ajcsportstalk

By kush

July 15, 2006 06:31 PM | Link to this

No, I don’t watch NASCAR anymore…it’s rigged! NASCAR has gone away from it’s roots and trying to become yankee-fied and now they’re paying the price! NASCAR will falter because yankees aren’t watching NASCAR unless they move to the south and the south is turning away from NASCAR! IT’s to comercialized and now becoming so femanine! Only the western states enjoy it because there is nothing to do out there but to watch drive by shootings and put out fires!

By Yuban

July 15, 2006 07:01 PM | Link to this

I’d rather watch paint dry than watch cars go around in a circle for hours. Boring!

By Nikki

July 15, 2006 07:20 PM | Link to this

Why should I care about NASCAR?! The drivers are TOO AFRAID to come to Atlanta. At least that’s what they were saying to get the NASCAR hall of fame in Charlotte. If I want to see chickens race, I’ll check out some farm. It’s cheaper.

By MH

July 15, 2006 07:23 PM | Link to this

I think the main thing is that their basis for comparison (2005 numbers) were abnormally high.

Alleging that the races are rigged is stupid. Too many random variables are in play for anyone to really be able to inconspicuously rig the race. As for the old watching cars go in circles insult… I find it pretty hilarious that people will make fun of races, then tune into a game for 2 hours where two teams kick a ball back and forth, or constantly run/throw a ball into eachother, or hit and ball with a stick and run around in a circle. All games/sports are intrinsically simple; the main thing that separates them in terms of entertainment is personal preference.

By Clell Morris

July 15, 2006 07:31 PM | Link to this

I wouldn’t worry about what seems to be year to year fluctuations, but I would worry about any negative press about NASCAR and Atlanta. Watch it or not, it is a huge economic impact for the metro area. NASCAR has been dropping tracks lately and it would be terrible if we lost a race.

By DB

July 15, 2006 07:32 PM | Link to this

Having followed NASCAR since the early 70’s, I find today’s racing rather watered down and BORING. The finishes seem too predictible at times and there are TOO many commercials.The days of watching every race is OVER until NASCAR gets a better product.

By Bluer

July 15, 2006 07:41 PM | Link to this

Am I what?

By Dawgs2006

July 15, 2006 08:23 PM | Link to this

I still like to watch Nascar and I will continue to do so. However, there are way too many commerical breaks(with the same ones over and over). The Fox coverage is terrible and that is probally who really gives a S**t about the cut-away car? Just keep the camera on the track. Plus the pre race concerts? Give me a friggin break….AWFUL!. You have to endure 2 hours of hoopla before they finally get started. The races are also starting later and later in the day, and I have things to take care of on the weekends.

By War Eagle

July 15, 2006 08:42 PM | Link to this

Never watch, I like the fans ,but not the sport.

By Clay

July 15, 2006 08:43 PM | Link to this

Maybe poverty levels are shrinking.

By time for the truth

July 15, 2006 08:59 PM | Link to this

This NASCAR bollocks is almost as mindnumbingly boring as the vile hate crime against sports called basketball!!

Its essentially the same pathetic boring spectacle every race with virtually the same boring group of blue collar millionaires and wannabes every year peddling their empty cliches before the adoring proles who have been suckered by a very slick marketing dept that rips them off all year round. And the phoney enmity and rivalry is about as convincing as that execrbale drivel called wrestling!!

Formula One is infinitely superior, the races literally go around the world, in a wide variety of conditions and places, with different racing circuits some years in some countries. Thing is Americans are generally poor at sports that the rest of the world follows and they dont. So there’s no TV time and no audience, and no American competitors - just a vicious cyle that perpetuates itself.

NASCAR is just for morons really who have been cynically tricked into ‘adopting’ some wealthy NASCAR wanker as their little hero!!

By Danny Ward

July 15, 2006 09:13 PM | Link to this

Im a Brit and I love Nascar think the tv coverage is great actually all round probably the best of any sport. This year though the world cup came first. Love formula 1 the sound those cars make is amazing especially at a live race, however disagree it is better than Nascar weather live or on tv. They have some beautiful women though watchingat a formula 1 race.

By frank

July 15, 2006 09:47 PM | Link to this

Look they are making another left turn, how exciting

By alabama crabdangle

July 15, 2006 09:52 PM | Link to this

i would rather go down on my neighbor’s cat than watch stupid nascar on tv. it sucks big time.

By Rick

July 15, 2006 10:23 PM | Link to this

Nascar is too big. I mean the mega tracks. To many of them. Races to long. Need to keep to mile and a half or less. Makes for better racing all round. For Daytona, take the plates off. Let them go. Put the little turn out on the back straight away that the 24 hour races use. That will keep speeds down and make for some very interesting racing don’t you think. Been to any dirt tracks lately?

