JUST WHAT IS NASCAR’S CHALLENGE?
Writing in his NASCAR.com column last week, David Caraviello shared his views on “NASCAR’s real challenge” — not TV ratings or ticket sales. Rather, “fan base” is the real problem: the disparity between “traditional fans” (spell that “old timers”) and the “new fans” (see “chardonnay” in your dictionary).
Caraviello suggests that the traditional fans need to understand the need for NASCAR to change in order to continue to grow while new fans need to realize that those who came before see NASCAR not simply as a sport but as a “prized heirloom passed from one generation to the next”. Thus, traditional fans need to accept the “car of today” and that NASCAR will continue to evolve and new fans must understand that a Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon is more than just entertaining clients.
I would like to inject my opinion on what else constitutes the “NASCAR challenge”: NASCAR’s inability to reconcile its desire to “keep racin’” with placating its financial supporters. What do I mean, you ask? A couple of days ago Juan Pablo Montoya was fined $10,000 and placed on Busch Series probation until December 31 for making an obscene gesture during Busch Series practice. NASCAR stated that he was in violation of Section 12-4-A of the Busch Series rules book: “actions detrimental to stock car racing”.
Let’s get real here children! Anyone reading this blog is probably guilty of “actions detrimental" to their offspring riding in the family car when someone cut them off in traffic!
I doubt most followers of NASCAR were even aware of JPB’s adolescent behavior — or care! The problem is NASCAR’s inability to understand that driving 160 mph oftentimes leads to tempers flaring. NASCAR’s desire to be non-controversial in order to keep sponsors happy has led to “too much grease on the squeaky wheels” and way-to-many trips to the wood shed. If NASCAR wants to fill the grandstands and increase TV viewership, it needs to be less concerned with “regulatin’” and more concerned with “good ol’ racin’”. What do you think?
(By the way, I prefer cabernet.)
Jon
Comments
Good stuff Jon. Don't you think that NASCAR makes a mistake when they act like their sponsors will be offended if race drivers act like race drivers?
Also, I have a post that I would appreciate you looking at and commenting on, if you have the time. it's here http://benchracing.typepad.com/bench_racing_with_steve_a/2007/04/earnhardts_goin.html
Thanks
Charlie Turner
Posted by: charlie | April 26, 2007 1:15 PM
Makes sense.
Guys, what are your gameplans for RIR? Will you be in attendance?
Previous commenter's link is to the password page of his blog.
Posted by: Thomas | April 30, 2007 2:34 PM
Thomas: I expect to spend all day Saturday at the track. I've been invited to visit in a suite and will be sitting in the new stands. They're awesome--I visited the track last week. I'll have a good view of all the can and bottle throwers! Hope you'll be attending and cheering for JPM!
Posted by: Jon | May 1, 2007 3:57 PM
I will be looking at the impact of a night venue and a potential 3 in a row for JG.
I think Richmond shows the fans that a progressive track that remembers its roots can put on a good show.
Posted by: Michael Pitts | May 2, 2007 8:58 AM
For those who had been trying to check out Charlie's link without success, he sent in the correct one. Here it is:
http://benchracing.typepad.com/bench_racing_with_steve_a/2007/04/earnhardts_goin.html. It's also corrected within Charlie's post.
Posted by: Tom | May 2, 2007 9:37 AM
And I will be looking at the impact of my beer cans on the hood of Kurt Busch's Dodge.
No JPM, of course. Mark Martin....
Posted by: Thomas | May 2, 2007 9:38 AM