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September 02, 2008
Thank God for My DVR
By Keith Ott
The Pros :
- The cars look good under the lights
The Cons :
- Pretty much everything else.
Actually, I had another title in mind, but Aerosmith’s “Same Old Song and Dance” lost out to the much beloved electronic device. Let’s do a fast reverse (nobody has devices that actually rewind still, do they?) to Bristol. Four-hundred laps of dullness with a semi-controversial finish. FF to Fontana and the best thing about Fontana is that it doesn’t have 400 laps. We get the same old song and dance, with no surprise finish. If dullness was a commodity, Fontana would be the export capital of the racing world. It may be a great show in person, but it plays on TV like a 30yo rerun of a bad soap opera. Thank god they put it in the Chase to spice up that most sacred event in all of racing (sarcasm off).
As for the drivers, Johnson, is the only name you need know from Fontana. The only way he could have done more would have been if he’d managed to pass himself for the lead, because no-one else could. Gordon and Stewart remained in their respective slumps, and neither shows any sign of a spark. Biffle, Hamlin, Harvick and Kenseth get honorable mention for being the best of the rest of the field.
The broadcast was solid considering what they had to work with on Sunday. I have to say, that among all the broadcast gimmicks we’ve been subject to, such as strange camera angles, Fox3D, and a freakin’ gopher, that the spotter segment actually made me sit up and tap another beer. That was downright entertaining, so it was probably a mistake.
The CON continues to lower my standards for NASCAR events. Could we please make the damn things go straight down the straightaway? If my car crabbed that bad going straight, it’d be in the shop the next day.
Fontana gets two thumbs down, and had it been a movie, it would be in the straight to DVD category, because, just like at the track, no-one would have attended.
September 2, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
I didn't think racing at Fontana could get worse and it managed to. How many races this year is it where one car dominated, lets say 80%+ of the laps? It's turning into F1.
Posted by: canucken | Sep 2, 2008 9:58:51 AM
I can't argue much on this one. If you were watching on TV, it would've been better to watch your grass grow.
I was there and lived to tell the story.
First, it was a beautiful day. The temperature was in the mid 80s when the green flag flew, which is about 20 degrees cooler than last year. It was clear - the mountains to the north were easily seen. Folks, for those of us who have dreaded Fontana for its heat and smog, this was a treat.
Second, more than one commentator has pointed out that it's pretty rare to see one car as dominant as Johnson was. On one pit stop he fell to 6th, and the 5 cars in front of him were pretty stout, but he had them all after two laps and a tick. It was VERY impressive. What racing there was was well back in the pack, although Harvick and Reutimann had a nice battle for 5th or 4th for a while. I watched my guy in the 31 as I usually do, and he didn't do much, fighting his way up to 12th, then waddling around between 12th and 18th most of the day. My daughter is a Kahne fan, and he wandered around the 10th spot all day. I forgot extra batteries and my scanner died mid-race.
I'm glad I went. I like going to NASCAR races, but have to admit that I have seen better. Many times.
I'm wondering how ticket sales will go next year, when the two Fontana races are only four months apart. Will the fact that it's a chase race make a difference? Stay tuned.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Sep 2, 2008 1:27:59 PM
canucken,
I agree. The F-1's get to modify their own cars, but NASCAR seems to have bought into the "we need big teams, with lots of money, to have good racing," scenario. NASCAR needs to trim the dynasty fat, and develop new blood as owners, and I think it needs a governing body that isn't family owned.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 2, 2008 1:57:21 PM
Doug,
I was going to say something nice about the weather for the crowds, but I figured I'd let you get a good word in.
If the commentators said it was rare for a car to dominate like Johnson did, then their only excuse is that ESPN hasn't had all the races this season. It's almost been the norm.
LOL, I like it, "Waddling around." There were a ton of cars "Waddling around," on Sunday.
Kahne actually reminded me of an old idea I had to improve the Farce. He has two wins and may not make it in. I say, excluding road courses (Ringers), that a win gets you in. If we get 20+ different winners, well I guess we get a big Chase field. If one guy wins them all, we have the 12. This makes even the smallest track equal in importance, so that every event is special. As of now, that puts Newman and Kahne in the Chase.
