Turn 3

Loss of regional identity takes a back seat

By DAVID GREEN

An email exchange with Doug in CA prompted these points of discussion regarding the matter of NASCAR expanding beyond not only its regional U.S. roots, but beyond the national borders. As Doug summed them up:

1. Is NASCAR going international, with visions of a single international series?

2. If not, is this exposure of stock car racing in other countries a good thing?

3. How about foreign drivers (Montoya, Villeneuve) coming into NASCAR?

4. How about American open-wheelers like Hornish and Lazier? Any different reaction?

One overarching reaction -- wow, how quickly we moved past questions about national expansion to questions about international expansion.

Seems as if it were only yesterday that everyone was ga-ga about how "NASCAR has outgrown its Southeastern U.S. roots." I've always maintained that the sport of stock car racing has never been exclusively a Southeastern U.S. thing, and that the regional stereotype was flawed, or at least dramatically exaggerated. I won't go into that unless someone writes to invite discussion, but there's little question that NASCAR-style stock car racing is indeed an American sport.

As for Doug's questions:

1. I think the notion of an international touring series for NASCAR's (fill in the blank) Cup Series is not completely far-fetched, but I believe if it ever happens, it will be a long time from now.

2. If that never happens, or until it does, I believe international awareness of the sport will have good and bad consequences for stock car racing in America -- good in that the visibility, popularity and commercial appeal of the sport will be enhanced, and bad for those same reasons, if that makes any sense.

3. I'm with Doug on this one. I like the influx of new blood. What I'm having to get used to is their full-time status. I grew up with drivers such as Foyt and Andretti and Gurney taking occasional busman's holidays to compete in the "taxicabs" and NASCAR regulars taking their shots at Indy on Decoration Day. That provided a special treat on the dates in which those guys competed. Now, the mindset is that everything has to be "super" and all-consuming. I'm foursquare against that. If everything is special, nothing is. Hence, all the dissatisfaction about present-day NASCAR racing -- "every lap counts," the Chase for the Cup advertising slogan goes, and so the fan is readily led to expect that every lap is going to be a hum-dinger. Sorry, guys and gals; not gonna happen. (I side with the majority regarding Villeneuve at Talladega, as Keith discusses in his current piece. That's stupid.)

4. Ditto my comments on No. 3 above. The only reason I hate to see somebody like Sam Hornish go full-time NASCAR is that I don't want NASCAR to be the only game. I want Indy Cars and sports cars and drag racing and sprint car racing and dirt late models. Somebody has to stay home and be the stars and leaders of those other sports. They can come and race in NASCAR when they have the opportunity and more NASCAR guys ought to expand their horizons as well. (If they're going to compete, I like the way Hornish, Lazier and Dario Franchitti are easing into the Cup deal, the way JPM did, and not taking such a giant step forward the way Jacques is attempting.)

I look it at much the same way I do about scientific theories that the Sun will someday burn itself out, and life on this planet will be destroyed. I have no idea when or if that's ever going to happen, and I couldn't do anything about it if I did. So, I'm not going to waste any time worrying about it.

We all have our opinions on it, and discussing them is fun. But there's no point in taking any of it too seriously. Que sera, sera.

NASCAR is NOT a Sport its a Reality TV Show

By Keith Ott

They’ve done, “it,” again, those boys masterminding NASCAR have flipped me off once more.  And, this won’t take long to explain.  Is not this “Chase,” their, very own, “creation/farce,” not sacred?  Are not the “Chosen 12 Gladiators,” the “Untouchables,” to battle for glory, unscathed by the other 31 mere mortals, in the name of Nextel/Sprint?

Then, wtf decided its ok for an open wheel driver, Jacques Villeneuve, who has never driven a stock car in competition, to make his rookie debut at Talladega, in the COT?  This playoff is a joke.  And, as a sport, NASCAR is becoming a joke.

The driver field should be set at race 26.  You don’t change players when the post season starts.  You certainly don’t let a rookie join the ranks during the playoffs.  And, I don’t care if Jacques has won 5 Indy, 6 CART and 4 F1 Championships.  He’s a stock car rookie and shouldn’t be allowed to race in the playoffs.

