2020 NASCAR Thread

God, I hope not. It’s bad enough being overrun with these abominations on the highway.

 

And you've hit on part of the end game that could eventually kill the golden goose.

NASCAR, for all its technological savvy, is still completely dependent on the idea that its main audience wants to see gasoline-fueled sedans going around in circles. That's not what the overwhelming majority of the car-buying public -- or the manufacturers -- want. Even their Truck Series is based on the same platform, just with a truck shell.

The future is eventually going to be the elimination of fossil fuels as a primary source of propulsion. It's only a matter of time and bringing technology to bear.

Even worse, fewer potential customers have drivers licenses or even care about automobiles than at any time since World War II. Unless NASCAR creates an Uber/Lyft Series, why would people who don't own a car care?

While Daytona Beach fiddles, their base is slowing dying off. Does this sound a bit like print media, because the parallels are there.

 

Yeah, Blaine was killed at the '96 US Nationals when he hit a mid track turnout. NHRA made tracks reconfigure to take them out. He was pretty much running away with the championship when it happened.

 

I think NASCAR's traditional appeal was the death-defying knights of the track who were just like the folks in the stands. They came up from the factories and farms, and when they hit the big time, they still rubbed shoulders and talked with the folks buying tickets. Many of the drivers up through the 80s and early 90s worked various jobs Monday-Thursday and raced on the weekends. The age of rookies was mid 30s because it took them that long to get there. The fans identified with them. It wasn't always about the gear head side of it.

 

Aubry Huff has no idea how to shut his mouth. Bubba Wallace had none of it.

 

My first and only Indy was 1967, when Parnelli Jones' turbine car was ahead by about 7 miles when a ball bearing failed and he lost. The car was super controversial because it was rear engined and worst of all made no noise. But it eventually led to the introduction and subsequent total victory of rear-engined cars. Perhaps as a subsidiary series, NASCAR could get the motor companies to create high-performance electric racers. They're all working feverishly to create the electric car that finally catches the public's fancy. What better way to do so?

 

There's a European Formula E Series for rear-engined cars now. Andretti Autosports has a team and is heavily involved. Whether NASCAR can evolve their platform that quickly to hardtops (remember, this is a series that took nearly 35 years to stop using leaded racing fuel) is a fool's errand.

 

I was in Force's hauler, and it was Force who told me about Kenny Irwin being killed.
I used to LOVE hanging out in the Snake Racing hospitality area when Larry Dixon was sponsored by Miller Lite.
Don Schumacher's outfit was by far the best "make yourselves at home boys" setup.
Force, Tony Schumacher, Kenny Bernstein ... down to earth despite their success. They were always happy to talk about the sport.
I was a familiar enough face that Greg Anderson one time had me watch his kid while he went to warm up the car.
Gary Scelzi headlocked/hugged/back slapped me more than once.
Joe Amato was weird. Bob Glidden was a jerk. Connie Kalitta is deaf as a post. Shirley Muldowney thinks highly of herself, to put it nicely.

 

And here is LaHaie versus.....Dan Pastorini! (2:30 minute mark)

 

Force won’t be at the NHRA restart this weekend, BTW.

NHRA to Restart This Weekend without Four-Car John Force Racing Team