[Team Yates]

NASCAR holds "town hall"; plans changes to car in 2011: NASCAR held invitation-only meetings at their Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. this week to discuss the future of the sport. On Tuesday, the meeting focused primarily on competition with drivers Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle joining crew chiefs, engineers and technical directors. A second meeting was held on Wednesday with team owners and principals as a follow-up to the discussions held in May. The primary focus of the meetings: How can NASCAR help the competitors to make the sport stronger? Participation was encouraged according to three principals that spoke on the grounds of anonymity. Some of the high points included:
# How can we make the overall product better?
# While there won't be any sizeable changes in the rules package for 2010, NASCAR wanted to make sure that competitors understood that an open door policy exists.
# What can the sport do to make participation more cost effective for the competitors?
# How do the cars maintain product identification for the manufacturers and remain racy. And once the new Nationwide Series cars come to fruition, how does the sport keep the sportier model from overshadowing the less sexy Cup car. (FoxSports)
AND NASCAR will make modifications to the Sprint Cup Series car for the 2011 season. At a meeting on Oct. 19, following the races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, manufacturers were told changes would be made "from the centerline to the bumper on down," a source familiar with the situation told FOXSports.com. The alterations will be made to the front fascia - the upper and lower nose of the car. Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said "there was a good open dialog" with manufacturer representatives to discuss what aesthetic changes could be made to the car to improve brand identity. The current car has come under scrutiny from competitors and fans alike for having less resemblance to a showroom model than previous editions. Pemberton said styling changes are almost anticipated given that the car will soon meet the four-year mark. NASCAR is also concerned the sportiness of the new Nationwide Series Car of Tomorrow will have a tendency to overshadow the current Cup car [see images of the Nationwide COT cars on my 2010 Nationwide paint schemes page]. The new Nationwide Series car will be run in four races starting next season. Certainly, the Nationwide COT will provide ideas for future generations of the Cup car. (FoxSports)(10-31-2009)

[kkfan91]

that is cause Jr whined isn't it

[Quality88]

There must have been an overwhelming fans response to the Busch( I refuse to say nationwide) cars from the fans on their looks. France is already worried he may have the other lower series start to compete with the cup series.

[bob101]

Bugs me on certain tracks the Nationwide cars already turn a better lap time than the cup cars. Maybe the NCOT will cut them down and be about as exciting....

I kept hearing on the radio how good the Nationwide COT cars looked. Then I saw them. Yeah they look better than the cup cars. But to me they look like a cup COT with a little lower nose and a maker specific facia. When they were talking about the new challenger dumb me thought it might actually have the body shape of a challenger, or at least form to it. But nope.

[Stewart Fan]

I just wish they would stick with the cars they have now.

[nascaraddict]

Originally Posted by Stewart Fan

I just wish they would stick with the cars they have now.

Why that would just make sence.

Just kidding. But if they did make any changes, I think it sould be to the greenhouse. Make the car safer. OR, make it where the driver can see better. OR, make it where the cars are cheaper to build.

[Lefturn]

The NCOT also looks as if it has a spoiler, which I think would be a nice change on the Cup car....

[Bob Tanner]

Hmmm...??? I always was under the impression that a "Town Hall Meeting" was one which could be attended by any and all who had a direct connection with the matters being discussed? Am I wrong about that assumption?

However, I read: NASCAR held invitation-only meetings at their Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. this week to discuss the future of the sport. "Invitation only? On the face of things it sounds like NA__AR invited only those who they felt would agree with the majority of whatever NA__AR discussed and what was proposed.

Maybe NA__AR needs a little transparency with some sort of a "Sunshine" Rule? "Closed Door" meetings always kind of make me wonder just why the door is closed. Are they hiding something from the general population?

[kkfan91]

I was under the impression town hall meeting were where angry ill informed people shouted nonsense

[nascaraddict]

Rick Hendrick, Jimmie Johnson, and Chad Knause will be in the front asking if the car can be changed so they can be more competitive.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by kkfan91

I was under the impression town hall meeting were where angry ill informed people shouted nonsense

That was the people holding the meetings. From what I personally saw the attendees were for the most part, knowledgeable, pretty well informed, mannerly and respectful, and represented the consensus of the community.
(I love it when you make statements like your above that leave a door wide enough to drive a Peterbilt 379 through!)

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

(I love it when you make statements like your above that leave a door wide enough to drive a Peterbilt 379 through!)

That's pretty wide.... and tall

[kkfan91]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

That was the people holding the meetings. From what I personally saw the attendees were for the most part, knowledgeable, pretty well informed, mannerly and respectful, and represented the consensus of the community.
(I love it when you make statements like your above that leave a door wide enough to drive a Peterbilt 379 through!)

hahhahahahahaahahaahahahahahahahhahahaha that is all

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by kkfan91

hahhahahahahaahahaahahahahahahahhahahaha that is all

As always, you gave it a try. I'll give you style points for that.

Oh, an addendum: Interesting tag line: oh and @#$@ the Bankees .

In some people's minds, the Yankee's and NA__AR have a lot in column. Money has purchased an unlevel (if there is such a word?) playing field and this has put the heart and soul of the sport in serious jeopardy. This makes me wonder how an ardent NA__AR lover who is a devout Yankee hater can reconcile these conflicting concepts?

[kkfan91]

lol i hink we need to move back from a border line political arguement though