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May 17, 2008
All-star events -- obsolete?
By DAVID GREEN
NASCAR's all-star race -- seems as if it should always be referred to as "The Winston" -- has produced some great memories over the years since its inception in 1985. It has also produced some serious snoozers.
Regular readers of this post (all two or three of you -- thanks, Mom) know that I think that's the way life is supposed to be. Some days are diamonds, some days are stones, as the late John Denver once sang; or, if you prefer, nobody ever had a rainbow until he had the rain (Jim Croce).
So, the question of whether every one ought to be a breath-taker is not at issue in this discussion. Rather, I wonder if the time for the concept has come and gone.
I'm not just talking about racing. It seems to me that the notion of all-star games in general no longer has any special appeal.
As far as I know, baseball was the original sport to come up with the idea of showcasing its top players in a single contest. Other professional sports added their versions of it, and NASCAR was a very late comer in joining that party.
College football has and has had, over the years, a number of special events. High school sports have competitions such as the Kentucky versus Indiana basketball series.
All of them are great in that they showcase outstanding players. Usually, the quality of the competition is of secondary importance. It's more of an exhibition than a game. Of course, players have competitive drive and they want to win. But they seldom play with the intensity they show in a playoff or championship or World Series game.
If anything, NASCAR's drivers treat their event just the opposite.
However, because of the nature of auto racing, there's no need for one special event to pit the all-stars against each other. They do it every time they race. The all-star event merely has fewer cars on the track and it doesn't grind on for 500 miles.
Home-run derbies, slam-dunk and 3-point shooting contests and other "gimmicks" have been added to every all-star event in existence today. NASCAR has its unique qualifying formats, its multi-segment races with inverted lineups, its pit crew competition. Why? In all cases, to try to stimulate interest and attract fans.
There's already enough competition for disposable income and time. It's almost as if NASCAR and other sports are competing against themselves by staging these extravaganzas.
I'm not suggesting The Winston should never have been run. It was just one of many great promotions of two of the best promoters ever, T. Wayne Robertson and Humpy Wheeler. The 1992 "One Hot Night" race remains, in my mind, one of the absolute best and most memorable races I have ever seen.
I am suggesting, however, that perhaps we should consider closing the books on it.
Anybody want to bet there will be close to equal numbers of filled and empty seats tonight at Lowe's Motor Speedway?
May 17, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
David you just open the door for Mike Daly!
I think the "All Star" is still relevent, It's home to most of us, and it's a wonderful deal to be able to have family time, and the unsung hero's from the shop attend the race...It's STILL ONE HOT NIGHT
Posted by: Fan#5 | May 17, 2008 12:58:52 PM
David, some great omments
The "AllStar" baseball game is a must see.
Football is ok, but at the college level, for me it is Ohio State vs Michigan, locally it is the ST.C.vs whoever at the county fair.
I agree with you, the race, should be called "the Winston".
A chance for the drivers to just race, let the best team win.
The posabilities today are endless and I will be on the edge of my seat watching.
I think there will be few empty seats and a big tv audiance.
Great Post David
Ron
Posted by: Trucker | May 17, 2008 1:21:32 PM
David,
I'm on the side of the fence that still has the NASCAR All-Star event as a viable fan experience. In fact, of all the major sports, NASCAR's A-S event may be the only one left to have a semblance of an actual competition.
No multi-millionaire NFL player, Baseball player, or NBA player is going to risk a possible "career ending" injury to play for peanuts. That's the economics of the game. Many, especially in the NFL, even seem to develop "A-S" injuries that preclude them from attending. NASCAR has no such issue. A $1 million, winner take all, prize solves the money issue.
I also think that, because the NASCAR drivers compete against each other weekly, that it enhances their drive to win. There are no points to race for; it's winner take all, and that winner has bragging rights in the garage area, where they'll see each other weekly. That's good motivation.
