NASCAR

[Max Rockatansky]

The iRacing event on Wednesday was really fun. A lot more interesting than a real-life race, that's for sure.

I take it you've never been to a race in person?  A video game doesn't come close to what it is like being near those cars.

i thought nascar was boring when i was a kid, until i saw two races at the 'old' richmond, va track in the mid 80's. i think it was just called 'fairgrounds raceway' or something like that. changed my whole perspective on it. what an experience! we were in the infield...

i think what really got me hooked.. was tv sound does not do it justice at all. even when they were just putting around under caution i swear i could feel it in my chest.

The amount of raw power and noise put out by those engines is pretty unbelievable in person if you've never experienced anything like it before.  I usually had to wear double hearing protection when I was at the races and I'm pretty sure it might be the reason I have some minor hearing loss in my 30s.  Even still NASCAR engines don't compare to what you'll hear and feel from the sound of a top fuel NHRA dragster. 

[mgk920]

Any thoughts on this weekend's planned dirt track race at Bristol?  Wasn't the last time that the Cup series raced on anything resembling dirt when they were still using the beach course at Daytona?

Mike

[Max Rockatansky]

Any thoughts on this weekend's planned dirt track race at Bristol?  Wasn't the last time that the Cup series raced on anything resembling dirt when they were still using the beach course at Daytona?

Mike

Apparently September 1970 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. 

[zachary_amaryllis]

Any thoughts on this weekend's planned dirt track race at Bristol?  Wasn't the last time that the Cup series raced on anything resembling dirt when they were still using the beach course at Daytona?

Mike

i think it is gonna be just simply bananas. i think there's gonna be beating, banging, sideways cars and just generally a lot of sweating, grunting, and gnashing of teeth. i saw some videos from the practices yesterday and they looked... fun.

[Max Rockatansky]

Any thoughts on this weekend's planned dirt track race at Bristol?  Wasn't the last time that the Cup series raced on anything resembling dirt when they were still using the beach course at Daytona?

Mike

i think it is gonna be just simply bananas. i think there's gonna be beating, banging, sideways cars and just generally a lot of sweating, grunting, and gnashing of teeth. i saw some videos from the practices yesterday and they looked... fun.

ARCA ran dirt events with modern stock cars.  While they were interesting to watch they weren't the wreck fest everyone is anticipating. 

[NWI_Irish96]

Any thoughts on this weekend's planned dirt track race at Bristol?  Wasn't the last time that the Cup series raced on anything resembling dirt when they were still using the beach course at Daytona?

Mike

A morning full of thunderstorms before the race ought to make it fun. Wonder if they are covering the track or if they just let it turn to mud.

[SP Cook]

Any thoughts on this weekend's planned dirt track race at Bristol? 

Just the king's:
https://racingnews.co/2020/10/04/richard-petty-says-dirt-track-racing-isnt-professional-as-nascar-returns-to-dirt/

"I guess I'm looking at it from an old-time deal because we spent years and years and years trying to become a professional sport."

"Years and years to get away from that stigma. But dirt-track racing is not professional, so we're going backward. It would be like taking a professional football team and going back to play at a high school field."

--

Petty is, of course, right.  As NASCAR continues to bleed fans from its SELF INFLICTED wounds, it tries gimmick after gimmick. 

[kenarmy]

Any thoughts on this weekend's planned dirt track race at Bristol? 

Just the king's:
https://racingnews.co/2020/10/04/richard-petty-says-dirt-track-racing-isnt-professional-as-nascar-returns-to-dirt/

"I guess I'm looking at it from an old-time deal because we spent years and years and years trying to become a professional sport."

"Years and years to get away from that stigma. But dirt-track racing is not professional, so we're going backward. It would be like taking a professional football team and going back to play at a high school field."

--

Petty is, of course, right.  As NASCAR continues to bleed fans from its SELF INFLICTED wounds, it tries gimmick after gimmick.

"gimmick after gimmick"  um what else are they supposed to do? at least they're trying to make it more interesting. A lot of people are looking forward to it and i don't think one dirt race would do that much harm.

[Max Rockatansky]

Any thoughts on this weekend's planned dirt track race at Bristol? 

Just the king's:
https://racingnews.co/2020/10/04/richard-petty-says-dirt-track-racing-isnt-professional-as-nascar-returns-to-dirt/

"I guess I'm looking at it from an old-time deal because we spent years and years and years trying to become a professional sport."

"Years and years to get away from that stigma. But dirt-track racing is not professional, so we're going backward. It would be like taking a professional football team and going back to play at a high school field."

