People probably saw the media stories about the France family possibly wishing to sell their majority interest in NASCAR. The sport has been struggling for many years, and the Frances’ various “fixes” have not worked. I presume some semblance of stock car racing will always be around — maybe on some regional level — but I question whether this will ever again be considered a major deal. Maybe someone can come in and revitalize it, but it makes you wonder.
NASCAR Being Sold?
- Thread starter JohnnieHolmesNole
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So you are saying cars going left in a circle for hours at a time is not entertaining?
I never understood why it became as popular as it did. I just don't understand any of the appeal. To each his own I guess, there are many who say the same thing about soccer which I love.
Man, the rise and fall of NASCAR has really been remarkable to observe. I know it gets mentioned from time to time, but it's probably one of the more staggering sports stories in my lifetime, especially because there are a lot of little contributing factors, but no easy answers.
What I think it intriguing is not so much the fall, but the rise. How did a sport that was largely regional and rural and small town explode so much. Where did the fans come from? Why was the demand so strong that they abandoned smaller traditional tracks for the new giant tracks?
Was it all people just falling into the hype over something new? Was it a flush of sponsor and promotion money that convinced people they really cared about something they only marginally cared about before? Did people go out to these races or watch on TV because it was the hot new thing? And then over a number of years realized it wasn't that entertaining?
To me, it really seems like something that grew by supply rather than demand. A flush of sponsor and media money found its way into the sport at a time when there was more money to be spent than places to spend it, creating an artificial buzz that people responded to they way they do to something that gets enough hype. NASCAR then screwed over traditional fans in pursuit of all these new fans, and when the new "fans" grew tired of it, the traditional fans had already learned to live without it.
It's really a crazy bubble story at the intersection of sports and business that deserves a 2-hour 30 of 30 or HBO documentary.
What I think it intriguing is not so much the fall, but the rise. How did a sport that was largely regional and rural and small town explode so much. Where did the fans come from? Why was the demand so strong that they abandoned smaller traditional tracks for the new giant tracks?
Was it all people just falling into the hype over something new? Was it a flush of sponsor and promotion money that convinced people they really cared about something they only marginally cared about before? Did people go out to these races or watch on TV because it was the hot new thing? And then over a number of years realized it wasn't that entertaining?
To me, it really seems like something that grew by supply rather than demand. A flush of sponsor and media money found its way into the sport at a time when there was more money to be spent than places to spend it, creating an artificial buzz that people responded to they way they do to something that gets enough hype. NASCAR then screwed over traditional fans in pursuit of all these new fans, and when the new "fans" grew tired of it, the traditional fans had already learned to live without it.
It's really a crazy bubble story at the intersection of sports and business that deserves a 2-hour 30 of 30 or HBO documentary.
I think you're right. Suddenly ESPN started covering it and promoting it as if it was a major sport, money was flowing in, the drivers were becoming celebrities, and it helped that many of the newer drivers at the time were very relatable to outsiders. For about 5 years or so I got sucked in and became a big Jeff Gordon fan. Everything I was watching or listening to was talking about racing non-stop, and so I jumped on the hype train. It was a way to connect back with my more rural family and still feel trendy (Of course they hated that I was a Gordon fan). You also had the legend Dale Earnhardt and his associated tragedy (Along with the rise of his son) and the rivalry's with Gordon, Stewart, Martin, etc... all playing out like a wrestling storyline. The drivers really became bigger than the sport for a while.
At some point however, I think the real fall came when the drivers all became generic corporate men. What really drew so many people in (Aside from the hype and money) was the characters of those drivers and their interpersonal relationships/feuds/etc... As money came in, they began to be pressured to start talking in coachspeak and they lost all relatability. It was also about that time that I started coming to the realization that everytime I'd turn on a race, I'd watch the first 20 laps, fall asleep, and then wake up for the final 20. The two hours in between were just boring once the race started.
At some point however, I think the real fall came when the drivers all became generic corporate men. What really drew so many people in (Aside from the hype and money) was the characters of those drivers and their interpersonal relationships/feuds/etc... As money came in, they began to be pressured to start talking in coachspeak and they lost all relatability. It was also about that time that I started coming to the realization that everytime I'd turn on a race, I'd watch the first 20 laps, fall asleep, and then wake up for the final 20. The two hours in between were just boring once the race started.
The zenith of NASCAR ('05-'06).
I can't believe that movie is that old. I still watch it all the time.
No but crashes, fights and throwing helmets is. The fans want more Ricky Bobby and less Jean Girard.
Never been a fan but from what I gathered from local sport talk shows people had a genuine love for Earnhardt. You either loved him because he won and would run people into the wall or loved to hate him for it. Unfortunately, the wall is how he met his demise. Losing a mega star and a multi-million dollar draw was not very cool and keeping these guys alive became a key issue.
Ive never been to see one, no real interest. They do have a couple courses where the go right, but then go back to left only which still doesn't appeal to me. I get how it is still a challenge, a physical hard style of racing, but not very appealing. Funny how open wheel racers can transition to NASCAR but rarely does a NASCAR driver go to major open wheel. Of course historically there has been more money in NASCAR for the whole pack so it financially makes sense to not try.
