5 ways we can (hopefully) save NASCAR


How to (hopefully) save NASCAR
An Article by Brian Cotnoir

NASCAR was once the Most Widely Popular “Spectator Sport”.   For Years they had great success in the mainstream and attracted people from all walks of Life.  However sometime between 2006-2008, their popularity began to dwindle and it’s been on the steady decline and now is up for sale.  Personally, I think that’s a good thing.  I think the sooner we get the France/Kennedy Family out of NASCAR the better, because then we can hopefully save this amazing sport that I’ve loved for my entire life.  But to whomever does by NASCAR here are some suggestions I have for you to save the sport.

1.) Do Away with Stage Racing!

OH MY GAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHDDDD is this dumb!  Here’s the thing: when stage racing was 1st introduced it was confusing to me, the Diehard fan, so how the hell can you expect to attract new fans, when your present fans don’t even understand what the hell is going on?!  Go back to the previous points system, and all should be fine. You can make a few tweaks to it if you’d like; Personally, I don’t think non-chartered drivers should receive points.  I’m okay with them receiving exposure and getting prize money, but they should not be considered a part of the championship.  Formula 1, only gives points to the Top 10 and that makes for some intense racing.   Maybe if you trimmed it down to the Top 25 or 30 receive points it will make for some more intense racing?

2.) Smaller Tracks

Seriously, what the hell is the point of racing in places like Kansas, Fontana, New Hampshire, and Chicagoland, if you can’t even sell the place out?  My advice, go back to your roots:  We want to see races run at places like Myrtle Beach, South Boston, Rockingham, Hickory, Asheville, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Milwaukee, Nashville, Gateway, Hell even Iowa Speedway deserves a Cup Race at this point.  Stop racing these damn cookie cutter tracks!  I’d rather watch a race on TV that has 40,000 hardcore fans there to see a race than see a track that has a 150,000 seats and can’t even sell 2/3 of its seats.


3.) Bring in Some Actual Diversity to the sport

It’s a surprise to no one, but the make-up of a typical NASCAR driver is a White Male from the Rural South.  Remember when guys like Tim Richmond, Alan Kulwuicki, and Jeff Gordon were considered “outsiders” because they came from the Midwest?   To this day I think NASCAR has only had 4-5 black drivers and a handful of Hispanic drivers.   Also, in regards to female drivers stop assuming people will like a driver just because she’s a female.  Danica Patrick was a bust, Johanna Long—unfortunately—couldn’t secure sponsorship for a full-time ride, and Hailee Deegan and Natalie Decker is really the only visible shot for a potential NASCAR star someday, but there’s no guarantees they’ll pan out either.  The most successful diverse driver in NASCAR, in my opinion, was Marcos Ambrose, and he’s a white Australian.  So NASCAR, let’s really put some effort into this “Drive 4 Diversity Program”.  Two Full-Time, non-White Americans in the sport, isn’t enough.

4.)  Stop Trying to Recruit Open Wheel Drivers. 

Sure we’ve had some successful drivers who made the transition from open wheel to NASCAR; Tony Stewart and AJ Foyt being the most successful.  Even AJ Allmendeinger, Juan Pablo Montoya, Sam Hornish, Jr. and Robby Gordon had some moderate success in NASCAR driving for top teams and winning a handful races across all 3 series, but that was mostly on Road Courses, and they all had mixed results on Ovals.   Here’s the thing, for every driver like a Tony Stewart, or a Sam Hornish Jr, and an AJ Foyt, you get open wheel busts Scott Speed, Dario Franchitti, Scott Pruett, JJ Yeley, Cole Whitt, Danica Patrick,  and X-Games Athletes like Travis Pastrana and Ricky Carmichael.   Of those several drivers I just mentioned, only one has a win in any of NASCAR’s Top 3 Series (Scott Speed, a Truck Win at Dover), the rest had lackluster careers in NASCAR.   All you’re doing is taking away Great Drivers from other struggling forms of Auto Racing and ruining those series too.  Also STOP hinting that F1 Drivers like Lewis Hamilton might want to try racing NASCAR someday.  He doesn’t want to come and drive your crappy cars! He makes more money in F1 driving for Mercedes than he would be driving for Toyota or Ford, and has better things to be doing.

Dario Franchitti in Stock Cars.  Bad Idea!


5.) INVEST IN THE DRIVERS YOU ALREADY HAVE

People still watched for Dale Jr.  even though he only won 2 races in 6 Seasons.   People want to support drivers like Chase Elliot, Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, and William Byron.  Just let them have a chance.  Stop chasing “The Next Superstar of NASCAR” and focus on who you have already.

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