--

Petty is, of course, right.  As NASCAR continues to bleed fans from its SELF INFLICTED wounds, it tries gimmick after gimmick.

"gimmick after gimmick"  um what else are they supposed to do? at least they're trying to make it more interesting. A lot of people are looking forward to it and i don't think one dirt race would do that much harm.

Getting rid of interesting short tracks in favor of Charlotte and Michigan clones this last 25 years definitely hasn't been helping NASCAR in the long term.  I'm a fan of a diverse set of race courses and I don't see a dirt track or two as a problem.  Hell, I would welcome seeing a street course added to the schedule.   

[hbelkins]

Any thoughts on this weekend's planned dirt track race at Bristol? 

Just the king's:
https://racingnews.co/2020/10/04/richard-petty-says-dirt-track-racing-isnt-professional-as-nascar-returns-to-dirt/

"I guess I'm looking at it from an old-time deal because we spent years and years and years trying to become a professional sport."

"Years and years to get away from that stigma. But dirt-track racing is not professional, so we're going backward. It would be like taking a professional football team and going back to play at a high school field."

--

Petty is, of course, right.  As NASCAR continues to bleed fans from its SELF INFLICTED wounds, it tries gimmick after gimmick.

Well, given that part of the NCAA Tournament is being played at Butler's gym this year, it wouldn't make a lot of difference if an NFL team played at a high school field. I'm recalling a famous scene from a movie that was shot at Butler's fieldhouse about the goals still being 10 feet off the floor.

In this case, the dirt track is at Bristol so they're still going to have the garages and other amenities that the drivers are used to.

If I'm recalling this correctly, Tony Stewart bought Eldora Speedway and convinced NASCAR to run a truck race there, and it got rave reviews from drivers and fans. So that's probably why they're doing the dirt track race.

[SP Cook]

um what else are they supposed to do?

Simple.  Look at what worked.  Resume doing it.  Fire those who advocating change.

In NASCAR's case.

- Resume racing back to the caution.
- End spotter dependency.
- Have cars that bear at least some relationship to stock.
- End the idiotic chase/playoffs.  Who WINS THE RACE, every week, must be the CENTER of the discussion.
- Without saying anyone is unwelcome, embrace and celebrate the culture from which the sport was born.
- Allow drivers to show some personality.

In other words, NASCAR c. 1980-2005 or so.

[NWI_Irish96]

um what else are they supposed to do?

Simple.  Look at what worked.  Resume doing it.  Fire those who advocating change.

In NASCAR's case.

- Resume racing back to the caution.
- End spotter dependency.
- Have cars that bear at least some relationship to stock.
- End the idiotic chase/playoffs.  Who WINS THE RACE, every week, must be the CENTER of the discussion.
- Without saying anyone is unwelcome, embrace and celebrate the culture from which the sport was born.
- Allow drivers to show some personality.

In other words, NASCAR c. 1980-2005 or so.

Fantastic, and let's bring Dale Earnhardt back to life and make Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart come out of retirement.

[SP Cook]

Fantastic, and let's bring Dale Earnhardt back to life and make Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart come out of retirement.

No.  Let's just use the tried and proven formula that made stars of those men, and thus find this generation's.  Rather than the idiotic "new ideas" that DO NOT WORK.

[NWI_Irish96]

Fantastic, and let's bring Dale Earnhardt back to life and make Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart come out of retirement.

No.  Let's just use the tried and proven formula that made stars of those men, and thus find this generation's.  Rather than the idiotic "new ideas" that DO NOT WORK.

The men made the formula work. Not the other way around.

Racing back to the caution is unsafe and unnecesary. It matters even less now that there are double file restarts.
I don't know how you forcibly end spotter dependency. It exists.
Cars that bear relationship to stock are going to go a lot slower.
The Chase/Playoffs make winning more important. No more second placing your way to a points championship.
The culture from which the sport was born was racist and ignorant.
Drivers show personality. Clint Bowyer was a mediocre racer whose career lasted longer because personality earned him sponsorship.

The sport as it is now was appealing enough to bring in massive investments from Michael Jordan and Pitbull into teams, and that counts for more than just about anything else.

If you don't like what it is now, don't watch, but bitching about it is tiring and if you have nothing better to do then I'm very sad for you.

[Max Rockatansky]

Fantastic, and let's bring Dale Earnhardt back to life and make Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart come out of retirement.

No.  Let's just use the tried and proven formula that made stars of those men, and thus find this generation's.  Rather than the idiotic "new ideas" that DO NOT WORK.

The men made the formula work. Not the other way around.

