This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

[forensicd]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

Im not a racer in anyway so we look and feel it in different ways, From ur posts im guessing ur a racer in someway? So ur gonna have Opinions different especially if itz screwing you over, Which i agree with Really can hurt racing. Young Drivers will keep coming up over and over again. I mean to be a Nascar Driver Your pretty much Allready very very rich before you make it into the Nascar Series. As long as the Rich people Keep into racing There will always be some type of new Drivers coming in

I do say this tho If RAcing keeps getting deleted and such I would say Who knows how great the Drivers will be in 20 years?

The racers are not rich by any means. Newman, Gordon, Stewart etc were by no means rich. In sprintcars, your family doesnt own the car, you get rides from car owners. You will often start out in a quarter midgets, which are farely inexpensive, and then prove yourself there and find a ride. Rich folk arent into racing as much as you think, its the sponsorships that allow us to race. We have fielded a 2 cars, and sometime 3 car fields over the past decade, and I can assure you we are by no means rich. We rely on sponsors for free shocks, oil, rims, torsion bars, etc. We rely on our main sponsors to be able to afford the cars, engines, crew, shop, trailer, rig, etc. When these all go away to nascar, Theres no way we can afford the half million to go racing for chump change each weekend. Even with all the sponsors, we still spend our hard earned money to go in circles across the midwest. We do it becuase we love it, not becuase we make any sort of money out of it, not even close. The drivers do make money, but only 40% of the winnings, 60% goes to the owner. So, when Ryan Newman was in USAC, if he won a race for 7000, he only got 2800 for the weekend. If you dont win, the number is almost nothing.

In order to be up front in any division, it takes money. that money comes from sponsors, its the same in NASCAR. You think any of the owners are going to spend a cent of his money on his cars? Not even close, everything is given to him ten fold by sponsors. If those big Home Depot stickers arent on the NASCARS, there is no NASCAR. Its no different than any form of professional racing. in a good year, a NASCAR team will maybe win only a fraction of what it costs to go racing (shops, crews, planes, rigs), the rest of that money comes from sponsors and merchandise. Take the latter two away, theres not too many people dumb enough to race at that level, as their bank account will be empty in a matter of years.

[cbgatorade0202]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

The racers are not rich by any means. Newman, Gordon, Stewart etc were by no means rich. In sprintcars, your family doesnt own the car, you get rides from car owners. You will often start out in a quarter midgets, which are farely inexpensive, and then prove yourself there and find a ride. Rich folk arent into racing as much as you think, its the sponsorships that allow us to race. We have fielded a 2 cars, and sometime 3 car fields over the past decade, and I can assure you we are by no means rich. We rely on sponsors for free shocks, oil, rims, torsion bars, etc. We rely on our main sponsors to be able to afford the cars, engines, crew, shop, trailer, rig, etc. When these all go away to nascar, Theres no way we can afford the half million to go racing for chump change each weekend. Even with all the sponsors, we still spend our hard earned money to go in circles across the midwest. We do it becuase we love it, not becuase we make any sort of money out of it, not even close. The drivers do make money, but only 40% of the winnings, 60% goes to the owner. So, when Ryan Newman was in USAC, if he won a race for 7000, he only got 2800 for the weekend. If you dont win, the number is almost nothing.

In order to be up front in any division, it takes money. that money comes from sponsors, its the same in NASCAR. You think any of the owners are going to spend a cent of his money on his cars? Not even close, everything is given to him ten fold by sponsors. If those big Home Depot stickers arent on the NASCARS, there is no NASCAR. Its no different than any form of professional racing. in a good year, a NASCAR team will maybe win only a fraction of what it costs to go racing (shops, crews, planes, rigs), the rest of that money comes from sponsors and merchandise. Take the latter two away, theres not too many people dumb enough to race at that level, as their bank account will be empty in a matter of years.

Agree sponsor's pay for everything , Who knows ..Nascar aint going anywhere thatz all i know..But i do understand where ur coming from and I wish you and all racers luck in that..Im just a Guy who watches tv so i wont see the big picture that u will see...Seriously man good luck

[countryboy]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

thats why teams such as Roush and Hendricks have formed development teams. So that they can get young and upcoming drivers into their expensive cup cars one day.

There are quite a few racing series that Nascar drivers come from. The local circuits of stock car racing. I can't think of the name of it now. I think it used to be called the Winston Weekly Series or something to that effect.

Nascar will not let their "roots" cease to exist. Nascar will start pumping money into different areas of racing to make sure that they continue to be strong.

[pk500]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

Nascar will start pumping money into different areas of racing to make sure that they continue to be strong.

