Danica to NASCAR

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-18-2010, 06:32 AM

Bill,

NASCAR themselves have brought on the negatives. Try watching Speed TV. All they have is NASACAR this and NASCAR that. As for comparing it to other types of racing, that happens in all sports. I never said that Danica couldn't do well. I said that I don't think she will do well for a while as there is a huge difference in cars and the type of racing. How many times have you seen 40 open wheel cars so close together at 180 MPH that a move of an inch can set off a huge wreck? I am a fan of hers in open wheel but do not expect much from her this first year in NASCAR. Once in a while there is a new driver that does very well their first year, but not many.

Ron

Wayne Maybury · #2 (**permalink**) 01-18-2010, 07:35 AM

Very few drivers initially do well when they move up to the next level or in this case, to a completely different type of racing. There is a learning curve and 40 other drivers all trying to also win so it takes time to adjust.

I am surprised that NASCAR allows the Cup drivers to regularly compete in the Nationwide series. This makes it much more difficult for the younger drivers to be successful since drivers like Kyle Bush and Karl Edwards (and other Cup drivers) tend to dominate many of the Nationwide races. Obviously NASCAR allows the Cup drivers to compete in the lower series as this helps to sell tickets but it probably makes life difficult for young drivers trying to work their way up.

Wayne

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-18-2010, 07:48 AM

Wayne,

You are correct about that. We have a local driver here that is the son of a friend of mine and he has been driving since he was old enough to reach the pedals on a small Go-Cart. He has won several championships and moved into what used to be the Winston West series where he won regularly. He had an offer for the old Bush Series and just before he moved they called and canceled it because they had gotten a Cup driver to drive the car. That is why ARCA is becoming a big draw for new drivers as there isn't enough money there for the Cup teams to hog the series.

Ron

Don · #4 (**permalink**) 01-18-2010, 08:08 AM

Wayne.....not necessarily NASCAR's comment and not original with me. Mentioned that by mixing in the Sprint drivers in the Nationwide races, allows the newer/less experienced to gain more exposure to the type of racing and higher level of competition they will be facing when & if they move to the Sprint series. Hence, they adapt to the transition easier.

Speed coverage, must be a reason why the TV program sponsor dollars are spent on NASCAR programming, there must be a return on the advertising investment . The total economic and employment impact associated with NASCAR, from parts to track concessions etc. etc , it is big business.

Danica, no doubt there will be negative comments if she does not finish in the top 10 or 5 in her first race.........

Consider the open wheel, Indy Car and F1 (a few more this year) drivers, that move to NASCAR, how many NASCAR drivers move to the IRL on a permanent basis, other than the drivers that came from the IRL ?

Ron61 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-18-2010, 08:28 AM

Don,

That is simple. NASCAR generates more money for the drivers if they make it. However even NASCAR admits that last season was not a good one for them in the finance department and that they had to many empty seats at the races. The economy undoubtedly had a lot to do with that, but also a lot of their fans are just tired of the no racing and follow the pace car for 1/4th of a race type stuff. For crying out loud, why do they need 10 laps of caution on a short track to pick up a piece of paper or rubber. I used to never miss a race, but the past few years I am skipping more and more of them as they are just boring to me for the most part.

Ron

Wayne Maybury · #6 (**permalink**) 01-18-2010, 08:36 AM

Don, I understand completely but it just doesn't seem fair to the young drivers. Basically the top pros, in any other sport, do not compete with the younger, less experienced competitors that are trying to work their way up.

There was some talk a few years ago that Jeff Gordon was probably a good enough driver that he could jump to F1 from NASCAR but it was stated that he would never do it as he would not want to take that much of a pay cut.

The top NASCAR drivers are indeed very well compensated.

Danica will probably do as well as any other driver that is competing in NASCAR for the first time but she will have much more attention as she is a female in a male dominated sport. Her every move will come under a microscope. The talking heads on Speed will go on and on and on about how she did this or that or whatever. They have way too many hours to fill with useless bla-bla-bla every weekend so she will certainly be the subject for many of their conversations.

Wayne