Fontana has another problem with being in the Chase. Now they have to compete with the NFL. Gas is high; dollars are tight. I can get a whole season of NFL complete with pizza (or chicken wings, for the gourmet fan) and beer cheaper than one race event. I think sales slump. The Chase is a make believe playoff and no-one really cares about the individual events. The Chase doesn't generate ticket sales.
How does one forget extra batteries?
Posted by: Keith | Sep 2, 2008 2:23:40 PM
Keith, gas is dropping in price and will continue to drop both overall and relative to the economy; gas prices aren't that legitimate a reason for not going to races and they'll become less legitimate a reason.
The F1 analogy is apt but that F1 teams can adjust their cars is not particularly relevent. The rules box NASCAR has put teams in is ultimately not the reason for the sport's poor competitive product. It is the combination of too much technology, too much horsepower, the lack of an effective draft (dirty air is still doing the opposite of what it is supposed to do but to far greater effect with the COT - it is supposed to pull trailing cars forward but is instead stopping them), a fundamentally unraceable and unsound car design (see previous point above), an economic system that makes no sense between overall costs and lack of a spending cap and inter-team revenue sharing, too few winning drivers and teams (see above), a point system that emphasizes average finish only instead of performance, and an end result of drivers driving for the points and the paycheck instead of to win races.
This is why the plate tracks are the only oasis the sport has left - because on the plate tracks they have to go for the lead whether they like it or not.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Sep 2, 2008 2:35:25 PM
Keith, you asked about batteries. Well, last night I made a sign with 2" letters and taped it to the box that holds my scanner. That sign (visible when you look at the box on its shelf) says, "There are no batteries in here. You need at least 8 charged batteries for a race." I hope that does the trick.
A kind word for Fontana: they have made some improvements to make it a nice place for fans: the "fan zone" is spacious - plenty of room to cruise the merchandise mall, see the stage acts, eat greasy food, etc. They have refined the traffic flow so that it is far, far easier to get in and out than in the past; I was home Sunday within 70 minutes of the checkered flag, and Fontana is 50 miles from home. There is a small army of folks with brooms wandering around, so the place is kept very clean.
Mike, I'm interested in the concept of revenue sharing, but it seems totally incompatible with what the France family has going now. There would have to be a revolution to implement such a system - the Frances would never allow it.
Finally, as to competing with the NFL in the fall, it isn't a factor for me. I lost interest in pro football when Jim Brown retired.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Sep 2, 2008 3:28:23 PM
Sorry for the second post. Mike, can you e-mail me offlist? I'd like to talk to you about some things you have said here and don't want to clutter the list with it, at least not yet. Thanks.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Sep 2, 2008 3:31:08 PM
Mike,
I suppose, if you can afford the ticket, you can afford the gas to get there. But, gas/diesel also affects food dollars and entertainment dollars. Once gas prices start you thinking about those other dollars, it's easier to rationalize staying home, especially when you're not sure you'll get your money's worth. It also has to have an effect on those long haul fans.
I brought up that the F-1's can "modify" their cars as one of the only base differences between F-1 and the untouchable CON. That's a yes on the CON being deficient. Racing isn't better, and is arguably worse. Passing at the front is by either a totally dominant car or a fender. This car needed more time on the drawing board. Spending caps usually apply to just the athletes i.e. Dallas can't sign a player over their CAP, but, you can't tell Dallas it can't buy nicer uniforms than say Buffalo, so I don't see them happening in NASCAR. Drop the teams to three. Lastly, what a concept, a point system that emphasizes winning. Imagine that.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 2, 2008 3:37:38 PM
Zucker & Co. adopted the same strategy as Kansas; make EVERYTHING else about attending a race there pleasurable, and the attendees will ignore that the racing (or lack thereof) stinks. What kills me is that it has TWO dates! Why????
Now, I said I wouldn't attend a race as boring as Kansas, but I'm leaving the country in a month so the diehard fan in me bought tickets, much to the disdain of my wallet. Kansas does have one of the finest fan hospitalty experience in racing, and runs a close second to Martinsville in accessibility to drivers.
NASCAR isn't as interested in quality racing as we would like to believe. Only the bottom line matters, and the racing suffers because of it. On this matter, I cannot say much that hasn't already been said. That track is the absolute worst at which I have ever witnessed an event. It is even outpaced by Chicago, whodathunkit?
