Soapbox: NASCAR In The “Off-Season”

Note From The Editor: It’s time once again for another visit from one of NASCAR’s most long-time and passionate fans, John “Dawg” Chapman. His assessment of the state of the sport is strongly worded, and yet reflective, I believe, of many other longtime fans.

I will tell you now, by way of disclosure, that I’m not certain I agree with 100% of Chapman’s opinions, BUT, they come from an hones, thoughtful place, and I think the governing body would do well to consider what is being said here. I don’t know if there is anything you’ll read here you haven’t read before, but I think in the marketplace of ideas, it’s important to listen to all sides and learn, and where appropriate, take action.

So, without further delay, here’s John: 

Isn’t it a little early to be talking about the off season with 12 races to go you ask? Well, yes and no. I’m not talking about THAT off season. I’m talking about what has passed so far for the ‘09 season.

The economy is off, as in off the cliff. Not too much that can be done about this, at the level we’re talking about, but the Great Depression lasted from 1929 until it was finally laid to rest, by World War II. While the New Deal programs were pulling the country out of the depression, it took the stimulation of gearing up for a war time economy
to break its final hold. The time period we are talking about is 12 years. While we are not technically in a depression, we are way closer to it than any time in my lifetime.

My point is that anyone who expects this to be over, and things to get back to normal relatively quickly had better study a little history. The longer this lasts, the more important it is for our sport to be proactive.

The American auto industry- ditto- off the same cliff. While we tend to look at everything in it’s relationship to racing, there is a much more important issue here. The survival of the industry, along with it’s suppliers, represent jobs that are vital to our economic recovery. There is no doubt that the loss of support, both monetary and engineering-wise, is going to hurt.

In the ’60’s, when the manufacturers pulled out of racing , things were different, and their support wasn’t nearly as important to the teams, or to NASCAR and ISC. Then the issue wasn’t financial, and some of the manufacturers continued back door support through their quasi-official, “Skunk works”.

The attendance is way off. At first NASCAR and the tracks tried to pass this off as strictly an economic issue. Both are finally admitting that there is more to it, and that there are no easy answers or quick fixes.

The TV coverage is off. If the attendance drop off were strictly due to economic factors, then the TV ratings should be up instead of the double digit drops we’ve seen. Before a problem can be addressed, it has to be acknowledged.

Apparently FOX and ESPN think they’re doing fine. When NASCAR and its TV partners signed their humongous deal, they both had bought into Robert Earl Keene’s great song, “The Road Goes On Forever, And The Party Never Ends”. Well, the new theme song is either  “Turn Out The Lights, The Party’s Over”, or maybe, “Good Time Charlie’s got the Blues”. Take your pick, but either way, the game has changed.

When NASCAR signed on the dotted line, they apparently gave up all control of their product, took the money and ran. This lead to the final laps of a race that fans had invested approximately four hours of their lives in (the final laps being about the only ones worth watching), being shifted to another cable channel that many fans didn’t have access too. Broadcasts being literally being flooded with more and more commercials as they try to minimize their losses. Digger, ESPN, the endless promos,in the corner of the screen, etc. etc, etc., the starting times are all over the board, and TV apparently loves Saturday night races. This is pressuring the already troubled Short Tracks around the country, many of whom pay healthy sanctioning fees to NASCAR. Ironic,  isn’t it?

There are some bright spots in this area: Kyle Petty, and the TNT brief coverage in general- particularly the side by side commercials. This did, however, turn out to be somewhat of a two edged sword, as it showed us just how bad ESPN’s coverage is. Again, a bright spot is DJ and his attempt to rescue the coverage, but as good as he’s been, it’s a little like praising the woodwork in the Titanic.

The racing is off. If Sherlock Holmes, were examining the current state of NASCAR affairs, this is where he would look up from his magnifying glass, and proclaim, “Elementary, my Dear Watson”. Apparently no one in NASCAR’s leadership has Holmes’s deductive powers.

When their “COT” debuted, Kyle Bush, after going down in Cup history as the first COT winner, climbed out in Victory Lane, and basically said” the car sucks”. Things got so bad with the drivers complaining that the NASCAR brass called a closed door meeting with the owners and drivers, telling them, in essence,to “shut up and drive”, while reminding them just what a gravy train they were riding. The drivers, knowing exactly which side their bread was buttered on, promptly fell into line. What a monumental slap in the face for the fans. As if we weren’t smart enough to figure it out, unless we were told. Well apparently the message needs to be repeated, because the drivers are getting out of line again, with no less than Dale Jr. coming out and saying that changes need to be made. Once Jr. spoke out he was joined by other respected drivers, voicing the same opinion. To show how far Earnhardt has fallen, Mike Helton issued a statement defending the current car, saying the racing is exciting, and that Jr. is just frustrated because his season isn’t going well. Well, now at least Junior knows exactly where he stands with NASCAR.