True. Evidence of this was the push ISC made to USAC to build the new superspeedway Silver Crown cars. ISC, owned by NASCAR, wanted the Silver Crowns as support races at their tracks and pushed USAC to make the change to the new, hideously ugly superspeedway Silver Crown car.

Unfortunately, it appears none of that support trickled down to the people who need it -- the team owners who have to pay for these new machines.

A big chunk of NASCAR's new talent has come from USAC -- Gordon, Kahne, Stewart, Newman, Yeley -- so NASCAR is taking steps to ensure that USAC becomes an even more viable feeder of talent to its top series, for better or worse.

Take care,
PK

[forensicd]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

A big chunk of NASCAR's new talent has come from USAC -- Gordon, Kahne, Stewart, Newman, Yeley -- so NASCAR is taking steps to ensure that USAC becomes an even more viable feeder of talent to its top series, for better or worse.

They may be trying to take steps, but they sure arent working. The new silver crown car is a joke, no one can afford them and no one is buying them. Car counts are becoming harder and harder to come by, as more and more sponsors are pulling ship. What we are seeing is a larger gap in the haves and the have nots in USAC. The price of racing has jumped to staggering levels over the past years to be competitive, and now you see more and more dominant teams becoming just back markers. Without exposure, USAC is becoming less and less a force that it used to be. When we approached Arctic Cat, it was an easy sell as we had a well known driver, a great history, and ESPN coverage out the wazoo, with enough video feeds to keep them happy. Now all of that is gone, becuase if it isnt nascar, tv and sponsors just dont really care anymore. I would love to see NASCAR push some its money down our way, make the purses twice as much, so we wouldnt have to rely on sponsors as much. As it is now, if you dont have a big name on your car, you can change your tires, and if you cant do that, might as well pack it up and go home.

[Rodster]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

NASCAR races have become a running joke of sorts, and the glitz and glamour of all the fussing, fueding and cheating has caught all the nation by storm. It is no longer about racing in a way, as the drivers have become almost movie star status. Its like they are the Anna Kornikova of racing, all looks but no talent.

Can you say WWE, that's what it has become to me. Also Nascar no longer calls it's own shots as it use to. Now it has to answer to the Networks and Corporations who are pouring billions of dollars in advertising.

IMO Nascar while becoming mainstream is not the same as when I use to watch it in the 80's and 90's. I enjoyed the racing back then and it was fun as well as the host of characters on the circuit. Man I miss Dale Sr.

[jcollins28]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

Originally Posted by forensicd
NASCAR races have become a running joke of sorts, and the glitz and glamour of all the fussing, fueding and cheating has caught all the nation by storm. It is no longer about racing in a way, as the drivers have become almost movie star status. Its like they are the Anna Kornikova of racing, all looks but no talent.

I thought that title belonged to Danica Patrick?

[larrygiterdone]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

IMO Nascar while becoming mainstream is not the same as when I use to watch it in the 80's and 90's. I enjoyed the racing back then and it was fun as well as the host of characters on the circuit.

Agree 100%

[pk500]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

I thought that title belonged to Danica Patrick?

Yep, that's her -- the same driver who led 19 laps last year at Indy and finished fourth, ahead of 29 other guys, including a two-time Champ Car season champion.

Take care,
PK

[jcollins28]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

Yep, that's her -- the same driver who led 19 laps last year at Indy and finished fourth, ahead of 29 other guys, including a two-time Champ Car season champion.

Take care,
PK

LOL Even Anna Kornikova advanced a few rounds. The hype in Danica does not match the results. Funny how quick you are to trot out that she led 19 laps at Indy! OHHHHH that is so impressive! Her resume is the weakest amongst her peers. The one and only reason why she has that ride is because of her sex. The fact that she has yet to win in any series as a professional driver is a joke. As is the marketing blitz around her.

[cbgatorade0202]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

LOL Even Anna Kornikova advanced a few rounds. The hype in Danica does not match the results. Funny how quick you are to trot out that she led 19 laps at Indy! OHHHHH that is so impressive! Her resume is the weakest amongst her peers. The one and only reason why she has that ride is because of her sex. The fact that she has yet to win in any series as a professional driver is a joke. As is the marketing blitz around her.

Im gonna have to say im not sure on that, I root for Danica but then I dont. I think she's a pretty good driver but no where as good as Espn and other places make her. I dont think she did to much last year, Yes she led laps but I mean Ward Burton won the Daytona 500 before and we see where he's at.

[pk500]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

LOL Even Anna Kornikova advanced a few rounds. The hype in Danica does not match the results. Funny how quick you are to trot out that she led 19 laps at Indy! OHHHHH that is so impressive! Her resume is the weakest amongst her peers. The one and only reason why she has that ride is because of her sex. The fact that she has yet to win in any series as a professional driver is a joke. As is the marketing blitz around her.