The non-observant fan in me agrees with Mike's POV on plate tracks, at which I believe the new car excels. Then again the old car did just fine and looked way cooler.
I'm ready for Richmond, that place is just ridonkulously cool.
Posted by: Joe | Sep 2, 2008 5:42:12 PM
That race sucked......period. It had nothing to do with the CON either Keith, the racing was horrible with the other car too. I will elaborate about that later this week.
I DVR'd the race as I was at Wrigley Field all day on a group outing. Made it home to watch the last 70 laps and all of the Old Style at The Cubbie Bear wouldn't have made it better.
That track (No offense to you Doug who obviously is a die-hard) does not deserve two races.
Posted by: Mark Young | Sep 2, 2008 5:50:55 PM
Mark, I'm a die-hard because I live in SoCal and Fontana is my "neighborhood" track. I'm not sure I can mount a persuasive argument that it "deserves" two races. I read a figure of 70,000 on Sunday. That's low, but let's say two races drawing 75,000 each. If another track can draw more in two dates, then how can Fontana make its case? You're right - it's bottom line, and that's bottoms in the seats. Personally, I'd rather have one Cup race and an IRL race. I imagine that they want to give it a couple of years with the October date before taking a hard look at that second date, though.
Another issue is whether people go or don't go due to the quality of racing. If fans show up for that, then Bristol should see empty seats pretty soon, right? Everyone says the racing there has gone downhill? I tend to think people go to a NASCAR race because they want to go to a NASCAR race, and unless oyu live near several tracks, racin' is racin'.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Sep 2, 2008 6:59:25 PM
Joe,
Well, at least you can get some shopping done at Fontana and not miss a beat. Still, the best racing at Fontana is probably at the exit gates trying to get home.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 2, 2008 7:07:14 PM
Mark,
LOL, at least the old car went straight. This thing is a car designed by committee, and I don't see it living up to it's hype.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 2, 2008 7:09:37 PM
The one time I didn't DVR the race, stayed up for the whole thing and trotted off to bed a very disgruntled fan. Good grief.
Keith, like your annual dissing of the Chase, I inject my annual dissing of no Labor Day race at Darlington. It should've been here!!
Anyway ... the only thing that kept me tuned in was hoping and praying for Kahne to finish top 5, for Bowyer or Ragan to had a run of bad luck (sorry to their fans) and him to get elevated to at least 12th. But I knew better.
I wish there some sanity involved with bestowing the points b/c I don't see how Kahne can win, but someone with more top 5s ranks above him. I know, I know, y'all are going to preach the consistency sermon. Whatever. The points suck. The race sucked. The chase sucks. At least Busch didn't win. Lots of the guys had loose cars, didn't they?
But I do like Richmond. Here's hoping that storm doesn't mess with the show.
Cheers!!
Posted by: Doris | Sep 2, 2008 7:12:55 PM
Keith,
That car was designed by committee but there are 43+ committees out there picking it apart. The "crab walking", or rear-end angle that we see is the only way they can get this car to turn through the center of the turn. I hope that after this season NASCAR will loosen some of the restrictions on chassis modifications.
Don't blame the car on an 8 second win by Johnson. They had that car dialed-in. Each week we see 2 or 3 cars who really have it figured out. Then another 4 or 5 that are close and the rest are just getting paid to drive fast.....I am jealous.
Posted by: Mark Young | Sep 2, 2008 10:13:52 PM
Doris, I agree with you. I think if I could have pushed Kahne with all swearin' I did he would have been able to pass Johnson(puke) and win the darn thing. Just can't make myself like Johnson. I was hoping for struggles from the other two, but I figured it would backfire and get Kahne, so I repented and said sorry's. Still didn't work. If Kahne doesn't catch up this week-end I would rather it be Ragan.