By JIMBO

July 15, 2006 10:45 PM | Link to this

I LOVE IT!!!! GO TONY STEWARD…..

By Wanda

July 15, 2006 10:55 PM | Link to this

I love NASCAR, always have. I would no sooner give up NASCAR than I would give up grits or my Southern citizenship.

By Doug T

July 16, 2006 12:31 AM | Link to this

Ratings down? Wonder why… could it be all of the rule changes and non-stop commercialization? Explain to me how it can take 5 laps (10 minutes) to remove a beachball from the track? Easy —- commercials. Perhaps boring restrictor plate races (except for the 30 car wrecks)? 5 hour Bristol race (ending at 1AM? Hey NASCAR - wake up. Get rid of the lucky dog rule. If you lose a lap tough #*@^, you’re a lap behind! Put in a V6 and get rid of the restrictor plate if speeds are too fast. You need horsepower to race. Get rid of motor-mouth Waltrip!!! Stop closing the pits and if they are closed, impose a 1-lap penalty for violating it, not ‘longest line’ crap. Bring back the glory racing days of the 90’s when racin’ was racin’, not pretty-boys crying when they get bumped. Then again, I’m just a 30 yr Richard Petty fan and know nothing about racing.

By YankeeDoodle

July 16, 2006 01:42 AM | Link to this

Excuse me, but just exactly what IS “yankee-fied”? To ME, a born and bred full-blooded Yankee, it’s a true redneck sport. It’s not popular at all in my hometown. We have better things to do than watch cars run in circles, hoping for a wreck, which is the only bit of excitement in the whole thing. Putting it in Atlanta seems only right.

By Yawwwwn

July 16, 2006 01:54 AM | Link to this

What in the world is so exciting about cars going around in circles that would make people sit and watch it for hours? Only fools with nothing better to do would waste those hours that could be spent doing something constructive or something that would actually take brain-power. I can think of a million things I’d rather be doing than watching mindless people watching a mindless “sport”. I guess that’s why it’s so popular in the south. It’s a no-brainer “sport”. (And I use that term “sport” very loosely.) No one with a brain would actually watch that garbage.

By bubba

July 16, 2006 04:19 AM | Link to this

Wait until Toyota kick some a**e next year. Maybe they will get a driver that can speak english, not like dale JR.

By MC

July 16, 2006 05:06 AM | Link to this

Simple. NASCAR fans are moving elsewhere in the state and region—not as an organized mob, obviously, but I’ve seen them squirm to get out of my own county of Gwinnett.

And good for them. I hate to sound elitist, but it’s just an embarrassment sometimes when NASCAR comes to town. At least we didn’t get saddled with the Shrine.

By Steve

July 16, 2006 06:24 AM | Link to this

I don’t even know why I’m wasting my time on this post. NASCAR: Who cares………

By King 3-B

July 16, 2006 06:32 AM | Link to this

If they never raced again it would not make any difference to me.

By UGA 72

July 16, 2006 08:30 AM | Link to this

I was always a die hard fan of Nascar, emphasis on WAS. I had Tickets to the 2 Atlanta Races for years and took a bunch of folks to Talledega and Charlotte every year. I can’t count the money I’ve spent on Nascar merchandise. Then NASCAR announced they wanted to get away from their Southern fans base, and since I’m no longer wanted or needed as a fan, I’ve switched to sports who seem to want Southern fans, like my beloved Dawgs, the Falcon’s and Braves.

People around the rest of the Country think Southerners aren’t too bright, but regardless of our intellect, we seldom go to places where we aren’t wanted. Brian France who owns NASCAR is a rich jerk (strongest name that won’t get edited) and apparently hates everything Southern from the people to grits. I sincerely hope all real Southerners grant Brian his wish and stop supporting NASCAR in any way, form, or fashion.

By roy farmer

July 16, 2006 08:35 AM | Link to this

who wants to watch 3 minutes racing and 5 minutes of same commercials .

By jerry

July 16, 2006 08:44 AM | Link to this

I only watch the end of the race and only because I’m in a pool.How boring is it? It is so boring that many times during the last 20 or so laps the tv crew will concentrate on a couple of cars “racing” in the middle of the pack rather than showing the leader going round and round and round and……..

By Steve

July 16, 2006 08:46 AM | Link to this

The problem is the racing has become boring. NASCAR is going to the cookie cutter tracks…. 1.5 miles, high banking, 3 grooves. Take away those tracks, take away all the aero dynamics on the cars, and put the driving back into the hands of the racers. That will let us know who the real drivers are and make it more exciting.

