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2010 NASCAR running thread

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by 2muchcoffeeman, Jan 3, 2010.

Page 22 of 51
  1. 2muchcoffeeman

    2muchcoffeeman Well-Known Member

    You just misquoted me.
     
    2muchcoffeeman, Feb 15, 2010
    #253
  2. spnited

    spnited Active Member

    Yes, I did.

    But the fact remains, the biggest race on the NASSCAR circuit included 2 hours of pot-hole delays and an 8-lap extension to creata an artificial "exciting" finish.

    WWE on wheels. I'm glad you enjoy farces.
     
    spnited, Feb 15, 2010
    #254
  3. derwood

    derwood Active Member

    Interesting take on Daytona by Jeff MacGregor

    http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=macgregor/100215
     
    derwood, Feb 15, 2010
    #255
  4. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    One g-w-c try is OK...still strains credulity, but is OK. But three is really just silly. At some point there's going to be three consecutive races with three overtimes, and it's going to look ridiculous. Hinton, on a radio interview in my town today, compared it to basketball in how it will be like the final minute of every game with timeout after timeout after timeout, taking forever.
     
    playthrough, Feb 15, 2010
    #256
  5. Clerk Typist

    Clerk Typist Guest

    Your characterization of Ed Hinton is wrong. Hinton is many things. He appears to be exhausted from a 20-story climb when riding an elevator. He appears to be at wit's end when expressing himself, even though he makes complete sense. He raves about nothing on deadline, if that nothing makes a sound. He rumples a tuxedo just by looking at it.

    But he is not in NASCAR's pocket. Anything but. He railed against NASCAR for neglecting safety before Dale Earnhardt was killed, and hammered it relentlessly after. He rips it now for general stupidity when such stupidity surfaces.

    He may or may not be right about the cause of the pothole. But he comes by his opinion honestly and without bias, which is more than can be said for some racing writers.
     
    Clerk Typist, Feb 16, 2010
    #257
  6. DanOregon

    DanOregon Well-Known Member

    NASCAR rules are most like the Shrine or Pro Bowl game when they give the trailing team the ball back even after they score when they are down by more than 7.
     
    DanOregon, Feb 16, 2010
    #258
  7. crimsonace

    crimsonace Well-Known Member

    I love auto racing. But I gave up on watching NASCAR precisely because of this crap. Everything is contrived.
     
    crimsonace, Feb 16, 2010
    #259
  8. budcrew08

    budcrew08 Active Member

    You can't compare the two sports in that case.
     
    budcrew08, Feb 16, 2010
    #260
  9. Bob Cook

    Bob Cook Active Member

    Why not? It's the same concept: manipulating the end in an attempt to guarantee an exciting finish. What's going to be a problem for NASCAR is how often these bogus endings might happen, with it having given racers greater carte blanche to wreck each other in the name of excitement.
     
    Bob Cook, Feb 16, 2010
    #261
  10. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    Actually, fewer fans have been going to the races:

    http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/opinion/10/15/inside.line.dcaraviello.megatracks/index.html

    I'm sure the economy has something to do with it, but at the same time, if NASCAR ever wants to be considered a sport in the top tier, they're going to have to get rid of the perception that they're a little fast and loose with the rules.
     
    Baron Scicluna, Feb 16, 2010
    #262
  11. spnited

    spnited Active Member

    And fewer watched as well...

    Overnight television ratings came in at 7.7 (13.3 million viewers) compared to 9.2 in 2009. This after Nascar had announced rules changes designed to help promote better racing in hopes of lifting sagging ratings and attendance.



    Guess those 2+ hour pothole delays discourage viewers more than the potential for crashes and a contrived finish excite them.
     
    spnited, Feb 16, 2010
    #263
  12. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    To NASCAR's credit, I think it's putting aside its obsession about being a top tier sport for now. Not gonna happen with the regular fan base up in arms in recent years with prices, ugly new car, over-policed races, etc. So the league is trying to appease them first...with new fast and loose rules :)

    And then a pothole comes up in the signature race at the flagship track, which just happened to last be repaved in the late 70s. Oops.
     
    playthrough, Feb 16, 2010
    #264
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