2010 NASCAR running thread

ESPN couldn't possibly be happy being stuck with the Nationwide Series either and Nationwide probably isn't happy either. Do they know that there are any other drivers on the track than Carl Edwards? He's the damn in race reporter every week. The guy is involved in a major f-up of his own doing and the next week they reward him with even more air time. And do they know there are other crew chiefs than the Gibbs guys. There are only 5 competitive cars on the track who can battle for the win. 18, 20, 60, 22, 12. Used to be hell 10 or 12 could win. Trickle, LaJoie, Keller, the Greens, Spencer, Sadler, Fedewa, etc. TNN used to have the best auto racing coverage. Awesome races, awesome shows.

 

>>I've said it before here, but NASCAR is dangerously going the same route as the NHL.

P!$$ off your core fanbase trying to reach marginal fans who might pay attention briefly while it's the flavor of the month, but won't stick around when their favorite team goes bad/favorite driver retires, their friends start discussing something else, or they have kids that start their own stuff.

Meanwhile, the core fans have been alienated and it takes extra work to get them back ... but you're too busy trying to sell the sport to marginal fans and you take the core for granted, and you just keep taking, taking and taking some more from them. Witness the push in Canada to get a 7th NHL team -- it's become a national obsession ... all while the NHL tries to prop up bad teams in bad markets to "grow the game."

It's the same as NASCAR trying to fly in Chicago while it turns its back on the South. North Wilkesboro closing was survivable. But what I thought might have been the last straws were the closing of Rockingham combined with taking the Southern 500 and giving it to California for "TV purposes," only to find nobody watched -- or went to -- California, and now another nondescript night race at a nondescript 1.5-miler takes that date. <<

Agree

Mark

 

They HAVE to stop him from flying at some point, right?

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/headlines/cup/07/27/jroush.plane.crash.wisconsin/index.html

Also, the photo tweeted by an aviation photographer who was at the airport. Warning: Plenty of blood, so be aware before you click:

http://yfrog.com/mns2jj

 

I don't mind it.

 

I'm far from a Jack Roush fan, but I do hope and pray for a full recovery for the man.
As for that photo, are we sure that was from after the plane crash and not after a brutal meeting with Ford executives about why Ford hasn't won in Cup yet this year? ;D

 

I think that's the first time I've ever seen him without his hat.

 

I'm glad it seems he's going to be OK.
I don't know that he has to stop flying. How many people have had more than 2 auto accidents since 2002 and they aren't made to stop driving? Unfortunately, they're just aren't any fender benders in plane crashes.

 

Shoeless: I wasn't talking about being made to, by like the lawmakers. Just by those who care about him. I know I had this convo last night with someone else on this board, and part of it is probably my overarching fear of flying. But the risk just seems so much higher than reward to me. Athletes have risky behaviors banned by their contracts all the time. Just seems common sense.

 

I guess I'm just a guy who lives by the motto "If you're going to live your life in a box, they might as well put you in one."

I'm not a pilot and take no particular fear or pleasure out of flying, but I'm certainly people who do fly their own planes are like those of us who ride motorcycles. The thought of being killed in a plane crash is far less disturbing than the thought of not being able to do it.

 

Or, for skilled pilots in small planes, you know what to do when the shit hits the fan. Roush was lucky to get out of the 2002 crash alive, but after escaping TWO crashes it's not all luck that his plane was still intact enough to get out of. Guy knows what he's doing.

 

Monte Dutton, I tip my cap to thee ...

http://nascar.rbma.com/on-track/general-motorsports/30002-return-to-peyton-place