[Bob Tanner]

I thought the following says a whole lot about the current NA__AR:

RACING PERSPECTIVES -Abridged
2007 And What Didn't Happen
by Michael Daly - Catchfence.com Staff Writer
11/22/2007

It was anticlimatic. The only mild surprise as the Chase wound down was that Jeff Gordon didn't win the title, .

So ended the 2007 season, and it included the spectacle of Brian France's curiously-timed remarks that the sport is still strong with a solid fanbase - a mere restatement of the obvious. The problem is the season showed a decline in the sport's popularity that was impossible to ignore and which France's remarks about the "context" of the sport's popularity display denial about.

It was a season where, more than most, it is what didn't happen that was crucial to understanding the season and the problems the sport continues to face. Among the things that didn't happen -


THERE WAS NO COMPETITION FOR THE HENDRICK CHEVROLETS - Roush's Fords did okay but were nowhere close to a threat. The other non-Hendrick Chevys won races but were more irrelevent to the season than relevent, particularly the RCR Chevys despite three wins. DEI has won just three times since 2004 and the unpopularity of ownership couldn't be ignored.

spells B-O-R-I-N-G

THERE WAS STILL NO DODGE BREAKOUT - Dodge had by far its worst showing since coming back to the sport and there was no sign that Dodge was getting any of its teams working together. Though Kurt Busch did okay that wasn't close to enough. Ganassi Racing won at Sears Point but otherwise was out to lunch more often than not. Evernham and Petty were the only Dodges that appeared to work together and neither organization won, with Evernham selling a piece of his team to George Gillet and with some of his postseason comments hinting he might cash out altogether.

They were going up against the Hendrick jagernaut. What do you expect?

THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE RACING BY THE CAR OF TOMORROW WORTHY OF THE TERM IMPROVEMENT - Literally nothing promised by the Car Of Tomorrow came true. Costs did not show any sign of reduction, the aeropush was worsened instead of lessened, and competitive depth was not improved; on the contrary it looked worse. The NASCAR spin campaign to paint the COT as a success was nonstop and sometimes downright insulting to the intelligence of observors.

It still looks more like a stock car than the "Twisted Sister" car of yesterday. Bottom line is, it still is just a race car, not a stock car.

THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE SPORT BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF ESCALATING COSTS - The IRL instituted a form of revenue sharing that was more deal money than a system like what the NFL successfully has; regardless it was a first step for that form of racing. NASCAR, on the other hand, showed no understanding that its costs are beyond any reason and are the biggest reason for its lack of new winners. Lip-service was paid to the issue of costs, but nothing in the way of substantive action has come of it.

Boy, did he ever nail this one!

THERE WAS NO DISBANDING OF ANY MULTICAR TEAM - By this I mean Hendrick, Roush, Ganassi, etc. did not have to shut down one of their teams to meet NASCAR rules. NASCAR has a limit of four cars per team, but not only is this too large an allowance, it showed no teeth. Thus this rule can't be taken seriously, not until Hendrick and company are forced to actually disband one or more of their racecars.

Mr. Daley obviously subscribes to the Bob Tanner School of Team Ownership; no more than two. As of now the owner owner with more than the limit of four is Roush. However, he's "merged" with Yates, Hendrick has "merged" with Custer and Gibbs has "merged" with HOF; nothing is changing.

THERE WAS NO SIGN THAT THE SPORT'S DESIRED DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE ANY INTEREST - Fontana continued to struggle, Chicagoland didn't do much better, and projects for NY City and the Seattle area went belly-up. SMI's purchase of New Hampshire has left concern about the future of its September date, this despite reassurances from newly-appointed manager Jerry Gappens.

Yep. My parents always taught me not to go places where I wasn't wanted. NA__AR could followmy parent's advice.

THERE WAS NO SIGN THE SPORT'S TRUE DEMOGRAPHICS ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY NASCAR - Juan Montoya is reportedly getting a lot of promotion by NASCAR. Yet Montoya was surprisingly mediocre even with the Sears Point win and no sign anywhere that he was bringing in any new fans. In the meantime the traditional demographics continue to outpace the big cities like New York and Boston in watching the sport, yet are effectively ignored by the sport - this in violation of the core rule of business that the most important customers remain the current ones.

I'd love for Mr. Daley to define "True demgraphics." His and mine apparently don't jive.

It's never good when what didn't happen is what matters more than what did. But that's the reality of NASCAR under Brian France.

Can I get an AMEN!!!, Brother?

[DOF_power]

THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE RACING BY THE CAR OF TOMORROW WORTHY OF THE TERM IMPROVEMENT - Literally nothing promised by the Car Of Tomorrow came true. Costs did not show any sign of reduction, the aeropush was worsened instead of lessened, and competitive depth was not improved; on the contrary it looked worse. The NASCAR spin campaign to paint the COT as a success was nonstop and sometimes downright insulting to the intelligence of observors.


What motorsport governing body has actually delivered properly on such promisses ?!

[Phils20]

The NHRA. And I hope it never gets as popular as NASCAR, that would be the death of it. Great competition every week, and an open garage area, with some great personalities. No PC BS over there!

[DOF_power]

Yes I agree about the NHRA.
Unfortunately not many other, if any, actually cares to do things properly.
When they make a mess of things, instead of admiting it, the give some PR/B* denials.
And if they reverse a wrong decision it takes years or downright decades, that's if thet even bother.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

Yes I agree about the NHRA.
Unfortunately not many other, if any, actually cares to do things properly.
When they make a mess of things, instead of admiting it, the give some PR/B* denials.
And if they reverse a wrong decision it takes years or downright decades, that's if thet even bother.

Possibly, jusy possibly, the reason the NHRA and NASCAR went down diffderent paths, administratively, is found in the founders.

Bill France Sr. was a promoter and businessman first and a racing enthusiast second.

Wally Parks was a racing enthusiast and racer first (motorsports writer) and a business promoter second.

[DOF_power]

>
^ True, but even if you start with racing guys, that's no reason to think that sooner or later the business suits and big egos (is there really a difference ?!) won't take over and mess things up.
Many problems NA__CAR has are to be found in other forms of motorsport, particularily F1 (downright unbelivable the amount of similarities), and even other (once) sports, beyond motorsport.
Money and power corupt unfortunately.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

>
^ True, but even if you start with racing guys, that's no reason to think that sooner or later the business suits and big egos (is there really a difference ?!) won't take over and mess things up.
Many problems NA__CAR has are to be found in other forms of motorsport, particularily F1 (downright unbelivable the amount of similarities), and even other (once) sports, beyond motorsport.
Money and power corupt unfortunately.

Two quotes immediately come to mind:

(1) "Corruption is like a ball of snow; once it sets a-rolling its mass increases." CHARLES CALEB COLTON (1825)

(2) " The corruption of every government [business] begins nearly always with that of principle." MONTESQUIEU (1748 )