The reason for it is TV.  NASCAR needs to make a story, week after week, to try to entice people to watch.  That’s not sports.  That’s reality TV.   The Chase isn’t doing it.  So, let’s throw something out there to stir things up.  It shouldn’t be a first race rookie.

The drivers are certainly athletes (My definition of athlete is: someone who uses eye and body coordination; strength, and endurance to achieve a competitive goal.), but NASCAR looks less like a sport every year, IMO.

I also hate:

The Lucky Dog

Paris Hilton

Britnobody

And Taxes       

Just Shut Up Denny

By Mark Young

Well my friends I think we saw young Denny Hamlin's alter-ego on Sunday and it wasn't pretty.  Tempers flared in the garage area, nothing new, but what was said after-wards that just really ticked me off.  I am basing this blog off of Jim Utter's article written on Sunday evening for TR.com where he described the confrontation between Denny Hamlin and Kyle Petty in the garage area after Denny wrecked Kyle, and subsequently himself.  Take a read of Jim's piece and then let me know if you agree when I say....Denny Hamlin JUST SHUT UP.

U WANT SOME?

“We’re in a clutter of leaders and he is racing his own little battle. Some days it’s your day and some days it’s not – just get out the way.”  I know he didn't say that did he?  Come on Denny, you must be serious.  If you and the other eleven guys who made the Chase are untouchable then maybe it should be like football practice with quarterbacks and you should all drive a bright red car so people know to stay away.  Here comes a Chase guy....I better pull over and stop.  I don't care if the guy is fighting for 35th place in the points or 45th, they should not heed the way to you just because you are in the Chase.  I watched the video multiple times, Kyle had nowhere to go from the moment he came off of the corner to where you punted him......and yourself into the wall.  If he went low he would have hit the car to your inside....then what?

Kyle Petty is one of the most courteous drivers on the circuit.  He realizes that he isn't in the Chase but he is in a battle of his own in an attempt to stay in the top 35 in points, a battle that though, not as significant as yours, is very important to his team and his sponsors.

Should the NASCAR regular season only be 26 races long?  Perhaps once the Chase starts only the 12 teams that made it should race?  Yeah, that's the answer.  The TV ratings would go through the roof for sure!

Kyle Petty never should have gone to Denny's car in the garage, and he definitely shouldn't have hit his helmet.  But I don't blame Kyle for doing it.  Patience comes with age, I guess Denny hasn't learned that yet.  His car was good enough that if he had waited for Kyle to move it would have happened as soon as there was an opening.  Denny's impatience may have cost him a championship.......

Dover Shorts

By Keith Ott                      

I’m sorry, but unless the legions of Earnhardt and Gordon fans have taken to wearing grey, there were a ton of empty seats at Dover.   I don’t blame them.  NASCAR gets one shot every weekend to be the best sporting event on TV.   But, I haven’t seen anything lately that would compel me to watch a race.  In olden days, I’d be making a batch of “Buffalo Wings,” rounding up a friend or two and chilling with some ice-cold beer.  Now, it’s…The Anthem, I love a great song; the flyby, partly because I’m a high tech guy and I love the toys.  And, partly because, being military I know that in that plane are warriors going, “Hell yeah,” who have to go home to women saying, “I don’t care what you flew over, you’re still gonna cut this grass.”  Such is the life of our true heroes; and the first 10 laps…After that it starts to look like every other race so it gets DVR’d.   Anyway, here’s my take on the “Monster Mile.”

The broadcast was terrible and Wallace, indeed, does sux at it.  He talks to hear himself talk.  I’m sorry, but what the hell is a fresh pit stop?  And, if they say, “For more info on “Anything” go to “wherever”…search word buttsquat,” one more time I will choke someone.

Note to Hamlin:  It’s called “Racing” and not “Gimmie” for a reason.  Just because you’re in the Chase you don’t get like a “Move over, it’s me, Denny Hamlin…Chase guy,” card.  And, the fact that you pissed off the person who is arguably the calmest guy in the sport should tell you something. 