Racing back to the caution is unsafe and unnecesary. It matters even less now that there are double file restarts.
I don't know how you forcibly end spotter dependency. It exists.
Cars that bear relationship to stock are going to go a lot slower.
The Chase/Playoffs make winning more important. No more second placing your way to a points championship.
The culture from which the sport was born was racist and ignorant.
Drivers show personality. Clint Bowyer was a mediocre racer whose career lasted longer because personality earned him sponsorship.

The sport as it is now was appealing enough to bring in massive investments from Michael Jordan and Pitbull into teams, and that counts for more than just about anything else.

If you don't like what it is now, don't watch, but bitching about it is tiring and if you have nothing better to do then I'm very sad for you.

Clint Bowyer having 10 wins is a hell of a lot more than mediocre.  While I agree that trying new things isn't bad I don't agree that most of auto racing in general is more appealing than it was two decades ago.  There are a lot of reasons for that and the lack of diversity is definitely one that is hitting NASCAR hard now in particular.  Personally I think the sport will survive and become more diverse but it definitely won't ever approach it's former heights.  To me I'm fine with that, it never bothered me as someone who played hockey and is a fan of the sport. 

[kenarmy]

Fantastic, and let's bring Dale Earnhardt back to life and make Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart come out of retirement.

No.  Let's just use the tried and proven formula that made stars of those men, and thus find this generation's.  Rather than the idiotic "new ideas" that DO NOT WORK.

The men made the formula work. Not the other way around.

Racing back to the caution is unsafe and unnecesary. It matters even less now that there are double file restarts.
I don't know how you forcibly end spotter dependency. It exists.
Cars that bear relationship to stock are going to go a lot slower.
The Chase/Playoffs make winning more important. No more second placing your way to a points championship.
The culture from which the sport was born was racist and ignorant.
Drivers show personality. Clint Bowyer was a mediocre racer whose career lasted longer because personality earned him sponsorship.

The sport as it is now was appealing enough to bring in massive investments from Michael Jordan and Pitbull into teams, and that counts for more than just about anything else.

If you don't like what it is now, don't watch, but bitching about it is tiring and if you have nothing better to do then I'm very sad for you.

you said this so well-

[bm7]

Cars that bear relationship to stock are going to go a lot slower.

Faster cars doesn't mean it's a better sport to watch, otherwise nobody would be watching NASCAR because IndyCar and Formula 1 exist. And having less expensive cars would solve the problem of having fewer and fewer teams every year due to the rising costs of competing. Remember when there were 43 cars in a race and every qualifying had even more than that many entrants? That's not going to happen again with these cars.

The Chase/Playoffs make winning more important. No more second placing your way to a points championship.

How is getting second place a bad thing? If you got second place every single race, you'd be ranked lower than someone who won one race, and crashed out of every other one. It doesn't make any sense. It isn't a one-on-one sport where second place means you lost, you still beat 95% of the other drivers and that should mean something.

[epzik8]

um what else are they supposed to do?

Simple.  Look at what worked.  Resume doing it.  Fire those who advocating change.

In NASCAR's case.

- Resume racing back to the caution.
- End spotter dependency.
- Have cars that bear at least some relationship to stock.
- End the idiotic chase/playoffs.  Who WINS THE RACE, every week, must be the CENTER of the discussion.
- Without saying anyone is unwelcome, embrace and celebrate the culture from which the sport was born.
- Allow drivers to show some personality.

In other words, NASCAR c. 1980-2005 or so.

I've just taken note this year that nowadays NASCAR effectively has two separate points systems: the playoff grid (based on combined wins and points) and the one based on points alone.

[TonyTrafficLight]

The iRacing event on Wednesday was really fun. A lot more interesting than a real-life race, that's for sure.

I take it you've never been to a race in person?  A video game doesn't come close to what it is like being near those cars.

I've been to a few races. You can't replicate being in the stands.

As far as iRacing, obviously you've never tried it. I'm only been doing it for almost 3 years now,
and it's pretty amazing how close to real racing it is for only around $100 a year. I have a blast.
So many different variables are built into the game. It's more of a simulation and not a video game now.

Tire wear, track wear and many other handling characteristics, that real racers say is as close to the real thing you can get.
Many "real" drivers actually use it for testing purposes when they go to a new track.

[Max Rockatansky]

The iRacing event on Wednesday was really fun. A lot more interesting than a real-life race, that's for sure.

I take it you've never been to a race in person?  A video game doesn't come close to what it is like being near those cars.

I've been to a few races. You can't replicate being in the stands.

