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NASCAR sends wrong message to teams, fans
The sport is so dynamic that the next hot topic is just moments away. That was the case at Michigan International Speedway when NASCAR president Mike Helton held a candid, quick meeting with drivers reprimanding them for their recent criticisms of the sport. Whether the drivers had complained about the new car, the heat inside the car or the condition of the racetrack at Pocono, airing the dirty laundry in public wasn't beneficial to the health of NASCAR.
"It was a closed door meeting and I wish they would have more of them to be honest with you," said four-time NASCAR Cup champion Jeff Gordon. "Wasn't a whole lot of comment and reaction type of meeting. It was 30 minutes before practice ... We need to have more drivers meetings.
"The sport is important to all of us and we want to make sure we are all doing our best in playing our part in it. I wish we had more meetings like that, but I don't think they are meetings that need to be discussed."
While some referred to Helton's message as "shut up and drive," Dale Earnhardt Jr. felt the sentiment was deeper.
"My interpretation was that the drivers should be thankful for the position they're in and should be more positive in where this car is going to be in a year or two," Earnhardt said. "It reminds me a lot of working with video game developers. The reason why the analogy works is because the public wants to know how good the game is. The public wants to know what's being fixed. Once the game is released there's a lot of bugs and stuff, just like with this race car. And the public wants to know when is it going to be fixed and what's being worked on and what's going to be added. And a lot of companies are not eager to give that information out until it's done and finished.
"And I see NASCAR with that same attitude. I think that they do a lot of work behind the scenes and they probably agree with us more than we tend to believe. And they understand that the car is new and it's going to evolve and we're going to learn more. Maybe three years from now we'll look back at what we have today and go, 'Man, can you believe we had that car and that was the way we did it?' Because they'll be some things we'll find that will be just like, 'Man, that's way better. Let's go in that direction.' So I think they're doing more than we give them credit for. They're thinking and working and trying and wanting to improve; and that us drivers should do less complaining."
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Earnhardt admitted he was just as guilty as the next driver for using the media to deliver his message to the sanctioning body when he felt his issues fell on deaf ears. But he added that Helton has always been accessible and is masterful at displaying different angles of an issue.
"I was pretty critical and overly critical at times," Earnhardt said. "And the only reason why the drivers are like that is because we feel like our best avenue is through the media because it's very effective. But at the same time, NASCAR reads those opinions and it's not good for the sport. If I enjoy what I do and I'm having fun and want to be here and want to be around for a while, I shouldn't tell people not to buy tickets."
But under NASCAR's "benevolent dictatorship" — or an iron fist some crew chiefs refer to the method of rule — if Earnhardt and the other drivers simply rely on the method of expressing their needs to the sanctioning body and expecting change, they'll be waiting a long time.
It's no secret that NASCAR has its way of silencing the lambs. This car doesn't make it through tech. That car is held while the others practice. This driver is busted for speeding down pit road. We've seen these tactics before.
Tim Donaghy's allegations against the NBA officials fixing games couldn't have come at a better time. In basketball this week, there have been comparisons to World Wrestling Federation. These allegations have led to calls for the NBA to develop an officiating system separate from the sanctioning body.
Yet, if the NBA manipulated play in an effort to orchestrate the outcome, is it any different than Ryan Newman getting his 5,345th speeding penalty?
NASCAR's attempt to control the message only alienates the fans. NASCAR's core fans are some of the most dialed in of any sport. They smell through spin in a moment. The sanctioning body should never underestimate this fan base.
If Brian France is serious about adapting a back-to-the-basics attitude in NASCAR, a gag order is the last thing he wants to impose among his drivers. As much as race fans love racing, they love their drivers more. Although Kyle Busch may appear brash at times, he's rocking the stands more than any driver other than Dale Jr.
The reason is simple. Vanilla was meant to be an ice cream flavor, not a NASCAR driver.
Member Comments
Hey there are 2 sets of rules in this so called "sport" one for dale jr. and one for everyone else! For those of you who hate Jr. tough! learn to su ck it up and live with it or go follow one of the 2 or 3 racing leagues that have proved to be more exciting than NAPCAR!
fast_cars_rule6/19/2008 11:30:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey Mike Helton and Brian France; Kyle Busch told me you two take turns licking his butt. I personally find that hard to believe but then one naver knows. I do expect you two to clear this up in a future drivers meeting however. Remember Kyle is not your boy he belongs to a couple of japaneese fellows so you best watch your step when stroking the lil lad.
williefast6/17/2008 17:31:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
papermker, These are your words "Remember when all drivers were racing for the cup ALL season...I do and when a driver quietly drove to the championship"<br /><br />By your own words the only thing you are new to.... is the TRUTH!
ZACHdaMAN6/17/2008 1:04:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
papemkr.. just spreading hate is not enough for u is it.. now u just outright lie to try and improve your shallow exsistance.. you are both a TROLL and a HATER, most people like u mostly rant on about this driver or that driver, you take things to a whole new level and prove to everyone what a M oron you are.. find a life away from these Nascar pages, maybe try squash, or tennis, bash on them for a while..<br /><br />Sorrry, I did not know, you were already barred from those pages...lmao<br /><br />Kicked off of tennis page.. man you have my pity.. so sad so sad LMAO
ZACHdaMAN6/17/2008 0:53:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
paprmker, get the shrub outta your eyes..lol<br /><br />you niether know the rules or care to find out what they really are.. why, because u would have no reason to spread hate and discontent, the blogging world has a name for your kind, troll, or hater, fit u and your kind just fine..<br /><br />Get over it, he won, fair and square.. he has trophy, the points, the money and the love of the majority of the fans world wide..<br /><br />Tommorow when Jr wakes up, he will still have all of the things listed above, and what will you have??<br /><br />No respect, no friends and just alot of hate..<br /><br />what a guy...
