Danica to NASCAR

[Don]

" 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."

While it might not be considered to be " fair " , it's fact. The Team requires sponsor funding, no money, no racing. To attract the sponsor that pays the bills, would you pick the proven Cup driver, who also makes personal appearances for the sponsor, or an unknown. It's not personal, it's a business decision. There is a rating service that measures the amount of TV exposure of the cars, which identifies the major sponsors, and then equated to the value in advertising. The Cup driver is going to get more TV time, by either running up front or in interviews with the sponsors logo on their race suits. Mandatory, each driver must be able to mention their sponsors , every other sentence, especially when winning

" That is simple. NASCAR generates more money for the drivers if they make it." " The top NASCAR drivers are indeed very well compensated."

Which equates to the fan base that purchases the sponsors products. Has Michael Waltrip retained NAPA sponsorship for his race finishes, believe he finished somewhere around 33rd in 2009, or for promoting the product in commercials etc and being able to mention NAPA in any
conversation/interview

" NASCAR themselves have brought on the negatives. Try watching Speed TV "

NASCAR does not sponsor the Speed TV programs, sponsors are paying for the TV time. In these economic times, sponsors must be of the opinion their getting value for the expenditure.

" 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."

A major difference, any type of professional racing requires sponsor funding. In football, basketball, baseball, no sponsor funding required for the individual to make it to the major leagues, then comes the product endorsements, i.e. golf. Danica brought her sponsorship to the Dale Jr car. Would Paul Menard have a ride without the family sponsorship?

" NASCAR can be fun to watch again but they need to make some serious changes........."

Eliminating the wing and installing a spoiler , according to the drivers, should make a difference along with returning to passing below the yellow line at Daytona etc and allowing bump drafting in the corners. A major change would be to eliminate the restrictor plate while limiting the top speed for the safety of the fans if a car gets airborne, possibility of going into the stadium, sport might not survive the Congressional hearings.

Changing subjects, does anyone know the factual reason for having 43 cars starting a race as opposed to 42 or 44 or some other number ? The 43 being Richard Petty's number, don't think it's the reason.

[Ron61]

Don,

Back many years ago they never had the provisional like they used to and once started 72 cars in a race. Then as they realized they had to cut the number down it was finally paired to 42 cars. Then Richard Petty failed to qualify for a race and they made that past champion provisional so he could race, which made 43 cars. Just a coincidence that it was his car number and he was the one that they had to create it for. Since then they have stayed at 43 because on some of the small tracks, whoever starts last is almost a lap down before they can get up to speed.

Ron

[Don]

Thanks Ron, best explanation I've heard.

[Ron61]

Don,

I have several old books on NASCAR and that and watching some of the old races back when they first started is where I got that information. There is really an interesting story and pictures in some of them involving Tiny Lund and Buddy Baker. Some funny, some could have been very serious since they involved basically street driven cars then. Like Richard Petty telling about his Father borrowing their neighbor's Buick for a weekend in Daytona because it was faster than their car. They would go race it, clean it up and come home and the neighbor never knew they had been using it for a race car.

Ron

[Don]

" On Wednesday, Dale Earnhardt Jr., for whom Patrick will race the ARCA race at Daytona as well as a partial schedule in the Nationwide Series, said he has had very little communication with Patrick and that he doesn't know whether her first Nationwide race will be at Daytona or California. "I honestly don't know," he said. "If I did, I'd tell you. But my sister has been handling all that." "

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2010...#ixzz0dGJG41jp

[Ron61]

Don,

Remember this woman?

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/opin...son/index.html

Ron

[Don]

Ron........yes, her career avg finish was in the 25 to 30 range. However, I do not believe Shawna had the race car and Team to consistently have better finishes. Danica will have the advantage of an excellent race car and support, Hendrick is a partner with Dale Jr as owners.

Here's one that I had not previously seen, from the Sunday Parade Magazine:

Danica Patrick Races Past Criticism:

Q What does race-car driver Danica Patrick think of stock-car legend Richard Petty’s statement that car racing isn’t a sport for women?—Tom Tucker, Hammond, Ind.

A “It doesn’t bother me,” says 27-year-old Patrick, who placed third at last year’s Indy 500 and will soon compete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. “Men and women are crossing gender barriers so much now, and people are more open to it than in the past. I’m always received with positivity and people wanting me to do well. So that’s what I’m feeling.”