Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Interesting Video that NHRA and other Associations should look at ..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkaXjaXyod4

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Understand how this relates to NHRA; their appeal to the "fictional casual race fan" is primarily oriented around going insane speeds, making lots of noise and interjecting some personalities in order to get them in the stands. By doing that the backbone of the sport and hard core fans suffer. NHRA's stated interest in helping with escalating costs is lip service, who in the heck ever let these cars get so fast and expensive anyway? The few well funded teams have sponsors that watch a sub-par TV presentation and ever declining attendance. You think they can put up with that business model forever? Think a kitty litter producer can keep up with escalating costs? Is nostalgia funny cars, gassers, no-prep and others less entertaining? Can you imagine the crowd response if they put some old modified eliminator cars out there for a exhibition?

NHRA is out of control, an out of touch leadership team that knows little to nothing about what made the sport great and it's remaining core of racers who continue in the Sportsman classes, only four of whom at most from each class are in the Sunday show.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Mr. Carter, truer words were never spoken.

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Interesting video and I can only hope the powers that be at both organizations try to do what's right to keep the ship from sinking. I can remember not many years ago getting Bristol tickets were a prized possession, last time I went to the Bristol NASCAR race was in 2012, the place wasn't even half full on a perfect weather Saturday night.

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Not sure if the vidio covered one point that I believe (I'm hard of hearing) but back in the day, we liked a certain driver because he was driving our brand! To much now on the driver, not the car. I'm still waiting for the accolades for Dodge the year Brad K and Penske won the championship, all NASCAR was pushing was about those two, not that it was the first time in decades for a Chrysler win.
Might as well watch go-carts.
Mike

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Didn't they just find out that Bill France Jr. is a drug addict ?

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Great post, Jim.

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NHRA is the Titanic and the leaders don’t even realize they have hit an iceberg.

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None of the cars going around the track are even close to anything the auto companies build. They all look the same.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Well said.


NHRA is abandoning the hard core old school fan for the casual fan mentioned above, just as NASCAR did, and truck/tractor pulling before.

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Its dying because 98% of the people in this country believe the piston is dead.

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I think they do know, how could they not ! They have their golden lifeboats ready and could care less about everyone else.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Where have we seen that before, recently?

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Auto racing isn't alone here. The only forms of racing that seem viable are the ones that allow on track betting. You can bet on NASCAR, but not from the stands.
The modern auto on the street has little resemblance to what we tow to the track. Cars are not fun extensions of a personality anymore, they are comfy rolling offices. Honestly, I'm glad racing still exists as a hobby.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

No one has said anything about the cost to the spectator who would like to bring their family to the track. Or the cost of a Coke and hot dog. It is hard to build a fan base when no one can afford to attend. If the younger generation is not introduced to the sport ( NASCAR or NHRA), neither will be successful.

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Let's not forget the reality that recent generations (for example, the much-discussed millennials) have almost no interest in cars, and therefore, no interest in car racing. There is a small minority of young people who still follow, and to some degree participate in, motorsports, but the vast majority of young adults seem much more involved with saving the planet, helping illegals into America, savaging Conservatives, tearing down American corporations and infrastructure, revising American history, talking about global climate change and telling everyone else how to live. They Uber from one public demonstration to another.

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Wow, talk about hitting the nail on the head.

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Praise the Lord for them and what they do...


pS

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Suppose I’m a bit more “glass half full” type. Think the hypermedia would seem to validate your position but I also get to see young Eagle Scouts, church youth groups and others that appear to be on the right path. Part of the problem stems from social media giving youth an impression that they have a bonafide voice when in most cases they have neither the life experiences or basic understanding required to express themselves responsibly. They see polarized groups and think they need to join one side or the other instead of their being part of mainstream America that goes about doing what made the USA great. But off my soapbox...

