NASCAR enacted a rule this year limitng the number of cars a team could field, but the smaller teams are still at a serious disadvantage. Still the races are much more competitive than they were during the Golden Age when Petty ruled the roost. Then you had factory teams from the three car makers that were totally dominant. Backmarkers were just out there driving around, with no chance of winning. Now, I'd say half to three quarters of the field are potential winners if they get some breaks. One of the problems in NASCAR is the decline in brand rivalries. The focus is on drivers now, and while there is nothing wrong with that, older fans miss the intense rivalry between the factories. In the good old days, brand rivalry was a key factor for most fans. Today, it is almost irrelevant, probably because most fans drive imports, the race cars are not really stockers but instead generic race cars and the manufacturers really do not emphasize race results in their advertising. In the 60's, if Richard Petty won, Plymouth sales would be up that week, Junior Johnson won, look for Chevy SS's to be flying out off the showroom floor.
They may go a little faster, but they don't race in packs like Nascar. I think I'd be a lot more stressed being boxed in at 180 MPH going 3 wide into turns all day than going 220 MPH by myself. Just my take though. It's alot more exciting for me. I watch F1 as well but dont follow it as close.
Well let's see if that new Ford they're driving this year will help their sales.... they need all the help they can get!
Kirk Shelmerdine's long strange trip finally landed him the final spot in Sunday's Daytona 500. Kirk rolls off the line 42nd (Terry Labonte receives a 'Past Champion Provisional' for the 43rd starting spot). Check out how Kirk Shelmerdine went from thinking he missed the race to a minimum $275,000 payday. - Spydertrader
I love the quote "A NASCAR official walked over and informed Shelmerdine he might want to back himself up and make a detour for the post-race inspection garage, assuming he knew where it was located." I pull for these guys. That 300k payday isn't going toward much profit for these struggling drivers.
Damn. Wouldn't that be awesome. Personally, I'm hoping he can pull off a Derrick Cope and get a miraculous win. Go Kirk! - Spydertrader
Live from Daytona, Speed Channel broadcasts The GM Flex Fuel 250 tonight (Friday) at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Speed Channel plans to broadcast all 25 races of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this year. NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Mark Martin sits on the pole for this always exciting Daytona Race. - Spydertrader
I'm just glad NBC carries the race this week. I don't think fans paying for FOX has been good for Nascar or the NFL and I don't care so much for the announcers and programming. Sometimes I turn off the TV sound and listen to Motor Racing on radio. They let you hear the cars. Good station if you're on the road too, btw.
Interesting with such a difference of opinion -- I *much* prefer the FOX coverage to Benny and company. JB