NASCAR running on fumes

What has happened to racing?

Truth is, the races this year have not inspired a great enthusiasm for me. I'm apparently not the only one, since the stands seem less than filled at so many of the various tracks. The writing is on the wall, NASCAR. There had better be some changes made or this uninspired enthusiasm will just fade into complete oblivion. So many who have watched racing for years now find better things to do on Sunday afternoon.

Some of us have even taken to dozing during races that are sometimes just tedious. There is no way drivers can be on the edge for 500 miles. Often times, the only laps worth watching are those in the beginning and those at the end.

Races are just not as exciting as they used to be because so seldom do they even resemble races. With so much being dictated by NASCAR, race cars equalized, and racing manipulated, the outcome of races have just become predictable. That doesn't make for a good show, not that racing should even be a show. Perhaps that is where you miss the point. A good race is something folks want to watch. Racing is a spectator sport, not an entertainment venue. And, shouldn't it be somewhat affordable? Should there be commercials every few minutes? NASCAR is a commercial, with the cars covered in decals, drivers wearing fire suits with brand labels, and announcers decrying filling up with Sunoco fuel and driving on their Goodyears, like there is any other. The marketing insanity is becoming annoying.

We all have our favorite drivers, and we like to see them compete with one another, using their driving skills. When all the cars are carbon copies of NASCAR's idea of perfection, drivers have much less to do with it than they should. Oh, they still have to give it their all, and sometimes, they do come up with some genius moves, but it is mostly all about strategy--managing tires, fuel mileage, or which team can spend the most money on creative engineering hoping they won't get caught.

And why all the rules? More than once I've shook my head, wondering what the heck just happened and why? There needs to be some simplification. When someone has to explain why things happen on the track, it loses a little luster for fans trying to follow the action. For that matter, announcers with their favorite drivers who totally ignore others on the track really is annoying.

Why can't a driver go a little quicker on pit road to make it out first?

Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned racing, the kind where the race was in the drivers' hands?

What would it be like to watch the best in the world race stock cars again--cars sold by dealerships all across the country, tweaked by the best mechanics and engineers. Imagine using a Firestone, Hoosier, or Bridgestone tire for a change.

Maybe the first thing that should happen is NASCAR should change its name, since there is nothing stock about NASCAR at all.

Stewart-Haas Racing really did screw Ryan Newman

I'm shocked.

So the rumors are true. Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) really is wooing Kurt Busch to be the driver for a fourth team in 2014. This was just weeks after Tony Stewart, the "S" in SHR told his friend Ryan Newman they were letting Newman go because they had no interest in starting a fourth team. I didn't believe the rumors. I wouldn't believe that Stewart was capable of screwing his friend that way.

I was so wrong. I've seen the video of Greg Zipadelli, SHR competition director admit that Gene Haas, the "H" in SHR wanted Kurt Busch to drive for him. Apparently Newman was a second choice; Haas wanted Busch last year.

I refused to believe that any business as public as Stewart-Haas Racing, one that is so reliant on the public for support, would screw one of their own in the full light of day. By all appearances, Stewart-Haas Racing, for which I once held in such high esteem, now appears to be nothing more than any other ruthless, heartless company that puts its bottom line high over the people it employs.

This move certainly puts a great big black mark on my view of NASCAR, racing, and SHR.

I know I am nobody in the large scheme of things; but I am just like all the other nobodies out there that claim to be racing fans, but dislike this way of doing business. Putting dollar signs over personnel is just bad business in the long run.

I admit it; I'm a fool for not seeing the handwriting on the wall

When the talk about Kurt Busch being offered a deal with SHR began, I refused to believe it. I figured this was just more of Kurt Busch grandstanding; staging a publicity stunt to make himself more marketable because he knew he was going to be a free agent.

I admit; I'm a fool. The handwriting was on the wall, but I refused to see it.

When Stewart left Joe Gibbs Racing to co-own SHR, he left behind his long time friend, Greg Zipadelli. I should have known then that loyalty didn't matter.