Posted by: Graceann | Sep 2, 2008 10:30:53 PM
Mark,
Ahhhh, the old "it sucks for everyone equally," argument. Not buying it. If they have to do drastic things, like making the rear crab out to make it turn, then it wasn't designed properly nor tested thoroughly or completely. NASCAR "shotgunned" this wedding of man and machine, and now we're stuck with it.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 3, 2008 4:13:15 AM
Doris,
Richmond is usually a good event, but I cringe at the never ending "If the race ended now," in/out of the Chase drama, we will be subjected to.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 3, 2008 4:22:18 AM
I'm takin Mark's side on this Chief, to me it's no different than twisting the bodies of the old car...remember we had simular problems with the Lumina when it was introduced
Posted by: Fan #5 | Sep 3, 2008 5:58:31 AM
#5,
Could be it's just my conception of what I like in a stock car, but, hey, I'm part of NASCAR too, and going down the straights sideways doesn't work for me. Saying it's as bad as another bad car doesn't make it a good or acceptable substitute to me. They just substituted new bad problems for the old bad problems, and the racing has gotten no better.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 3, 2008 6:32:03 AM
I own a device the rewinds. Don't have TIVO or DVR. I don't even bother taping races to watch if I fall asleep. I went to bed at 11 pm eastcoast time. When I read Sunday newspaper, the finishing order was the same as the running order when I went to bed.
Talladega is loading my inbox with info about the October race, specials, and how there's still plenty of seats available under the "all you can eat" program. And AMS has started advertising on tv and radio. Nope I can nap at home for no extra money.
When they switched 2009 dates around, I don't even want to think about chase race at Fontana. New Hampshire is bad enough then the 1.5 mile cookie cutter tracks.
Hope NA$CAR is happy.
Posted by: 3faninGA | Sep 3, 2008 7:40:41 AM
3faninGA, We hold tickets to Talladega, very good seats. This year though we have been discussing if we will even go. The racing hasn't been "off your seats" and with the economy in a sad shape just not sure its worth it. This has always been my anniversary gift, something I really look forward to every year. This year its not the same, the "sleepers" are still asleep and so are most of the fans.
Posted by: Graceann | Sep 3, 2008 8:32:01 AM
Graceann,
To be fair, the economy is a big decision maker for many attendees of all major sports, and not just NASCAR. Prices are out the roof. But, unlike other sports, NASCAR gets one chance per weekend to do it right. Local fans may head to the track regardless of its past performances, but, if I'm long hauling it, I'm going to pick and chose more carefully what events I spend my racing dollars on.
Posted by: Keith | Sep 3, 2008 9:55:17 AM
Keith, you're right, I forgot to mention how I wanted to puke every time one of the commentators made Chase related opinions -- oh let's see, then I would've been in the bathroom the whole race!! I'd rather hear BBB. Argh!! (I need an exploding head emoticon!)
I'd like to make a Richmond race in person some day.
Graceann -- being a Kahne fan these last two years has been a rollercoaster ride! 2006 was stellar, 2007 was crash and burn, and 2008? Neither stellar nor C&B, but enough on the cusp to have kept hoping.
Some day I will make it to Talladega. I hope you reconsider and end up having a great anniversary, even if the racing kinda sucks. It would be nice to have someone special, cheek to cheek, while swilling beer and chomping peanuts at the track. wink.
The economy is a big reason I only went to Darlington this year. I set time aside for Dover, but driving up there is a real drag.
Posted by: Doris | Sep 3, 2008 10:22:04 AM
Graceann - I haven't been to any races this year, and I could have gone to Bristol free. Just don't want to bother as it's luke warm racing. The cost of gas is a big factor for me. I remember about a month or so ago, someone in Marketing from Talladega called me to find out if I was planning to renew my seats. I told them no, then they asked what they could do to entice me, I told them to lower cost of seats ($120 seats are what I have) and give me a gas car. I only live an hour from 'dega, but that extra gas is what I need to go back and forth to work.
I always sent to Charlotte for the Winston (whatever it's called) and the 600 as that was birthday gift, but not this year. And I doubt I'll go to AMS in the fall either. When AMS built all those suites after the tornado went through a few years ago, they also changed mentality. Before you could park anywhere. You could enter the track by any road. Not now. Last time I was there for a race, they made me get out on interstated and in 1 hr worth of traffic to enter a certain way. I take back roads, with easy access, but that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Sitting in traffic when I avoided it in the first place.
Posted by: 3faninGA | Sep 3, 2008 11:47:47 AM
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