NASCAR at Martinsville

[Guest TNDixieGirl]

I too get tired of the same ole same ole "people only watch it for the wrecks" theory. I've never watched a race anticipating a wreck. It's the inches apart, bumper to bumper, flying around at 200 mph, edge of your seat, who can pass who WITHOUT wrecking, thats a rush for me. If people watch them strictly for the wrecks, those people aren't into NASCAR at all. They're into wrecks. Go sit on I-40 during rush hour. You'll see your wrecks.

[Guest rj8806]

I have been a fan since the early '80's and have to agree with the minority here. I don't watch waiting in anticipation of a wreck. In fact, that's the last thing I want to see(other than a chevy winning ).

Nascar is really screwing up and losing alot of it's core fan base by dropping such great tracks like Darlington and Rockingham and all the bull***** rules they have. The COT is a disaster in my book. IMO, they need to either do away with the restrictor plate or at the very least, open it up more. Watching cars drive single file in the big tracks for fear of pulling out and going backwards doesn't make for great racing. In fact, I think it's a recipe for more wrecks. If all 43 cars are bunched up and don't have the ponies to pull out and pass(or get out of the way), what do they think is going to happen?

Richard

[saintsfanbrian]

Dixie, don't get my wrong, I am a fan but the majority of the people that I know that watch it are doing so for the wrecks.

I also miss some of the older tracks that they don't run at anymore and I would love to see a cup race in Memphis but we know King Willie won't let that happen (not that NASCAR wants to come here)

Have a great day - 17

[Mike.357]

Bryan, NASCAR does run at Memphis Motorsports Park. Both the Craftsman Truck Series and the Nationwide Series (was the Busch Series) both race there.

I am guessing you are referring to the Sprint Cup Series.

All are under the NASCAR umbrella.

No way is the Cup Series going to race at Memphis. There is not a facility there that could handle it.

[Marswolf]

If all 43 cars are bunched up and don't have the ponies to pull out and pass(or get out of the way), what do they think is going to happen?

More to the point, why do they have 43 cars at short tracks? How about setting the number at 25 or 30 and making ALL of the racers qualify to be on the track every week? This owner's points stuff is just crap.

[Mike.357]

This owner's points stuff is just crap.

Actually the owners points and guaranteed starting spots are a lifeline. It costs tens of millions of dollars now to run a full season of Sprint Cup. Sponsors are not going to lay that type of money out on a "maybe we will get to race". I am picking up what you are putting down but it really is not viable. Find someway for prize money to actually cover all the costs of racing and you might be onto something.

running 43 cars even on the half mile tracks is not a problem. Again you have to have full fields to fill grandstands and keep sponsors happy.

Not too many years ago there were back markers entered in almost every race. teams would lease out a car for a no name driver to get into the field. NASCAR gets very embarressed if they cannot come up with a full field for their races, even the lesser series like the trucks. BTS the trucks only start 36 race trucks, not so long ago they had serious trouble filling the field. If you like old school type racing the truck series is the one to follow. It really does have a feel of 1970's Winston Cup.

[Marswolf]

I'd prefer to see the cars that can go the fastest do the actual race.

Multi-million dollar racing teams are one of the problems with NASCAR, not something that has to be protected IMHO.

[Mike.357]

I don't think it really matters if the "fastest" cars make the race. The drivers who are in the go or go home bracket really have no chance at winning anyway. Really I estimate that in Cup racing there are only 20 cars that have legitimate chances at winning. Of course Derrick Cope might beg to differ and that scenario is why they run the races, LOL.

Remember when UPS came into the sport and signed on with a 11 million dollar deal with Yates racing about 8 years ago? People were amazed at the amount of money that they were willing to put up. 11 million now is only going to get you with a mid level team. Wanna race with Hendrick, Roush, RCR, or Gibbs and you better double that amount. I think you can get Robbie Gordon for a bargain deal of about 5 mil still.

I agree that the cost of the sport is ruining things. I would love to see it go back in time somehow. Of course I would like to see my age do the same thing and we all know how that will work out in real life.

[Marswolf]

I understand Mike, I just wish it could go back to the way it was in the 70s, or even earlier. It's become too much of a business, and too little a race.

I wish someone would start a competing racing league. My bet is that fans would come to those races even without the big names and big bucks. Maybe call it True Stock Racing or something. Every team gets to innovate, no restrictor plates, no pit speed limits, reasonable ticket and concession prices, and lots of partying!