When SHR fired Darian Grubb in 2011 even after Tony Stewart earned the Championship trophy Grubb helped him win, I should have known.

When Stewart offered Newman only a one year contract last year, I should have known.

Then earlier this year when talk of Kevin Harvick replacing Newman began; I should have known.

According to the latest information, Busch is also being courted by Furniture Row Racing, where he now works. This one will be interesting to follow.

And where does that leave Ryan Newman?

I can tell you this, wherever Newman lands next year, this 'nobody' will still be a fan!

Getting accustomed to empty Sundays

NASCAR's off-season this year, seems a little less painful than in years past when I couldn't stand waking up on a Sunday morning without the prospect of satisfying my racing fix. This year was different. I almost relished the end to this racing year. There was plenty of aggravation during the 2012 season. 

Perhaps my disfavor can be explained by the less than stellar performance of my favorite driver--Ryan Newman. Don't get me wrong--I am as big a Newman fan as ever--but I recognize that everybody has an off year sometimes. After all, he had plenty going on to distract him this year. Not only was he in line for a new contract with Stewart-Haas Racing, but sponsorship for the 2013 season was precarious when the U.S. Army decided not to back the #39 car due to budget constraints. I'm really not too upset about that, by the way. He and Krissie were also preparing for a new addition to their family. All that can weigh on a guy. Once Ryan's contract was settled, sponsors stepped up and Ashlyn, the Newmans' second child was born, Ryan seemed to be back to his old self, ending the season with four top 15 races; the last two were top fives.

I have to say that despite Newman's end-game rally, I did not enjoy the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Championship. Though I continued to watch each race, it was not with my normal enthusiasm. In fact I even wrote recently about favoring an end to the Chase. During this season, and frankly leading up to it, NASCAR rulings haven't always been fair or consistent; results of the championship run were way too predictable; and Ryan didn't make the chase. Truthfully, by the time the season concluded, I was actually ready for a racing respite.

I must have gotten over it, because sometime after Homestead I input Feb. 24, 2013 into my desktop calendar. I am counting down to the start of the season and the Daytona 500, just 48 days away now.

I just learned however, that due to NASCAR's latest rules, not only will Newman not be participating in the Shootout, but neither will this year's champion, Brad Kezelowski or Clint Bowyer, who finished second in points. What is up with that? NASCAR seems to go out of its way to make aggravating decisions--at least as far as I'm concerned.

I just can't help but wonder, if Dale Earnhardt, Jr. hadn't won a pole in 2012, I wonder how the rules would have been tweaked to accommodate...just sayin!

It is one thing for my personal disappointment that Newman won't be included in the Shootout, but the Champion?

While the Shootout isn't a points race, it is a fan favorite. I'm just not so sure this year, this fan will be watching!

NASCAR needs to make some changes

NASCAR races are starting to resemble traffic
(Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Stands are no longer full; once die-hard viewers are now finding other things to do on a Sunday afternoon. NASCAR seems to have lost its edge. 

There are a littany of criticisms that could be leveled at NASCAR brass for creating so much similarity that they've all but killed the competition. The bottom line though, is that lately, the racing has simply been boring. Even the commentators have mentioned hearing complaints from fans. Perhaps that is why in their effort to boost the ratings and interest, there has been an emphasis on the air recently about big wrecks in past races complete with footage of Joey Logano's car tumbling end over end or Carl Edwards' car diving for the catch fence, and a myriad other similar events. 

To prove that wrecks aren't the draw, Sunday's race at Dover wasn't a barn-burner either despite a big wreck early on. 

Granted, there have been a few races in recent weeks that have been without wrecks. But I hate to tell them--it isn't necessarily about the creating a crashfest. 

Consider that races may be too long. The good thing about racing is watching a driver put it all out there; driving his race car on the edge. Sometimes wrecks occur, but that is only a result of intense racing. The wreck itself isn't the draw--the intensity is.