The NASCAR A-S does have a few gimmicks, but I don't see the pit competition as being among them. It gives the unsung warriors, whose performance can win or lose a victory, since pit road has become such a factor, a moment in the spotlight I think they deserve.
I think it'll be a good show. But, like you say, economics could be a factor in the attendance figures. Do you use that disposable income for a non-points event or do you wait for the real deal? We'll know tonight.
Posted by: Keith | May 17, 2008 1:28:24 PM
Holy Crap the Eanrnhardt Nation will be AMPED up 2nite!...I wanted to wear my M&M's hat...I guess i'll stick with Team RedBull
Posted by: Fan#5 | May 17, 2008 1:35:35 PM
#5,
You could always wash down your M&M's with AMP
Posted by: Keith | May 17, 2008 1:44:28 PM
I think this is a wasted weekend that could be far better used to have a real points race at Rockingham, 2nd event at Darlington or something that means something. I don't watch the All Star Game, the Pro Bowl or any of the other meaningless events only designed to make money. Who cares who wins a exhibition competition?
Posted by: Ken in VA. | May 17, 2008 2:56:35 PM
Ken,
You're in charge of the other side of the fence, and it is a valid opinion. But, I'm still pretty sure the drivers care about the outcome.
Another thought, about the event, is that we're 1/3 into the longest season in sports. It gives them a chance to blow off some steam. They're not points chasin', they're just racin'.
Posted by: Keith | May 17, 2008 6:00:44 PM
On Speed???? Dang,I already can't watch the truck races,now I'll miss the Winston.Cmon,FRANCAR.
Posted by: Bill | May 17, 2008 8:34:15 PM
David I as wrong, at halfway point, looks like the fans never showed.
Ron
Posted by: Trucker | May 17, 2008 8:36:29 PM
Hey David,
The fact that I'm posting while intro's for the big show is a personal indicator. Looking at empty seats during the "Bash from Bull" the fans must still be caught in traffic. lol
Never have made it to the event. One friend said it was a great experience.
Seems to me, way too much show,
not enough GO..
Race a points race. If they need a break, havem' get another line of work. While, I may agree that it is not needed, never missed one on tv. Totally wrong that Mikey does not get in as previous winner, while the franchise does.
Go Blue cars!
Posted by: Larry | May 17, 2008 8:53:01 PM
Tell the # 9 fans its obsolete. And who says your vote doesnt matter. Jr. with four tires gets stuck in the pack with nowhere to go, Kasey with none and that was after the 2 and the 99 had proved in previous segments just two tires was a huge mistake. Yep its still relevant and fun to watch.
Posted by: Bob | May 17, 2008 11:23:03 PM
Well I was in turn 4 with all the Toyota peeps and it seems to me the stands where pretty full...Congrats to the #9...Oh lucky me it's 12:30 and the replay is now starting on Speed
Posted by: Fan #5 | May 18, 2008 12:35:13 AM
#5,
Looked pretty full to me also once the main event started.
Well, now they know track position trumps tires for next weekend.
I wonder how many times those darn Allstate women voted to get Kane in the show.
Posted by: Keith | May 18, 2008 7:02:38 AM
This All-State Woman voted bunches! lol Looks like it paid off!! WOO HOO!!!!
Posted by: Graceann | May 18, 2008 8:00:54 AM
The All-Star Race has long been short on good racing and long on undeserved hype. I doubt anyone would have regretted had it been cancelled after 1987 (when some consideration apparantly was given to that idea) because one is hard-pressed to recall any running that was any good - 1994 is the only one that comes to my mind because for almost the only time in the event's history there was a real race for the win.
Posted by: Mike Daly | May 18, 2008 3:51:08 PM
There SHOULD be an All-Star event. I just think it's at the wrong location. If you're going to showcase the "best of the best" why not do it at a track that favors the driver's abilities and not the car's "need for clean air"?
OK - so there's only a few tracks that come to mind...based on what we've seen with the "new" car...
Las Vegas (and what a better place to host an "All-Star" event than Vegas?) M'Ville, and Talledega.
