Pocono

[OldSchool+]

different take on downsizing

It is popular among the sporty set (obviously, and straight up, those on this board excepted), indy car set, and F1 set to bash NASCAR due to the chase, the restarts, the cars not being "stock based" and on and on.

And they can point at the dropping ratings and seats being pulled to justify it.

I maintain, and as has been pointed out, that society and social standards have changed from a car-oriented nation, and racing is simply and unavoidably shrinking, Cup the most noticeably (hang on Jacques, hear me out).

Here is a potential upside:I don't think it will ever go away completely. Not the short tracks, and not Cup. Like banana seat bikes, slot cars, and go carts, there will always be "the faithful" with gasoline in their veins.

NASCAR is good at downsizing, and if they eventually figure out that the South and short track fans are their core audience, the racing may return to shorter venues and the driving, not the drivers, take center stage again.

[luke81]

That makes sense. It's just sad that nascar has fallen so far that it's now being used ( and allowing itself to be used ) to help build off shoot networks. I can't picture Bill France or Bill France Jr. allowing their sport to be shown on second and third tier networks

Really? Once again, you're way off. TNN, TBS, TNT and FX were pretty second or third tier. In 1980 when Nascar was on ESPN that was pretty bottom of the barrel too, and those were all under France Jr. In fact the real money and frequent major network coverage didn't come until Bill France Jr. was on his way out.

[Matt Albee]

At least you keep trying, i'll give you that. In fact, nascar races were regularly televised on ABC,CBS,and NBC as far back as the 1960s. In fact, i think the first Daytona 500 broadcast was 1961.
I would guess that the ESPN experiment was more because nascar was tired of it's races being pre-empted, or the finishes not being shown because networks were switching to golf before the races were over. An all sports network would seem like a good fit. It turned out that ESPN started doing the same thing.

[luke81]

At least you keep trying, i'll give you that. In fact, nascar races were regularly televised on ABC,CBS,and NBC as far back as the 1960s. In fact, i think the first Daytona 500 broadcast was 1961.
I would guess that the ESPN experiment was more because nascar was tired of it's races being pre-empted, or the finishes not being shown because networks were switching to golf before the races were over. An all sports network would seem like a good fit. It turned out that ESPN started doing the same thing.

Tape delayed, edited down clips of the racing isn't what I'm talking about. I'm talking about live, flag to flag coverage that actually matters.

[Matt Albee]

Tape delayed, edited down clips of the racing isn't what I'm talking about. I'm talking about live, flag to flag coverage that actually matters.

Post your phone number. Next time a race comes on the telly, we'll call you to get your opinion of whether or not it's actually going to matter. No point in us wasting our time.

[Weftracing96]

One person mentioned DVR's. One reason TV contracts are so large for NASCAR is the same reason they are in baseball. Due to DVR's, live sports are truly the biggest bang for the buck for advertisers bc studies have proven that's the programming that viewers actually do watch live. People just DVR their favorite shows and skip the commercials. Not nearly as much with live sporting events. The influx in TV money in baseball due to DVR's has been enormous.

[kendo]

networks were switching to golf before the races were over..

Actually it was cliff diving and synchronized swimming.

[Matt Albee]

Actually it was cliff diving and synchronized swimming.

Yeah, you're right. I could never understand the fascination with cliff diving. But then the cliff diving fans probably said the same thing about auto racing.

[OldSchool+]

I believe it is the potential "splat" part that they find interesting.

[kendo]

I believe it is the potential "splat" part that they find interesting.

If you didn't time the wave coming in correctly,it was a bad day.

[kendo]

I maintain, and as has been pointed out, that society and social standards have changed from a car-oriented nation, and racing is simply and unavoidably shrinking, Cup the most noticeably (hang on Jacques, hear me out).

.

The abundance of V8 powered muscle cars that we all had and graced the streets in the 60-80's are all parked in the grey haired garages,out of the reach of the younger generations,only to be seen at an occasional car show...Combine that with the sanitization of the sport and the non existence of the blue collar racer type being involved,NASCAR's best days are in the rear view mirror.

[OldSchool+]

All true, except I believe it was the younger generation that moved away first and the rest followed.

ps--My kid (23) has a 85 Monte Carlo. And no, Scott, it ain't megaflat black.

Nonetheless, if the purses and venues are 80's style, along with the racing faithful in the stands at, say, North Wilksboro, the best may be yet to come.

Hey, it could happen.

I have always loved the IMCA style mods, it could be argued that they are better than they were 10 years ago on the west coast.

[scottgarrity07]

All true, except I believe it was the younger generation that moved away first and the rest followed.

ps--My kid (23) has a 85 Monte Carlo. And no, Scott, it ain't megaflat black.

Nonetheless, if the purses and venues are 80's style, along with the racing faithful in the stands at, say, North Wilksboro, the best may be yet to come.

Hey, it could happen.

I have always loved the IMCA style mods, it could be argued that they are better than they were 10 years ago on the west coast.

How about Metallica flake "Fade to Black"???

[OldSchool+]

Actually, he has recently had some Garrity-style "issues", so it is currently maroon. And black. And white.

When he was little he would grab a shopping cart and run up and down the aisles in the grocery stores. I could tell where he was by listening...

[scottgarrity07]

Actually, he has recently had some Garrity-style "issues", so it is currently maroon. And black. And white.

When he was little he would grab a shopping cart and run up and down the aisles in the grocery stores. I could tell where he was by listening...

Your gonna have to be waaaaay more specific. I gotta lotta issues.....