Lots of changes for this season, group qualifying, big changes to the chase format, should be interesting. I usually make it to Loudon for at least one race, try to plan a motorcycle trip with my brother around a race. Made it to Bristol and Martinsville a few years back, Atlanta a long time ago, Dover is a nice place to see a race, Pocono is probably the worst place to go, Watkins Glen is OK, Bristol was my favorite. Used to follow Ricky Craven, just cause he is from Maine, now I follow Cousin Carl, but really more a fan of good racin.
I dont want to rain on the parade but I used to be a big Nascar fan. Liked Dale Jarret. Lately Ive lost interest in it. Its getting too commercial. Theres more I could say but Ill stop. Ill watch if its on a channel I get but wont go out of my way.
Tony Stewart fan. I loved how a few years back the cup came down to him and cousin Carl at the last race. Carl is always in shape, subway is his big sponsor, very professional. Tony is a fat, out of shape, bat chit crazy, lunatic with Burger King as his sponsor. Go Tony.
Don't follow it like I used too, was a big Harry Gant fan and now I like Kahne, they both drive the same style-- pass em on the outside!
Gordon. Enough of the 48 , some one new. Gordon, Kahne, or Jr. Hendrick fasn Be interesting to see the qualifying Not sure till I see it how it'll play out. Especially on the restrictor plate race tracks. Then on the short tracks, might see some PO'd drivers before the race starts.
Would love to see NASCAR go back to the old days with actual STOCK (well stock ish) cars. And "dirty" racing. Rubbing, pushing, etc. Like it was in the 60s and 70s. Now seems like a driver can barely squeeze a fart and NASCAR/media makes a hung thing out of it.
I miss the day s of good racing. I met Dale Jarret, and he was a standup guy. I also can not forget Ernie Irivin.
I'm a moderate motorsports fan, but never really got into NASCAR. Races just aren't all that exciting...I'm more of a short/dirt track kind of guy. I've never seen a sprint car race that wasn't entertaining. I've been saying for a long time that I'm going to Eldora...but haven't made it happen...yet.
I think the races can be exiting if you really follow the WHOLE season and know the teams, drivers, and drama. Also better to watch with a couple buddies. One of my friends really enjoys NASCAR so often I'd go hang out. Was an excuse to BBQ and drink beer. Shame that he had to move to Ohio.
Amen my friend................Dirt is for racing, asphalt is for getting there! If you don't believe me ask Steve Kinser or Sammy Swindell.
I used to watch Nascar on and off. Never was a huge fan, but I'd watch on a rainy day. One day a couple years ago I was working in the garage and had the radio on. That's when I realized I was listening to a constant advertisement. "The 29 Mountain Dew ford just passed the number 33 Kotex Toyota and smashed right into the turn three Quikrete wall. We'll be back in 60 seconds for more of the Quaker state caution lap commentary. Now, a word from our sponsor". I might watch part of a race or two each year, but that's it. I'd rather go to the short track not far away and watch the sportsman or late model races.
NASCAR would be nearly nothing if it wasn't for the sponsors. The cost to field a team is crazy. Just the $$ that goes into an engine is getting into the cost of an average home. Going to a NASCAR race is on my bucket list.
I think I heard once that it costs upwards of $500K for a single race, for the larger teams anyway. As you mentioned nate, I'd be more interested if NASCAR started to return to its roots.
Talladega is 9miles from the house. My neighbor and I go to every spring race and leave ~lap 100 to watch the remainder at the house to avoid the traffic. He tells me about the old days out there when the place was wide open, he had to wait for people to literally die to get the seats he had in the top of the Allison grandstands - they tore them down this offseason to make way for more RV spots and party decks, we'll see what the front stretch replacement seats have in store We watch the races outside at his place or on my back deck - keeping a $20 bet on two drivers each race, usually I'm up $200 by the time NFL roles around and the chase really isn't all that interesting. The tracks I've been to are Loudon(before the redesign), Charlotte, Richmond and Dega. This year I want to try to get to Atlanta but am considering NHRA drags the same weekend
Nascar fan, Have been since the late 70's. Been to Dover, Pocono's, Martinsville and Loudan. Watkins Glen for road coarse. Think I spelled em right? Anyway. My dad was a short tracker and so was an Uncle in NH(Walter Brown if anyone remembers him). Kind of in my blood I guess. I couldn't afford those cars. So I went drag racing. Will again someday(I hope). My sons also into cars so signs look good we'll be at the track someday. Lost some since the restrictor plates since Elliot went 205. Not the same with all that drafting and tandem chit. I'd prefer the guy that brought the best chit run away with it(specially on the big speedways) and all this equal crap stinks IMHO. Now they even do it in other series. All these cars are running old technology. Can't really call em stocks cars like the old days. All thats stock is the bodies and they are even equalized to same spec's. Half the motors in the field aren't even made anymore. Something like 900 plus horsepower IIRC. Less on the restictor plate motors.
900hp from a 350ci 2 valve motor Getting to and from the track with 100,000 other fans can be a challenge, some of the tracks have only one two lane country road. I won't go unless I'm on the bike. Motorcycle parking is usually pretty easy and close, making for a fast exit, and you can get creative with your lanes if their is a jam up, just got to be careful, lots of people that shouldn't be driving. NASCAR is the only professional sport I know of that let's you bring your own beer/food into the event.