The COT suxs.  It suxs because it doesn’t do anything for the sport.  How is racing any different than it was with the old car?  I will give it safety and that it’s indestructible, but where’s the racing?  There’s still no passing.  I think, and this is JMO, NASCAR went the wrong way.  The old car destroyed racing because it was allowed to become an aero-monster and they all became identical.  Now, the new car is totally identical and it doesn’t race.  I think they should have gone back to basics…factory cars that fit factory templates.  Toyota, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Honda, Kia…I don’t care.  Part of the old NASCAR was rooting for your favorite car model…NASCAR may call it a Chevy etc, but the only thing Chevy in the COT may be the engine.   I have a hard time getting all worked up over an engine going around the track.

Edwards!!!  What’s his punishment if indeed he was “Out of Specs” in post inspection?  I have my thoughts, but I want yours first.

Farewell to the Flying Saucer

By DAVID GREEN

What a sad coincidence, the news that Grover Clifton (G.C.) Spencer had passed away Thursday. Four days earlier, I was with the Kentucky Vintage Racing Association at G.C.'s home turf, Windy Hollow Speedway in Owensboro.

Another of the men who laid the foundations for the sport that has grown to NASCAR Cup Series proportions is gone, and too many of today's fans never knew of him.

I guess that's the way things are, though. Many who are instrumental in the formative stages of any endeavor are gone before the greatest success and notoriety can be achieved. At least there are some of us who take note of G.C.'s passing and remember his exploits.

Spencer achieved a measure of success on small tracks in Kentucky and surrounding states before he broke into the fledgling NASCAR circuit. When I first heard of him, I didn't even know he was from Owensboro. He was running the Grand National division full-time then, and was operating out of Inman, S.C.

Later, I found out about his exploits in the area where I was born and now live. I never saw his famous "Flying Saucer" modified -- I believe it was a '37 Chevy -- that won so many races. I wasn't even born when Spencer began winning races in the car, in the late 1940s.

But I saw him race in NASCAR when it was still possible for a privateer to take part in that sport and expect to hold his own. I cheered for his performance in 1965, when he finished fourth in driver points. He had 14 top-five finishes, including three second-place runs -- at Spartanburg, Hickory and New Oxford, Pa.

For all the glittering spectacle Cup Series racing has become, there's a flavor and texture to the old days that is all but glossed over now. That's why I enjoy participation in vintage racing so much.

I wish G.C. could have joined us one time at Windy Hollow.

Just Shut Up With Talk Of Changes!!!!

By Mark Young

The NASCAR NEXTEL Chase For The Cup was not even through it's first race weekend and word started spreading about possible changes to the points system for 2008.  To quote Archie Bunker I say "For cryin' out loud!!!"  Now Jim Hunter mentions the possibility of a bonus award to the driver leading the points series after the first 26 races.  Jeff Gordon and his team knew the rules when the ever-evolving Chase format started this year that his lead would go away, why do you think they weren't worried when he went through a streak of sub-par finishes.  If Jeff Gordon wasn't worried then why does Pope Brian France feel inclined to take the NASCAR Rule Book, which is really an Etch-A-Sketch, and change the game again?  JUST SHUT UP AND LEAVE IT ALONE!!!

U WANT SOME?

Has the NFL ever changed the rules because a given team missed the playoffs?  Did the NHRA change the rules because John Force missed the U.S. Nationals?  The answer to both is HELL NO.  Did people not go to the U.S. Nationals because Force was out?  Again I say HELL NO!  Do you see the trend here?  All of the other sports in America have rules and the sanctioning body stands behind them.  Why can't NASCAR make rules and stand behind them?  The credibility factor of NASCAR and this Chase format , in my opinion, is at negative levels.