Uh, she finished fourth, which you conveniently ignored.

Let's see: Franck Montagny was faster than Katherine Legge in his test last month with PKV, but Legge got the ride. Her gender had nothing to do with it, no?

Give me a break.

Yes, Legge won in a mediocre Atlantics field last year and is a capable driver. No question. But if you think gender didn't factor into Kalkhoven hiring her, hoping to create some "Danicamania" in Champ Car, especially when Montagny was faster than her in the test, then your head is deeper in the sand than I thought.

Take care,
PK

[jcollins28]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

Uh, she finished fourth, which you conveniently ignored.

Let's see: Franck Montagny was faster than Katherine Legge in his test last month with PKV, but Legge got the ride. Her gender had nothing to do with it, no?

Give me a break.

Yes, Legge won in a mediocre Atlantics field last year and is a capable driver. No question. But if you think gender didn't factor into Kalkhoven hiring her, hoping to create some "Danicamania" in Champ Car, especially when Montagny was faster than her in the test, then your head is deeper in the sand than I thought.

Take care,
PK

Please I have my head in the sand? Why is it that Kat was brought into this? There is no comparison between those two. Yeah I forgot about Danica's 4th place finish at Indy because I thought Indy was about winning? Sad though that most people today could tell you that Danica finished 4th but they are stumped on who won the damn race. Hell Tora Takagi has a 5th place finish and Felipe Giaffone has a 3rd place finish. So does that make them just as good or even better then Danica's 4th place finish? Well since you had bring Kat into this here is one major difference between the two. Kat HAS WON RACES AS A PROFESIONAL RACE CAR DRIVER! As for the fastest test driver not getting the ride. Paul do we really need to go down the list of test drivers that were the fastest driver tested but did not get the ride? You and I both know better and just because a guy can turn fast laps does not always get him the ride. For one a guy by the name of Alex Zanardi was not the fastest driver that Chip Ganassi tested.

If you are trying to compare Danica to Legge this will be a very short comparison. Why is it that all of you Danica backers hype her up like the next Senna and make excuse after excuse when she fails? Well CHAMP CAR parade Kat around like a dime store whore and have her appearing half nude in FHM and Maxim like the IRL has done with your princess? That is yet to be seen but from what I have heard about Kat I really doubt we will see that.

[pk500]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

So you're saying that gender had nothing to do with Legge's hiring? It was all based on ability and her feedback to the engineers?

Good thing I didn't have liquid in my mouth. My screen would have been painted after that wet laugh.

I'm surprised Montagny even tested. That seat was pre-ordained for Legge as long as she kept the car on the track during the Sebring test, and you, I and everyone else knows it. At least everyone else and I can admit that. You? Well ...

Legge is a solid driver, and I wish her well. If she wins a race this year, I'll be the first to tip my cap to her. If she wins three poles and finishes in the top 12 in points, as Danica did last year, then well done to her. I don't hold anywhere near the animosity toward Legge that you do toward Patrick because as far as I'm concerned, any attention drawn to either flavor of open-wheel racing is good. I've let 1996 go; you haven't.

As for Danica, I've never called her Senna. She's a competent race driver who needs to win this year, no question. But when you consider that only nine other rookies have finished in the the top four at Indy in the last 20 years, I'd say she did a good job. Some of those rookies' names: Mansell, Villeneuve, Montoya, Castroneves. I'm certainly not comparing Patrick to them, but it's not bad company to keep.

Also don't forget that Danica finished second in the Formula Ford Festival in 2000, the best finish by an American ever. The only driver to beat her is now longtime BAR F1 test driver Anthony Davidson.

Has Danica won? No. Is that a strike against her? Yes. But you write as if she was plucked from obscurity from the SCCA Runoffs to drive Rahal's car, and that's the furthest from the truth.

As for the famous FHM spread, that was done two years ago when she was a driver in the Toyota Atlantic series, the No. 1 feeder series for Champ Car. Nice try, though.

The only major magazine cover on which Danica appeared last year was Sports Illustrated, the largest sports publication in America, after her strong showing at Indianapolis. She was the first Indy-style driver on the cover in 25 years.

Take care,
PK

[Rodster]

Re: This is why NASCAR will always be viewed as a joke to some

I think PK makes a good point an I agree as I like both series. IMO Legge was just a counter move to Danica-mania. Both drivers have talent some feel Legge has more but was given a seat because she's a girl and the IRL has a marketing machine in Danica.

The pressure is now on Danica to do something as in win a race, we all know she's not Sarah Fisher. She has the talent to run strong but the talking heads think she's not capable of winning. Legge has two years to win a race by K.K.'s watch that's if we don't see some sort of IRL/Champ Car merger by then which I hope we do.