It isn't exciting to watch a single file line of race cars going fast. We want to see passing, which is difficult when the cars mandated by NASCAR are all the same. Long green flag racing runs are in themselves, boring. It reminds us of the freeway, albeit faster. For fans who watch on television, the long camera angles make the cars speed seem much slower. They look like traffic. Nobody wants to watch traffic! 

Races are 400 or 500 miles in duration. For a long part of them, it isn't uncommon for drivers settle in, trying to stay out of trouble and away from certain drivers they have pegged as problematic. That isn't racing!

But it is the kind of intensity at the end of a race in those closing laps that gives us the thrill. It isn't necessarily who wins, but how they win. We like the fight to the finish. Often times, the thrill just isn't enough to justify sitting through hours of "traffic."

At least NASCAR recognized the importance of a good ending, which is why they instituted the green-white-checker finish. It is just too bad that there are so many rules attached to it that it often times gets a little lost in the translation. When two cars fight it out to the end, and we formulate our opinion of what we saw only to learn that we are wrong because of NASCAR's rules, it is like blowing the wind right out of our sails. NASCAR's rules are excessive, and don't always seem to be applied fairly.

The only conclusion I can come to is that the races are just too long; the cars are too similar which hinders competition; and an emphasis seems to be less on the driver and more on the crew chief. 

It is called racing, Joey

While it was obviously hot inside the race car, at Sunday's Michigan race, it may have been a little hotter once Ryan Newman got out of the car. Newman went looking for Joey Logano, who finished 10th, at Newman's expense. Newman finished 23rd, despite having a good race car that ran laps as quick as the leaders for most of the race.

When it was all over though, there was an altercation between the two. Instead of telling Newman he was sorry about causing him to spin, Logano got an attitude. ESPN reporters caught up with Logano as he proceeded to bash Newman for not giving him some slack. What wasn't shown on camera was visible this video from Fox Sports.

Clearly, Logano crossed the line as he told Newman, "Give someone an inch, man."

To that, Newman responded, "No." It escalated from there.

Hello Joey, don't you get what you are doing at the race track? It is called racing. It is not a Sunday afternoon drive.

Newman had every right to be ticked off. Logano clearly got into him and spun him, nearly ruining his day.

Newman had so much more to lose than Logano, which Joey failed to take into account, apparently. Newman, is 14th in points and was contending for a Chase (for the championship) berth; the top 12 in points. It looked early on like he had a good shot to achieve it too, had it not been for Logano ruining his day. Logano had nothing to lose, as he is in 21st place, with no chance to race his way into the chase. Newman had so much more to lose.

I'm sure that if Logano had simply admitted that his car got loose and he didn't mean to hit Newman's race car, all would have been forgotten. But that isn't what Logano did.

Not only was Logano at fault for the incident on the track, according to the NASCAR video, but he had the audacity to call Newman out for his driving style. Logano got into Newman's face complaining that he isn't the only one to mention how Newman makes it hard to pass.

Well, Duh Joey! Newman gets paid to race. He gets points for passing people. He would have gotten three more points for passing you, which he did until you hit him. What don't you get?

Commentary: Kyle Petty over Jimmy Spencer

I was shocked to learn that a good number of people actually miss Jimmy Spencer on Speed TV's Race Day. Many have been critical of Kyle Petty as his replacement.

I am not among them.

I like Kyle Petty in that role. He is knowledgeable about racing. After all, he is the son of The King, which makes him, in my view, the Prince of NASCAR. It is a part of who he is. Also, Kyle is a good and caring individual, exhibited by his hugely philanthropic nature. I like to listen to someone I admire.

Kyle has a good sense of humor. And he can be serious too. He is not afraid to take a stand and to stand by what he believes. Most recently Kyle was very vocal about the incident involving Carl Edwards and Brad Kezelowski at Bristol. Kyle wanted to see Edwards parked and penalized.

