NASCAR Starts Saturday

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 05:57 AM

Well I guess that we will get a preview of the new cars and drivers Saturday when they run the Bud Shootout. Then Sunday is qualifying for the 500. They do have an interesting interview with Ned Jarrett on the NASCAR web site today. He alluded to the commercials and that it really interrupts the flow of the race. When you spend 6 hours watching what is supposed to be a race and 5 1/4 hours of it is commercials and caution laps, that disgusts me and I don't watch many races any more, Just the short track ones and I hate the continual commercials.

Ron

Bill Bess · #2 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 06:16 AM

Ron, I agree with you...way too many commercials that take time away from the race action. I don't mind it on the big track..boring races because nothing is happening, so the ads are sometimes better than Nascar. Its' too bad they just don't let those guys build real hot rods and let them run as fast as they can and "duke it out". I know...there would be too many wrecks and injuries, but the sport would be much more fun.
Bill

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 06:40 AM

Bill,

Last year I sent NASCAR an e-mail on one of their suggestions on how to improve the racing coverage polls. I suggested they take all of the commercials and show them during the time they have that waste of time pre race show. Then keep the announcers off the TV screen and show the race and let them talk in the background. Needless to say that never went far.

Ron

Joe Wicked · #4 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 08:22 AM

Yea, I am looking forward to it. I am hoping that the teams were able to do enough on the off season to improve the cars to at least have some good racing.

Ron61 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 04:58 AM

I was just reading where Jeff Gordon is the favorite to win his 5th championship. Many cars and drives don't have sponsors yet and some just have partial sponsorship. So the money ( as usual ), swings everything in favor of the stars who have almost unlimited funds to use. If the economy keeps going down, there will be other sponsors leaving also. I think NASCAR is in trouble in more ways than one and a lot of it they caused themselves.

Ron

Wayne Maybury · #6 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 07:05 AM

I was watching a program on Speed last week and there was an open discussion involving many executives in the racing industry. Several talked about the sponsorship problems and one mentioned some of the things that we have discussed here concerning NASCAR. He also wanted to let the fastest cars race (none of this 35 guaranteed spots with only a hand full open for any given race), and several other points that I can't remember.

I will continue to watch NASCAR when I don't have anything else better to do. I sure wish that Speed would eliminate 99% of the pre-race show. I am always amazed at how they can talk for hours and hours about an upcoming race. Basically they don't say very much either.

Wayne

Ron61 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 07:32 AM

Wayne,

I wish they would use that pre race show and show all of the darn commercials during that time. Then when the race starts just show the race and not the publicity hungry morons in the booth all the time telling about how they sent fishing or water skiing.

Ron

tcrist · #8 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 08:46 AM

I say they should at least run their show like INDY does. When INDY goes to commercial they show the race in the corner of the screen. Like the picture in picture mode on the tv. At least you could watch the race during the dumb commercials.

Terry

Joe Wicked · #9 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcrist

I say they should at least run their show like INDY does. When INDY goes to commercial they show the race in the corner of the screen. Like the picture in picture mode on the tv. At least you could watch the race during the dumb commercials.

Terry

They did that for 1 race last season and I loved it. I found that I still watched the commercials, but I knew when something happened. I enjoyed it much more. I think it was NBC that did it, but I am not sure.

Doug I · #10 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 10:27 AM

Let us watch the race, parade, train or whatever you want to call it. Go to commercial during a caution but have the race PiP.

Ohh yeah dump the spec racer.

Like those ideas will fly ......

Ron61 · #11 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 10:31 AM

Doug,

That PIPis why I got the TV I have. I watch a basketball game during their commercials and get to see most of the game. The actual time they spend showing the race is very little when you consider they normally take 4 to five hours to get one in. Of course running half the race under the yellow flag slows it down too.

Ron

Doug I · #12 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 10:36 AM

I really wish I could get the V8 supercars here in the US.

V8 Supercars - The Official Website of the Australian V8 Supercars Championship Series

When those guys and girls drop the hammer it's on, bent fenders and single fingers and all

Ron61 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 10:49 AM

I see their races once in a while but they don't carry them on a regular basis. I just have to watch the TV guide for a few days in advance to see what is coming on.

Ron

EarlsflyinCobra · #14 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 11:47 AM

Hey Ron, thanks for reiminding me that double and triple shifts start Saturday

Just what I needed, a FRICKIN reminder

that I won't have much time to work on the Cobra for a couple of months....

.....Speed Weeks, Bike Weeks, Spring Break, Black College Reunion.....Dang, I'm tired just thinkin about it . .........

...... I'm gettin TOO old for all this ................ CRAP

:JEKYL HYDE

Ron61 · #15 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 02:15 AM

Earl,

Just take a couple of the youth pills and you will be working 24 hours a day and having fun. I guess NASCARs version of the Super Bowl hype kind of flopped from what I read on their site. They put this huge tent up for people to come in and meet the drivers and all that stuff and about the only people that showed up was the press. Tony Stewart was mad as he said all they could ask were the same questions over and over as there just aren't any new questions right now. Oh well, this evening we will get to see how some of the cars do in the so called race for fun, and cash.

I will be thinking about you and your hard work while I lay back with a diet soda and enough food to feed four people. At least my failing health has one good point. I no longer have to worry about what I eat or drink.

Edit To Add:

Ron

Wayne Maybury · #16 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 08:15 AM

How did you like Tony and Curt's antics Friday afternoon?

I still think the fastest 43 cars should make the field. 35 guaranteed spots seems to be a joke. Is it a race or a show?

The spec racer seems to not have any front end down force which may result in some interesting action during a 43 car draft down the back straight.

It seems to me that half the cars in NASCAR are now Toyotas.

Speaking of Toyota stickers, I was watching a few minutes of NHRA drag racing yesterday and I noticed that many of the top fuel cars have "Toyota" on them. Anyone know what that deal is? Some sort of corporate sponsorship program?

Wayne

Ron61 · #17 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 08:26 AM

Wayne,

I thought that Curt and Tony's little antics was more like two spoiled kids, Especially Bush's reaction and he wound up totaling his own car. I too would love to see that stupid top 35 rule thrown away and the fastest 43 race period. Next on the list will be to script who is to win which race.

As for Toyota, when they go into any racing they go all out. I did see they are having a few problems with their new engine for the cup cars, but they will have that worked out in a hurry. seems the coating they used on the push rods wouldn't stand up to the high RPMs.

Edit To Add: Where is Earl lately? Don't tell me he is working all of those extra hours at Speed Week?

Ron