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March 03, 2007
Mexico???
By Keith Ott
Ok, someone explain to me again why we’re racing in Mexico. I just don’t get it. Is there a big Mexican Stock Car Association I haven’t heard of? Do they even care about NASCAR? Me, I’m pretty sure I can answer both questions with a resounding, NO!
NASCAR has always been about the people. The people that race the cars, and the people who flock to the events. Anybody doing a road trip to Mexico City? I didn’t think so. How safe do you think that road trip would be? The first race commercial would be for American Express…”Don’t bring your Master Card or Visa because down Mexico way the Policia and Bandito’s only take American Express.” If NASCAR wants to go international then Canada would seem the more likely candidate. It has racing. It has safe access, from major American cities. They like the sport . And, they have great beers!
NASCAR’s “Internationalizing” of the sport serves no purpose except to further alienate fans who have already become disenchanted by its seeming lack of concern for their wishes. If they ever create a schedule that contains multiple foreign events it’ll be time for this fan to pick a new sport.
That being said it is a good looking facility and could have a bit of enjoyment for those road course aficionados. Hey, guess what? Most Mexicans are expected to root for Montoya from NASCAR and their local guys…No Shite! Really? Who’da thunk it?
But, it’s time to go racing. So, we’ll see how it turns out.
Oh, I almost forgot...will we see, "dimensión del zorro tres," on Sunday?
March 3, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
There is no other reason
Posted by: Eric | Mar 3, 2007 9:28:05 AM
Eric,
Well, yes. I suppose there is that. Pope Brian always brings pictures of Scrooge McDuck, diving into his piles of gold in the vault, to mind.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 3, 2007 9:45:26 AM
There are only two ways to make NASCAR races in foreign countries work. 1.) Stop racing on road courses! This type of racing is not what NASCAR should be marketing to international fans. If NASCAR is really serious about racing oversees then they should find or build a superspeedway or a Bristol to race on. 2.) Schedule a Nextel Cup points race there. NASCAR should be marketing Dale Jr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, and Jimmie Johnson; not Carl Edwards, J.J. Yeley, Jon Wood, Regan Smith, and a bunch of road-course ringers.
Posted by: stricklinfan82 | Mar 3, 2007 12:02:13 PM
I went to a seminar a couple of weeks back where we were told that the population of Los Angeles County is somewhere around 45% Latino. Think about the populations in most of the southwest. Racing in Mexico might reach some of those folks. I don't think the primary goal is to expand the racing schedule into Latin America, but to interest more Latinos in the US in the sport, and if they can do that with one Busch race in Mexico, I have no problem with it. With all its flaws, we still love our racing, and anyone is welcome to join us.
Posted by: Doug | Mar 3, 2007 12:08:05 PM
Of course I can't find it but I read a really interesting article about Chad Little and the role he is playing in developing "stock" car racing in Mexico. It was pretty neat and talked about how he is focusing on the safety issues as well as highlighting the bull ring racers in Mexico. I am not a big fan of the whole international side of the deal, we have too many tracks in the states that need a race .
Posted by: Mark | Mar 3, 2007 12:19:44 PM
Stricklandfan82,
This is the exactly the type of racing the rest of the world favors. Road rallys and road courses are the norm there.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 3, 2007 12:44:29 PM
Doug,
I think the Latino's in LA and the Southwest have plenty of exposure to racing. Tracks in Texas, Las Vegas and Arizona pretty well blanket the area. A latin Driver like Montoya generates more latin interest than a useless race in Mexico.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 3, 2007 12:48:05 PM
Mark,
Correct, we have lots of excellent tracks in the US in need of events. Not to mention that this 3 week stint (Daytona, Fontana, Mexico City) is killing the regular Busch teams.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 3, 2007 12:51:46 PM
Hey Keith
You do realize that this is the 3rd year this event has been run, right? Just checking.
Posted by: Doug | Mar 3, 2007 1:17:10 PM
Doug,
Meaning? I wasn't in support of it before. It's not getting better with age, buddy.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 3, 2007 1:52:21 PM
SI.com did a ridiculous Lars Anderson (?) piece predicting Mexico and NYC will host WC races by 2020 - there's no way that will happen.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Mar 3, 2007 3:18:14 PM
Mike Daly,
I always love decade long predictions. Take a shot. If you're wrong who's going to remember. And, if even almost right, you're a genius. Ol' Lars got any stock tips? Of course, I'd rather these be of a more current nature.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 3, 2007 3:50:21 PM
International events aren't necessarily a bad thing - Mexico, China...frickin' Africa - doesn't matter. BUT, don't do it during regular season.
Run exhibition races - like the one their gonna run in Shanghai - like the stuff they run in Japan, that's what this Mexico deal should be - an exhibition. IMO.
Give 'em an option - you can run it if you want, but you don't have to...and NASCAR should foot the damned bill for these teams since they're the ones ultimately benifitting from this "exposure".
But, these type of races shouldn't be run during the season.
And on another subject - why the "ringers"?
When's the last time one of 'em actually won one of these events?
Been a while, huh?
