Not Enough Cars This Week

[ancrdave]

For the first time in quite awhile the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will not have a full field this week for the race at Kentucky as 42 cars are entered for the 43 available starting positions... The last time a Sprint Cup Series race was held with fewer than 43 cars was the 2001 season finale at New Hampshire but that race was rescheduled from Sept. 16 to Nov. 23 because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks... The car of Rick Mast was withdrawn as his team had shut down and no other team entered... Before that, the last race without 43 cars was in October 1997 at Talladega when 42 cars started but 47 cars were entered... In 1997, 42 was the mandated number with the 43rd spot reserved for a former Cup champion that had not qualified... The last time a Sprint Cup Series race had less cars entered than the maximum was in September 1996 at Dover, when 41 cars ran....

On a side note, the Nationwide Series all of a sudden has plenty of entries for Friday's race as 47 cars have filed entries... That means 7 will go home, the most in awhile... but the Truck race on Thursday has just 31 entered, 5 less than the max starting field of 36 but 4 more than they got at Texas...

[OldSchool+]

NASCAR should pay true attention to costs--but they won't, not yet, at least.

But, IMO, their arrogant business model simply won't cut it at the short track level.

Give me Showtime over a plate race any day.

[Phil Jacques]

The 77 team has not raced since before Michigan so there is at least one car. I guess they are re-working their staff/engineers. From what I heard through a buddy of mine who works for TBR, it's not a money issue with that team. I really wouldn't worry too much about being 42 or 43 cars. I just consider it one less lapped car in the way.

[Phil Jacques]

NASCAR should pay true attention to costs--but they won't, not yet, at least.

But, IMO, their arrogant business model simply won't cut it at the short track level.

Give me Showtime over a plate race any day.

NASCAR has so many ridiculous problems. They need to go back to how they were in the 90s and early 2000s. That was some of the best racing in the modern era imo. It's a media circus now and with aero so important on the 6bazillion cookie cutter crap tracks out there, they are afraid to race real hard anymore imo for fear of slipping up and hurting the car.

I miss the days where aero was less important and a driver could make up for lack of handling.

[OldSchool+]

Phil--good to hear from you, sir!

I don't feel so alone in left field now.

[Phil Jacques]

Phil--good to hear from you, sir!

I don't feel so alone in left field now.

Been busy this week brother so I've been fairly quiet other than swapping a few PM's here and there.

I mean, am I off base here? It's possible I am just biased against the 1.5mi tracks and these new cars lol

[OldSchool+]

No, you are absolutely correct.

We are legion (er, um, of at least two...).

[Groundpounder]

Incorrect...they have enough cars for a great race...is somebody going to miss one that runs in the back? I think not...
People make too big of a deal about this IMHO.

NASCAR needs to work on getting enough new fans!

[OldSchool+]

How?

The newbie disco "look at me, I am a race fan weeeeeeeeeeeee" flash-in-the-pan is over.

The old fans are disenchanted for a number of reasons.

For me--why tune in for racing that does not meet Phil's expectations?

I will tell you how--more short tracks, and give me back my Bristol.

Yeah...don't believe I will hold my breath on that one.

They haven't "got" it yet, instead they are removing grandstands to hide the bloodletting.

[Phil Jacques]

How?

The newbie disco "look at me, I am a race fan weeeeeeeeeeeee" flash-in-the-pan is over.

The old fans are disenchanted for a number of reasons.

For me--why tune in for racing that does not meet Phil's expectations?

I will tell you how--more short tracks, and give me back my Bristol.

Yeah...don't believe I will hold my breath on that one.

They haven't "got" it yet, instead they are removing grandstands to hide the bloodletting.

ahh you're a funny guy LOL! I admit it. I am an over-opinionated and loudmouthed asshole.

I agree with more short tracks also... I won't hold my breath either. Got a better chance of seeing Morgan Shepherd win a race...

[OldSchool+]

the typed word is a funny thing

B-b-but Phil--I was being serious!

I concur with your opinion in post #4, and figure if you don't like it, I won't either!

Open and forever disclaimer--If I ever hurt your feelings--or anyone's feelings, please send me a note and we will hash it out.

ps--Morgan was not bad at all back in the day--and easy on the equipment. And since I am gaining on his age, I have a great deal of respect for what he is currently doing, and his Cause honoring "The Big Guy in da Sky".

[Phil Jacques]

B-b-but Phil--I was being serious!

I concur with your opinion in post #4, and figure if you don't like it, I won't either!

Open and forever disclaimer--If I ever hurt your feelings--or anyone's feelings, please send me a note and we will hash it out.

Hahaha! I can take a good ribbing usually unless it's a personal attack. Then you will receive a PM. No worries my man!

I could write paragraphs on top of paragraphs on how I feel about many different subjects in racing in general from Cup to F1 to Weekly. Most people usually agree with what I say. Some disagree, and I can respect others opposite opinions. I will always provide supporting facts with something I say if I can though and will gladly admit if I am wrong.

[Frasson118]

You watch..... some douche bag will try to sue either the track, Nascar, or both, because he bought his ticket with the promise of seeing 43 cars.

[ancrdave]

I will certainly agree with anybody on here that a big number of cars in a race doesn't always provide the best race...
Case in point is the Pro LM class at New Smyrna... A regular 25-lapper draws about a dozen cars and the 50-lap races bring in a few more... but the competition is really incredible this year with a mix of veterans and kids that have produced seven different winners in seven races...
The race this past week had 11 starters... ran 25 laps green to checker and the last place car of Chris Brannon was less than half a lap behind the winner Tyler Thomas...

What is really sad this year is ARCA... They cannot get a full field of cars for any race and a third of the field goes a lap down on the pace lap... This Series was really good a few years ago but has fallen on hard times...

[egspeedway]

I completely agree about the aero package. It has destroyed the TV product on all the mile and a half tracks. Daytona Talladega and the short tracks are somewhat entertaining, and the driver does play a larger role in the outcome. I am surprised it has taken this long to get a short field. The sponsors are leaving or playing a much smaller role in $$$ outlay. The teams with assets are restricted to 4 cars. Unless a sponsor feels he has a reasonable shot at a fair share of the TV time what is the incentive. Add to this the viewership is at an all time low much in part due to the ho hum racing on the majority of the tracks Until the racing improves I see little hope for rising viewers or attendance both of which are needed to get new sponsor money flowing.