Let’s face it, NASCAR’s All–Star Challenge needs a facelift. This tired excuse for an All-Star event has lost its luster from years past.
As if race attendance weren’t bad enough, the TV ratings have been sliding over the past five years. There was a slight increase last year, but that was only because of a concerted effort to promote the race as heavily as possible.
Even despite NASCAR’s best marketing effort last year, TV ratings only bumped up slightly, while there were still plenty of empty seats in the stands.It is interesting to note, that while NASCAR is promoting this as a turnaround season and one in which they are boasting higher attendance and TV ratings, so far this season, only Richmond, Bristol, Las Vegas and Daytona have been full houses for Cup races. Why?
Well, some NASCAR figures point to the flagging economy as a reason. Gas prices of $4 per gallon do not bode well for track attendance. Money that used to go towards tickets, souvenirs, food and beverages, now goes into the gas tank.
Some people come from as far as 300 miles to attend a race. Most NASCAR fans usually need a bigger vehicle to bring the usual race commodities, so that translates into campers, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. These bigger vehicles use more gas, so an average troop of NASCAR fans might wind up paying $200-$300, just for gas!
As for the All-Star venue itself, it is the same old package, slightly tweaked here and there, but in dire need of adjustment. The Sprint Showdown starts things off with a short race consisting of 40 laps, 60 miles, and will be run in two 20-lap segments.
Between segment 1 and segment 2, there will be a yellow flag during which teams can pit and may elect to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Two drivers will earn starting spots in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, while a third driver will also advance, as determined by the Sprint Fan Vote.The All-Star race is 100 laps, 150 miles (run in four segments of 25 laps each). Green flag and yellow flag laps are counted during segments 1, 2 and 3, and only green flag laps are counted during segment 4. Between segments 1 and 2, there will be a yellow flag during which teams may elect to pit for fuel, tires and normal chassis adjustments. Teams pitting do not retain their position on the track, but restart at the rear of the field in the order they leave pit road.
Then, between segments 2 and 3, there will be a 10-minute break during which teams pit and may elect to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Teams are just not allowed to change springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends during this caution.
Teams restart segment 3 in the same position they finished segment 2, but between segments 3 and 4, the caution flag is waved and teams are required to make at least a stop-and-go pit stop. Cars start the final segment in the same order as when they leave pit road.This format is different than in years past, where there were only 3 segments, with the final segment left up to a fan vote as to whether or not the field would be inverted on the restart (and it always was). It was exciting to see Earnhardt and Gordon get shuffled all the way to the back of the pack and have to really race their way back into a position to win.
It made for some extremely exciting finishes, like when Kyle Petty and Davey Allison wrecked coming across the finish line on the final lap in 1992. Davey never even knew he had won, as he was airlifted, unconscious, to a hospital in Charlotte.These are the kinds of exciting storybook races fans come to see. The current format may be a new twist, but it is already old and confusing. Fans don’t like confusion. They want to know what to expect; they want to be informed. This used to be a driver’s race, but now it has become more of a team event.
While that may play well to the teams themselves, this is supposed to be an event for the fans, not the race teams. It is supposed to engage the fans and be a special “thank you” for their continued support. That is why there are no points awarded for the race. It is meant to encourage the drivers to go for the money, excite the fans, and leave it all on the track.
NASCAR officials say it they want to get back to their roots and their original fan base, but so far this season there hasn’t been much proof in their disclaimer. NASCAR needs to start actually listening to their fans and stop being so concerned with the attendance and the money. Start being more creative in how the money is spent, please the fans, and the rest will take care of itself.
A good step in that direction might be to reinstate a second race at Darlington, on Labor Day. Reinstate the Southern 500 in all its glory, and take away the second California date. California fans are a fickle lot and probably still won’t fill the stands with one date.
A second idea would be to stop trying to expand into unknown markets. Rockingham and North Wilkesboro have perfectly good tracks that used to host events. Bring one of them back and stop making people drive all over God’s green Earth to see their favorite sport. Bring NASCAR back to its roots!
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about 1 month ago
Maybe...maybe...California was not full (or anywhere near full) first because of the weather and secondly, because of the stupidity of putting not one but two races in California.
Maybe...maybe...Martinstiville, a traditionally full vneue, was not full because it was 39 degrees throughout the day (yes I was there) winds in excess of 20 MPB throughout the day and even misty drizzle throughout the day.
Maybe...maybe...Richmond & Bristol & Daytona & Las Vegas are full because of track management like Doug Fritz at Richmond answring his own phone (and email) and listening to what the fans think makes Richmond, not only the Action Track but also the Fans & Drivers favorite gtrack. Let me think here for a second, 1 mile, 1.5 mile, 2 mile, 2.5 mile, gee there doesn't seem to be any other track remotely resembling the Action Track at Richmond, maybe I/ we should build another cookie cutter track and then, to top it off, lets leave it flat as a pancake and make it eight lanes wide so will resemble that open wheel go-kart series that no one outside of Danica Patrick's family attends.
Yes, there are some difficult economic times upon us and YES, "some" of the track managers are doing something right. But does this mean we throw out the baby with the bath water or do we learn from those who have figured out how to run their venues.
Let's don't make everyone stand in the corner when no one "fess's up" (kinda like in the early grades) lets patronize those who get it right and "constructively criticize those who do not.
Happy Racing.
about 1 month ago
I really thought that the all star portion of today's event was lame. I don't really want to see how fast pit crews can change tires. It is interesting during a race, because it can affect the outcome of the race. But, on its own, that is not entertaining.
about 1 month ago
"Rockingham and North Wilkesboro have perfectly good tracks that used to host events. Bring one of them back and stop making people drive all over God’s green Earth to see their favorite sport. Bring NASCAR back to its roots!"