Posted by: the6and9 | Mar 3, 2007 4:03:18 PM
6and9,
With testing and a few weeks off, when exactly isn't the regular season? Also, I doubt NASCAR would make it optional, at least at the Cup level. What could be more embarassing than for NASCAR to have an event where it's stars didn't show? Now, on compensation for regular Busch teams, that's a definite, Si! Or, make it a non-points/optional event. NASCAR seems to go out of its way to emphasize how important it is, to NASCAR, to lower costs for Busch teams, while sending them on a costly tour of North America the first 3 events of the season. If I'm a Busch team, a real one, I'm pretty drained financially after the first 2 weeks and I don't care if they make the best tacos in the world...Unless it's mando, this hombre is staying home.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 3, 2007 6:14:25 PM
I'll watch tomorrow if I can. I love road courses, watching those big ol' cars sway through the turns. BUT I think I have to go to an opera...
Posted by: Doug (in CA) | Mar 3, 2007 7:25:38 PM
I just do not understand why we go to "Mexico" when the ROCK sits Idle. I for one really think Nascar to take a good look at its roots.
Posted by: Jerry | Mar 3, 2007 9:00:09 PM
Keith,
Your point that the rest of the world is used to road course racing is well taken. The point I am trying to make is that NASCAR racing is (for the most part) different from racing in the rest of the world, and that is part of the appeal. If I had just one chance to make one of my friends a NASCAR fan I would take him to Bristol or Talladega, not to Watkins Glen or Infineon. In my opinion stock cars simply put on better races on high-banked oval tracks and if I was going to market NASCAR to new international fans I would try to put on the best show possible, which in my opinion would be a Nextel Cup points race on a high-banked oval track.
Posted by: stricklinfan82 | Mar 3, 2007 10:31:46 PM
I WONDER IF THE PACE CAR WILL BE A 1964 iMPALA WITH 13 INCH TIRES ON GOLD WIRES. mAYBE DOING SOME THREE WHEEL ACTION WHEN PICKING UP THE FIELD FOR A CAUTION.
Posted by: jeff | Mar 3, 2007 10:31:56 PM
If Big E was still alive he would've already rattled Pope Brians cage to the point that he went crying out of his fancy little office with all the pillows and chairs stuffed with cash and his little picture of his face on the Mona Lisa.
Thats all I got to say about that.
Posted by: another joe | Mar 3, 2007 10:41:53 PM
Jeff,
It probably will be and Brian France will be driving it with his hair slicked back and greased, and there will be a Taco Bell at the end of pit lane, only open for business when the red flag come out with 5 to go.
Posted by: another joe | Mar 3, 2007 10:46:36 PM
Keith:
"Is there a big Mexican Stock Car Association I haven’t heard of?"
Actually yes, there is. (http://tinyurl.com/2ky33b)
And they race on the following circuits:
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (road course alongside the Busch Series this weekend)
Autódromo Miguel E. Abed (Oval in Puebla)
Autódromo Internacional de Zacatecas (Road course in Zacatecas)
Autódromo de Monterrey (Road course in Monterrey)
Autódromo Potosino (Oval in San Luis Potosí)
Autódromo de Querétaro (Oval in Querétaro)
Trióvalo Bernardo Obregón (Tri-oval in Guadalajara)
They even run with OMG... Chargers, Fusions, and Montes.
Posted by: marc | Mar 4, 2007 1:41:56 AM
stricklinfan82:
"1.) Stop racing on road courses! This type of racing is not what NASCAR should be marketing to international fans. If NASCAR is really serious about racing oversees then they should find or build a superspeedway or a Bristol to race on."
You mean like a 2 mile tri-oval with 6 degree banking in Germany. ( http://www.eurospeedway.de/)
Or like a 1.479 Mile oval called Rockingham. No not THAT one Rockingham England? (http://www.rockingham.co.uk/)
Sorry the EU crowd beat you to that idea and they run stock cars.
Posted by: marc | Mar 4, 2007 1:52:49 AM
This just in from Mike Daly; Restrictor plates at all tracks! Down force, down force, MASSIVE down force, wider tires, MASSIVE wider tires, same as the Modifieds, race to the yellow, race to the MASSIVE yellow! I'm right, right, RIGHT! You're wrong, wrong, wrong, I win, end of story, end of massive story. This doesn't have anything to do with your article you say? Well I say it does and I'm always right! Don't believe me? Just ask me! I'll make up some "massive facts" to back up my(MASSIVE)self. Then I'll repeat them, repeat them, repeat them.
Posted by: ron | Mar 4, 2007 2:33:06 AM
Excellent imitation Ron. I had to take a second look at the name to ensure it really wasn't Daly.
Congrats.
Posted by: marc | Mar 4, 2007 4:48:54 AM
Marc,
A nice little piece you wrote up (you mispelled brunette...and she deserves better). I suppose drug runners running from the law and moonshiners running from the law are analogous. So, similar uses for high performance cars could be expected. However, when you have a double-header featuring 4-bangers it sounds more like local track Saturday night racing than a major series. But, it's a start.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 4, 2007 7:09:54 AM
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