Dodge: BuhBye NASCAR

[Bubba1]

Sad news For those of you with old Dodge ram pickups or Neons with window decals of the little boy peeing on a 24 and "Sunoco official gas of NASCAR" bumper stickers covering rust spots, Dodge has just announced it's withdrawing from NASCAR at the end of this season.

Penske evidently has several Chargers among the Sprint and Nationwide series (I don't know which drivers), also announced theyre switching to Ford next season.

So next year you could say they have "MOPARked."

[bigbadberry3]

Can't believe NASCAR is still around.

[SX APPEAL]

You can't believe one of the largest and most profitable spectator sports in the world is still around?

That is interesting on the Dodge thing though, they've really been on and off with nascar. Wonder if it has anything to do with Chrylser being under the ownership of Fiat now?

[themadscientist]

NAZKARR will excite me when the "stock cars" are closer to stock. A tube frame purpose built race car with a composite shell that shares nothing with its namesake car except the name is not what NASCAR was about. "run on sunday, sell on monday" was the point and we got to benefit from the designs that were required to be competetive by the sales of the cars needed to rate entry.

What Richard Petty drove


Was why you could drive this


These two cars share next to nothing.

[SX APPEAL]

I figured this thread would turn into an "I hate NASCAR" bloodbath in about 10 seconds. I'm not the world's biggest nascar fan either, more of an F1 guy myself. But even I can admit that there's more to it than just a bunch of good-ol' boys driving around in circles while a bunch of drunk rednecks yell and fight. And as I'm sure guys like Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Juan Pablo Montoya could tell you, it takes just as much skill (albiet a very different kind of skill) to get one of those lumbering hulks around a racetrack fast with 42 other guys trying to do the same thing 6 inches away from you as it does to dance an open wheeled car around a road course.

On the point of nascar getting away from its roots with the cars and such, well yes they no longer even slightly resemble the production cars they represent, but this has been the evolution of another long standing cornerstone of nascar, that the cars should be as equal as possible so the drivers have to separate themselves on the track. This comes down to more than just pure driving talent as well. Nascar machines have no on-board telemetry or data logging capabilities, so in order to set a car up optimally for a given track, the only source of info on how the car is behaving and what needs to be done to improve it is the driver. Therefore the better the driver is at helping the team set up the car, the better chance he has of winning the race.

This is completely contrary to Formula 1, which is less of a driver oriented sport. This is not a stab at F1 either, mind you. As F1 is largely a team vs team competition to see which can build the fastest car and then put the best driver in it. I would bet you anything that if you put Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button in that beautiful machine Adrian Newey and his guys at Red Bull designed last year, any one of them would've won the championship.There's nothing wrong with this, that's just the way it is, that's why F1 has a Driver's AND a Team's championship.

So if you've already skipped my big rant to get to the next post let me just summarize by saying this: its ignorant to call any motorsport boring and stupid as opposed to another without fully appreciating the qualities of both.

Thank you and goodnight.

[themadscientist]

Well, I can call it "boring" because it bores me. That's what words are for, expressing feelings and ideas. Nascar was a standout because the cars were very similar to stock, so much so it's in the name. Now they are not. Without that, it really is just people going around in a circle. If I want to see that, I'll watch sprint cars sliding around a dirt track.



If I had to pick a motorsport that spins my wheels it would be WRC. Those guys are friggin crazy!

[Dattebayo]

What's wrong with saying NASCAR sucks? Is truth frowned upon now or something?

[themadscientist]

Shake and Bake!

[nissangirl74]

I haven't watched it since Earnhardt Sr. died. It's a way of life where I come from. Sunday tradition was church in the morning and then watch the race and have a cookout in the afternoon. Only (good)reason you could miss Sunday night services was due to a night race. true story.

[SX APPEAL]

Well forgive me for trying to be the accepting bloke. I wont be watching nascar this weekend any more than you guys will, just figured I'd try to have an open mind about the subject...

