NASCAR’s Wish List for 2008 (Part 2)
A couple of weeks ago we posted our first blog entry for this racing season with NASCAR’s Wish List for 2008. We want to take this opportunity to expand on various wishes in order to explain why we “hypothesized” the way we did. Keep in mind that the “wishes” are based more on the business side of NASCAR than the racing side.
Here are three wishes.
#10: No “three-peat”. Las Vegas bookmakers give #48 a 4 to 1 chance of three-peating as Sprint Cup champion. It’s only been done once. We think NASCAR would like to see a close championship but with a new face (or even familiar face) in order to stimulate greater fan interest in the Race for the Chase as well as the Chase itself. An analogy would be the Chicago Bulls, UCLA under Wooden and even the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fans of those teams loved their dynasties but others were turned off by their repeated success.
#9: #88 makes the Chase. He’s been the most popular driver the last several years but has had his ups and downs. What better way to stimulate fan interest than to have Dale Jr. make the Chase — or even better, to win it all? Given all the off-season hype about Jr. winning races and making the Chase, fans would be sorely disappointed if after Richmond in September, he’s down in 14th or 15th place.
#8: TV ratings and track attendance improve. Of course, NASCAR wants these to happen but not simply to point to the sport’s popularity. Rather, sponsors and TV network exec’s would be thrilled at the possibility of greater exposure — and that’s why they pay big bucks for television contracts and bright logos on the race cars.
Stay tuned for further elucidation.
Jon
Comments
Wish #9, like to see in 08'!
Posted by: Doc Meyer | January 30, 2008 2:15 PM
As for the #9, I going to go ahead and make the prediction that Dale Jr. makes the chase (I am calling it now Dr. Ackley). Not under DEI anymore, and now under Hendrick (who seemed to dominate the COT races last year) should see alot from Dale Jr. this year. As for my number #1 wish for the 2008 season, Matt Kenseth finally wins Nextel cup and stops teasing me.
-Cameron
"Drivers are pretty well set, but crew chiefs, they change their business cards like they change their pants."
Posted by: Cameron | January 31, 2008 11:22 AM
Cameron: I totally agree that Junior should make the Chase this year given Hendrick's successes last year with the COT. However, the last couple of weeks of testing showed that both Ford and Toyota (and to a lesser extent, Dodge) really made great strides with the COT, thus putting even more pressure (if that's possible) on Junior to win races and make the Chase. Then, again, there are the Giants!
Posted by: Jon | February 4, 2008 10:19 AM