NASCAR - Specialized race vehicles or 'Stock Cars'?

[CJ]

As an off shoot to this great thread -->> http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f49/when-cj-no-longer-cj-1323/ --<< I thought I would ask the question...

NASCAR - Specialized race vehicles or 'Stock Cars'? What do you think? What are your thoughts?

I'll give mine later but... I will tell you this, I grew up around all forms of racing. In the early 80's I was pulling cables for a now defunct broadcast racing network and one of my best friends is Bobby Roush... You probably recognize the last name - Jack is his uncle so I spent allot of time with several prominent racing teams... Can you guess how I feel about NASCAR now?

 

[Zuni]

What's right with NASCAR?

Lots of stuff, like the quality of the race cars, the drivers, engineers, crew membors, basically everyone involved with NASCAR (almost). The marketing of NASCAR is legendary and that's what has ultimatly made it so popular and accessible to so many people. That's a good thing and a bad thing.

What's wrong with NASCAR?
There are many things wrong (in my opinion) and I know it's unlikely they'll never change but let's start with a 2-3 and see what evolves.
1) The worst rule in motorsports "The Lucky Dog" rule. Why is it so bad? It was indruduced in 2003 with main purpose of stopping racing back to the caution flag. It was meant to stop a potentially dangerous situation where cars continued to race and possibly get there lap back by racing to the start finish line. I'll buy that but why not freeze the positions as soon as the flag waves? 7 drivers have won a race after being given the lucky dog. Does it seem fair that you finish second to a driver who has completed one less lap? It' no longer is a race over a specified distance is it? Did you know Kyle Busch once received 5 lucky dogs in one race and he finished 9th. Is that right?
2) "The chase" I don't even know what to say about this one. Do you or don't you win a championship by competing over an entire season or not. Even though the leader starts with more points in the chase he could lose the championship. What would NASCAR do if 12 drivers who qualified were all within say 100 points of each other? I know this was another brilliant marketing ploy by NASCAR to keep the interest in the season as it comes to an end. In my opinion if you need a "chase" to keep your interest you weren't very interested in the first place. This isn't the same as football, baseball, hockey, and basketball as many argue. The chase has chased me away from NASCAR.
3) This one I kind of waffle on. Too many cautions for "debree", too many accidents, etc. I understand the need for saftey but I want to see racing, not pointless pit stops for a plastic bag on the track, not accidents, not fans throwing beer bottles. I want to see long periods of all out racing and if a driver/car isn't good enough and goes lap down, who cares because he's not who I'm watching anyway.

Okay 3 is enough for now. Agree or don't agree with me, as long we agree to disagree that's okay too.

Anybody want to talk about the lack of diversity in the sport, brand identity, push rod carbed engines, too many races, way too much coverage on Speed?

 

[Thorwon]

I haven't watched NASCAR in over 10 years and until they start running "STOCK CARS" again I'll not watch it. Which means never again.
The whole spirit of stock car racing has been lost.
It's just another fast paced business.

 

[CJ]

I have a feeling this is going to be a great thread...

You have made some good points...

1) I agree, the 'Lucky Dog' rule is as bad as that damn rodent 'Digger'! What other motor sport - or any sport rewards mediocrity? It has turned NASCAR into the 'T-Ball' of racing! Now before I get pounded over that last statement, I understand and support T-Ball to it fullest (I am an Uncle you know), but we are talking so called adults here! The caution already freezes the field, so freeze the damn thing!

2) 'The Chase' is a joke. Let's reset all the work and scoring we have done for the year and level the playing field, that way we can see who has learned and excelled! Give me a break! This just negates all the hard work the teams have done during the prior 80% or the cup! It's a racing SEASON! Not a racing end season!

3) I think I agree... If it is safety related, caution... Something that can puncture a tire, fly up and hit a windshield or? Now, a six pack holder that can plug a radiator... Nope! A target bag! Nope! A used diaper (yes I saw this), nope! This is NASCAR!

So...

Question, restrictors? Good or bad?

My take, lets penalize by aero. We have a 'sport' that has tens of millions of R&D. Lets put the restrictions in place by aero, give them the ability to get out of their own way. We use fluid dynamic simulations in the industry I work in extensively. NASCAR has this capability but chooses not to use it!

 

[LongHorn]

I like NASCAR better before it was on TV. Well regularly any way. I say say shoot digger & lucky dog too!What toyota ever came with a pushrod V8 &while you at it bring back The King, Cale & David Pearson.:driving: & The Southern 500 on Labor Day at Darlington! Call me old fashioned. I'll put away my soapbox.

 

[elwood blues]

I can't stand NASCAR anymore! The car of today, car of tomorrow, or whatever it's called is the worst thing that any racing series has ever done. Followed closely by "the chase for the cup".

There hasn't been anything stock about NASCAR cars in at least 20 years. These new cars are nothing more than spec cars with different stickers and motor makes in them. The racing stinks, the same handful of drivers win week after week. And if you don't have millions of dollars backing you, you have no chance.

There has been more than one occassion that I have said that I think it's all fixed anyway. It all seems way to scripted as to who wins on what track, who leads, and who has the strong car all day long. It's just gotten all to predictable.

 

[dalefan88]

1. the cars are far from stock. i liked them better in the early and mid 80s when i got into it and they run the monte carlo ss and before. i loved it when they could beat and bang on each other. i was a dale sr fan so i saw alot of that.

2. the lucky dog needs to go bye bye. double file restarts and lap cars in the back.

3. take the restricter plates off at the big trackes.

4. let jr run nos so he can win a race.

5. kyle busch should start dead last in every race.

6. get rid of the chase.

 

[Zuni]

let jr run nos so he can win a race.

Now that's funny!

 

[kicknjeep]

Dalefan88 you coming to Nashville Super speedway on the 6th?