I may be the minority - but I do think that:
1: As fans we need to see some balls out racin', screw the points battle crap.
2: The driver's and teams who have stepped up their game and put their car in Victory Lane should be able to get out there and fight for braggin' rights.
3: Once in a while I enjoy a show that big. It's ENTERTAINMENT, people. Why not?
4: And while the "Some days are diamonds, some days are stones" thingy applies during the regular season - that shouldn't necessarily be the case during this particular event. I'd have no problem with a phantom caution to bunch the field with 3 to go just to see which driver can come out on top.
It's the "All-Star". It should be different from the rest of the events.
Posted by: the6and9 | May 18, 2008 5:48:01 PM
6and9...The AllStar Challange at Lowe's is the Cradle of Nascar, It was held at Hotlanta once but attendance was poor...Speaking on behalf of the Teams crews, Familes, and employee's it's a "vacation" to be able to sleep in your own bed, not be at the track all day...I was home by 12:10...and I'm sure DJ was home by 11:30(He uses a helicopter)...The Nascar community rolls out the Red Carpet during Speed Weeks...open houses/driver appearances abound and check out...
www.600festival.com I can't see Vegas shutting down 12 blocks of the strip to do this!
Posted by: Fan #5 | May 18, 2008 8:59:23 PM
Last night's snoozer not withstanding, I like the All Star race concept. How many times do we hear guys say they didn't want to be too aggressive because they didn't want to wreck and lose points after a normal race? It seems like it happens every week. The All Star race is one of only two races every year, the Shootout being the other, where drivers can think of one thing and one thing only, winning.
The problem with Saturday night's race IMO, is the cars themselves. NASCAR should be embarrassed with the current car because if drivers aren't going to force the issue in the All Star race then it just shows how bad those things drive. I know the idea with this car was to take aero out of the equation but the technology is so far advanced now and the crew guys are so smart now that they're still going to figure out how to make these things aero dependant.
I think they need to get rid of the front splitter, because first of all it's ugly and second, from what I've heard from the drivers, the aero tight problem when someone gets behind a car is just as bad, if not worse than on the old car. If they go back to something similar to the old nose and give more front downforce to these cars then that should help. And more front downforce should also allow Goodyear to bring softer tires to these tracks because teams won't have to be so aggressive with their setups.
That may not be the solution but I think we can all agree that something needs to be done to these cars. The way they are now is just horrible.
Posted by: Ken | May 19, 2008 12:47:18 AM
Went to the race, and while the racing wasn't all that great, the grandstands were packed. I've gone to the All Star race for many years and this was actually one of the best crowds I've ever seen. Great weather, affordable tickets, and lots to see and do certainly factored in to the showing.
Kudos to LMS for putting on the 3 Doors Down concert that was free along with your All Star ticket. We really enjoyed that and the fact there was always something going on the track, whether it was the thunder roadster race or the burnout competition, the track always does a good job of entertaining the fans. Just wish the All Star race would've been beter.
Posted by: Racefan99 | May 19, 2008 9:42:10 AM
Ken, you're on to something about the COT. The fact is the design is junk as far as good racing goes. They had the right solution with the old roof wicker package on the old cars; I know it was tested at Charlotte and Atlanta and I think Vegas in solo-car runs and remain mystified why it was never tried in race conditions.
Posted by: Mike Daly | May 19, 2008 2:59:14 PM
#5 -
I see your point and agree...but at the same time, I want to be entertained and could give a crap about the inconvenience to drivers and families. I will never attend an All-Star event, so I could also give a crap about attendance - I'm watching it on TV...I don't think I've ever watched a race to see the crowd.
Most major sport's all-star games have low attendance numbers anyway.
I want to see the best of the best and I want to see them have to prove that they're the best. That night. On that track.
And I don't care what NASCAR, Humpy, Bruton, of the drivers think about that.
Posted by: the6and9 | May 19, 2008 7:10:19 PM
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