Editor’s Note: Hey Gang, while I’m chillin’ and lettin’ the creative juices rejuvinate, I am once again stepping off the soap box and letting John “Dawg” Chapman have a turn. Interestingly enough, Chapman himself has just returned from Las Vegas and has some thoughts on the upcoming NASCAR banquet.
NASCAR has finally realized that New York and New Yorkers don’t give a rip about NASCAR in general, or the banquet in particular. The so-called “Victory Lap” snarled traffic, and particularly angered commuters. The race that New Yorkers are vitally interested in is their morning “Rat Race.” The decision to move the Banquet from New York City was a good one, and long overdue.
This years banquet is in Las Vegas, which on the surface seems to be a good fit for NASCAR, and its fans. This is a city that has enthusiastically embraced and supported NASCAR and the races there.
I keep expecting to see a driver come on stage in a tux with sponsor logos.
Judging from the comments and questions that I’ve read on various message boards, and fan forums, a lot of fans are interested in attending. Most of the comments are about the dearth of information that seems to be out there.
Let’s be realistic here. Las Vegas does something like a gazillion (down from a gazillion five in better times) conventions/events a year. There doesn’t really seem to be much information on this one. If someone wants to go to Las Vegas (I just got back from there this week), I can see maybe planning it for banquet time, but realistically what’s the point? If you want to actually attend, good luck! You’ve got almost as good a chance of hitching a ride on the space shuttle. If you’re going to wind up watching on TV anyway, why go to Las Vegas to do it?
This would seem a little like going to California because your driver was making an appearance- then watching the race on TV.
I think that most people who go to Las Vegas for the banquet will come back disappointed in the NASCAR-related events.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: the races are for the fans. The banquet should be for the teams. A chance for the “Shop Rats” and everyone connected with the teams to take their wives out for an evening on NASCAR. A time to see friends, visit, and just kick back after a long season.
We are constantly being told that NASCAR is all about the fans. OK- then if they want to have the banquet be a fan event,
there’s a pretty simple way to make that happen.
This could be the much sought win-win for NASCAR, the owners, and fans: simply hold the banquet in Charlotte.
All the shops could hold an open house for the entire week. Shop tours could be held on the hour. With an entire week the fans could go through most shops. One day the drivers and crew chiefs could be available for autographs, pictures and questions. Teams could have their merchandise trailers on site. The teams have been given a limited number of tickets.
Some of them could be given to lucky fans via a drawing. Most fans would probably want to visit the Hall of Fame.
They could be allowed to vote for next years inductees.
This truly could be a neat fan event.
I still feel that the banquet is for the teams, but banquet WEEK, could be
for the fans.
In trolling around on the message boards, & sites. I did come across
something I’ll pass along.
Someone wondered, being as the banquet was in LV, if Penn, & Teller, could
make Brian France disappear. Good Luck!…………. in LV, that is.
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I’ve mentioned the idea of Nascar going all the way and allowing gambling on races, the Chase, feuds, qualifying, etc., but as long as Nascar is going to pretend that it is a “family” sport (even though Nascar is no longer even about racing–it’s about pimpin’ products and gaining revenue for itself, the “racing” is just a means to an end), setting their banquet in a gambling mecca would seem to send the wrong message (even Vegas has thrown in the towel as a family destination vacation)…
New York was always the wrong place (Nascar is too Middle America for those sophisticated hipsters) to have their banquet, but it least it’s a corporate center…
So, where should the banquet be?
Given the factories involvement in the sport Detroit would seem to be an idea spot. Umm… maybe not though. Especially considering that the COT is actually a kit car and not even passenger cars are built in Detroit these days…
Charlotte? Umm… no. Charlotte is the hub of Nascar, but it’s not a vacation destination. Daytona Beach? No and No. The snowbirds are already locked in there (standing line behind grandma and grandpa for the blue-plate special isn’t exactly a thrilling experience. No offense to those folks). Miami? They’ve got plenty of tourist as it is. Miami = Out.
Hmm…
Where then? Los Angeles? Can’t even get fans to come to the races, a week long celebration for a Nascar banquet? Not gonna get much interest on that one. LA = Out.
Hmm…
Kansas City? Middle American dream location, plenty of fan support, nothing else going on. Great BBQ. Seems perfect… well, except we’re back to the gambling thing again… KC = Maybe.
Where then?
Hawaii? Umm… no. Really hard to drive a car there. Shipping them via air… whoa! Too expensive. Same for any other island location. Montreal? Mexico City? Nascar would like that, they’re still untapped markets, but not really viable. There’s that whole passport thing–do Nascar fans even have passports? Does anybody other than Montoya, Speed, Johnson, or Gordon have one? Islands and other countries = Out. Out. Out.
Where then?
How about Denver or Portland or Seattle untapped markets all, might be a way to get those areas interested in Nascar. See the cars rumble through the streets, meet the drivers, go to the event…
Something to think about.
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