End Of A NASCAR Era

[OL'BILL]

Just wanted to say i'm sorry you are loosing interest in Nascar racing,as that is what i've been doing for the past 30 odd years,10 with a powerhouse team.Please understand,Nascar runs the game,we just bring the people and the cars per their rules,please don't blame us,we're just working in a sport that we love trying to make a living just like you.There are rules and regulations everywhere we go in life,some we like some we don't.Nascar makes the rules we just try to play by them,yea we could just pack up our stuff and go home because we are not happy with the rules,but where would be then,even worse off,more guys out of work.We were very fortunate,we only lost 35 employees between 5 Cup,4 Nationwide,1 Truck and 3 satelite teams in our organization.If you are a true fan you'll stick it out.We've been thru tough times before and we came back.BTW, i do remember the good old days,the first race i worked was the '76 Daytona 500,i was with a nobody team but i'm sure everybody remembers the Petty-Pearson crash on the last lap.
Bill

[Ron61]

Bill,

I am not blaming the teams or anyone but French and his monopoly for what has happened. And to be honest, NASCAR was always my 2nd choice for racing as I grew up on road racing. And belive me,I know how hard it is now in this day of mega bucks to get sponsors and keep any team together. As I said, I still enjoy the short track races because I feel the driver and car setup has more to do than with who can get out in front.
And I do remember the Petty/Pearson crash and the Yarborough/Allison fight alongside the track. We are even losing the short track Saturday night racers around here because of the economy. This is a small area and when they shut down the logging industry years ago they basically killed it. Now stores are closing on a weekly basis and they can soon advertise it as a ghost town.

Ron

[OL'BILL]

Thanks Ron, I appreciate your reply and understanding.I see where you live and have been to the lake a long time ago and it was beautiful,you are fortunate to live there.
Bill

[vettestr]

I too was a huge fan and have some great memories. In 1992 "The King" was retiring and every track was holding events for his last race. Hooters was my sponsor at the time for drag racing and sent me to Atlanta to see the race. Alan Kulwicki drove for Hooters and won the race/points at that event that was also Richards TRUE last race.

I was in the infield as Kyle petty was crashed but returned to run the final laps with his Dad. Kyle was black flagged for not being able to run the minimum speed but refused to leave the track. I heard the radio chatter going back n forth as the Officials asked, urged, threatened and then gave up getting Kyle off the track as his Dad ran his very last laps in NASCAR. Kyle did get to run laps as the King finished his. Alan K. won the race and then did his famous Polish Victory lap. What a memory and just one of many that week. Now I give any comp. tickets away as I do not agree with the imports in Nascar.

[Don]

Kyle Petty and the Petty family should also be recognized for their Charity work, especially after Adam was killed at New Hampshire Raceway,Victory Junction Gang

http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1353-kyle-petty

" As the 2008 calendar year neared its conclusion, Petty Enterprises and Gillett Evernham Motorsports inched ever closer to completing a merger that would mean a new home for NASCAR's iconic No. 43 car, and spell the end for a standalone Petty operation that's been a part of the sport since its founding 60 years ago.

Petty Enterprises is expected to lay off the majority of the 39 employees remaining at its shop in Mooresville, N.C. "

[Ron61]

Bill,

I have lived all over the country and in nearly every major area of California, but I do like it up here the best. We are just on the fringe of being high enough to have snow and do have some very cold weather, but the mountains and not so many people make it nice. The lake is a big mud puddle right now as it is the lowest it has been since they filled it and we aren't getting any rain at all this year again. They have shut off many areas as they don't want boats hitting rocks and stuff that is just barely covered right now.
When will you be leaving to go to Daytona? I know they said something about cutting back on speed week but never heard the whole report.

Ron

[OL'BILL]

Yes,they are done,now part of the Gillett Motorsports operation that absorbed Evernham and Petty.Ray Evernham is making preparations to open East Lincoln Speedway,a dirt track about 30 miles from Charlotte.
OB

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by OL'BILL

Nascar runs the game,we just bring the people and the cars per their rules,please don't blame us,we're just working in a sport that we love trying to make a living just like you.Bill

I think that's a fair point. I don't blame the drivers or the teams for what has happened to NASCAR. But NASCAR as a sanctioning body has allowed itself to become greedy and to over-commercialize the sport. Even worse they have used the rule book to try and minimize the advantages one team/manufacturer had over another, and they have also used the rule book to drive attendance. Restrictor plates were supposedly introduced for safety. When Bill Elliott hit 212 mph at Talledega in 1987, the deal was sealed. It was clear no one could catch him, so later that weekend when Bobby Allison's car became an airplane at Talladega, that's all NASCAR needed to drop the hammer. Alas Ford vs. Chevy competition was restored to an even balance, and best of all, they were now all in a nice tight pack where when one crashed they all crashed, and THAT sells seats, beer and chips for NASCAR.

The same people that love to watch people do stupid tricks on reality TV are the same ones that say "the best part about Daytona was the 22 car pileup." So I appreciate that the sport has evolved. But I don't think in this case that evolution = progress.

There are some great clips on YouTube if you don't mind searching for a while.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB2CM...eature=related