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StumblePublished Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010 | 3:57 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010 | 4:10 p.m.
Race broadcasts showing empty seats in the grandstands, further declines in TV viewership and the fans’ anger with the sport’s direction finally reached the point were NASCAR believed it could no longer ignore what was staring it in the face.
NASCAR hopes these changes will resonate with fans, make them feel more connected and bring them back to the grandstands and their couches to watch an improved form of racing.
The headline on the press release from the sanctioning body used the term “Back to Basics.” Thank goodness.
The changes will include:
- Bump-drafting rules are no more at Daytona and Talladega.
- Teams will use a bigger restrictor plate at Daytona starting with next month’s Daytona 500.
- The rear wing of the car will be replaced with a spoiler.
Testing of the spoiler is scheduled for March. Following that, NASCAR will make a decision on when the spoilers will start appearing on the cars.
“Over the past 10 years we’ve dramatically increased safety and that mission continues. However, it’s time for us to allow drivers to drive. We don’t want the rules and regulations to get in the way of great racing and fantastic finishes,” Brian France said on Thursday. “NASCAR is a contact sport — our history is based on banging fenders.”
I would argue that even if the fans’ anger wasn’t an issue, these changes were necessary in order to attempt to improve the level of competition and make Sprint Cup racing a more appealing product.
Turning a deaf ear to the fans’ concerns would only produce fewer people in the stands and lower television ratings. NASCAR didn’t need to risk becoming racing’s version of Martha Coakley, the tone-deaf Democratic Senate candidate who lost in Massachusetts.
…
This week's StockcarToon looks at the changes that are coming to NASCAR.
That's great for the races at Dega and Daytona, but will the racing improve at the cookie cutter tracks? I doubt it. Those tracks need to be ripped up and rebuilt.
Dumping the useless road races would help a lot..
At least the road courses offer an interesting break from some of the more boring ovals. The road course races this last season were pretty good.
Funny how falling attendance can effect change. Now if we can just get the Hendrick engine monopoly removed, so that declining drivers like Mark Martin can fade into the sunset.
Kyle Busch type drivers are the future, Junior should be selling jeans full time. We all know that Nascar races are "fixed" after "inspections" days before the race for the big Owners. Every week, they let stuff slide, depending on the Owner. Do you really think JJ is a superior driver to Kyle or Kurt or Tony? The drivers know he's not.
It's a very questionable "sport", more like wrestling...
Mark Martin made the Chase. Kyle Busch? It's not all engine, bdover.
It's strange to see Dega and Daytona rules loosened, considering that those are two of the more dangerous tracks. Where racing really suffered with the COT is at tracks such as Bristol, Richmond and Martinsville, where drivers use to be able to bump and run. Now it's bump and bump some more.
bdover-- NASA has been calling and they want you to return to earth..
Where in the hell do you come up with this pooh...Mark Martin is a heck of a driver and he is what has made NASCAR whay it is in his own way... Kyle couldnt hold a candle to Mark,, or jimmie or Tony,, probably Kurt he could...Dont get me wrong he is a good driver,, as he will be a great driver when he grows up and acts like a man and not a girl...Also there must be some reason that some drivers do better than others,, as maybe it might be the experience they have... Anyways do you see wrestlers with a million dollar sponsor tagged on their chest...I didnt think so,, as westling is not anything I would watch going 200 MPH much less 2 MPH.... OK then you have been cleared for landing at the closest place on earth.... Have a great day...
They listend to what?Its still way to exspensive to take a family of 4 to a live race.If they want to fill the stands,DROP THE PRICES ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BOARD!!!
Kyle Bush has shown it's impossible to suck your thumb and drive at the same time.
They've spent a lot of time homogenizing the surfaces and extracting a lot of the individuality out of the tracks. Then the COT came along and now all the cars look exactly the same. They suffer from the same affliction as the NFL had up until a year ago or so. The NFL was trending towards predictability and statistically sound offense until they saw what BSU's far ranging offense accomplished in its first Fiesta Bowl win. Now you see a whole gaggle of new interesting offensive plays in the NFL and it's a fresher product.
Aren't these the folks that holler everyday "Government is the Problem", so NASCAR is the problem, undo all these crappy rules going back to 1989 for crying out loud!!!! Have a dern race where anything may happen, anticipation on every lap, that's how it was before the (insert whiny voice here) "the pits were closed because we couldn't score our way out of a paper bag". NEWS FLASH, NASCAR changes rules, Daytona race just as boring as ever!!!!!
Say what you want about NASCAR it is still the best motorsport series in the world.
more road courses is whats needed. That is where a drivers skills and a mechanics car building talents come into play. Watching a dog chase its tail is boring and NO real skill is involved. A race should be won on the track and not in the pits. If you ever get a chance to see the bath hurst race in Australia you will understand what a good roadcourse is. There was a time when NASCAR was a drivers race. Lets hope it returns.