Many and varied claims were made for this car. The only one it’s delivered on is driver safety. I realize that no one wants’ to admit that their baby is ugly, but come on guys. This car races ugly. What are you watching on Sundays? This car is way more aero dependant than the one it replaced. Better racing will go a long way toward helping to solve all NASCAR’s problems, but they staunchly refuse to listen to their drivers, or fans.

Note to Brian and Mike: when your head’s in the sand, another important part of your anatomy is very exposed.

Sponsorship- the life blood of racing- is off. Big time racing runs on various fuels, but the real thing that drives it is money and Corporate America, and it is turning off the tap. Everything from car sponsorship, personal service contracts for drivers,  track promotions, and hospitality are way down.

I’m hard on NASCAR when I feel they deserve it, but this one is mostly on the owners. THEY HAVE TO CONTROL COSTS. There are things NASCAR can do to help, but bottom line, it’s going to be up to the owners, and it has to be done.

Car counts are off. This is a problem that is plaguing not only NA$CAR’s traveling series, but every Short Track around the country is feeling the same pinch. It’s going to get worse, before it gets better.

Competitive car counts are off even more. We have seen “Field Fillers” before: Andy Hillenburg, Stanton Barrett, Kirk Shelberdine and Carl Long. These guys didn’t have a prayer of a top finish, but they showed up to race.

More power to ‘em.

It now seems, that despite varying car counts throughout it’s history, NASCAR has  decided that a 43 car field is sacred. To insure this, they pay the bottom feeding “Start and Park” cars the same money as the cars that show up to actually race. In both Cup and Nationwide Series, this is taking money from the lower tier owners who are fighting to stay in the sport. Again, does NASCAR really think that the race is better because 5-6 more cars started, all of whom will be parked inside of 40 laps? To top it off, at least 2 times, Joe Ruttman (for James Finch) and Mike Wallace showed up without even a pit crew. Talk about thumbing your nose. This only happens because NA$CAR actively encourages it.

I would love to see an NNS race where in protest, ALL the owners started and parked. The real racers are being robbed, plain and simple!

The fans are off, as in off the reservation, and they’re revolting in ever increasing numbers. “The ‘Net” is the voice of the fans, not the casual fans- the ones who watch for a while, then get bored, and move on. I’m talking the real hard core, the ones who are in it for the long haul.

If you’re taking the time to log in,  read, and maybe respond to blogs like this, you care. I care. This is not a living, or even a side line, it’s a passion. NASCAR, and the Networks have chosen to ignore the voice of the fans, and they are paying the price.

I’d better get off this, or the next thing you know, I’ll be throwing open the window, and yelling, “I’M MAD AS HELL, AND I”M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!”…… OK, I feel better now.

NASCAR credibility, my personal favorite oxymoron, is off. I’m not talking half a bubble off either. I don’t know Jeremy Mayfield. In fact all I know about him is what I’ve seen and read, but the fact that so many fans, with no more information than I possess, have chosen to support him. It speaks volumes about the credibility of NASCAR. Guilty, or innocent, this whole deal couldn’t have been handled much worse. No one is going to come out of this ahead.

The deal with Ms. Grant was similarly handled. Damn guys, get a clue.

Carl Long shows up for the Open qualifier, because last place pays $35K. He buys a test stand motor, because it’s all he can afford. He doesn’t have a chance, but he does figure to earn his check by running the entire race. NASCAR, after posting the money list, has a couple more cars than they figured on entering. They then decide that the last two places will now only pay $5K. Now Carl is under water, but the only way he can come out, is to give it his best shot, and hope to beat at least two people. You know the story. His tired engine blows, NASCAR, apparently having nothing better to do, tears it down, finding it to be .17 thousands oversize. According to what I’ve read, not .17 per cylinder, but TOTAL.  Keeping it would be penalty enough, but no, they decide to make an example of Carl, and his part-time, mostly volunteer crew chief. NASCAR’s action was like killing a gnat with a cannon.

It just seems like they look for ways to make them selves look bad. Every thing from debris cautions, to pit road speeding penalties are being questioned by the fans and media.

I really have no idea if these are legitimate or not, but when you choose to do everything in secret you just set up this kind of thinking. Get things out in the open.

Apparently NASCAR has a real rule book, but like most things NASCAR, it’s a secret. What’s the big deal? They are way off on souvenir sales, so why not sell the rule books? Anyone curious enough to shell out could have one. As it stands now, I expect that if someone really wanted one, Jeremy should have one. He’s not going to have much use for it. He would probably sign it. Come to think of it Carl Long would probably part with his too.

In just a few short weeks the sport will be in the other off season. It looks to me like they’ve got a lot of work to do between now and February.