Have you heard that Nascar may be up for sale?

[73440]

Have only watched a couple of races since King Richard quit racing. haven't watched a full race in probably 10 years .
Was at Talladega when Allison went into the grandstand, used to be able to stand right alongside the screening getting hit with tire chips,
same shape cars , too many officials , needed to let the teams have freedom to do things, get rid of Toyota let them have their own racing if they want , all the conforming is crazy.

[jimynick]

See, I don't have a problem with Toyota being in it. If they were willing to step up and develop a push rod engine that met specs and was competitive, then why not? Why should it only be Chev, Ford and Dodge? Just be happy Peugeot doesn't get interested- in 1911 they built a double overhead cam 4 valve hemi engine. There's not all that much new under the sun laddies. Run 'em if you got 'em! 

[cordodge]

Once they allowed huge teams it was over. Hendrick owns half the field and they used to be "stock" cars now the teams are full of engineers and the lot.

[303 Mopar]

So everyone has listed what is wrong with NASCAR   

I'm the kind of guy that doesn't complain unless you want to be in charge and/or can fix the problem.  So, if you had a bazillion dollars and bought NASCAR how would you realistically fix it?  What would attract the most fans, sponsors, raise TV ratings so you can generate revenue and at the same time keep drivers/crews safe?

[Bullitt-]

So everyone has listed what is wrong with NASCAR   

I'm the kind of guy that doesn't complain unless you want to be in charge and/or can fix the problem.  So, if you had a bazillion dollars and bought NASCAR how would you realistically fix it?  What would attract the most fans, sponsors, raise TV ratings so you can generate revenue and at the same time keep drivers/crews safe?

I'd start by elimination of anyone named Bush from the field...... 

Most of the pissy rules that they mandate, many of which are made under the auspice of controlling cost yet I believe make it harder for a small team to compete.  The templates & now the Laser body measurements come to mind. 

[72 Challenger]

I was never really into NASCAR but I had the chance to go to Watkins Glen and watch a Cheez-it race there. The party the whole weekend was awesome. As soon as the race started A TON of people, easily half of camping area just packed up and left. No one cared about the race it was all about the party the nights leading up to the race. I can't blame them entirely because the night time parties were unreal. While the race was meh. Same ol' Nascar BS.

I think Nascar was killed by a variety of factors but one that bothers me personally is that they limited everything so much there is no longer and technological improvements for companies to show off anymore. No new aerodynamics, no new engines, heads, etc... I mean it wasn't so long ago they were still running carbs when the last car sold in the USA from the factory with a carb was in ~1993. Now F-1 has it's fair share of rules that limit it as well but companies are still trying to evolve and make new technologies. Nascar does nothing but remain stale. It also has a really bad image of being somewhat of a "redneck" sport. Something that I think NASCAR has done nothing to try and dispel. I also have zero interest in watching a ford fusion or a Toyota Camry go around the track.

I went to go watch NHRA racing in New Hampshire last year. that was an experience. with no special pass you can walk around the pits, be a meter away from teams and drivers etc... It felt more approachable and grass roots, even though it is owned by a few mega rich guys.

Things change the glory days may be gone but there is still a valid business there.

[cordodge]

Not sure but maybe have equally prepared cars and pick a number from a hat each week and you get what you get. Also make it so one car can pass another instead of needing a train of cars to do that. get the car up off the ground and make them hard to drive, Also if you screw up qualifying your out!! the 43 fastest cars should race no matter who it is. Now its who has the biggest wallet wins and when they pan the stands with the camera its pretty evident know one likes what they are doing, And finally they would not let Dodge develop and run the new HEMI even though it is available in most cars and trucks, Have you ever seen a CAMRY with a V8 ?? 

[JS29]

[quote author=cordodge link=topic=6741.msg94251#msg94251 date=1525873699 they would not let Dodge develop and run the new HEMI even though it is available in most cars and trucks, Have you ever seen a CAMRY with a V8 ?? 
[/quote]Or A rear wheel drive Camry?  There were guys that would strip out the car they drove to work on Friday and race it on Sunday!!!! what part of stock car don't they get. I thought that the stuff that was running was sup-post to be available to the public.        

