Nascar: 2010

[Ron61]

Gregg,

Bring back the real cars. The Mustang, Camaros and the Challengers. Put a roll cage in the and let see what they will do. Oh wait we do have that and it is the best racing we have. Too bad very few of us watch.

I do watch any of it that I can get but they don't show it on TV around here. About the only thing I can get besides NASCAR is the ALS series and once in a while the Australian Super Car races. I really miss the old Trans Am series as they showed those races.

Ron

[Don]

Anyone use Facebook to post Edwards' code of ethics ?

"In a Facebook posting Sunday, Carl Edwards cited his code of ethics for intentionally wrecking Brad Keselowski at Atlanta Motor Speedway ".

Below, it's the end result that needs to be considered. Discharge a firearm and the bullet lodges in a tree, maybe a misdemeanor, if it hits someone, a felony.

" But Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage doesn't believe Edwards deserves to be sat after NASCAR told drivers they would be allowed to police themselves on the track this season, a throwback to the old days when drivers meted out punishment through paybacks.

"I don't know how you suspend him," Gossage says. "Isn't that contradictory to the preseason pronouncements of, 'Have at it, boys'? You didn't tell them how far they can go, and now you're going to severely punish them for doing this?"

NASCAR has shown more leniency lately, electing not to fine or park Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya for retribution in last season's finale at Homestead. In both instances, the victims' cars remained on the pavement.

"Would we be having this conversation had Brad's car not gotten upside down?" Gossage asked. "Probably not. It's a dilemma." "


Edwards, as an experienced driver knew the possible consequences, no excuses:

" In a TV interview Sunday, Edwards said Keselowski's car going airborne "was not at all what I expected … I'm glad he's OK" but his Facebook message didn't offer any apology for the wreck. "

"Wrote Edwards: "My options: Considering that Brad wrecks me with no regard for anyones safety or hard work, should I: A-Keep letting him wreck me? B-Confront him after the race? C-Wait til bristol and collect other cars? or D-Take care of it now? I want to be clear that I was surprised at his flight and very relieved when he walked away. Every person has to decide what code they want to live by and hopefully this explains mine." "

"The last NASCAR driver suspended was Robby Gordon, who missed the August 2007 race at Pocono Raceway after ignoring a black flag during the Nationwide race in Montreal the previous day. Ted Musgrave (Camping World Truck Series in '07), Jimmy Spencer (Cup in '03) and Kevin Harvick (Cup in '02) also were benched for a race. "

[Don]

Probation...sure leaves it open ended, a political approach, as to what would constitute a violation and what the penalty would be for a violation ?

Keselowski, his start in the Cup series as overly aggressive, same approach he had in Nationwide, as Montoya stated he has wrecked a number of cars.

Would be informative to get Penske's opinion

[Ron61]

MONEY. With the help of the press playing this up NASCAR is hoping to have a large audience watching for pay back in the nest races. Their ratings are down even from last year, they have removed seats from the tracks and still can't fill them, so something drastic has to be done. That really is the most logical explanation for what they did.

Ron

[Don]

TV rating for Atlanta is +2%, 3.7 million households, compared to last year

" The spin on the spin: Fox's NASCAR ratings, which this season faced Plympic competition and were down 14% heading into last weekend, get their first uptick this year "

One version on the impact of the Olympics:

" The ratings numbers reflected the anticipation of the Olympic gold-medal game between Canada and the United States.

Sunday's epic -- won by Canada 3-2 in overtime -- was the most-watched hockey game since the gold-medal game in 1980, when the United States beat Finland after stunning the Soviet Union in the "Miracle on Ice." That gold-medal game drew 32.8 million.

According to NBC, the game drew an average viewership of 27.6 million and a rating of 15.2, a jump of 45.5 percent from the same matchup at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Both gold-medal games were aired midafternoon live.

From 5:30 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET, the audience reached its peak, with 34.8 million glued to the TV. "

" The game, carried in Canada on nine national networks and in eight languages, became the most-watched television broadcast in Canadian history. An average of 16.6 million Canadians, or about half of the nation's population, tuned in. And about 80 percent of the population, or 26.5 million people, watched at least part of the game.

Buffalo -- where tournament MVP Ryan Miller plays for the Sabres -- was the top individual market in the United States, with a 32.6 rating. Pittsburgh, Detroit, Minneapolis and Milwaukee rounded out the top five. "

Sources for above: USA Today

[Ron61]

Don,

" The spin on the spin: Fox's NASCAR ratings, which this season faced Plympic competition and were down 14% heading into last weekend, get their first uptick this year "

Their ratings dropped steadily last year and there was no Olympics to blame it on. There were empty seats aplenty at Atlanta and that isn't because of any Olympics. Instead of bragging about how they were up by 2% they should publish the actual ratings like they finally did the Daytona ones. Several shows have been cancelled because of low ratings that were higher than NASCARs. I think the Edwards thing may blow up in their faces, especially if someone gets hurt or killed because of their desire to get back fans and ratings. All I hear on the news around here is "Wait until Bristol and the score will be settled." And NASCAR is condoning this media hype in hopes of drawing more people to watch what could be a bad thing. But the money is all they or anyone else in this country cares about any more. Also last Sunday no one around here could find any other races to watch as we all called each other. And Sunday TV here really is lousy. So when it isn't raining or cold, I work around the yards and upper lot.

EDIT: This pretty much backs what I said about NASCAR being in trouble money wise and using any tactic to try and gain back fans and money. Even the NASCAR site has a 3 page article about how they are trying to lure fans back. I do agree with this article abut it is a dangerous game they are playing to do nothing more than this. http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?...yhoo&type=lgns

Ron

[Wayne Maybury]

Some more thoughts on all of this.

I think that considering the outcome, everyone agrees that what Carl did, was stupid. If Brad had just spun out, it would have been a very different matter. However when you play with fire, sometimes you are going to get burned.

NASCAR seems to love this situation as the TV audience will be bigger next week as people will be watching to see how the next episode will unfold.

This incident also laid to rest, at least in my mind, any questions about the wing versus the rear spoiler. Too many cars with that wing have gone airborne when turned around.

I do not like that car they now have but it sure can take a lick.

Wayne

[Don]

Ron, USA Today did publish the actual rating, I just didn't key it in....specific numbers:

Rating: 4.8
Households: 3.7 million

The ratings comment I mentioned was a recap by USA Today, NOT NASCAR. USA Today comments on a variety of TV shows such as hockey, basketball, etc

" The spin on the spin: Fox's NASCAR ratings, which this season faced Olympic competition and were down 14% heading into last weekend, get their first uptick this year "