By dave

July 16, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this

NASCAR sucks. Never watched it never will. Though I am a big sports fan and will watch just about anything that is a competition, I’ve never been able to enjoy a NASCAR race. ALL the turns are the same! Turn 1 is the same as turn 4. TOO damn boring. I’d rather watch drag racing, IRL, Rally racing, even the Tour de France. Anything but a NASCAR race on an oval track.

By Lee

July 16, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

NASCAR has forgotton where it originated…they have moved mostly from the South to yankeeland, leaving some of the most exciting tracks for larger ones where they can make more money. Greed has taken over the business and greed will get you every time. Return racing to the drivers and tracks where viewing is exciting and not boring…road racing is for the birds. The owners of NASCAR have too much power and other franchises whould be formed to give them some competition.

By Seriously

July 16, 2006 10:10 AM | Link to this

NASCAR officials won’t be reading this blog, they are still in Sonoma sipping wine at the Polo club with their sponsors planning for even more commercials.

Greed is a powerful drug.

By Doggit

July 16, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this

I would rather watch paint dry than watch them make another left turn…

Road racing is real racing…

ALMS is where it’s @…

By Billy Hamilton

July 16, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this

Nascar has a rubber-band policy for applying the rules.

By will

July 16, 2006 10:36 AM | Link to this

How can the news consider racing cars a sport? Are the drivers in any kind of shape? What sort of role model do they represent?

By LAC

July 16, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

I like watching reruns of The Weather Channel better than Racin for sure !

By Trey

July 16, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this

Nascar has turned into the NBA, you can watch the last 10 laps and see all the action.

By Mark Sauer

July 16, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this

Since Nextel took over the sport has changed for the worse. Too much money will ruin anything. My fellow NASCAR fans have been afraid of this for a long time. Drivers these days are just that…Drivers. Not Racers. Racers like Petty, Earnhardt, and Pearson. Now there are just a bunch of Brats running around because Nextel/NASCAR think that these drivers along with the cookie cutter tracks they are spewing out in lieu of some traditional tracks are desireable for the new fans. Personnally I feel that FOX coverage of the sport is a direct reflection of these changes. The cutaway car is pretty much a joke and Jeff Hammonds talents are wasred in front of the camera. Yeah he knows alot about the sport, but what a DORK in front of the camera. And keep the camera on the track for petes sake! Who wants to see Kenseth walk out of a puff of smoke for crying out loud! “BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY LET’S Go Raci-” Yeah. We know. Stop Already.

By David

July 16, 2006 12:09 PM | Link to this

The starting time of tje race is getting moved up later and later.I will watch a race if it starts at one oclock but not if it starts at three.I have other things to do than wait all afternoon on the race to start.Also,Nascar has gotten to politically correct and put a muzzle on all the drivers so they cannot even do interviews without having to worry about getting fined.START EARLY OR LOSE FANS

By Dewaine

July 16, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

Never liked it - never will. I do not like the “sport”. If I were as privileged as the drivers, I would out-race ‘em. I have no respect for the fans either since they have their NASCAR emblems on their cars and I always speed past them on the interstate. They are the ones holding up the traffic all the time.

By snell

July 16, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this

hey kush, sounds like you have some major issues…….

By debbie morris

July 16, 2006 01:33 PM | Link to this

nascar has become like wrestling it just a show! brian is messing it up by changing the points system, and with toyota coming next year my tv will be turned off. they need to go back and read there rule book.

By Keith Laney

July 16, 2006 02:10 PM | Link to this

I’m a Southerner who has enjoyed NASCAR since I was a kid. Back when I was a kid (I’m 22) NASCAR was a great sport, as other stock car racing series are now. Now, NASCAR has turned into a political monster driven by selfishness and greed. Brian France only cares about himself and not the fans. He wants to turn the sport’s back on where it came from. Even races over the past few years are becoming increasingly boring. I can’t hold my attention to a NASCAR race on TV anymore. I’d much rather go to a live race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but that’s become was to expensive because of the aforementioned selfishness and greed of France. But I still will watch a race every now and again. I just hope to Car of Tomorrow doesn’t wreck the sport like I think it has the potential to do so. That’s a reason why I now go to my local dirt short track more often. Plus I’m now getting into ALMS, GARRA, AMA, and a few other racing series that seem to have much more excitment.

By Woody

July 16, 2006 02:43 PM | Link to this

Due to TV coverage {Fox} and corporate America, NASCAR is one step away from pro wrestling. Too many commercials and too much bla, bla, bla, bla…….