At some point I think today’s youth will recognize technology as being unable to deliver on it’s promise of offering a “better life”. It actually undermines family values (undertaking “tech-free” family times such as meals is a great start) and the inherent human desire to have interpersonal contact, build things with your own hands and participate with others in activities that engage all their senses. Racing offers such an activity so long as pistons pulse, which I think they will for many years to come. If you know a youth who is falling into the technology rabbit hole have them watch the movie “The World’s Fastest Indian”. It might get the wheels turning...

And thanks to Dan for posting the video...

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A beautifully written post. You are a glass-is-half-full guy, and I am not, but I would be very, very happy to be proven wrong in my belief that the traditional American way of life is slowly fading. Kids today are literally bombarded with messages of hate and intolerance of American values, and to your point, they are also told repeatedly (by unscrupulous, charismatic strangers who manipulate them solely to advance their own agendas) that their opinions and perceptions matter, though they understand almost nothing of the world around them. Because most parents let their children raise themselves, the virtuous actions of the small group of traditional parents are swamped by the rhetoric of the popular culture.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

You nailed it !

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Sounds like Ha Ha cars and Pro Stock !

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"Originally Posted by nhramnl View Post
A beautifully written post. You are a glass-is-half-full guy, and I am not, but I would be very, very happy to be proven wrong in my belief that the traditional American way of life is slowly fading."

The only thing I disagree with you on , is that "The traditional American way of life" is NOT slowly fading, but rather, QUICKLY fading.
On a side note, I'm so tired of the propaganda of the nightly news, I don't even watch anymore.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

Sad but true. It's more than a shame, it's a disgrace.

Hopefully there are enough parents and kids out there that reject the BS of this culture of shame and division.

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I personally don't see that today, just like 50 years ago, each of us drifted to the groupes we felt thought the same. Peer pressure is the driving force and the kids do not want to be an outsider so they go along with the high school and college propaganda. Defiantly won't listen to "old" people. Very few on here had a parent who was into racing like us.
My parents taught me what was right and wrong at an early age, then at 18 pop said make your own choices but keep your mouth shut and eyes open and you'll learn the ropes, he was right and has worked for 51 years. Who does that today?
Mike

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When I was in Charlotte last year at the Nascar HOF, they had two cars "halved" to show how true they were to the production version. Look at the difference between Richard Petty's 92 Grand Prix to an actual one vs. The "Nascamry" to its production counterpart....
https://i109.photobucket.com/albums/...t/IMG_0646.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...t/IMG_0644.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...t/IMG_0643.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...t/IMG_0640.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...t/IMG_0638.jpg

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Very interesting to look at those two Pontiac cars kinda look similar front and rear but the Toyota is not even close----what does a side silhouette of both cars look like ---since 5 Star I believe makes all the bodies for Nascar other than a decal (Ford/Chevy/Toyota ) on the front or rear its probably the same basic shape

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I never saw an actual race or watched one on TV, but I used to like to see the pictures when they were still using different, distinct body styles.
For me, I saw the beginning of the end to be when they all started using SBC's in 95% of the cars. The nail in the coffin was when they allowed 4dr only cars to be made into 2 drs.
This was about the time that the real car guys were replaced with the casual spectators, and the NASCAR fad began..You know what happens to all fads eventually.

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Its way less complicated to me really.....

Our society has changed and the vast majority does not give a crap about cars, motorsports and racing in general.

We were always a MINORITY anyway !

The average kid today is nothing whatsoever like I was or many of my gearhead friends. I pumped gas and worked in a gas station as did many young guys back then. Learned the mechanic trade. I Was star struck the minute I first saw fast cars and went to the track as a 12-13 year old. Hooked me for life..


Practically every gas station had something to do with some kind of race car. Drag cars and dirt track mostly around here.


Today every gas station is just a gas station and here in my home state of NJ where we have attendants they hardly speak English and ride bicycles.....Cars ? Don't even own one......

NASACR rode the wave and so did NHRA.....'80's-'90's at its peak.

NASCAR went thru the roof for a while and so did NHRA......Then the bottom fell out...…..Sponsors disappeared for all the reasons mentioned in the video.

The wave is gone and its not coming back.....

Best we can do is keep it going for a while...….and like the video says it may all be gone in 10 years...