That said, I was a Ricky Bobby fan before he sold out.
That said, I was a Ricky Bobby fan before he sold out.
Thinking on it further, the success really was its downfall. I really do think it was the characters in those individual drivers that made it amazing. As it became successful all of those single car teams stopped being able to compete and got bought up by major teams who were more interested in the corporate brand than in the individual drivers. As the money flowed, you just lost that identity and relationship with the drivers, they began being forced to be "safe in their commentary" and therefore bland. Nascar started punishing those actions that beforehand had made the sport so special and it sucked the fun out of it (We've seen similar things in the NFL).
I think that sport is at its best with less money, more personalities, and those regional rivalries. I just don't know if it can ever get back to that.
I think that sport is at its best with less money, more personalities, and those regional rivalries. I just don't know if it can ever get back to that.
I honestly didn't realize NASCAR had a rise and then fall. To me, it was always about the individual personalities - Richard Petty, Darrel Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhart, Jr., Jeff Gordon, etc. Is it not that way anymore?
I used to be into NASCAR when I was like 8-14ish (so like 20-25 years ago).
Not sure why I was into it or why I stopped caring. I guess once you've seen one race, you've seen them all?
I think after Dale died, I likely began to realize how fatal the sport was and lost my passion for it, especially considering part of the reason young-me watched was for the crashes and ensuing schoolyard drama.
Not sure why I was into it or why I stopped caring. I guess once you've seen one race, you've seen them all?
I think after Dale died, I likely began to realize how fatal the sport was and lost my passion for it, especially considering part of the reason young-me watched was for the crashes and ensuing schoolyard drama.
They made it a generic sport. All the cars are the same. All the tracks are the same. All the drivers are the same. It became boring. But, in fairness, much of that has been done in the name of safety and all the other major auto racing circuits also have issues.
But, but, but it says Chevy right on the front of the car! Way better than a Toyota!
It would be interesting to see what would happen if they took the limiters off of the drivers attitudes and let them go back to being a bit hot headed, confrontational, and free to be themselves.
Most likely someone would say something so ridiculously stupid that everyone would freak out and go back to bland, safe, fake personalities; but it's probably the only way the sport really ever gets it's edge back. Maybe it's for the best for it to go back to being more regional, less in the spotlight, and back to smaller dollars where less is at stake.
I'm fairly certain I would never go back as, even when I thought I did, I never enjoyed watching the races.
Most likely someone would say something so ridiculously stupid that everyone would freak out and go back to bland, safe, fake personalities; but it's probably the only way the sport really ever gets it's edge back. Maybe it's for the best for it to go back to being more regional, less in the spotlight, and back to smaller dollars where less is at stake.
I'm fairly certain I would never go back as, even when I thought I did, I never enjoyed watching the races.
Lots of factors, I say:
1. NASCAR did a poor job in the 80s and beyond of cultivating young fans (i.e., its next generation of customers). The remaining fan base is now aged, and less able-willing to spend big bucks attending races
2. The death of Earnhardt....huge
3. Hi-definition television, which came into vogue right around the time of the Great Recession. Easy and better to watch 27 camera angles from home than being at the track
4. The “corporateness” of the drivers. Personalities were erased in favor of political correctness. The core NASCAR fan base hates political correctness. The drivers are now like golfers......virtually identical and boring as hell
5. Too many rule changes, all in the name of safety and “equivalent cars.”
1. NASCAR did a poor job in the 80s and beyond of cultivating young fans (i.e., its next generation of customers). The remaining fan base is now aged, and less able-willing to spend big bucks attending races
2. The death of Earnhardt....huge
3. Hi-definition television, which came into vogue right around the time of the Great Recession. Easy and better to watch 27 camera angles from home than being at the track
4. The “corporateness” of the drivers. Personalities were erased in favor of political correctness. The core NASCAR fan base hates political correctness. The drivers are now like golfers......virtually identical and boring as hell
5. Too many rule changes, all in the name of safety and “equivalent cars.”
The chase playoff format ruined it for me. If you win one of the first 26 races , you are in. So essentially if your driver wins an early race , the rest of the first 26 are worthless
I know you get bonus playoff points and all that crap but essentially the last 10 races are all that matters
And then you get a final 4 in a one race shootout where guy who dominates the whole year can have a tire get loose and not win the title
Sport used to be about a whole year. It's too marginalized now
On top of that , the cars and tracks are all cookie cutter and similar It's boring
I know you get bonus playoff points and all that crap but essentially the last 10 races are all that matters
And then you get a final 4 in a one race shootout where guy who dominates the whole year can have a tire get loose and not win the title
Sport used to be about a whole year. It's too marginalized now
On top of that , the cars and tracks are all cookie cutter and similar It's boring
And Daytona will still hold more rednecks for the next 2 years. Can't predict which will crash first.
Had to look, Daytona capacity is 167k.
The new sections especially the club seats are really nice and well done. I go just for the road race events like the 24 hours.
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