As far as iRacing, obviously you've never tried it. I'm only been doing it for almost 3 years now,
and it's pretty amazing how close to real racing it is for only around $100 a year. I have a blast.
So many different variables are built into the game. It's more of a simulation and not a video game now.

Tire wear, track wear and many other handling characteristics, that real racers say is as close to the real thing you can get.
Many "real" drivers actually use it for testing purposes when they go to a new track.

Actually I did compete in online races when Sierra put out NASCAR simulators in 1994 and 1996.  I would be kind of curious to see how those have improved considering even those were pretty accurate for the time. 

[TonyTrafficLight]

Ah ok. I started with the original Nascar 1 then started online with Nascar 2002 & 2003 in the Papyrus days.

It is totally different. Check out some of the more popular YouTubers with their triple screens and shaker seats lol.
It's pretty amazing how far it's come.

[SP Cook]

Racing back to the caution is unsafe and unnecesary.

W R O N G.  Please list the accidents this practice, used for 50 years, caused.

I'll help you out.  None.

Ultra safe, and ultra interesting.  Ever see the 79 Daytona 500.  Understand what a farce it would have been under today's idiot rules.

I don't know how you forcibly end spotter dependency. It exists.

You allow drivers to turn their heads to see what is going on.  Glad I could solve this difficult problem.

Cars that bear relationship to stock are going to go a lot slower.

Wrong. But so what is it were true?

The Chase/Playoffs make winning more important. No more second placing your way to a points championship.

W R O N G.  The idiotic chase, which was supposed to move NASCAR in the fall over the NFL, means that all a driver has to do is win one race sometime and get in the random result playoffs, which in no way reflect who had the best year.  The driver, once he wins one, can just sandbag until the idiotic chase starts.  Under the proper points system, the winner had the best year, but, more importantly, WHO WON THE RACE was the main issue every week. 

The culture from which the sport was born was racist and ignorant.

I feel sorry for you.  How sad to hate others it must be.

[NWI_Irish96]

Racing back to the caution is unsafe and unnecesary.

W R O N G.  Please list the accidents this practice, used for 50 years, caused.

I'll help you out.  None.

Ultra safe, and ultra interesting.  Ever see the 79 Daytona 500.  Understand what a farce it would have been under today's idiot rules.

I don't know how you forcibly end spotter dependency. It exists.

You allow drivers to turn their heads to see what is going on.  Glad I could solve this difficult problem.

Cars that bear relationship to stock are going to go a lot slower.

Wrong. But so what is it were true?

The Chase/Playoffs make winning more important. No more second placing your way to a points championship.

W R O N G.  The idiotic chase, which was supposed to move NASCAR in the fall over the NFL, means that all a driver has to do is win one race sometime and get in the random result playoffs, which in no way reflect who had the best year.  The driver, once he wins one, can just sandbag until the idiotic chase starts.  Under the proper points system, the winner had the best year, but, more importantly, WHO WON THE RACE was the main issue every week. 

The culture from which the sport was born was racist and ignorant.

I feel sorry for you.  How sad to hate others it must be.

The champion is coming from among the top point earners over the season, just not necessarily the #1, which is necessary in order to ensure drama through the last race.

And I'm not the one hating others, you're confusing me with the racists who hide their hate behind words like "roots" and "heritage"

[Alps]

um what else are they supposed to do?

Simple.  Look at what worked.  Resume doing it.  Fire those who advocating change.

In NASCAR's case.

- Resume racing back to the caution.
- End spotter dependency.
- Have cars that bear at least some relationship to stock.
- End the idiotic chase/playoffs.  Who WINS THE RACE, every week, must be the CENTER of the discussion.
- Without saying anyone is unwelcome, embrace and celebrate the culture from which the sport was born.
- Allow drivers to show some personality.

In other words, NASCAR c. 1980-2005 or so.

I'm not a watcher, but I agree with #1, #3, #4, #4, #4, #4, and somewhat #6 (depends on what they're gonna say when unmuzzled).

but let's please not discuss the merits of Southern culture vs. racism. this is not the place.

[1995hoo]

I stopped watching NASCAR regularly in part because I got tired of them changing the rules during the season if one manufacturer wasn't doing well enough–if the Fords weren't winning enough, they'd allow them a larger spoiler to make them more competitive, for example. I get that the manufacturers are part of their business model, but I've always felt that if you build a bad car, you lose. Change the rules in the offseason, sure. Changing the rules during the season is unsporting in my mind unless there is a serious safety reason for the change.

With that said, today's dirt race was obviously a publicity stunt, but it was kind of neat to watch part of it. I can't imagine attending it live because of the amount of dirt in the air, though!