"Brilliant idea!"
Not.
Actually a very provincial idea that on its very face says to all the fans west of the Mississippi that you DON'T COUNT and the hell with all of you.
You mention "bring[ing] NASCAR back to its roots."
Let me help you out in understanding NASCAR's roots. All of the following tracks held NASCAR top tier sanctioned events on the dates indicated and note they are so far west of the ole Missisip they can be called Left Coast.
Arizona State Fairgrounds Phoenix, AZ 1951-1960
Tucson Rodeo Grounds Tucson, AZ 1955-1955
Ascot Stadium Los Angeles, CA 1957-1961
Bay Meadows Speedway San Mateo, CA 1954-1956
California State Fairgrounds Sacramento, CA 1956-1961
Capitol Speedway Sacramento, CA 1957-1957
Carrell Speedway Gardena, CA 1951-1954
Eureka Speedway Eureka, CA 1956-1957
Marchbanks Speedway Hanford, CA 1951-1961
Merced Fairgrounds Merced, CA 1956-1956
Oakland Stadium Oakland, CA 1951-1954
Ontario Motor Speedway Ontario, CA 1971-1980
Riverside International Raceway Riverside, CA 1958-1988
Santa Clara Fairgrounds San Jose, CA 1957-1957
Are those "roots" deep enough for you?
Let me guess, you "hate" the idea of NASCAR competing in Mexico also?
Sorry, NASCAR is just going back to its' very deep roots there also. (http://tinyurl.com/6e4gvy)
P.S. Just where were all the people that have spent the last 4 years lamenting the end of stock car racing at Rockingham?
One would think when the place swung open their doors for the ARCA RE/MAX Series the fans whining, crying and gnashing their teeth for 4 years about The Rock could have at least filled half the seats.
But they didn't, not even close. In fact of the 60,000 seats available a generous estimate is 20 thousand, but the reality is the number was closer to 15,000.
So much for any "roots" around The Rock huh all those fans were more hot air than active participants?
come to think of it is why it closed in the first place, no attendance and ownership that refused to upgrade the facility.
about 1 month ago
NASCAR was founded by bootleg drivers who used to run moonshine over the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains down into the Deep South. Those are the roots I am referring to. You have posted a lot of useful information and i applaud you for that. You can lose your attitude, though, as I don't need any snide, rude, sardonic, or sarcastic comments. I don't need to be challenged and I would appreciate it if you would stop doing so. You have a lot of hate bottled up inside of you, and it shows. I don't need it on my blog.
about 1 month ago
"NASCAR was founded by bootleg drivers who used to run moonshine over the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains down into the Deep South. Those are the roots I am referring to."
Yep, you're exactly correct and they did that for years before the very first dirt oval was carved out of a farmers field. That my friend places NASCAR roots not on ovals, strictly speaking, but on road courses, to be specific, dirt ones.
But lets run with your idea that NASCAR goes back to it's true roots. That means all the fans west of the Mississippi presumably will have no tracks or drivers competing because they are not part of "NASCAR's roots."
National sponsors like Home Depot, Lowes and many, many more would have less of a reason to spend the amount they do because NASCAR no longer covers the entire country.
Even if, lets say, NASCAR cut back on the number of events held in the west 20-30 percent to appease the "good old times" folks how much would you say that would effect the fan base and sponsorship?
You say you don't "need" to be challenged, guess what, you're on the internet and publishing something that everyone can and will read and comment on.
Better get used to being challenged you've entered the wrong world if your skin is that thin and without doubt acting the incorrect way to being questioned, (i.e. calling someone a nutcase).
from 19 days ago
Joe, I'm a Rockingham native and Mr. Boland politely blasted my blog last night. He then insisted he wasn't negative and that he'd said nice things about Rockingham. I suppose I should let him be, considering he seems to know so much more than I do. It's too bad none of us are capable of the knowledge he has about NASCAR.
By the way, Mr. Boland, no one said tracks like North Wilkesboro and Rockingham had to run at the expense of the tracks out West. When my father raced in NASCAR's Grand National Series, they ran 56 races a year, all across the country. They ran two or three races a week with three guys, the racecar, and the truck they hauled everything in. No planes, no helicopters, no multi-million dollar RVs and yet they were able to race out West and in North Carolina. You honestly mean to tell me with the money flowing through NASCAR that the sport and the teams can't afford to run more than 36 races a year? I'm sure you'll come up with some reason why they can't.
After all, your level of knowledge far surpasses mine.
from 19 days ago
Katrina.... you can give up on "Joe" who posted so much junk and unsubstantiated noise he actually went so far as to change his name to "Joe Boxer" and quietly disappeared.
"After all, your level of knowledge far surpasses mine."
Thanks for the complement, whether true or not.
And you are correct, they ran out west, I'd suggest you read my posts detailing just that . While they did run in Arizona, California and Nevada as early as 1951 the starting fields consisted typically of only 25 or less cars (an example is Carrell Speedway, Gardena, CA in April 1951 when 25 started or Eureka Speedway in '54 when only 15 cars started) as opposed to 40 or more in the East.
P.S. Katrina.... you go ahead and search around and find more "like-minded" "authors" here that you seem to be in search of to validate you misguided thoughts on my "negativity.
about 1 month ago
Well, then be considerate and stop proving my point. Do as I asked and stay clear. I will remove the offensive word and you can take your nasty comments somewhere else. Otherwise, all your doing is perpetuating my point.
about 1 month ago
I can't prove a point you never had.
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