USA TodaY: NASCAR Identity Crisis

[Don]

A starting point would be to not have the Fox " Digger " and reference to the lap gained as the " Lucky Dog " , which I think was originated by the Fox race commentators, possibly Darrell Waltrip. Like the double file restart time has come to consider eliminating the lap gained by the first driver a lap or more down from the racers on the lead lap.

Another consideration would be more forthcoming on race comments, such as those expressed by Kyle Petty on TNT race coverage. Comments by FOX that the stands are also filled, when race coverage shows a number of empty seats , does not help the creditability factor.

Realizing the sponsors paying the bills have to be kept happy, the expression of filling up with " Sunoco " race fuel gets overused and lacks sincerity.

USA Today :

" When NASCAR was born on the sands of Daytona Beach, Fla., 61 years ago, its fan base likely wasn't much different from its racing heroes. A sport spawned by moonshine running starred undereducated white males from the South who subsisted on modest incomes. "

" As it returns to Daytona this weekend for a July 4 race celebrating America, NASCAR is coping with maintaining the interest of a fan base that increasingly reflects the country's 21st century sophistication Statistics say its followers are richer, smarter and more technologically savvy than ever. "

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor...y-crisis_N.htm