The 2022 running NASCAR, IMSA & other racing things thread

Yep, we did get there when the gates opened, but there were plenty of empty seats around us when they dropped the green. Sunday is "sold out," but the lack of scalpers trying to wheel and deal 500 tickets is a big tell.

 

So maybe you guys can tell me why NASCAR thinks having the biggest event in the sport as the season opener is a good idea

 

Google “NASCAR starts its season with its Super Bowl” and I’m sure you’ll find dozens of articles dating back to the dawn of the Internet.

 

As much as anything, I’d tie it to Daytona being the home of NASCAR, a chance to spend a week or more in Florida in February… that sort of thing. The weather is far nicer and more predictable than later months.
More than once after Daytona, races would move to Rockingham, Richmond, or Atlanta and be snowed out.

 

Before Winston got involved, drivers and teams would cherry pick only the biggest races. David Pearson only ran 3 full seasons in his career and won 3 championships.
So in the early 60s, it needed a big race to draw teams. If you are wanting teams from Northwest Ga, Western NC, East Tenn, and SW Va, you offer them a chance to come to “Sunny Fla” with a big payday in the middle of winter.

 

That Riverside race was always run with the previous season’s equipment, so everybody could debut their new cars at Daytona Beach.

 

Knowing the NASCAR garage, somebody ratted on Penske and Roush for having "improved" the wheel hubs for those quick pit stops last night. (Wonder if they somehow messed with the threads?)

NASCAR confiscates wheels from RFK and Penske cars | RACER

 

I randomly ran into Greg Biffle at Walmart today. I had forgotten how short he is.

 

Breaking news from the track:



Congratulations, Tim.

 

What’s the problem?

 

Knew it was a problem more than a decade ago during my eight-month stint in Volusia County. They were running ads for ticket sales right up to the 500. I’m guessing that those tickets were usually snapped up before the season finale before the Great Recession.

Then the Frances, instead of reducing ticket prices, then tried to wipe out backstretch bleachers to create ticket scarcity.

I swear, if you want to run your organization correctly, see what NASCAR does and do the opposite. I mean, see what happens when the FIA tried to go NASCAR? How did that with out (unless you’re Red Bull/Max Verstappen)?