Race tracks become housing for all the illegals...….sheesh....

For me there is no example more telling than the closing of Englishtown......50 miles from my home......They can make millions to park damaged cars......and drag racing is done. They still run other various events just no drag racing......They make a profit without the headaches......

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There are a lot of drag racers, a lot of people and a lot of sanctions/organizations who are deeply involved on some level. Brackets, sportsman, and all of the other varieties (no prep, radial, N/T, PDRA, NMCA) and a wide variety of vehicles. A lot of guys and gals, spending a lot of money to do this, in many different ways, with there always being someone willing to take their money. It seems to me it's the Pro cars (TF,FC,PS) that are not what they once were, simply because of the price to play, and many people are seeing that as the demise of the entire sport. Does the existence of drag racing and stock car racing really depend on if it's on every TV set in the country?

Is it really wise to structure the entire show to cater to the "casual" fan? Do we really have to make it so simple that any dummy can wander in off the street and have an understanding of what's going on? Do we have to do away with dial-ins, breakouts, handicap starts, throttle stops, CICs, etc, etc, in order to dumb it all down for this "casual" fan? Do we need gimmicks *cough*countdown*cough* to keep "casual" fans engaged and spending money? I see the word "casual" meaning, not very invested, able to take it or leave it and not very aware of the history, rules, differences in the classes.

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The various sanctioning bodies "have" us. They don't need to sell alcohol to a drunk or drugs to a druggie. The Drag Racers are picking up the tab for the daily goings-on and the big salaries.
"Selling" to the "casual fan" and the "driver paid" people is where the gravy and the greed come in.
Think of all of the "driver paid" people that we've all seen come and go over the years who came in, made a big ($$$$) splash, maybe sponsored a few races/series, raised the price of poker for the rest of us and then went on to "buy a boat".

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I remember many years ago (25? or more) when top fuel was almost stopped in NHRA racing because of low car count, Advertisers flocked to Funny car because it was a bigger Billboard.

Now many of the fuel cars are self sponsored or partially self sponsored today,
Kalitta 4 cars, torrence 2/3 cars at times, Schumacher make a wish/Infinite hero. Salinas. Jeff Diehl Terry haddock. 12 out of the top 32 teams.
Yes I know some have partial sponsorship, but I believe most money/ resources comes from owner. The only current owner in NHRA that i believe makes his living off racing is John force

Nascar top teams do not run with out full sponsorship. The only top 20 team I see self sponsored is Hass engineerring. and Menards, but he is at bottom of top 20

Yearly costs to field a car for the full season, Nascar top 20 cost per car $20 to 80 million. Nhra $5 million is probably tops.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

While there are many factors, the downfall to NASCAR and the NHRA is mostly about the money.

On April 1, 1970, President Nixon signed the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act, which banned cigarette advertising from television and radio. Tobacco advertising circumvented the television and radio ban by flooding all types of racing with advertising money. Hence the Winston Cup was established in 1971. Drag racing also benefited, from 1975 to 2001 Winston was also the NHRA’s championship sponsor. The money in racing was flowing so well that Bill Jenkins was the 2nd highest paid athlete in 1972.

Throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s, auto racing’s cash cow was based on a recession resistant product that had very limited effective advertising platforms. Auto sports was essentially well funded by a loophole, which brought the completion and product to highest levels.

The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) in 1998 effectively killed all tobacco racing sponsorship and, in my opinion, ended the golden era of racing. Winston ended its NHRA and NASCAR sponsorship in 2001 and 2003, respectively. While Coca Cola, Sprint, & other companies have stepped up as primary sponsors, these companies spend their advertising budgets across many platforms and aren’t forced to focus their advertising budget on racing, unlike R.J. Reynolds. Hence, NASCAR and NHRA, as well as other forms of racing, must now compete with other entertainment platforms for advertising dollars.