[themadscientist]

Nothing wrong with that. No hate on my end. It's just boring as hell to me. I don't mind nor question the credentials of any fans of it.

[SX APPEAL]

I haven't watched it since Earnhardt Sr. died.

I was watching that race too, you can make fun of my age all you want but its like a childhood memory to me. I remember exactly where I was when Mike Waltrip won the Daytona 500, and exactly where i was when I heard the news Dale Earnhardt had died in the same race, I was 12 years old. Maybe that's why I hold motorsport sport in such high regard, despite my lack of experience. Because great men died believing in it, Dale Earnhardt, Ayrton Senna, Dan Wheldon and so on. They knew the risks and they did it anyway, because they loved it. And no matter what the form of racing, its an insult to show the drivers that participated any more than the utmost respect.

[SX APPEAL]

Nothing wrong with that. No hate on my end. It's just boring as hell to me. I don't mind nor question the credentials of any fans of it.

Honestly it bores me too, and I don't follow it much, just wish people in our circles (F1, WRC, and Sports Car) wouldn't judge so harshly on it, fair enough?

[themadscientist]

Haters look ignorant no matter who they are and what they hate on. If it's not someone's cup of tea, it should just be said that way IMO. I think it's fair to say there is more chance of a girl flipping up her shirt in approval of the driver's effort in NASCAR than many other motorsports and that should please many.

[SX APPEAL]

HAHA, can't help but agree with you.

btw, I'd agree that the local dirt track action around here is more entertaining than nascar too.

But I still can't disrespect the guys who lay their lives out there so we can all have a cheap thrill just watching

[Bubba1]

Well forgive me for trying to be the accepting bloke. I wont be watching nascar this weekend any more than you guys will, just figured I'd try to have an open mind about the subject...

I started the thread and don't mind teasing the stereotypical NSACAR fan. While I can certainly appreciate the skill involved with driving a car 190mph inches from another car, it's hard to argue that oval racing (which their top series offers with just two exceptions) can get rather tedious to watch except for the last 2-3 laps. I am also not a fan NASCAR's rule makers who seem to make weekly changes, which is uncool. For example, the Green-white-checker rule to guarantee a full speed finish is stupid IMHO, which allows a sprinter to litrally steal a win from someone who earned it fairly throughout the race.

The one thing NASCAR does do well is market itself. Increbibly loyal and fickle fans, willing to buy just about any product that appears on the side or roof of their favorite driver's car.

Personally Ive reached my saturation point with NASCAR as they've highjacked the Speed Channel. Takes up almost half their programming. Too much.

[Bubba1]

. Wonder if it has anything to do with Chrylser being under the ownership of Fiat now?

Don;t think so. According to the Detroit Free Press, Penske's decision to switch to Ford led to SRT'sdecision to walk away from NASCAR next season. Sounds more like Ford offered Penske a better deal, than Fiat cutting costs.

As info, Dodge still plans to re-introduce the Viper to ALMS, and has been talking about a Dodge Dart for rallying.

[nissangirl74]

The one thing NASCAR does do well is market itself. Increbibly loyal and fickle fans, willing to buy just about any product that appears on the side or roof of their favorite driver's car.

Ever been to a NASCAR race before? It's insane. There are people who show up 4 days in advance in their RVs and park in the lot and stay there until the day after race day. They drive the whole damn circuit from Pocono to Daytona to Vegas. They live it, breathe it, live it. They have flags and decals all over their RVs. They have 12 t-shirts that all have the same driver on it. They go to yard sales, estate sales, and antique shows looking for obscure memorabilia. It's a lifestyle, no doubt about it. After they started making the drastic changes (taking Winston out of the name, banning the cigarette companies from being sponsors, effed with the points system), I got out of it. I do love watching the old footage though, when the drivers were allowed to race like real racers, make their cars better than their opponents, be an ***hole because you were one (instead of being all PC for your sponsors), push each other around...that was entertaining.

