[hacksaw]

If you look at NASCAR the last few years it seems to me that the stands are not full the ratings are sliping what gives.Have they overplayed there hand?

[PettyBlue]

Over regulated,way over.

[LSC9901]

To me it is the justice of the regulations. One team/driver is penalized to "X" degree and the next one gets either much more or much less. No true and equal justice.

[wingkey1]

Originally Posted by hacksaw

If you look at NASCAR the last few years it seems to me that the stands are not full the ratings are sliping what gives.Have they overplayed there hand?

Too soon to say. NASCAR has, over the past few years, gone through a period of growth not unlike what is seen in many industries when a "new product" is introduced. And make no mistake about it, today's NASCAR has many "new product" elements/aspects.

The impact of a "new product" within an industry/market when measured graphically often produces what many are likely familiar with, the classic "bell curve". Imagine the Liberty Bell. Left side of the bell shape has a flat (no fat) "lip". This flat line on our graph is the run rate business/volume prior to the new product introduction. During the products early stages, volume over time ramps up. Rapidly if the product really catches on - the upslope on the left side of our Liberty Bell shape. Eventually there is a leveling off - the top of the bell, and inevitably the trailing off - the right side downslope. NASCAR is presently in the right side downslope portion. While measurements (attendance, TV ratings, you pick it) show a downward trend, (normal and predictable) the figures are still higher than the beginning of the curve. The real key will be where it finally settles out.

Many feel for NASCAR it will be something less than the start point of the "new NASCAR product". My gut feels this will not be the case. Certainly no time soon.

Lastly - all of the above IS ABSOLUTELY NOT an expression of my complete happiness with the new NASCAR product, nor a prediction of its success. Just an 'ole marketing persons observation based on personal experience.

[jks812]

I don't know about anybody else, but for me personally, I have just about gotten frustrated with it. The penalities are never the same, can be the same violation but different penalities, makes no sense to me. Another thing is, in a race a few races back, I've forgotten who was battling for the lead, but instead of showing that they were showing that Johnson was trying for 12th place, and they'll do the same thing with Jr. I'd rather watch the battle for the lead. And the commercials seem to be never ending, seems like every 10 or 15 minutes they are going to commercial. I'm one of those that use to watch every race from start to finish. This year I don't even think I have made it through a whole race yet.

[Mike24]

A growth period has to stop at one point. NASCAR had a major growth period in the 90's, but that has ended. NASCAR is still getting alot of new fans, just not as much as they used to. But NASCAR is not going down hill by all means, the growth has just stopped for now.

[Smoke+GibbsFan]

It has seemed to me for years that NASCAR is moving away from its roots, all the while showing commercials about how great the old days were. What ever happened to good old "run what you brung" racing? I will never argue that the drivers need saftey measures and maybe limits on motor size but don't over govern what the teams can do to their cars. I mean, take the COT why doesn't NASCAR build 43 cars and give them out at the start of each race? Seems like thats what its comming to. NASCAR seems to be afraid that one team will find a way to win all the races. Guess they aren't paying attention to Hendrick this year.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Smoke+GibbsFan

It has seemed to me for years that NASCAR is moving away from its roots, all the while showing commercials about how great the old days were. What ever happened to good old "run what you brung" racing? I will never argue that the drivers need saftey measures and maybe limits on motor size but don't over govern what the teams can do to their cars. I mean, take the COT why doesn't NASCAR build 43 cars and give them out at the start of each race? Seems like thats what its comming to. NASCAR seems to be afraid that one team will find a way to win all the races. Guess they aren't paying attention to Hendrick this year.

Oh, I think they are. His accomplishments haven't gone unnoticed...

Hendrick was first on board with the COT and put the most into testing/perfecting it. Now he is reaping the rewards. That he had the resources in place to do it is a credit to his foresight.

But the other teams will catch up .. they always do.

[DaBigManOnCampus]

look ill say this, to me that Stereotypes has gotten to take on a new meaning in america, The thing that if you are a NASCAR fan is that you are a White and a Hillbilly (and sadly we know the whole hillbilly stereotype of that) and its making this thing look bad, on page 2 they had a thing about stereotypes in sports and had every black person come up to saying what is first thing you say when you hear nascar and all of them says hillbillies and white people, and I gets joked about loving NASCAR like I do in class because im black myself, its just that we all need to put in to stop stereotyping in the motorsports and one day all sports, might not happen but at least attract some of it to the black commmunity, that can help.

[Souporscotty]

If NA$CAR's going downhill, will it become the "Soapbox Derby"?

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Souporscotty

If NA$CAR's going downhill, will it become the "Soapbox Derby"?

Good one Scotty.

[clutch]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

Many feel for NASCAR it will be something less than the start point of the "new NASCAR product". My gut feels this will not be the case. Certainly no time soon.

Would have to agree. The Nascar engine is cruising along nicely

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by clutch

Would have to agree. The Nascar engine is cruising along nicely

I agree. To put it in a racing context:

If you have a fast car but have to start at the rear of the field, you begin by moving up pretty rapidly. However, the closer you get to the front, the harder and slower it becomes to pass car to increase your position. The competition just gets harder and harder to pass.

To my mind's eye, NASCAR has passed all the "Field fillers" and is now working on the front runners. It doesn't have an other-powering machine so it has to work on the front runners and pick its passing points with care. It may even have to drop back a bit to get a run at them...

No, I haven't gone over to "The Dark Side" and now heartily embrace this "New NA$CAR." I still think preferring market over fans (moving the Southern 500 to PenskeLand, closing Rockingham, etc., etc) is stinko. Changing the face of NASCAR from a motor sport to just another entertainment venue really SUX (to use the current term)! But facts is facts. NASCAR is a real success story and ISC closed yesterday at 50.8 (I bought it at 33.5, so who am I to complain?)

Plus, to its credit, NASCAR has done some really good things, not the least of which is yesterday's NASCAR Day/ NASCAR Charities, which has raised over $1.2 million for some good, deserving charities.

[Smoke+GibbsFan]

So NASCAR has made some good buisness decisions. Does that mean we get to see some good RACIN'? Instead of this get in line and follow the leader stuff we are seeing now?

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Smoke+GibbsFan

So NASCAR has made some good buisness decisions. Does that mean we get to see some good RACIN'? Instead of this get in line and follow the leader stuff we are seeing now?

as opposed to the "good RACIN'" we saw a 20 years ago when only a handfull of cars finished on the lead lap? I doubt we'll ever see another race where the winner comes from 2 laps down without a caution like we did when Million Dollar Bill did it at Atlanta oh so many years ago...