It’s Wednesday, So WTF?
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 11:42am CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
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This week, we tackle some crazy stuff. If you’re not asking “WTF?”, then there’s a problem.
NASCAR May Try To Curb Nationwide-Whacking
First off, that just doesn’t have the ring that Busch Whacking does. I guess we’ll get used to it, or figure out a different term.
According to ESPN, when NASCAR brings the “Pony” cars to the Busch Nationwide Series in 2009 they are looking at not allowing Cup drivers in the Top 35 to accumulate points in an effort to stop the influx and work towards giving the series its own identity.
WTF is that all about?
Cup drivers aren’t there for points, they are there for seat time, information, and most of all to race. By not allowing them to score points, what’s the point (no pun intended) in that? There isn’t one. The only result is you’ll have guys in the field, still eating up the spots, but only the Non-Cuppers get the points? So you can have a guy with 0 points and 6 wins in the series. That would be a funny thing indeed.
If you want the title to be decided within the series, and not by a Cup driver, instead limit the number of races that a Cup driver can enter in the Series, based on the number of full seasons they have run in Cup. One exception would be if that driver is not currently running a Cup effort (like when Kenny Wallace went to Busch after running Cup for BDR).
If you cap it at 10 or 12 races a year for a Cup driver that has 5 or more years at the Cup level, you still get the benefit of “names” in the series, but at the same time they won’t be a title factor. Tie in owners points to that as well, and then there won’t be an issue with that either.
Bill Davis Buyout
It’s on, it’s off. It’s Jacques Villeneuve, it’s his agent, it’s Big Bird.
WTF? Deny, deny, deny. Rumor, rumor, rumor.
Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.
Not a week ago, Davis was talking (in a round about way) about it in one of the local papers. Now he’s back to complete denial. So which is it, Bill?
ESPN, You’re In Hot Water
Just saying NASCAR coverage and ESPN is an automatic WTF.
While it’s generally been decent up to the checkers, here is the impression they are giving:
“There’s the checkers, how quick can we get out of here guys?”
You know, there is more to covering the race than just getting to the end. When you consistently roll credits during the Victory Lane coverage, there are some serious issues. Either you have failed to properly schedule your time, or you just flat out don’t care.
The consistent drop in ratings (down 16.7% for Atlanta as compared to 2006) week in and week out should be telling you something. If it isn’t, you better look at other options.
Get on the ball, and get it right. NASCAR requires the Top 5 finishers to stick around for you, and the very least you could do is show your appreciation and respect these guys by giving them their TV time.
If NASCAR doesn’t step in and mandate certain coverage aspects, like a 15 minute minimum post-race for example, then we’re at the mercy of the Networks and what they feel is important.
We can see where ESPN’s current priorities are.
They were supposed to be the TV savior for NASCAR, after NBC/TNT just flat out hosed it up. Thus far, they are far from living up to the hype.
Here’s to looking forward to the return of FOX, and the return of post-race coverage.
NASCAR For Sale?
Following on the heels of recent rumors that Chez Brian may be moving positions within ISC, we have this little ditty from Cup Scene Daily, through Yahoo Sports, that ISC “is studying the sale of the world’s largest stock car auto racing sanctioning body due to financial troubles“.
WTF?
Can’t say that a separation of interests wouldn’t possibly be good for the sport, but financial troubles? Did the Staten Island and Seattle fiasco’s really take that big of a toll on ISC?
Well, there you have it folks. This week’s WTF’s are interesting to say the least.
Aside… Don’t Forget!
It’s time for the showdown at Texas Motor Speedway, and of course Thunder Lounge will be there to provide the best entertainment and party on the planet!
See y’all there!
Filed Under: Busch Series, Features, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Texas, Tracks, WTF? Wednesday's
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“So you can have a guy with 0 points and 6 wins in the series. That would be a funny thing indeed.”
Or “better” yet, a Nationwide Cup winner with no wins and a third of the scheduled events won by a NEXTEL driver.
NASCAR = stupid ideas.
Go figure, I just posted how I’d read comment recent comments that seemed to indicate they were leaning towards a CoT version for the Nationwide Series. Makes sense as soon as I publish it another version of a continuing flip-flop on the subject appears.
i’ve always been a fan of keeping the expierenced cup drivers out of bush. The rule should be if you have more than 5 years on the circuit you can’t run in the series. When drivers like Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt, Tony Stewart, and Terry LaBonte run it takes a seat away from a young driver. I’ve always felt like Bush as being the AAA of NASCAR.
Frank said this on November 8th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Unfortunately, Cup drivers are a necessary evil. Let me be frank on this: They put butts in seats, whether at the track or at home.
That being said, their participation should be limited based on the number of years they have been in Cup, unless they aren’t running Cup that year.
Kenny Wallace, Rockingham. He got screwed on that deal, and Stanton Barrett ended up with a torn up race car.