The fact that the rules are always changing makes the comparisons to wrestling more realistic than laughable.  NASCAR needs to expand to new markets like I need a third eyeball.  They should take time this off-season to lock themselves in a room and come up with a reasonable rules package and stick to it for a while.  Not one year and change it because one of the chosen ones miss the Chase or because a television network forced them into it.  Speaking of TV networks did anyone notice what the PGA did?  They turned their season upside down at the end and created a play-off system all aired on NBC.  Common denominator there is NBC my friends.  They shell out big bucks to these sports and somehow manipulate them to increase their ratings.

I'm fed up with the way NASCAR is trying to create drama.  Whether by changing the points system or by changing the cars.  Don't get me wrong I still like the COT, it is a good move, but I am beginning to find some major faults in how much NASCAR has locked down the ability for teams to get better.

Brian France needs to take a look at the past and see how the sport really got as big as it has.  Great drivers, great races, and great fans.  If he keeps changing things constantly for the sake of "expanding the fan base" those great fans won't be around much longer.

That's what I think, what say you?

Bowyer-ed to Death

By Keith Ott

I thought I’d give Clint a little credit in the title, because he gave the race what little excitement it had.  And, I want to put the emphasis on “little.” It was a slow start to a Sunday sports afternoon for me.  In fact, I think that recording both the Buffalo Bill’s pathetic efforts and Loudon’s lackluster race had the DVR wanting to take a nap.  I, for one, couldn’t blame it.

Loudon does get credit for having a great fan base.  91K, and it looked like a full house, is a credit to the facility and owner.  Especially during a time when other facilities in larger markets are having a hard time filling seats.  So, thumbs up to the Loudonites for their race support.

The COT is sinking lower in my esteem.  The promise was better racing, with passing, and greater safety.  The reality, thus far, seems to be a bulletproof car, no-one can drive or pass with that is safe.  The racing was poor at Loudon and it wasn’t just Bowyer.  With NASCAR micro-managing the COT we may not see it improve much either. 

Jr. was in the race Sunday.  Finally, the media gave him just the correct amount of air time.  I don’t see a Stewart-like charge through the chasers from him.  DEI will focus on Truex, and for Jr. it’s almost time to pack up the war wagon; say goodbye at the shop party, and head to hopefully greener pastures.  The #88, another of NASCAR’s “well kept” secret announcements, is a good number for him.

Except for the lack of racing it was hard to find anything to comment on at Loudon.  So, added up, I give Loudon and the COT a D.  The fans get an A and Bowyer gets an A+

Clint Bowyer, Finally King Of The Mountain

By Mark Young

NASCAR started the 2007 racing season saying that they wanted to put an emphasis on winning.  Jimmie Johnson proved that by turning things around with a late run to the chase winning two of the last three races leading to the Chase to vault himself to the top thanks to the bonus points provided for winning races.  What the bonus point did was shuffle Clint Bowyer, who had a very consistent 26 races, straight to the cellar.  Yesterday was one of those Cinderella type days for the #07 team.  They made very few changes to the race car all day and dominated to win their first race.  For that Clint Bowyer is King Of France Mountain.

Does this mean Clint is going to win the Chase?  The odds are still against them but one thing is for sure, this team and driver is not having the Sophomore blues like so many teams and drivers suffer through.  They have been very consistent throughout the year and now that they have a win under their belt along with making the Chase for the first time, regardless of what happens next this season can be considered a success.  Too bad Richard wasn't there to celebrate with Clint, I am sure he was watching or listening out West.

Good luck the rest of the season Clint and congratulations.

Global aspirations

By DAVID GREEN

Believe it or not, the McLaren spy scandal, the spirited battle for a driver's championship, Flavio Briatore's latest sweet young thing and how much money Bernie Ecclestone really has are not the only things Formula One pundits are talking about these days.

Consider this, from Grand Prix.com:

"There are clear signs from the United States that NASCAR, a series that understands how to deal with fans and gives them what they want to see, is quietly building up for international expansion."

The article, published without a byline Friday, cites the defection of Juan Pablo Montoya (South America), the move of Marcos Ambrose from Australia's V8 Supercars, the test drives of Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) and the anticipated arrival of Dario Franchitti (Scotland, with Italian lineage) as signals of an increasing international flavor for Big Bill France's little taxicab racing series -- and predicts that a more cosmopolitan driver lineup will be naturally followed by a more cosmopolitan fan base and, eventually, an international schedule of events.