[SX APPEAL]

As info, Dodge still plans to re-introduce the Viper to ALMS

Now this is good news!

[jester4666]

The one thing NASCAR does do well is market itself. Increbibly loyal and fickle fans, willing to buy just about any product that appears on the side or roof of their favorite driver's car.

Ever been to a NASCAR race before? It's insane. There are people who show up 4 days in advance in their RVs and park in the lot and stay there until the day after race day. They drive the whole damn circuit from Pocono to Daytona to Vegas. They live it, breathe it, live it. They have flags and decals all over their RVs. They have 12 t-shirts that all have the same driver on it. They go to yard sales, estate sales, and antique shows looking for obscure memorabilia. It's a lifestyle, no doubt about it. After they started making the drastic changes (taking Winston out of the name, banning the cigarette companies from being sponsors, effed with the points system), I got out of it. I do love watching the old footage though, when the drivers were allowed to race like real racers, make their cars better than their opponents, be an ***hole because you were one (instead of being all PC for your sponsors), push each other around...that was entertaining.

i went to my first (and last) NASCAR race the year Dale Sr died. i was a huge fan up til then. now, i could really care less about it. i agree that all the changes were possibly to blame for my lack of interest, but mostly it was the loss of one of the greatest drivers.

[Jesda]

I could enjoy nascar simply for the beer, sounds, and food. Like baseball, I could enjoy the enjoy the atmosphere without caring much about the technical stuff.

[Bubba1]

I dunno, I could see hanging out at a NASCAR event with someone that has a Prevost or equivalent luxury motor home, and a VIP pass, but I think I'd get bored. I recently spent a day driving the Pocono Tri-oval . the high speeds and drafting was entertaining, but with such large left turns, I found myslf getting bored and that was behind the wheel!

[Jesda]

I dunno, I could see hanging out at a NASCAR event with someone that has a Prevost or equivalent luxury motor home, and a VIP pass, but I think I'd get bored. I recently spent a day driving the Pocono Tri-oval . the high speeds and drafting was entertaining, but with such large left turns, I found myslf getting bored and that was behind the wheel!

Everything changes when you're drunk.

[Bubba1]

[
Everything changes when you're drunk.

Excellent point.

[themadscientist]

Everything changes when you're drunk.

Did you ever see that goat again?

[MinisterofDOOM]

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

I like NASCAR because stuff actually HAPPENS. I love and appreciate the tech, skill, and everything else that goes into open-wheel racing. But I would much rather WATCH something like NASCAR or ALMS. NASCAR might just be a bunch of left turns, but more happens on one of those left turns than 30 hairpins in whatever open wheel series you might want to mention. NASCAR's not just the same cars in the same positions for 50 laps.

I'd rather DRIVE an F1 car (and have my a** handed to me by a wall). I'd rather watch a NASCAR race.

[300ZXttZMAN]

Nascar has never given me a big rise. Now the old footage was interesting but now a days it just blows IMHO. I even gave it several chances because I enjoy watching and participating in autosports but current day Nascar couldn't keep my attention for more than 5 minutes.

I would rather watch my baby cousin drive over dirt hills in the woods on his go cart than watch a Nascar on TV.

[Jesda]

Everything changes when you're drunk.

Did you ever see that goat again?

No witnesses, but suddenly lots of goat curry.

[DrewH]

Even though I choose a burger over a bow tie, oval, or ram I think its a shame Dodge is pulling out. I just like to see more manufacturers competing in all forms of racing.

I'm by no means a big NASCAR fan but I think they could learn a lot from Australian V8 Supercars. If you've never watched a race you're missing out. Easily the most exciting actual stock car racing on the planet. On a track anyway cause WRC is pretty awesome.

[SX APPEAL]

^Speaking of fans who like to get drunk and yell and fight... hehe