[Quality88]

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Mr. Newton, I've been a NASCAR fan for more than 30 years and I must say after watching the start of today's race, NASCAR has virtually lost me as a fan. This is not racing and this is not what racing is about. NASCAR better do something soon or the attendance at all of the tracks will start looking like California Speedway.


Please feel free to forward this to anyone [who] will listen!!! I gotta get back to the TV … at least there is a good football game on! Come on, NASCAR, let them race or make them race … that's what they get paid to do!!

Sincerely,

Former NASCAR Fan
Jon Little


Jon, you're not alone.


That was the reaction many of us who attended the prerace drivers' meeting feared when NASCAR president Mike Helton warned that aggressiveness, particularly bump drafting and pushing in the corners with a two-car breakaway, wouldn't be tolerated.


As soon as he said the bumper-to-bumper action that creates some of the most intense drama of the season -- and at times the most horrific crashes -- would be policed to the point a win could be taken away, the single-file racing we had for much of the 188 laps was predictable.


You the fans let us know your dissatisfaction early, flooding the ESPN.com RaceCast chat with complaints about how the governing body has ruined the sport.

NASCAR's no-bump rule for the Sprint Cup race at Talladega frustrates the drivers and fans - ESPN

I liked the article... and I have to say, when I saw the pack goin 43 single file, I switched to football to keep from puking all over my-inlaws carpet.

[mike honcho]

To tell you how bad I thought the race was I watched the Cowgirl game instead of the 43 car parade.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by mike honcho

To tell you how bad I thought the race was I watched the Cowgirl game instead of the 43 car parade.

I was flipping between the "Talladega Parade and Bumper Car Fest" and "V", on SyFy. I found the 1983 version of space alien reptiles a lot more socially redeeming and satisfying.

The ultimate insult was Kenny Schrader's response on Despain's Wind Tunnel last night. Kenny, speaking solely from a driver's/owner's point of view, thought the race was "A good one. The drivers drove sensibly for 160 laps then turned up the heat and drove competitively." (Paraphrasing, to be sure) I hope he was making his statements from thsat perspective and that he hasn't sold out and gone over to "Tjhe Dark Side." I'd hate to see kenny be just another one of NA__AR's parrot spokesmen.

The ultimate (probably) and defending Series Champion runs at the back of the pack between 25th and 35th all day and then, in a handful of laps, misses wrecks and ends up 6th and everyone is commenting on what a great feat of driving and strategy that was?? What the Hell is THAT all about. Do people actually watch racing to soak up the "strategy?"

[WestCoast]

Not Good, I watched the first hour and lost interest.
My afternoon action picked up when I switched to the Packers vs Vikings game.

[Robertdjr]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

The ultimate (probably) and defending Series Champion runs at the back of the pack between 25th and 35th all day and then, in a handful of laps, misses wrecks and ends up 6th and everyone is commenting on what a great feat of driving and strategy that was?? What the Hell is THAT all about. Do people actually watch racing to soak up the "strategy?"

That was the ultimate points racing if I ever saw it. Oh wait...come to think of it, I have. Seems like I remember Jeff Gordon did the same thing at Atlanta in 1995, to win his first championship.

[nascaraddict]

Everyone loves a parade. As long as it's not a parade of 43 cars in a NASCAR race.

[mike honcho]

Originally Posted by nascaraddict

Everyone loves a parade. As long as it's not a parade of 43 cars in a NASCAR race.

Maybe if they threw candy from the cars as they went around people would have been happier???

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by mike honcho

Maybe if they threw candy from the cars as they went around people would have been happier???

They could have had beer being hosed on the crowds and they still wouldn't have been happy

[BrianFranceFan]

Originally Posted by Quality88

As soon as he said the bumper-to-bumper action that creates some of the most intense drama of the season -- and at times the most horrific crashes -- would be policed to the point a win could be taken away, the single-file racing we had for much of the 188 laps was predictable.

hmmm,,,,tough choice for NASCAR I think. Have the no bumping rule which creates for single file racing...and get complaints because its boring...or forget the rule and have some big crashes...and get complaints because their weren't any safety features put in? I see it as a lose lose situation for nascar.

[HendrickMoto]

Originally Posted by BrianFranceFan

Have the no bumping rule which creates for single file racing...and get complaints because its boring...or forget the rule and have some big crashes...and get complaints because their weren't any safety features put in?

The inclusion or lack of safety features has nothing to do with any thing else you mentioned.

[nascaraddict]

I can see NA_CAR wanting to end the bump drafting in the corners. But as long as everyone keeps their heads on straight; bump drafting along the straight-away should be fine. And added to that; it adds to the race.

It ends the "four hour parade" mentality of the sport. And it gives the drivers another way to get to the front.