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When fans react: Thoughts about the 2008 season
by Bleacher Report
Prior to the 2008 season, NASCAR Chairman Brian France said that he wanted to get the sport back to its roots. Was the goal accomplished?
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Kelly Crandall: Unfortunately, NASCAR's roots are too far behind it that it can't go back. In order to go back to its roots, it needs to go back to the old points format. The one that awards a champion based on how they run all year long and not just someone who can be good for 10 weeks. Sure, the Chase for the Sprint Cup is exciting, but the past two years the man who was best all year long did not take home the Championship.
It also needs to go back to tracks that helped make NASCAR, tracks that the drivers and fans love to see. There is no reason that California should have two dates and it should absolutely not be in the Chase. Just because you moved the date doesn't mean that fans are going to show up or that the racing is going to be better.
Patti Rodisch: If NASCAR really wanted to go back to its roots that would mean the fans. The price of gas might have fallen, but so has the fan enthusiasm. NASCAR needs to look seriously at how it can cut costs for the fans, including possibly requiring tracks to lower their ticket rates.
Jen Preston: Getting back to its roots means once again connecting with fans: Lower prices, offer ticket packages to get more fans in the stands, and make the racing better.
Mark Eckhart Jr.: As far as going back to NASCAR's roots, I think that only happened from the way the car looks because, let's face it: Guys like Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Tony Stewart will never be Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, and the other legends of the sport.
Mary Jo Buchanan: Again, I don't think this goal was accomplished. NASCAR seems to continue to focus on new fans. While there is nothing wrong with that, and many of the new attractions are enjoyed by old and new fans, the core fan seems to be more disenfranchised with the sport, feeling it too commercial and mainstream.
NASCAR also wanted drivers to show more of their personalities and that they would be given the freedom to express themselves. Are you satisfied with the change?
Around the track
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Read all about it:
- Report: Mayfield conducts own test
- Busch wins, grows N'wide points lead
- Harvick unveils 2010 Nationwide plan
- NASCAR: Mayfield tests positive again
- Sources: Harvick wants out of RCR
Analysis:
Crandall: When this story broke there were certain fans and drivers that said they didn't believe NASCAR. And they were right in saying so.
Before the season even started there were fireworks at Daytona when Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch decided to play tag at 180 mph. Then the two continued to argue when called to the NASCAR hauler for a sit-down with officials.
Busch was the one sitting down after allegedly getting punched by Stewart. The best part was that NASCAR was looking on and did nothing -- "What happens in the NASCAR hauler stays in the NASCAR hauler."
Both drivers were given a six-week probation period. So much for letting them loosen up.
But NASCAR wasn't done.
It then proceeded to sit down all the drivers and told them to keep their mouths shut when it comes to the new car. Apparently you have free speech everywhere but a NASCAR track.
But alas, the drivers did as they were told.
Soon Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards were testing NASCAR once again. After a bump-and-run in Bristol, Busch decided to express his displeasure with Edwards by running into the side of his car after the race. Edwards responded by spinning Busch out and continuing on.
NASCAR responded by giving both drivers probation.
France really created a double-edged sword, because fans want the drivers to be themselves and say what's on their mind and express themselves when things happen.
Rodisch: NASCAR has been really inconsistent in their penalties regarding the driver's actions. They have to be more consistent when it comes to non-car related penalties.
Preston: It's good for the sport to see more driver personality, but they are going about it the wrong away. We have to wait five minutes to hear a driver's interview after he wins, and even longer if two drivers get into it on the track and "exchange words" or what not.
Eckhart: I would like to see more personality from some drivers in their interviews, but not all of them. Guys like Edwards give us a great interview, but I'd like to see Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. give us a little bit more because they seem stiff at times during their interviews and don't really expand on the questions they're asked.
Heath Heidemann: When NASCAR talked about trying to take the step back to their roots, and let the drivers' personalities show, I didn't think it was going to happen. I still don't.
Buchanan: (It) has worked, as long as the personalities of the drivers have been towing the NASCAR party line.
This season was the first time the Car of Tomorrow was run full-time. Did the car do its job? Any changes you would like to see?
Crandall: It certainly has been interesting to see some of these drivers struggle so much with this new car. This car is more of a driver's car, meaning the ones who aren't afraid to wrestle with this car are going to be the guys who succeed each week. Besides the ones who have an unfair advantage.
The thing that really bothers most people is that the car does not really create that great of racing. So on one hand, NASCAR created a boring car but on the other hand they did build a much safer car. If you look at some of the wrecks this year that drivers were able to walk away from and not have a scratch on them, so the car has done its job.
Rodisch: In regards to the new car, there has been progress on it. The passing has improved enough throughout the year to warrant a positive review. But these teams still need clean air to find maximum speed and better handling.
Unless you are leading the race, that is near impossible. NASCAR needs to allow these teams a little more gray area.
Eckhart: The COT has done its job as far as leveling the competition out and cutting costs down for the teams, big or small. The COT did cause major problems, especially with Goodyear and its tire compounds.
Heidemann: I dreaded the COT at first, but have come to love it after this season. I think the way the car handles has put it back into the drivers hands. It has forced them to get up on the wheel a little bit more.
Buchanan: When the COT was under development, there were three major goals. The first was to have a safer car. So, the COT seat moved more to the center and there were a great many more reinforcements and other safety features added to the car.
That first goal has been achieved. This has been one of the safest years in NASCAR, with no deaths and no major injuries, the worst being Denny Hamlin's post-accident concussion at Talladega.
The second major goal was to be more cost-effective for the teams. I don't quite think that has occurred, as teams have scrambled this year to test the car and to begin to find their own special ways to tweak it.
The final goal was to achieve closer racing. This goal has definitely not been achieved. The new car is so aerodynamically challenged. If you are the leader, you get that clean air advantage, check out from the rest of the field and no one can pass you. That is something that NASCAR must address in the new year.
Kaitlyn Vincie: Teams will no longer be required to build as many cars to compete in a full season. With the recent economic constraints placed on NASCAR, the COT demonstrated itself to be a cost-conscious car.
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