ZACHdaMAN6/17/2008 0:45:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
When you're more concerned with good PR than you are the facts this is what you get.Central fact is COT by and large doesn't work nor does it create parity.
ailems6/16/2008 23:22:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Do drivers get engine failures when they criticize the cot?<br />The 12 car had one.
flash881206/16/2008 16:29:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
papmakr<br /><br />I think you need to look up Dale Junior being fined by NASCAR. He was fined for cursing, just to make a point by NASCAR. He was fined and docked points last year for modification to the COT and lost his crew chief for 6 weeks and then they changed the rule and made sure suspended crew cheifs stayed home. He was fined this year at Daytona in the Nationwide series. As soon as NASCAR told Jr. to not pass the pace car he listened, and you are never allowed to run over your own air hoses so the Biffle penalty was right. Juniors tire was under control so that also was not a penalty. Geoff Bodine drives a pace car like he did a racecar SLOW!
6/16/2008 16:15:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
wrong end of (a) good decision<br /><br />Damn hidden messages.
88dominate6/16/2008 13:50:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
paprmakr<br /><br />Do you watch races with your eyes and ears closed? Junior has been fined and gotten the wrong end of a good decision just as many times as anyone. Or do those facts that not support your lame arguement?
88dominate6/16/2008 13:41:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey nascarsuejr I am a newcommer to watching what I thought was a sport but I quickly caught on to the "Rules" issue that NASCAR created for themselves. You know the one where all rules do not apply equally to all drivers. Remember when all drivers were racing for the cup ALL season...I do and when a driver quietly drove to the championship under NASCARS radar they quickly changed the race format so a select few can make the chase every year. I have also noticed that the older junior gets the more breaks he gets from NASCAR rules officials. If junior was truly in his current position on his own merit I would have no problem supporting him. But as of the last race he has recieved EVERY break in the book including NASCAR officals interfereing with race leaders threatning to black flag them if they DO NOT FALL BACK BEHIND THE 88 CAR. NASCARS popularity is falling not because of the drivers or the new cars, but because of there constant interference in the races and their inability to treat all drivers and teams equally. Yes I am a newcommer but it did not take me long to see NASCAR for what is truly is.
paprmakr6/16/2008 13:30:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Lets see we had 12-15 yrs of the ,but ugly areo monte carlo, because no on could say anything. Your best avenue is through the media cause na$$car isnt going to listen to us, unless we quit going to the race, Iroc race cots what ever you call it bites, fantom yellows, $150,000.00 fines for the wrong decales, green/white/checkers finishes,na$$car wants but kissers,not race drivers. I hope the lawsuite takes a big bite out of the Frances back pocket maybe he'll see how we feel
runwhatyabrung6/16/2008 10:02:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
"write" outt a the MANIFESTO<br /><br />The reason is simple. Vanilla was meant to be an ice cream flavor, not a NASCAR driver<br /><br />SPLAIN URSELF CODE LADY<br /><br />surely you meant GOOD HUMOUR MAN........<br /><br />there is a lot of maoneee at stake here,,,,,MZZ LEE WOULD YOU LIKE TO PONEY UP AT LEAST HALF SINCE YOUR SO OH ON ONE SIDE...?????<br /><br />didn think so..........I believe I know a liberal freak wnen i sieze one......whithch Marx brother do you like the best.....
detroiXjaytee6/16/2008 7:24:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
paprmakr do you know anything about NASCAR rules or are ya just a wannbee fan?? I think we should put Brian France in a hot car for 500 miles with Kyle smashing into him and see if he complains! LOL
6/16/2008 6:58:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Well now, here's a novel idea........if you don't want the honest opinion of the drivers......quit sticking the microphone or the pad and pencil in their faces when it's obvious they are upset and allow them to "cool off" a bit. They are human, for crying out loud and this is what humans do when they are frustrated; complain!
gravedigger376/16/2008 5:10:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
You guys must be part of the so called junior nation who conviently look the other way as junior violates rule after rule with no penalty while all other drivers are instantly penalized. For example junior speeding down pit road is a minor violation then Jeff Gordon serves a pass thru penalty for speeding OFF pit road, A tire gets away from juniors team into the next pit box during green flag pit stops and becaust it did not "INTERFEAR" with the other team you guessed it NO penalty. While Greg biffle serves a pass thru penalty for running over his own air line in his own pit box. Who do you jokers think you are kidding. Certainly not the ABE (anyone but earnhart) fans. I became an instant Kyle Bush fan when he put baby e into the wall.
paprmakr6/16/2008 3:12:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
badmouthing dale jr. seems to be the favorite pastime of the uninformed , nascar is harder on dale jr. then any other driver, who lost points for saying poop in victory lane. as for the lawsuit doesnt surprise me at all..
superhowie556/15/2008 23:58:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
paprmakr... sorry. I was just informed, that a tree fell on your head when you were trying to make paper....lol<br /><br />Did it hurt the tree... us tree huggers gotta know........lmao
ZACHdaMAN6/15/2008 21:48:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
chico... one toooo many frosty ones...lol
ZACHdaMAN6/15/2008 21:45:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
paprmkr...lmao.....u funny dude.. U are the winner of hater of the day award....<br /><br />Bigger fuel cell... lol u funny<br /><br />sad part is u believe your drivel......lmao
ZACHdaMAN6/15/2008 21:43:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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