I respect where Kyle was coming from. My God, he lost his son to a crash on the racetrack. He knows better than anyone what can happen. He knows how dangerous it can be. It isn't odd at all that he would take the position he did. Admittedly he has his biases, just like all the other commentators, but he will never be as opinionated or offensive as Spencer and some of the others.

And there seems to be no contest in the IQ category. Kyle has it all over Spencer, with his ass-kissing demeanor. Yes, Spencer did come up with some good criticisms of NASCAR itself. But he was never consistent. It was like he made such comments for his own ego's effect rather than to better the sport.

Kyle is the kind of man I would like to sit down and talk to about racing because of his knowledge, including the sports' history. While I don't always agree with him, I do enjoy hearing what he has to say. He has a much less myopic view than other former-race-car-drivers-turned-commentator types. Some names that come to mind along with Spencer are Rusty Wallace, and of course, the kings of myopia, Jeff Hammond and Darrell Waltrip.

How tired are we of hearing about Junebug? There are 42 other drivers on the racetrack, boys. Still, I like DW. He too is knowledgeable about racing. And he is funny, but I'm really sick of his and others promoting their favorite drivers, teams, and sponsors. I even enjoy hearing about how he talks about his own experiences. He does after all have a plethora of them. Perhaps that is because I am relatively new to NASCAR. I didn't know about DW's day. I can see where veterans of the sport could get a bit tired of hearing about it, but I don't.

I've often wondered, wouldn't it be nice to have a professional journalist, knowledgeable about the sport, do commentary? Wouldn't it be nice to get a play-by-play without the bias toward a particular driver, manufacturer, owner or sponsor? I can only dream.

Thanks fellow Ryan Newman fans

Thank you to everyone who commented on my latest blog post and to all new followers to 'CH on Track' as well.

It is clear that many others feel as I do, that Ryan is unique among race car drivers.

I enjoyed reading your comments and appreciate you sharing your insights. It is clear that we are all Ryan Newman fans who 'get' him. It is a shame we can't do a little race commentary. Wouldn't it be nice to have a biased Ryan Newman fan in the booth for a change?

NASCAR should inspire competition

I know, I know. I haven't written anything for a while--not since the Fontana, CA or Charlotte, NC races. But I'm not just a NASCAR fan, I'm a writer too. I write when I'm inspired. And frankly, there just wasn't much to say about those two races. They were not only boring, but they were predictable. Those are two words that should never be uttered about a competitive endeavor like a race.

It is somewhat sad that two wins by the three-time champion doesn't invoke enough desire to write about the results of two consecutive races. But that is just the way it is. Blame it on Chad Knaus, Jimmie Johnson's crew chief.

Chad Knaus is perhaps too good at his job. He figures out just what Jimmie Johnson's #48 Chevy needs for optimum speed and handling. This allows Johnson to wheel it across the finish line while everyone else in the field struggles with the car's balance that ultimately affects its handling and thus its speed.

Perhaps it is Chad Knaus and the job he does that has contributed to NASCAR losing its luster. The empty seats at several tracks are not lost on the fans. And I doubt the only factor is the economy. Someone should do a study to determine how many NASCAR fans watch only the last 100 laps of a race. I bet the ratings would look better than for those who tune in for the entire event.

I personally don't want to miss one lap. I time bathroom trips to the commercials. And God knows there are enough of those--commercials, not bathroom trips.

Since the NASCAR-controlled COT (car of tomorrow) as it was called prior to today, came onto the scene full time, racing has lost some of its competitive edge that made it the most fun to watch. It is sad when fans have to rely on poorly designed tires, dangerous wrecks, or stupid rookie mistakes to make the races exciting.

The outcome of the races no longer seem to be reliant on the drivers, especially on the cookie-cutter tracks. Now they are reliant on who can tweak the COT the best. Knaus obviously wins that race hands down. But is it right?

This will likely not be the case this weekend at Martinsville, VA. Here, we will likely see a great race where drivers' skill comes into play, as it should.

I can't help but add that since Ryan Newman won the pole in qualifying Friday, I can't wait to tune in to watch every lap of this one.