By Keith

July 16, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this

Oh Ims sorry maybe because the drivers arent a bunch of overpaid criminals. Maybe because they like to do alot for worthwhile charitys and spend alot of time signing autographs for fans for free not charging someone everytime they sign there name, and guess what people Atlanta is dangerous all those studies can’t be wrong between Fulton, Dekalb, and Clayton Counties someone is getting killed everyday watch the news! I dont agree with all the changes in Nascar, there are to many commercials, but make no mistake they are athletes and they are decent people which is more than you can say for most other sports. By the way the buttons on the remote change the channel!

By thepirate

July 16, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this

NASCAR stands for National Association of Specialized Chevy Aggressiveness Rules. It all seems a setup to insure a Chevy win. So, I’m out.

By Bob Baxter

July 16, 2006 04:24 PM | Link to this

One of the reasons people aren’t watching as much is its too predictible each and every week. Its the same few drivers that win. In other sports you have upsets. But in NASCAR its almost like watching a rerun each and every week. once in a blue moon you get someone coming out of nowhere to win a race. I have talked to a lot of my friends who have watched over the years and they basically say the same thing its too predictible. I respect the drivers who win a lot but I sure would love to see a underdog win sometimes.

By DollarDawg

July 16, 2006 04:32 PM | Link to this

Keith is exactly right. Statistics don’t lie and I don’t allow my kids (or myself) to be out in downtown Atlanta after dark. If this offends you, help clean the place up and we’ll return.

NASCAR’s problems are self inflicted. I have been a fan since 1966 and, while I love all of the races being on television now, the coverage is so commercial filled you may as well not bother tuning in.

Finally, somone from FOX should tell Larry McReynolds that overweight, middle-aged white guys (I’m one so I know) absolutely CANNOT pull off the phrase, “Lets get this party started” and, in a pre-race question a few years ago the drivers were asked what they thought of “boogity, boogity, boogity”. None of the responses could be repeated.

NASCAR may well be the goose that killed its own golden egg.

By Steve

July 16, 2006 05:19 PM | Link to this

WTF cares????????

By thepirate

July 16, 2006 05:27 PM | Link to this

Hey jimbo, it is Tony StewarT. How can you like NASCAR so much and not even know who you are cheering for?

By Mark DeFrino

July 17, 2006 05:27 PM | Link to this

I’M A YANKEE, BUT I”VE LOVED NASCAR SINCE OL #43 RULED THE ROAD!!! THEN ALONG CAME THAT BLACK #3 TO SHOW HOW RACIN’ WAS REALLY DONE. SINCE WE’VE LOST HIM AND NORTH WILKSBORO THE ROCK AND THE SOUTHERN 500 NOT AT DARLINGTON?!!! I WILL NOT BASH MY SOUTHERN BROTHERS AND SISTERS BUT THE PROBLEM IS NASCAR’S BLIND EFFORT TO EQUALIZE ALL THE CARS LET’S GET BACK TO REAL RACIN’ BAN THE RESTRICTOR PLATE!!!!!

By Chris

July 23, 2006 03:51 PM | Link to this

I’m not American, so my views aren’t biased based on where I live, or my opinion of the fans, where ever they are. Everyone here has an opinion, but I see little of it based on any fact. To me, NASCAR is competition racing that has its own element of excitement, just like IRL does of itself, as well as F1 and WRC…to each their own, and for what the fans enjoy of it. NASCAR has always been evolving since it began, and there have always been people complaining about change. The death of Dale Sr. has probably given NASCAR more attention, if anything. The competitive nature of NASCAR has meant pushing the envelope where safety has taken a front-seat to what the fans think NASCAR should-or-shouldn’t do on the track. The growth of the commercial aspect of NASCAR suggests that more people are watching, not less. Companies wouldn’t be putting millions into advertising and marketing with NASCAR if it wasn’t reaching people better than anything else. Is it too much, absolutely…but that’s the American way…and that’s what its citizens declare they have the right to uphold. Should it be changed? Maybe. But so long as money drives the sport (just as it does any other), it’s the beast that will keep on growing. I have to admit, I’m not fond of seeing such a heavy ratio of commericals vs. race coverage. But, if people are so bothered by some of the announcers, I guess commercials help to keep these people from being so annoyed.

By deb

July 24, 2006 01:36 PM | Link to this

ESPN did the absolute best NASCAR coverage. They know where to position a camera to best cover a race track. Fans want to see RACING! Most of us don’t want to see under the car or watch the race from the Good Year Blimp on it’s way to the moon. It’s bad when I can see the race better on the RADIO! Thank God ESPN’s coming to the rescue next season.

By Eric

July 24, 2006 02:08 PM | Link to this

Never been a fan never will. But you forgot one thing, what NASCAR stands for Non Athletic Sport Centered Around Rednecks. Also, what do you call 43 rednecks chasing a queer…….. a nascar race.