
Best: Quite a bit. The races were tighter, we had a championship run all the way up to the final few laps of the final race, boys have at ‘em (although some took it too far and should have still been punished). And the conformed starting times… I love noon (Central time) racing! Its perfect for me, since I often go out with non-NASCAR fan friends at night.
Worst: Nothing specific that I wouldn’t say any year… cookie cutter tracks, some of the tv coverage (TNT was pretty OK, the other two were not).
Huge improvement overall.
Best in no particular order:
1) Kurt and Jimmy bumping and running each other without anybody crashing.
2) Some of those restarts Kyle and Kevin did.
3) Montreal
4) McMurray getting the triple crown
5) Bye-bye wing. Only one car upside down after the change and the racing got better too
Worst in no particular order:
1) NASCAR with respect to Bowyer
2) The Jeff and Jeff girly-man “stupid crash aftermath tussle” (please don’t tell me fans want to see a couple of 5’8″ guys in brightly colored suites going after it like a couple of ten year old girls)
3) The points reset
4) All the intentional crashes
5) All the upside down cars before they finally pulled the wing
The Best-Jamie McMurray winning,like him or not the driving abilities of K.Busch and the announcement of the Stewie Awards .No one seriously hurt and the most important the health of all the Nascar Family Babies born this year.
The worst :
Johnston winning again (nothing against Jimmie but we even vote Congressmen out)
Nascar ‘s idea of expanding the cup play offs to 15 teams not 43.
they did not get rid of lucky dog and quaifing separately for the not in the 35 bracket,what happen to all teams are equal let them draw when every one else does.
THey continue to allow FOX to brodcast with the goof troop
Best for me: Better parity between upper Cup teams, and seeing the 29 competitive throughout the year.
Worst: lack of the “have at it boys” to produce a real rivalry… just spats between friends. If there are any true rivalries in Cup, Nascar has polished the sport so much that it does not show..
Oh.. and the coverage on ESPN did suck… more specifically, the amount of commercials and the play by play from Marty Reid… He doesn’t really fit… Whatever happened to Bill Weber??
Bumpdrafter.blogspot.com
Best: just about everything about the NNS & Truck series from races to TV presentation. I think next year will be even better!
A lot of things in Cup improved this year but I can’t say best because the Chase is still on & more needs to be (un)done.
Worst: Fans slamming Cup drivers who own teams. Owner/driver is the very bedrock NASCAR was founded on. Wouldn’t you love to see a return of a majority of them in all the series??
The best was the racing. Side by side, passing, lead changes, crossovers, couldn’t ask for anything more!!!!!
The worst was having the 48 win yet again. The 48 learned 5 years ago how to play the chase and have mastered it.
Best: Windowlicker crying when Timothy Peters won.
Worst: Windowlicker crying when Timothy Peters won.
Best…LOTS! Carl Edwards FINALLY winning a race and not just a race 2 in a row! Seeing Jamie McMurray absolutely dominate! Boys have at it implemented! Seeing the Carl vs. Brad incident! Jeff vs. Jeff at Texas! RCR returning to dominance. And all of the new and different winners we had in 2010!
Worst…simply seeing Jimmie Johnson “win” a 5th NASCAR Championship!
Here’s to a great 2010 and an even better 2011!
I am sure all the Kyle Busch haters are happy now. They can go back to cheering for #88. Kyles fans will never know how he would have done in the Chase.