[JRL]

As a fan do you think NASCAR is better, worse or the same now as in the past? I have watched NASCAR since the old Lakewood dirt track days in Atlanta up to the current.

I remember the old races on the big tracks without restrictor plates. I also remember the untimely deaths that have all but been eliminated, thankfully. What I miss is the driver part of the equation, not to imply the current drivers lack talent but that NASCAR seems to be moving in the wrong direction.

I say eliminating the “Debris on the Track Yellows” would be a good start. I would also favor removing the restrictor plates and let them race. If NASCAR put less tire on the cars the plate would not be needed – the driver would be put back into the role of major contributor.

No plate – Less tire would make braking a vital part of the race and eliminate the need for the dubious yellows. Corner speeds would drop but the cars would fly down the straights – passing would be less dependent of the draft and the drivers with the biggest pair would be forced to use the brakes as opposed to breathing the throttle.

As it stands now I watch the start – tune out – watch the last 10. Unless you are a big fan of the train wrecks caused buy restrictor plate racing there is not much in between.

[PaulPosition]

Ouch.

I'm quite the newbie as far as NASCAR racing is concerned, so don't get mad at me for asking maybe stupid things..

Wouldn't the lack of mechanical grip from narrower tires push the teams and manufacturers to try all sorts of aero gimmicks in a quest to 'regain' that grip? Then you'd have even more reliance on aerodynamics and drafts and such. -- That's what happened with F1 anyway.

Then again, I understand teams don't have much leeway for playing with the body, and stock cars certainly won't ever be stuck with the kind of ugly contraptions they slapped all around the f1 cars. -- But I still wonder whether 'less tire' would be a great, all around, solution.

[JRL]

Less tire makes a huge difference wings or no wings. With the new car and the limitations placed on aero mods less tire would make a difference. No plates would give them the power to pass at their on peril

As a fan of all types of racing I enjoy any series that places a premium on driver skills which is why I have lost my love for F-1. WRC is fun for that reason, sadly Speed Channel opted to become the NASCAR Channel with fill in from an assortment of nonsensical non speed related shows and dropped WRC but that is another story for another time.

Edit: Your question is far from stupid - glad to see you contributing.

[DOF_power]

Well JRL than F1 was never a good place to start with.
As regardless of era there was always a big gap between the HAVE and HAVE NOTs witch meant that regardless of skills unless a special circumstance you couldn't do anything.

As for the tire, it might work or it might not work, but in F1 every-time mechanical grip was lost things got worse as the role of (unclean) aero-grip rose.

The WRC limits power outputs to 300 hp, F1 has a lot of engine restrictions (and standard ECU for next year), and ALMS/LMS/24h LM also.



To answer the question YES.

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by JRL

[font=Times New Roman][size=3]As a fan do you think NASCAR is better, worse or the same now as in the past?

Worse by far,corporate drivers of today,it sucks for real racing.

[Bob Tanner]

A simple reply to your question: Yes.

[nascarfan24]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

A simple reply to your question: Yes.

Amen to that!

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

A simple reply to your question: Yes.

Can't get any better an answer than that.

[JRL]

Seems we all (most anyway) agree it is broken - so what should be done to fix it?

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by JRL

Seems we all (most anyway) agree it is broken - so what should be done to fix it?

Hmm...... Fire Brian France, and all the NA$CAR brass. Get rid of the COT, let the drivers race and beat the fenders of the car goin for a win. Get rid of the stupid chase.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by JRL

Seems we all (most anyway) agree it is broken - so what should be done to fix it?

Actually, IMHO, "Yes" was an over-simplification of an answer. I guess it depends on exactly what a person expects out of NASCAR.

(Let's see...how do I express my thoughts without whizzing in someone's Cheerio's?)

If you are a casual observer of NASCAR, with little knowledge of its history and don't especially care to acquire such knowledge...
If you watch NASCAR for the wrecks and the big-name drivers...
If you have attended a local short track once or never and know little of what it takes to be competitive on a race track, while having little money to do so...
If you measure a NASCAR fan's commitment to the sport almost solely by the amount of souvenirs and collect ables he/she has purchased and displays...

If any, or all, of the above describe you, then you probably think that NASCAR is pretty much OK just the way it is.

If you don't relate to any of the above then you probably think NASCAR is in serious trouble.

Here's another over-simplification of how to fix it; NASCAR could quit pandering to group "A" and target group "B" as the following it desires. Whatever it takes to do that, I'll leave up to people much more intelligent than I.

[JRL]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Actually, IMHO, "Yes" was an over-simplification of an answer. I guess it depends on exactly what a person expects out of NASCAR.

(Let's see...how do I express my thoughts without whizzing in someone's Cheerio's?)

If you are a casual observer of NASCAR, with little knowledge of its history and don't especially care to acquire such knowledge...
If you watch NASCAR for the wrecks and the big-name drivers...
If you have attended a local short track once or never and know little of what it takes to be competitive on a race track, while having little money to do so...
If you measure a NASCAR fan's commitment to the sport almost solely by the amount of souvenirs and collect ables he/she has purchased and displays...

If any, or all, of the above describe you, then you probably think that NASCAR is pretty much OK just the way it is.

If you don't relate to any of the above then you probably think NASCAR is in serious trouble.

Here's another over-simplification of how to fix it; NASCAR could quit pandering to group "A" and target group "B" as the following it desires. Whatever it takes to do that, I'll leave up to people much more intelligent than I.

Alright Bob you are on a roll - don't stop now

I miss the days of "Dang my Chebbie was fast and I just pushed those Fords out of the way". We had racing for the drivers and fans - now we have a made for TV show and after a win we hear a string of sponsors named while the hat exchange takes place