[BiscuitMan]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Can you, or anyone here, "honestly" say that you find 500 miles at Pocono and California, or even 400 at Michigan or at my hometown track of Indianapolis, absolutely riveting? I can't, and I don't think that I'm alone. Even with long-time race fans.

My personal feeling is that the majority of today's 400 or 500-mile races have outlived their usefulness and product literally an hour or so or abject boredom mixed with very infrequent moments of excitement. Many break down to a strategy game, pit strategy and gas mileage strategy. Personally, I prefer racing. But that's just me and I could be very wrong...

To help justify the rationale for shorter races, I heard Kevin Harvick comment today about the Nationwide race versus the Cup race. He said "You have to get as many positions early on because the race is shorter." Meaning, you have to pass as many cars as possible to get in a position to go for the win near the end of the race. To me, this makes more "competition" in the Nationwide race than the Cup race in the early laps. Having shorter Cup races probably would keep the interest of the fan that becomes discouraged with the "follow-the-leader" phase of the 500 mile races.

Of course, this also would mean that Kyle Busch would not lap as many cars as he does now.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by clutch

Just a FYI comment for you Bob, but today ....may 28th 2008 (of course we are a day ahead) the New Zealand government officially apologised to NZ Vietnam veterans for the treatment that they recieved on their return.
...long overdue

Full text of the Crown's apology to Vietnam veterans - 28 May 2008 - Vietnam

Thirty-seven years too late. I got my "reception" while on a stretcher. Yeah, I'm bitter.

Thanks for the good info, Mate but this topic is closed from my end.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by BiscuitMan

Of course, this also would mean that Kyle Busch would not lap as many cars as he does now.

.... and fewer chances to irritate the competition.

[bamaga]

three to four hour races are what seperates cup from other series. the 600 mile race is necessary. as alluded to, its the endurance race, like the road races and the short track races and the superspeedway races. this formula has worked since I started watching Nascar(196.
My observation about the 600 is I believe the light came on for Sam Hornish. He may have firgured out this cup thing, look for him to run more toward the front!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by bamaga

three to four hour races are what seperates cup from other series. the 600 mile race is necessary. as alluded to, its the endurance race, like the road races and the short track races and the superspeedway races. this formula has worked since I started watching Nascar(196.
My observation about the 600 is I believe the light came on for Sam Hornish. He may have firgured out this cup thing, look for him to run more toward the front!

there's nothing wrong with having "endurance" races. but there's also nothing wrong with making them "special", i.e., not de rigueur. when every Tom, Dick and Harry race track has to have a "500", what makes them special, especially when so many of them are on "cookie cutter" tracks? F1 and IndyCar don't have any problems selling tickets to much shorter races (in fact, the IndyCar race at TMS is one of the biggest of the IndyCar year because the track is so fast), so what makes NASCAR believe there has to be so many 500 milers on their schedule?

I agree with what others have said: the World 600 and a few of the "historically significant" 500 milers should be the "specials". make the rest shorter (convert to km, or just plain change the number to something smaller - and quicker!)

[Bob Tanner]

Thanks to Sunday's Dover race, I think my case is made.

The race would have been a long more compelling if they'd changed the length to 240 miles (laps). Would someone remind me of all the exciting things that happened in the race between laps 150 and 350?

The middle part of that race was like the movie, Groundhog Day; watching the recent All Star race over and over and over and ov....

Even MRN legendary announcer, Barney Hall, said somewhere around the 250-lap mark, "This is the time of the race when about all the drivers want to do is 'make laps.'" If a NASCAR apologist like Barney can see the tedium of the race, so can the fans.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Thanks to Sunday's Dover race, I think my case is made.

The race would have been a long more compelling if they'd changed the length to 240 miles (laps). Would someone remind me of all the exciting things that happened in the race between laps 150 and 350?

The middle part of that race was like the movie, Groundhog Day; watching the recent All Star race over and over and over and ov....

Even MRN legendary announcer, Barney Hall, said somewhere around the 250-lap mark, "This is the time of the race when about all the drivers want to do is 'make laps.'" If a NASCAR apologist like Barney can see the tedium of the race, so can the fans.