Then there is the new Speedcar Series -- "Spanning the Middle East, Asia and Australia," according to its slogan -- which will run in partnership with the GP2 Asia series beginning in November. Check 'em out, y'all; these cars are Chevy Monte Carlo NASCAR machines.

They are Cars of Yesterday to American race fans, as they have the traditional front airdam and blade rear spoiler. You were wondering what was going to happen to all those suddenly-obsolete machines? Well, I have a wild guess that all of 'em won't be going to ARCA.

Even the most parochial of NASCAR fans should recognize some of the drivers who have been signed up -- Jean Alesi, Johnny Herbert, Stefan Johansson.

The cars are unabashedly, unapologetically American stock cars. It's weird.

You have to wonder whether the folks in Daytona Beach will be offended by the name -- "Speedcar." No, it's not all that similar to NASCAR; it's not an acronym (although the name is sometimes spelled in all-capital letters on the Web site) and it's made up of two words that are very much public-domain items, but most of you probably remember that the Auto Zone parts chain started out as Auto Shack until the Radio Shack folks took exception.

Or -- the plot thickens! -- perhaps the folks in Daytona Beach are behind all this Speedcar stuff, or at least in cahoots with the oil sheiks and others from Dubai who are behind it.

You want to pick nits? OK, go ahead. Many old-school stock car racing fans would take issue with the assertion that NASCAR truly does understand "how to deal with fans." NASCAR exhibitions in Australia and Japan have gotten less than gonzo acceptance. American-style stock car racing was long ago introduced to overseas audiences by GIs, and startup organizations in Europe have never really caught on in a manner that would threaten the F1 crowd.

And, as an English teacher and long-time editor, I couldn't help noting that the Speedcar slogan actually reads, "Spanning the Middle East, Asia and Australasia," not Australia.

Perhaps all those things render this discussion much ado about nothing. However, as a Baby Boomer, I remember when America's National Pastime went Japanese. To keep up the international theme, I'll use a French term and say this is all terribly deja vu to me.

Grand Prix.com concludes its article by stating, "F1 should be watching and not spending all its time worrying about Max (Mosley) and Ron (Dennis)."

Stay tuned for further developments, folks.

Ya wanna talk fines?

By Keith Ott

  Just when we think that NASCAR is the only player doling out fines, along come the F1 people and the NFL.  And, surprisingly, to me, these guys got it right.

NASCAR treats fines like candy.  It goes into a fund that goes back to the drivers.  I’ve always thought that NASCAR fines should go to something like “Victory Junction.”  I mean fining a driver and then giving him a percentage of the take at the end of the season…is just wrong. 

Back to the fines…F1 certainly knows about money and I’m pretty sure they have set a record for a fine…100 million.  LOL, That’s about 47 Euros (2 Billion Canadian), but it’s still pretty hefty.  If the biggest money sport on the planet can fine a major team 100,000,000 dollars (That’s a lot of zeros) to make a statement, then why is NASCAR afraid? 

Chase IV starts in Loudon…Ugh, someone remind me if I like or hate this track.  The Chase is boring.  It does nothing…..All the drivers we are watching are the same drivers who were at the front of every race we watched this season.  There are no eliminations, no consequences.  In effect , NASCAR has said, “Ya’ll teams with the biggest sponsors and the best cars, rejoice.  You may not have earned it but you deserve to be onstage in NY.”

Back to the fines…The only thing dumber than Belichick stealing Jets defensive signals would be Hendrick stealing Waltrip setups.   500K is a hefty fine…The team only got 250k.  Maybe the Belichick magic is based on fraud?  LOL, I’m from Buffalo and a Bills fan (fair winds and following seas Kevin), we’ve always wondered about ol’ cheatin’ Bill.

That’s it until I review and decide if I like Loudon…  You, Loudonites, is there a signature food for the track?  A local custom or legend?   I’d like to hear.

My focus this weekend will be on the race and not the Chase.  Yours?