NASCAR Naysayers and The New Year

There is a plethora of people who espouse the decline of NASCAR by blaming Jimmie Johnson, the economy, the NASCAR Chase and on and on.

Absolutely, the economy during the past two years has taken its toll on NASCAR fans, sponsors and all the ancillary parts and pieces it takes to maintain the sport.

NASCAR was forced to layoff people at the corporate level; team owners had to make tough choices with cutbacks on personnel and some teams downsized.

Television ratings have taken a considerable hit, just as speedway grandstands show far too many empty seats.

One of the biggest segments of the population who seem to be tuning out NASCAR is the 18-to-34 year old group of people. How ironic that seems that the future of the sport is depending on drivers mostly in that age range.

It's time to stop the blame game with Jimmie Johnson and his five consecutive titles, even if you don't like him. Dominance of one driver has never been a problem in the past, be it Richard Petty, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt Sr. or Jeff Gordon.

The bashing of Johnson is based on the fact that during his reign as Sprint Cup Champion, his personality fails to trigger emotion with the fans; others go with the theory his crew chief, Chad Knaus, has some advantage over every other crew chief in the sport. 

The fact is he has made history and he will go down in the history books as a great driver, like it or not.

The racing is more competitive now than it has been in some time. We just came off the most exciting NASCAR Chase since it's implementation in 2004.

The amazing technology and safety of today's racing machines in the top NASCAR series should be embraced. The real-time data, graphics and explanations of what is happening with the race cars is something a fan could never have imagined even 15 or 20 years ago.

What the sport needs is a taste of racing past. NASCAR badly needs rivalries and that equates to fan interest, thus improved ratings and better attendance at racing venues.

How many casual NASCAR race-watchers heard about Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski's shenanigans on the track and tuned in just to see what would happen next? We don't need airborne cars, but drama is good.

The boys had at it with NASCAR approval during 2010. We need a little more on track combat, trash-talking and maybe even a new black hat image with the black-bearded NASCAR Champ. 

With the great competition and evidence of personalities evoking emotion, we would see a change in the dynamics of fan interest.

We need to see Kyle Busch go head to head with Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick or Denny Hamlin. There are others who have the potential for entertaining rivalries even with teammates.

The battle amongst the Hendrick Motorsports drivers could prove interesting and Juan Pablo Montoya could steal the spotlight from Jamie McMurray.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the obvious choice to really amp up ratings. We need to see the return of the s***-eating grin on his face and the No. 88 at the front of the field. It is highly possible that could happen, though those outside of Junior Nation find that to be the impossible dream.

The old-fashioned battle of the Ford vs. Chevys has been diluted with the generic COT, despite the brand name model brandished on the nose of the car.

NASCAR has addressed that issue with the Nationwide Series and they will do the same in the Sprint Cup Series during the next few years.

Tracks on the NASCAR circuit have made every effort to drop ticket prices and give the fans better ticket packages, including all-you-can-eat and FanZone activities.

It is time for the greedy hotel and motel owners to put an end to ridiculous prices for rooms and minimum three day stays. Fans often make no effort to book a room after trying a year in advance and see no rooms are available at the choice places to stay. We all know there are vacant rooms when race weekend rolls around.

It is easy for the disgruntled fan to respond to articles and blogs with negativity about one thing or another related to NASCAR; the negativity is contagious and can deter a potential fan from attending a race or viewing it on television.

NASCAR listens and they have made attempts to enhance racing. Does the public like all they do? Of course they don't, and the pros and cons about the NASCAR Chase alone is evidence of that.

Maybe NASCAR will continue the trend to Saturday night races, a tradition in stock car racing.

The overabundance of commercials during a race is a turn off for fans. Often, they just switch over to football or something else. Perhaps the split screen used in IndyCar racing should be mandated during the broadcast.

NASCAR is not alone in the dropping attendance at events—it is evident with football and other sports. The NFL implements a blackout of the game if it is not a sellout. Most of the home games for the football team in my area could not be viewed.

Just as the economy sputters toward recovery, gas prices rise and are expected to go higher. If that happens, booking motel rooms at any price will become mute. We still have great televisions to watch though if we can't attend for financial reasons.

NASCAR is and always has been a great sport. It is time to appreciate all that it is, even with its flaws and even if we find the man who will go down in history as a great driver, Jimmie Johnson, not to our liking—it is what it is and one day we will look back remembering we were witness to that history.

Perhaps the 2011 season will bring the fans excitement, rivalries and memorable moments that we shall cuss and discuss. We have all the ingredients for a great upcoming season.

Happy New Year to all NASCAR fans, even the naysayers. Maybe those with negative attitudes about the sport will have reason to cheer and we shall draw in new fans.