Why is NASCAR Dying ? Video !

[CMcAllister]

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.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by CMcAllister

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.

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?

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".

[rognelson777]

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.

[JohnRoderick]

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.

[Jim Kaekel]

[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".

[Mike Jones]

Originally Posted by rognelson777

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.
.

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

[Frank Castros]

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.

[sst1226]

Originally Posted by FED 387

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

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



With the Impalas it appeared to be a spec body with a Chevy nose......


Not readily apparent what “model” your looking at from this view

[Frank Castros]

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.

[Frank Castros]

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