FanNation

Would be yet another travesty to disenfranchise the fan base and by erasing racing history. Heard there is 2k tickets left. Also heard that Humpy is thinking of converting NH into a short track....and around the corner is potentially a new track in Denver. Connect the dots....and you will get a dollar sign kicking the rest of us in the ass.

jackmanrob | 03/25/08, 08:36 AM

Get rid of Pocono.

nascarzorin | 03/25/08, 10:44 AM

And New Hampshire.

Rickapolis-Bard of Who's Who | 03/25/08, 11:11 AM

NO WAY THIS WOULD HAPPEN.PEOPLE LOVE SHORT TRACK RACING.BUMPING AND RUBBING IS RACING.ESP AT THE END OF CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP,COMING TO MARTINSVILLE LEADING IN THE POINTS,GET CAUGHT UP IN A WRECK,YOU COULD LEAVE MARTISVILLE-4 OR 5 IN POINTS.BUT THATS RACING.

rusty 123 | 03/25/08, 11:15 AM

Great photo rusty - hilarious

jackmanrob | 03/25/08, 12:25 PM

Sorry Rusty but it will happen. Why because NASCAR has forgotten it's roots. The small track loving people who started watching NASCAR long ago. All NASCAR seems to pander to is the west coast and corporate people now. I say get rid of Phoenix and don't build in Denver and here's a CRAZY idea let's bring back North Wilksboro instead......

Racer X 009 | 03/25/08, 12:35 PM

THANKS. LOL

rusty 123 | 03/25/08, 12:36 PM

YEAH I AGREE TO RACER X .THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO THE ROOTS OF RACING.

rusty 123 | 03/25/08, 12:44 PM

I also agree with Racer X. Dump Phoenix (and California for that matter) and alternate a race each year between North Wilkesboro and Rockingham.

juan | 03/25/08, 01:55 PM

1) The history of NASCAR is rich with traditions, excitement, and even tragedies. But, the one underlying factor in the promulgation of this glorious sport is this: MONEY. Because of the money factor, tracks that were there in the beginning and that do not bring in the MONEY (regardless of what the money is needed for)... they will be shunted to the wayside for tracks that can bring in MONEY.
2) There is a good article on NASCAR.com, in the Opinion section written by Joe Menzer, that addresses the topic of a shorter schedule, more breaks for the drivers, AND to a small degree... tracks that underperform (it does include new & old tracks).

Blueashriel | 03/25/08, 05:33 PM

Turning left is a sport?

sacked92 | 03/25/08, 05:37 PM

For the record, I am all for the old tracks coming back onto the schedule. I appreciate and enjoy NASCAR history and the older tracks hold that history.

Blueashriel | 03/25/08, 06:08 PM

Those "bigger" markets mentioned don't help sponsors any more than staying at Martinsville does. The market/"MONEY" argument is a bogus one because there are Winston Cup dates at tracks that are considered "money" markets but are in fact terrible racing demographics like Fontana, Vegas (don't believe the hype that Bruton sells out the place; he didn't this last time), and Chicago, and even a good racing demo like Texas doesn't sell out anymore (Texas and Charlotte now have sponsor signage blocking large portions of backstretch grandstands while Atlanta tore down its "backstretch" grandstands for an RV lot and still can't fill all of its seats).

nascarzorin is a fool. Pocono is one of the sport's best demographics and is one of a handful of tracks that consistently sells out every year.

There is no case for a shorter schedule, contrary to NASCAR.com (which hasn't published a sensible opinion column in years).

STP43FAN | 03/25/08, 07:01 PM

I caught a little bit of Joe Menzer's piece and he is a fool. Tracks that are not near major cities belong on the schedule because big cities are not the sport's demographic - suburbia is. Also there is no case for rotating tracks on and off the schedule; it never works because tracks have to have set schedules around which to do their promotional and track preparation work.

A ten-month schedule can be handled - suck it up and keep going.

STP43FAN | 03/25/08, 07:04 PM

Get rid of Pocono.

nascarzorin | 03/25/08, 10:44 AM
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I half agree. Get rid of one Pocono race. More emphasis on the good shorter tracks. Maybe even take about one Talladega for another road race. Let's bring some more twisting, turning skill back.

Hooah!05 - The '70's Rock!! | 03/25/08, 07:58 PM

Ah crap, let's do a dirt track, Friday night once a year. "Let's go mud racing boys!" I remember Speedway in Albuquerque, NM on Friday nights and sprints on Saturday nights. Saw Al Unser, Jr. race there. Fast kid. We used to sit above folks in the stands and, when the cars came by, throw mud into their beers. They thought it was the cars.

Hooah!05 - The '70's Rock!! | 03/25/08, 08:01 PM

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

1) Sport (noun) - a source of diversion/recreation; physical activity engaged in for pleasure.
2) Activity (noun) - a form of organized, supervised, often extracurricular recreation.
3) Recreation (noun) - a means of refreshment or diversion.
4) Diversion (noun) - something that diverts or amuses.
5) Divert (verb) - to give pleasure to especially by distracting the attention from what burdens or distresses.

Now what could possibly be more pleasurable or distracting than watching a NASCAR race?

Blueashriel | 03/25/08, 08:39 PM

1) STP, apparently I touched a nerve. I, too, think the money thing is nuts, but it is reality. Unfortunately, NASCAR big-wigs do not have the urge to find a proper balance in regard to the many factors out there that impact/affect the sport (including money). Until they do, money, in my humble opinion, is the biggest factor that drives the sport (pun intended).
2) I also see what others see: bigger market areas do not always translate into more people (which bring in more money). But, as I mentioned in bullet #1, all that is seen is money, and we all know that most people cannot think straight when money is involved, especially NASCAR bigwigs.
3) I agree that a long schedule can be handled by the drivers: It is what they signed up for. But, again, there are many factors in the decision-making process (to include the human factor i.e. crew personnel, their family members, and so on). If the factors could be balanced, then maybe there would not be as much talk about needing to shorten the schedule.

Blueashriel | 03/25/08, 09:10 PM

Hooah, the dirt track idea would be rather keen. Maybe they could turn that Tony Stewart charity race thing into an official points race and still benefit charity???

Blueashriel | 03/25/08, 09:12 PM

Bring back Rockingham, and ditch a boring cookie cutter.

Thorn19 | 03/25/08, 11:53 PM