2008 Nascar Controversy Will it effect the Sport?

From: The Sporting News Mar 13, 2008 06:42 PM |
In this Winston Cup season we've had four races and a lot of verbiage from Tony Stewart, Jack Roush, and Toyota on several issues, and some are celebrating this outburst of verbiage because it somehow has brought the sport's "personality" back. The sport, according to Brian France, needed to "show more personalities."

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Indian Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Polish Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions UK Auctions

Best Match Time: ending soonest Time: newly listed Price: lowest first Price: highest first Price + Shipping: lowest first Price + Shipping: highest first

32B Cami Bra LOT 6 PC Plain Sprint Beach Demi Show Off Whole Lace Cover Bra    US $21.99

Used Motorola i686 BRUTE SUPER BUNDLE PTT GPS Nextel Boost Fast FREE Shipping    US $65.95

RIM Blackberry Tour 9630 Sprint Black Refurbished Like New    US $82.99

Motorola i686 Brute Nextel Black Fair Condition    US $58.99

10PC ACCESSORY CAR CHARGER CASES BUNDLE FOR APPLE IPHONE 4 4S    US $24.99

Marcos Ambrose 2011 Dewalt 9 Fusion Richard Petty 1 24 NASCAR Diecast CWC New    US $35.99

Jamie McMurray 2011 McDonalds 1 Chevy Impala 1 24 NASCAR Diecast New Sealed    US $32.99

VHTF 2009 Jeff Gordon 24 RFO Speed Racer Color Chrome NG 124 Nascar Diecast    US $49.99

VHTF 2009 Jeff Gordon 24 RFO Speed Racer Foundation Gold NG 124 Nascar Diecast    US $59.99

Tony Stewart 2011 SPRINT CHAMPION TROPHY 14 Office Depot 8X10 Photo AUTOGRAPHED    US $43.95

Tony Stewart 2011 Office Depot 14 SPRINT CUP CHAMPION 8X10 Photo AUTOGRAPHED    US $47.95

CARL EDWARDS 2010 99 KELLOGGS 124 ACTION NASCAR DIECAST COLLECTIBLE CAR    US $49.99

CARL EDWARDS 2010 99 CHEEZ IT 124 ACTION NASCAR DIECAST COLLECTIBLE CAR    US $49.99

Motorola i686 Brute Nextel Black Good Condition    US $64.99

Tony Stewart 14 NASCAR Office Depot Back to School RCCA ELITE 2011 Impala Car    US $99.99

MARK MARTIN 2010 5 CARQUEST 124 ACTION NASCAR DIECAST COLLECTIBLE CAR    US $49.05

TONY STEWART 2010 14 BACK to SCHOOL 124 ACTION NASCAR DIECAST COLLECTIBLE CAR    US $49.14

DAVID RAGAN 2010 6 UPS 124 ACTION NASCAR DIECAST COLLECTIBLE CAR    US $49.06

RYAN NEWMAN 2010 39 HAAS AUTOMATION 124 ACTION NASCAR DIECAST    US $49.39

Martin Truex Jr 56 NASCAR Cup NAPA Auto Parts 2011 Toyota Camry Diecast Race Car    US $49.99

RYAN NEWMAN 2010 STEWART HAAS 39 ARMY 124 ACTION NASCAR DIECAST    US $49.39

View Page:   1  2  3  4  5

So what has been the net gain for the sport from these eruptions?

Some point to surprising spikes in TV ratings, notably for Vegas and Atlanta, as evidence that these outbursts are galvanizing fans back to the sport. Perhaps Tony Stewart and company screaming in the media has had some effect, but it's impossible to believe that it can sustain any improvement in the sport's popularity, especially given the continuing low quality of the competitive product on the racetrack.

Daytona was an exciting race. Fontana had some good racing in spots but hardly enough of it. Vegas wasn't much to write home about, and Atlanta wasn't any better - enough that it caused comment from H.A. Wheeler about the COT, "If this thing doesn't work, let's fix it and let's do it right now."

MD80891 remains a most perceptive analyst of things NASCAR and he has noted among other things what most people overlooked about the Atlanta weekend - the radical change in weather from day to day and its effect on setup. His comments remain must-reading when discussing the on-going tire controversy, for as critical of Goodyear as I am in a general sense, what it comes back to is the COT and its role in both tire issues and general raceability or lack thereof.

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Indian Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Polish Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions UK Auctions

Best Match Time: ending soonest Time: newly listed Price: lowest first Price: highest first Price + Shipping: lowest first Price + Shipping: highest first

Kansas City Royals New Era Stars Stripes Fitted Hat Cap 8    US $19.99

DALE EARNHARDT 1997 97 PINNACLE SPELLBOUND ETCHED SILVER FOIL INSERT 123 PACKS    US $20.00

GOLDTONE GILLETTE SAFETY RAZOR SCREW ON OFF HEAD VINTAGE    US $15.17

JE PISTONS Piston Kit Yamaha YFZ 450 Std Bore 95mm 1251 439cc 247957    US $172.79

Motor Plate Ear Bracket 1 Billet Aluminum 250 NASCAR ARCA FREE SHIPPING USA    US $19.99

3 car lot jeff gordon 1 64s    US $15.99

jeff gordon1 24 signed COA foose diecast    US $69.99

MARIO MANNINGHAM NFC ABSOLUTE RPM GAME WORN JERSEY BALL NEW YORK GIANTS 12 25    US $16.99

Washington Nationals Jersey Display Case W UV Pro    US $219.99

LA Dodgers Baseball Jersey Display Case W UV Protect    US $219.99

Full Size NASCAR MOTORCYCLE RACING HELMET DISPLAY CASE AD96    US $64.99

Nascar 2012 24 Jeff Gordon Pepsi Max Stand Up Great for tailgating    US $19.97

Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Jersey DisplayCase W UV Pro    US $219.99

New York Mets Baseball Jersey Display Case W UV Pro    US $219.99

Baltimore Orioles Baseball Jersey Display Case W UV Pro    US $219.99

SECRET SPORTS PROFITS Cricket Darts Rugby Tennis More NOT Football Racing Golf    US $63.15

2006 Action Dale Jr Tribute 3 Days Of Dale 1 24 Scale    US $59.95

Used Motorola i686 BRUTE SUPER BUNDLE PTT GPS Nextel Boost Fast FREE Shipping    US $65.95

Profile Racing MINI BMX 14MM CASSETTE HUBSET 36H RHD Cromo Aqua Teal    US $309.99

NASCAR 08 Sony Playstation 3 2007    US $16.99

Nascar DAYTONA 500 50 YEARS ANNIVERSARY Cotton JACKET L    US $95.00

View Page:   1  2  3  4  5

Just having "personalities" is not going to benefit the sport long-term. This sport would have seen similar spikes in ratings - not to mention stronger crowds than have generally come through track turnstiles - if the races following Daytona had shown the same competitive depth the 500 showed.
STP43FAN

Web Directories

Be Sociable, Share!

•