Post by G on Nov 23, 2007 0:42:06 GMT -5
2007 seemed to have a lot of promise but in my opinion came up short and actually may be a bad year for Nascar. It certainly was a year of transition. The year got off with a bang as Michael Waltrip got caught cheating with a fuel additive with his new Toyota team making their debut and was virtually penalized and lost grip with the season from the get go. He somehow managed to get in the 500, but with the top 35 rule in effect, he would go on to miss the next 11 races in a row. And 22 on the season.
That same race may have been the best race of the season as Kevin Harvick narrowly beat Mark Martin at the line for an exciting finish.
The beginning of the season produced a few more exciting finishes and the 1st half wasnt bad. But clearly Toyota's were not up to speed on with the Top 35 rule crucifying each team not in the top 35, Qualifying became a major concern and a big gripe among teams and fans.
Also the Car of Tomorrow or COT car for short made its debut. A somewhat boxing and weirder looking car that looked sort of like a small truck instead of a race car split time with the regular car. Clearly a lot of teams struggled with it and said the car doesnt turn well. Hendrick Motorsports said they tested harder than anyone else and it showed as they dominated from that point of the season on while other teams tried to catch up.
The other major drama was Dale Jr's failed relationship with his step mother over at DEI, the company his late father created. The 2 could not work it out and Earnhardt Jr. bolted to join the powerhouse of Hendrick. 2008 will have a downright scary lineup for Hendrick sporting the likes of Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon and now Dale Jr. Fans are without a doubt going to miss the Budweiser car and struggle to come to grips with the Amp #88
Finally the season appeared to be Jeff Gordon's for the taking. By time the Chase arrived he had over a 300 point lead wiped out by the Chase itself. The loss of that cushion appeared to be Gordon's undoing on his 5th Championship as Johnson won 4 consectutive races out of the last 5 to clinch the championship for 2007. Some feel the Chase robbed Gordon, who under the old points system, would have won by over 300 points.
In the end, the season ended with little drama and excitement. Viewership way down and fans started to grow tired of the current Nascar and its ways.
I must say that I am chief among them ready for Nascar to step in and do something to make the season's more respectable for all involved. Here are some of my personal biggest gripes.
Top 35 rule - Certainly I am biased because my driver had to deal with it for the entire year and missed many a race that he wouldnt have using older Qualifying rules. And I think it needs to go back to the old rules. Every week the top 35 shows up and doesnt even care about qualifying. They are locked in. While those outside go through worry each and every week. Sometimes missing out by the Outdated Championship Provisional Rule which sends yet another non-top 35 team home. The way it currently is is a crime and is turning me off to Nascar. The rule isnt even around for what it was originally there for. To keep fully funded teams racing. Today, fully funded teams go home. Solution? Go back to qualifying on speed. Make no one safe. Otherwise Nascar's integrity is about ruined.
The Chase - Its a good idea and having a playoff's is cool. Its not so much the Chase I hate. But its what happens once the chase begins. Those in the Chase are plastered all over the tv screen week after week. They are the story. Those who are not are hardly mentioned again the rest of the season. Also, I kept noticing week after week the top 10 consists of at least 8 chase drivers. They also win all the chase races. It almost seems like the non chasers pack it in once the chase starts. This cant be good for the sport.
Prerace shows too long - It used to be the a prerace would last 30 minutes and 1 hr was a really long prerace. Now 1 hr is short and 2 hrs is long. Come on! This is time I could spend doing something else.
Politically Correct Drivers - Im getting sick of drivers always thanking their sponsors and turning the other cheek on camera and at each other. We need drivers trying to fight and kicking each other's asses. I swear with Dale Sr was still alive, racing was more intense and if you messed with somebody, you were going to get paid for it. Fans want to see it. I want to see it. Get emotional and beat and bang and stop with all the easy passes and buddy systems. Get back to rubbing and racing. And if someone does you wrong, get out of the car and let him know.
That same race may have been the best race of the season as Kevin Harvick narrowly beat Mark Martin at the line for an exciting finish.
The beginning of the season produced a few more exciting finishes and the 1st half wasnt bad. But clearly Toyota's were not up to speed on with the Top 35 rule crucifying each team not in the top 35, Qualifying became a major concern and a big gripe among teams and fans.
Also the Car of Tomorrow or COT car for short made its debut. A somewhat boxing and weirder looking car that looked sort of like a small truck instead of a race car split time with the regular car. Clearly a lot of teams struggled with it and said the car doesnt turn well. Hendrick Motorsports said they tested harder than anyone else and it showed as they dominated from that point of the season on while other teams tried to catch up.
The other major drama was Dale Jr's failed relationship with his step mother over at DEI, the company his late father created. The 2 could not work it out and Earnhardt Jr. bolted to join the powerhouse of Hendrick. 2008 will have a downright scary lineup for Hendrick sporting the likes of Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon and now Dale Jr. Fans are without a doubt going to miss the Budweiser car and struggle to come to grips with the Amp #88
Finally the season appeared to be Jeff Gordon's for the taking. By time the Chase arrived he had over a 300 point lead wiped out by the Chase itself. The loss of that cushion appeared to be Gordon's undoing on his 5th Championship as Johnson won 4 consectutive races out of the last 5 to clinch the championship for 2007. Some feel the Chase robbed Gordon, who under the old points system, would have won by over 300 points.
In the end, the season ended with little drama and excitement. Viewership way down and fans started to grow tired of the current Nascar and its ways.
I must say that I am chief among them ready for Nascar to step in and do something to make the season's more respectable for all involved. Here are some of my personal biggest gripes.
Top 35 rule - Certainly I am biased because my driver had to deal with it for the entire year and missed many a race that he wouldnt have using older Qualifying rules. And I think it needs to go back to the old rules. Every week the top 35 shows up and doesnt even care about qualifying. They are locked in. While those outside go through worry each and every week. Sometimes missing out by the Outdated Championship Provisional Rule which sends yet another non-top 35 team home. The way it currently is is a crime and is turning me off to Nascar. The rule isnt even around for what it was originally there for. To keep fully funded teams racing. Today, fully funded teams go home. Solution? Go back to qualifying on speed. Make no one safe. Otherwise Nascar's integrity is about ruined.
The Chase - Its a good idea and having a playoff's is cool. Its not so much the Chase I hate. But its what happens once the chase begins. Those in the Chase are plastered all over the tv screen week after week. They are the story. Those who are not are hardly mentioned again the rest of the season. Also, I kept noticing week after week the top 10 consists of at least 8 chase drivers. They also win all the chase races. It almost seems like the non chasers pack it in once the chase starts. This cant be good for the sport.
Prerace shows too long - It used to be the a prerace would last 30 minutes and 1 hr was a really long prerace. Now 1 hr is short and 2 hrs is long. Come on! This is time I could spend doing something else.
Politically Correct Drivers - Im getting sick of drivers always thanking their sponsors and turning the other cheek on camera and at each other. We need drivers trying to fight and kicking each other's asses. I swear with Dale Sr was still alive, racing was more intense and if you messed with somebody, you were going to get paid for it. Fans want to see it. I want to see it. Get emotional and beat and bang and stop with all the easy passes and buddy systems. Get back to rubbing and racing. And if someone does you wrong, get out of the car and let him know.