[BIGSHCLUNK]

As a season ticket holder in Joliet I've seen many changes first hand. I will say the track itself has been catering to "season" people more and more every year (wonder why ??). Now I can bring in my own 6 pack, I've got $20 woth of food/beverage coupons, they have added more restrooms and TV monitors every where. I sure dont have anything against Joliet as a track thats for sure! I will say the vendor area has really shrank over the years and many things have been consolidated. Obviously not enuff income being generated.  It used to be a helluva lotta fun.   
Now its year after year of points/format changes. Stupid penalties and restrictions. Your need to be a multi millionaire now just to compete, a billionaire to win. I believe this is the last year (maybe next year) for Monster as the major sponsor. Who's going to sponsor next? I think the France's have just about milked it dry. And I dont mean the original France either. I realize these tracks wether owned by the France's or independently (Joliet is the latter) are expensive as all hell to maintain and I'm sure poperty taxes have skyrocketed!! I'm sure the fee's to vendors has too!!

IMHO, I belive they could get more people back but going back closer to the original format. WTF? The BIG 3 all have contenders that would fit the bill. Challenger - Camaro - Mustang  All 2 door V8 RWD    Camry.... RUFKM??? And I've heard they have courted NISSAN, get another player?? (insert poop icon here) I'm sure a little of the old - RACE ON SUNDAY SELL ON MONDAY would encouage MOPAR to ge back in the game! 

All this being said, I think my comitment is up in 2020. I may go to a race here or there (DAYTONA AGAIN MAYBE?), but as a season ticket holder I AM DONE!   

[HP2]

C'mon now, NASCAR is the best IROC racing series ever.

Stock cars, heck, even the local short track cars are not based on much stock anymore, except the entry level mini or FWD classes. If you put the "stock" back in stock car racing, they would be  running a fleet of turbo charged 4 bangers with FWD against a few 2 tons of fun rwd V8 sedans. I doubt most would care to see that much less pay the prices they charge now days.

I'm sure its a combination of things that have impacted it. I doubt it will ever recover to its late 1990s-early 2000 levels of attendance, but I doubt it completely goes away.

[Slotts]

I gave up on NASCAR when the likes Buddy Baker, Bobby Isaac and Richard Petty were done. For me it was all about the Big Three and loving watching the Mopar win the race by one of these drivers with a real 426 Hemi in it. So, mid 70's is when I lost interest and never looked back.

Jim

[GY3R/T]

   I'll start watching when they bring back Big Blocks, eliminate 90% of templates, start using stock chasis (with safety reinforcments of course) allowing manufacturers to bring their engineering in aero dynamics and engine performance to the track. This gave birth to the 426 Hemi, Charger 500, Daytona Charger and Super Bird. The best times in Stock Car Racing.

[anlauto]

Even if the top speeds dropped to 100-120 mph.....it would still be more exciting if the cars were WAY MORE stock then the blobs they're racing now.... I want a stock car to look like a car...not a blob with decals...

[HP2]

But most new cars are blobs now anyway.

NASCAR is stuck in this space where they are not innovative enough to be cutting edge and attract technology. I can recall when it was announced that Toyota was entering the series how several other manufacturers said they would never enter it because there is no tech to be gained from it, nor be tested by it. Sounds to me like they lost their relevance a decade or more before that in being able to actually define things from racing that benefited the participants involved.

They are too big to simply walk away from the series, even if their fan base is shrinking.  As pointed out in some posts, there is still a lot of money and happenings around it as an institution that many people enjoy.  They also are too big to become a retro racing league, but perhaps they should consider adding a division like that.  NHRA does have the vintage series they run with old dragsters, funny cars, and altereds. They don't run them at the current national events, but they do have their own series that is doing quite well.

[PLUM72]

Some new ownership might be good as things are a bit stale with the series.  Like many I would love to see a rule package around current body styles so the race car itself is the same size and appearance as what would be on the street.  Perhaps some rule that "X" percent of the body must use OEM sheetmetal.  The engine and chassis can be the safe high tech things they run today.  At high speed aerodynamics will come into play.  The more "aero" car will likely be the winner.  They could somewhat rectify this by having rules around vehicle weight.  The more aero cars must weigh more.  In NHRA pro stock motorcycle they play with weight rules all the time to penalize the faster bikes.

Racing in general is a rich man's sport, he who has the most money more often than not will be the winner.  How do you counteract that?  You could publish a list of components as "must run these parts".  Perhaps this keeps out the high dollar custom parts.  But then the wealthier race teams will always spend more time and money on R&D regardless of parts.

A fresh perspective might be good with NASCAR.  I wish NHRA would rethink some of their classes as well.