The stiff competition for sponsorship and the high cost of performance has all but eliminated the grass roots professional racer. The days of racing producing exceptional individuals like Bill Jenkins, Lee Shepherd, and Bob Glidden are basically over. While I am sure outliers can be singled out, today’s professional racer has to bring the cash to the table in order to compete, aka rent-a-ride. Thus, we are left with nepotism and the extremely rich as the face of auto racing, as opposed to the most talented or entertaining. Force-feeding a legacy to the consumer is not entertaining, nor does it yield the best product. Fundamentally, I believe NASCAR and the NHRA have failed to effectively adapt to more competitive advertising and entertainment markets.

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

[QUOTE=JohnRoderick;577777]While there are many factors, the downfall to NASCAR and the NHRA is mostly about the money.

Thus, we are left with nepotism and the extremely rich as the face of auto racing, as opposed to the most talented or entertaining.

Sad but true and very well said. I always get a kick when the TV announcers talk about how "talented" some particular pro racer is. In reality, there are literally hundreds of sportsman racers just as talented, but they don't have the "financial backing" to race with the "rich and famous".

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

This is Q4 from Pomona 2. Look at the Team names. They are competing against themselves.

Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd

1 777 Leah Pritchett, Danville IN, DSR-DSM 3.631 332.84 332.84
2 2 Steve Torrence, Kilgore TX, MLR-AJPE 3.661 330.96 330.96
3 1 Brittany Force, Yorba Linda CA, Force-AJPE 3.667 333.58& 333.58
4 25 Clay Millican, Drummonds TN, DSR-TFX 3.681 325.14 327.19
5 256 Blake Alexander, Charlotte NC, MLR-AJPE 3.692 331.45 331.45
6 4 Antron Brown, Pittsboro IN, DSR-DSM 3.704 329.50 329.50
7 474 Billy Torrence, Kilgore TX, MLR-TFX 3.711 328.86 328.86
8 8 Tony Schumacher, The Hills TX, DSR-DSM 3.722 329.75 329.75
9 10 Scott Palmer, Cassville MO, MLR-AJPE 3.726 326.95 328.38
10 58 Richie Crampton, Brownsburg IN, Kalitta-AJPE 3.726 325.22 325.22
11 3 Doug Kalitta, Saline MI, Kalitta-AJPE 3.740 319.29 319.29
12 7211 Mike Salinas, San Jose CA, MLR-TFX 3.762 294.50 317.42
13 21 Terry McMillen, Elkhart IN, DSR-DSM 3.792 324.05 325.61
14 614 Shawn Reed, Lake Tapps WA, DSR-AJPE 3.807 323.12 323.12
15 748 Cameron Ferre, Huntington Beach CA, DSR-APJE 3.929 287.41 287.41
16 7777 Bill Litton, LaJolla CA, Hadman-AJPE 3.985 270.43 270.43

------------ Not Qualified ------------

17 1934 Audrey Worm, Grantville PA, Hadman-TFX 4.005 254.47 254.47

Mike

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

I agree.

NASCAR has become a shell of what it once was and they know it. NHRA on the other hand has no clue.
But, I believe the NHRA must connect with generations Y and Z by showcasing the current Detroit muscle cars with a "new" Pro Stock (FSS) along with the classic muscle cars (Stock & Super Stock). Events like the HEMI Challenge and others would only enhance the show.
Regular National events also should limit Top Fuel and Funny Car to 8 car fields.

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Here you go. The 92 Grandprix roof line was seamless to a production car; not so much for the NasCamry.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...DFA29C536.jpeg
https://i109.photobucket.com/albums/...F8E393132.jpeg
With the Impalas it appeared to be a spec body with a Chevy nose......
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...ED7F75891.jpeg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...FC8008E5E.jpeg
Not readily apparent what “model” your looking at from this view
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...6DC51D75D.jpeg

Re: Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !
 

For me the core question is why are we comparing the two? Is drag racing's grassroots track's programs as strong as the local roundy round tracks? Do we even have spectators at local drag strips like we had in the '60s and '70s?
For me it's apples and oranges.

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Who really cares other than us? Drag racing is a niche form of motorsports.
Disagree?