There has been so much going on this week in Nascar (or should I say “off” [the track]?), I may have to post a second time.
My first dilemma was choosing a title. Earlier in the week, I considered “Carl’sBad” something or other. Then I drifted to “Once Was Enough” as in # of Brickyards we needed. Today, I was pondering “Another ‘Fine’ Mess”. So let’s get to the crux of the current title.
Somewhere in the back of my mind I know I squander several hours a week on the race, but once a year I am totally aware of the wasted hours. It’s watching the Brickyard 400. The only comfort I rationalize is that I’m at home instead of having to endure the humiliation of paying to be there.
If you feel a need to go to a race in Indy, do yourself a favor. Go to ORP. Great track. Great racing. Great people. If Nascar thinks the Brickyard is a tool to attract new fans, they really have problems. It’s time (about 15 years past time) to put this experiment to rest. I’m thinking the best race they’ve had was the one with mandatory cautions every 10 laps due to tire issues. At least every once in a while you could see more than 6 cars at a time in a frame instead of a 3 hour practice session.
Oh, and all those empty seats? I just see that as a whole bunch of people who have seen the light.
I could go on, but, like I said I’ll have to have a mid-week continuation.
7.23.89: In pre-race ceremonies at Pocono, Ned Jarrett was honored with the Bill France Award Of Excellence.
Ref: racing-reference.info, Greg Fielden’s “Forty Years of Stock Car Racing”, Richard Sowers’ “The Complete Statistical History of Stock-Car Racing”.
