All-Star Weekend Indicative Of Things To Come In Charlotte?
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007 9:11am EDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
OK, so it wasn’t Hendrick. It was, yet again, Chevrolet. That’s just how it goes, and looking back there have been times when Ford was stinking it up as well. But, we’re not here to necessarily discuss this.
The All-Star race was far from a spectacular show. It should have been dubbed the All-Star Show, not race. Is this the fault of the drivers or teams? No.
The “show” last weekend was a product of an over cautious tire, one that has little grip on the surface and makes for some pretty loose race cars.
During the All-Star coverage, many, many drivers mentioned this. Some that tend to not mention things like this and just go out and (try to) race. The broadcast team even made mention of it, and “said” it probably wouldn’t be an issue on the series’ return this fall.
If you know your car is loose as a goose, you’re not going to chance wrecking it just to gain a spot. Points on the line or not, a wreck isn’t fun. With the 600 this weekend they have to keep the big picture in mind, knowing full well the demanding physical situation of the longest distance in NASCAR.
On top of all this, four 20 lap heats just didn’t cut it. There is no doubt that this format didn’t work. Perhaps a 20/20/30/40 format might be better, and bringing back the inversion for all segments except the first. Granted, not having a fan vote as we know we are all too predictable on that one. The lottery-style machine used previously would be fine.
All in all, it was a lackluster event. No wonder is wasn’t on a mainstream channel. Not to say Speed didn’t do a good job, but shouldn’t the “All Star” event be on mainstream TV?
Filed Under: Busch Series, Charlotte/Lowe's, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Tracks
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I had been up late the night before the race and had a chance to watch a rebroadcast of highlights of past all-star races. Maybe it was that they showed the tape of the “Pass in the grass”, about twenty times, but the show did feature many close races. I just made the yawnfest of Saturday that much worse by comparison. I hope they listen to you Luke.
Charlie, I’d be happy if they would just listen to somebody, Hollywood types excluded.
How long can this identity crisis go on?
First things first, NASCAR should be about racing. Not just cars on the track, but also the racing environment. The environment being made up of several factors such as the track, the fans in the stands, and not forgetting people tuning in from outside the track (TV, internet, what have you).
NASCAR became successful for several reasons. Yet in the “Era of Brian”, they almost present an attitude of “2 sheets to the wind” in terms of where they came from. Favoring exposure over product, like racing at Fontana vice The Rock for example, and so on.
Then you have this whole paranoid tire crap. The current tire codes in place at Charlotte are too hard. OK, they needed them a year ago. The track has since aged a bit, yet the tires are just as tough. How many of the wrecks over the past week or so have been due to a lack of grip in the tire?
The racing during the All-Star event was poor because of it, and while it should improve a tick for the 600 (thanks to a race under the belt with the current codes on the track) but I’m not expecting a miracle.
These guys are out there on pins and needles, trying to hang on to their car and bring it home. Fearful that if they try to make a move that even has a slight risk, they’re going to wind up in the fence. Points being on the line just may make it worse, considering the All-Star event is basically (or marketed as) a Checkers or Wreckers environment.
Heck, there was a Million reasons to mash the gas and go, yet there was more hesitation during that race than there is on pit road under a yellow at any points event.
I don’t think it was because of tearing up equipment necessarily, although some teams brought back the same car, but more from an injury stand point. All from the tires being way too hard.
I’m not against safety whatsoever, but there is safety and flat out paranoid. The second being the approach with the current tire codes.
At the same time, I’m not against expansion and growth either. But, you have to be willing to grow a realistic rate as well. In this area, I think NASCAR has just been a little too aggressive. Not everybody wants a track. Look at the latest attempts to broaden the market. AKA the Seattle and Long Island fiasco’s.
In the end, you have to have a solid product to market. Without that, you lose business in the long run. With ratings down in 2006, and again in 2007, that should be the first clue. Of course that’s if they had previously ignored the inherent cries from the fans that put them where they are today.