Yes Virginia, there is a remote and many, many channels to choose from. I'm not afraid to surf a bit during the boring times.

[SpecialKahne9]

I'm going to have to disagree with Racer Duck, I was at the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway this year and wasn't bored at all. I'm glad I went instead of sitting on my couch at home. Nothing beats being at the track and the adrenaline rush you get when the cars restart after cautions or the flyover during pre-race activities. As far as 600s go, this one was pretty entertaining live.

Can't wait to renew my tickets for next year, they're offering 10% off at Lowe's if you renew by sometime in August!!

[Team Yates]

Welcome to forum SpecialKahne9, glad you found us. That's cool you were able to attend the Coca-Cola 600!! So, I'm guessing that Kahne is your favorite!! Hope to see you join in the predictions thread, we pick for 1st and 2nd place finishers every week.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by SpecialKahne9

I'm going to have to disagree with Racer Duck, I was at the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway this year and wasn't bored at all. I'm glad I went instead of sitting on my couch at home. Nothing beats being at the track and the adrenaline rush you get when the cars restart after cautions or the flyover during pre-race activities. As far as 600s go, this one was pretty entertaining live.

Can't wait to renew my tickets for next year, they're offering 10% off at Lowe's if you renew by sometime in August!!

Finally!!! Someone who disagrees with me.

Hey, SpecialKahne9, glad ya found GoTeamsGo and the NASCAR Forums.

Being at the race is always less boring than watching it on TV. But, ya gotta admit, around lap 300 you were thinking about a potty break and trying to decide if ya could take a chance of missing some of the action, weren't ya? And by the time lap 400 rolled around you were starting to get desperate....

Been there, done that.

It's not the restarts and pit stops that are boring, it's all the "making laps" between the "Gentlemen Start Your Engines" and "10 laps to go" that can get tedious, especially if there's mostly follow the leader type racing.


Still, I'm glad you enjoyed the race and are planning to renew your tix.

And, now that you've found us, make sure you stop by the "Predictions" thread and post yours for the upcoming race(s). Who knows, Kasey might get another "W"...

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by SpecialKahne9

I'm going to have to disagree with Racer Duck, I was at the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway this year and wasn't bored at all. I'm glad I went instead of sitting on my couch at home. Nothing beats being at the track and the adrenaline rush you get when the cars restart after cautions or the flyover during pre-race activities. As far as 600s go, this one was pretty entertaining live.

Can't wait to renew my tickets for next year, they're offering 10% off at Lowe's if you renew by sometime in August!!

Hey Special K welcome to our forum. I'm just gonna take a wild guess that you are a Kasey Kahne fan. He seems to have found something in the last few weeks. Hope he can continue.

Congratulations for taking on the observations of our very own Racer Duck. Most of us are afraid of him and just let him have his way !!! Great to see a differing point of view.

I sure hope you are here to stay. We have an excellent group of posters here and welcome any and all opinions. Along with our predictions thread we also try to do a weekly "Live Chat" during the race. Hope we see you there and posting in all of our threads.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Hey Special K welcome to our forum. I'm just gonna take a wild guess that you are a Kasey Kahne fan. He seems to have found something in the last few weeks. Hope he can continue.

Congratulations for taking on the observations of our very own Racer Duck. Most of us are afraid of him and just let him have his way !!! Great to see a differing point of view.

I sure hope you are here to stay. We have an excellent group of posters here and welcome any and all opinions. Along with our predictions thread we also try to do a weekly "Live Chat" during the race. Hope we see you there and posting in all of our threads.

afraid?

of moi?

sniff, sniff. now you've made me feel like the 500 pound gorilla.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

afraid?

of moi?

sniff, sniff. now you've made me feel like the 500 pound gorilla.

Maybe an 8 LB duck but never a gorilla. You, my good man, have my total appreciation and attention every time you post !!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Maybe an 8 LB duck but never a gorilla. You, my good man, have my total appreciation and attention every time you post !!

ain't gonna work - I'm onto your silver tongue. "8 lb duck", indeed!

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

ain't gonna work - I'm onto your silver tongue. "8 lb duck", indeed!

I thought they grew 'em big in Texas !!!