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September 19, 2005
Actions not detrimental to TV ratings
At least two things are clear after Sunday's race at New Hampshire International Speedway. Everybody's talking and Tuesday will be a fine day.
Seemed like everywhere I went Monday - not a lot of places, a gas stop, breakfast, into the office, out for lunch, then the grocery store - people were talking about the race, its cast of characters and calculated plot twists. That's not at all unusual in Charlotte, but the level of enthusiasm was way up there this time around.
Then again, a lot of what I saw on Sunday was ratcheted up pretty tight, too.
There was and is plenty to talk about, no matter where your loyalties lie.
One guy I spoke with Monday hadn't even watched the race, but that didn't stop him from proclaiming the Sylvania 300 the best he'd never seen. He'd caught some of the highlights on one of the postrace shows and was kicking himself in the butt for not watching live.
"They ought to do that every week," he said.
Well, some of it maybe. I liked there actually being a race there at the end, for instance.
But a lot of the other nonsense, the wrecking by design, "waving" to fellow competitors, helmet throwing and the rest will be deemed detrimental to stock car racing, and appropriately so.
So, whether it's cloudy or even stormy wherever you are Tuesday, expect NASCAR fines to be announced at some point during the day. Other penalties are likely to include points deductions and, of course, NASCAR probations.
Will everyone feel that their driver was treated fairly? No way. And will everything be fine when all is said and done? Even less likely.
But will more of NASCAR's occasional fans find next week's race telecast a little more quickly during NFL timeouts and station breaks?
You can bet your sweet remote control.
What's the shame is that the county fair side-show flavor of Sunday is being talked about more and will be remembered longer than the race that Ryan Newman won - just barely - over Tony Stewart at Loudon, N.H.
September 19, 2005 in Racing | Permalink
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[url=http://blogs.thatsracin.com/checkeredpast/2005/09/actions_not_det.html#more]Checkered Past[/url] is discussing the issue.
[quote]Will everyone feel that their driver was treated fairly? No way. And will everything be fine when all is said and don... [Read More]
Tracked on Sep 20, 2005 9:31:35 AM
Comments
i couldnt agree with you more. The sad thing is, it was probably the most interesting/lowest t.v. rated race ever because of football. It was definitely one of the best races I had watched in a long time. I tivo'd the race and watched it late afternoon into the night. I was so worried that I hadn't extended the recording time long enough to capture the end. What made it so dramatic was that there were all of these drama-filled interuptions while excellent racing was going on up front. I don't think TNT could have planned a better drama. The only distracion through the whole race was the TNT/NBC commentators talking.
The odd thing is, why doesn't NASCAR see the potential in an individual race like this instead of looking at gaining interest in an entire season. Why not focus on making every race this important? The changes in the point system have tried to garner interest in the entire season, making it more important to run well than win. Put more weight on winning!!
P.S. have you also noticed that ESPN is calling it the Nextel Cup "Playoffs".
Posted by: jondeer78 | Sep 19, 2005 4:04:15 PM
Why doesn't NASCAR focus on making every individual race this important and make winning races more important? Because they have this nonsensical fear of a scenario where someone wins ten or so races and by doing such clinches the title with eight weeks to go.
As for the extra attention ignited by the varied wrecks and their repercussions, it was funny listening to Jim Hunter in the pressroom afterward, because he was straddling the old moral tightrope (and some of his remarks suggest he knew it) where such ruffianness is deplorable and yet it has ignited renewed interest in the sport.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Sep 19, 2005 5:52:24 PM
Best race? The truck race was a better race than the race Sunday - the only reason why it is talked about is because of the extra curricular activities....otherwise a snoozer as all NH races are....Stewart dominates and gets nipped at the end....yawn....oh yeah there were a few brew-haha's - which made the race half interesting and more like the WWE.
This race adds fuel to the fire that NASCAR fans only watch races for the wrecks and the cuss words....if this makes a race "exciting" than I don't want to be a race fan. It's the action on the track that makes a race interesting. Not a parade. Which was what Sunday, but for the wrecks, was.
Posted by: Jason | Sep 19, 2005 7:14:03 PM
Jondeer78: "The sad thing is, it was probably the most interesting/lowest t.v. rated race ever because of football."
Bet you a seat on the 50 yard line that isn't true. TV ratings went up last year during the Chase and will continue to do so this year. NASCAR couldn't have asked for a better script to start the Chase. As I noted at my place the New York Times had Gordon in all his glory, helmet in hand, on the front page of its sports section.
When was the last time the Times had any NASCAR photo that didn't have a car in the air and upside down at 170mph? That coverage is priceless and will prompt part-time and non-racing fans to tune into some of the coming events.
Jason: "It's the action on the track that makes a race interesting. Not a parade. Which was what Sunday, but for the wrecks, was."
Guess you missed all the side by side action throughout the event. Including a few three wide passes. People see what they want to see. Sometimes that leads to something less than, or an embellished version of reality.
Posted by: Marc | Sep 19, 2005 8:02:53 PM
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