2016 proved to be an eventful year in the world of sports and entertainment. 2017 is starting off with a bang in NASCAR as Carl Edwards removes himself from the #19 JGR Toyota Camry. As usual Carl seemed to talk quite a bit, but never really provided much information regarding the topic at hand – his sudden departure from the #19. So Daniel Suarez gets a rapid promotion to the Cup series as a result. Congrats to Daniel on the promotion. It’s a little too reminiscent of Joey Logano’s baptism-by-fire for me though I wish Daniel the best. If he’s lucky JGR learned from the multitude of mistakes made with Logano and will have more success in bringing Daniel along.
Other than the shake-up at JGR there’s quite a bit of coming and going in NASCAR as Roush shrinks to two teams with the departure of Greg Biffle from the #16. Richard Petty Motorsports decreases to one team. JTG Daugherty expands to two teams with the addition of Chris Buescher on loan from Roush Fenway Racing. Rick Ware Racing and Gaunt Brothers join the top tier series as Tommy Baldwin and Athenian Racing close up shop.
NASCAR is rolling the dice with lots of rules changes to go along with the series name change as Sprint leaves as title sponsor and Monster Energy takes over. I’m a relatively recent dedicated NASCAR fan. When I began watching Jimmie was on his way to winning one of his Nextel Series Cups. I have to say the NASCAR Nextel Series sounded cool. The NASCAR Sprint Series not as much, but not totally lame like the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Just doesn’t roll off the tongue like NASCAR Nextel Series. But I’m sure NASCAR just cares about the money, not whether it sounds cool. I find that a little odd though since everyone seems into branding these days – I would think if you’re trying to capture the interest of youth you’d try to sound cool, hip, fresh, exciting and new. Guess not.
Congrats to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Amy Reimann on their recent nuptials.
Congrats as well to Kurt Busch and new bride Ashley Van Metre.
We’ll miss you Mike Massaro and Ray Dunlap. Mike will not return to NBC in 2017 and Ray’s contract with FOX was not renewed for 2017.
Lights are going up at Martinsville. That’s a shame. The night races, overall, have proven to be boring affairs that don’t draw well, so NASCAR’s insistence on creating more doldrums have to come down to dollars and cents and continue its total disregard of the fans. Then again the Martinsville races have been pretty boring the past few years, so maybe NASCAR figures the change will increase interest. That plan didn’t work in Atlanta. They changed the race from a day race in late October – which was often too chilly for sitting outdoors in Georgia – to a night race in September, which was a definite improvement weather-wise, but unfortunately scheduled for Labor Day weekend which is extremely crowded with events in Atlanta. If the quality of the racing would’ve remained the same or improved the change may have yielded consistently positive results – but the races became major snooze-fests that deteriorated annually. Atlanta weather is tricky to plan around. Outdoor events typically begin in May when the temperatures are warm and the turbulence of Spring ebbs and they tend to wind down after Labor Day when the likelihood of inclement weather increases due to tropical storms and tornado threats. The fly-in-the-ointment with the better-weather times is that it tends to be rather hot and thundershowers are likely during the afternoon. The thundershowers usually pop-up and dissipate over the course of a couple hours, but the heat is constant. Personally I feel about fans in the stands in the heat the way Dave Moody professes to feel about fans in the stands in the cold – no big deal. Some folks find the heat as unbearable as I find the cold and avoid events the call for extended time in the sun (without a body of water nearby). Like I said, hard to plan for Atlanta since the racetrack lacks a lake, pool, river or ocean).
Hmmm, glad I didn’t finish this article last night since there’s a press conference now. The folks on the stage don’t leave me feeling optimistic. Brian France doesn’t either. More compelling on an hour by hour basis…Steve O’Donnell. Here we go….
So he’s giving us people to blame if this goes sour – and giving us people to convince us this is a good idea because our favorites have something to do with it. Not buying it.
Race formats – ‘enhancements’ – reward performance over hte course of the entire season. All 3 series will have the enhanced formats. Minimizes green flag interruptions.
Bonus points for the top ten of stage 1, and 1 chase point for the stage winner. Stage 2 same as stage 1. Stage 3 will be concluded as races have been up to this point. Leading a lap and leading the most laps no longer gets a point.
Playoffs – eligibility remains, structure and number of drivers remain the same. Enhancements. A regular season champion will be awarded and get points. Race wins get give points. Stage wins get an additional point.
It’s funny they went to such pains to simplify the points system a few years ago. Now they’re complicating the points system. What a waste of time. Why does NASCAR continue to feel as though gimmicking the season is the best way to gain interest? A gimmick works once or twice and them you have to up the ante – ask Bruton Smith.
So in order to force the drivers to drive the entire race they have to dangle carrots? Gosh, I would think the glory, the money, and the perks would be enough to actually get the drivers and teams to perform the entire race – guess not.
Its rather sad that their boredom requires tricks. It might make racing better. It might make the racing something other than NASCAR. Coca-Cola found out that new’ing and improve’ing a beloved product can make you a big loser.
I’m amazed at how many people are sitting on that stage who immediately relay to me that this is a bad idea.
The Duels at Daytona will pay points. Okay.
Chitwood said they’re all in the job of promoting their sport. I thought they were in the job of driving, or broadcasting, or team owning or track owning – good to know their jobs are just to promote the sport. That’s what I’ve been missing the entire time. I thought I was watching a sport – not a marketing department that provided a product that involved well-paid folks who required incentives to do a job that so many would kill to do for room and board.
I will gladly admit that if you want me onboard with an idea, DO NOT have Brad Keselowski, playing the Carl Edwards role, as your pitch man.
Jenna said it – people are already saying it’s confusing. They were the people for whom the point system was simplified. They keep saying they’re doing things for the fans, but the fans aren’t up there explaining their input and how this will be good for them. The men with money are up there saying this will work well for them.
Jr said it will be good as a driver to be rewarded to performing consistently in a race. We should switch jobs. He can be rewarded for consistency every year. I love Dale Jr, but this sounds a lot like a whole lot of hard work because no one can say work hard the whole time or we’ll find someone who will.
“This is about two breaks and rewarding your favorite driver for every race.” Damn O’Donnell. Put it out there that this is a crock.
So Chase is out playoffs is in. Okay.
I find it interesting how often NASCAR racing changes after Jimmie Johnson wins a championship. Just saying.
The end of stage 2 will be a complete race.
A stage can finish under caution.
I’ve been jonesing for improvements in NASCAR – especially in racing. Enhancements are not improvements – they’re typically decorative instead of substantive.
O’Donnell said the fans spoke – on twitter. So once again the only fans who matter are those with enough free time to tweet.
They’re going to interview the stage winner – WHY!!! They’re saying this is the only way to avoid breaking from green flag action – that’s a simple thing to solve – structure the commercial breaks differently – and fewer of them. It would require NASCAR and TV actually working together to give the fans what they want instead of NASCAR rolling over for tv and trying to give TV what it wants.
Joey said it’s good for at-track fans because it gives them breaks. Having been at-track this will be the opposite, because it will cut down on the times you can take a bathroom break without the really long lines.
NASCAR is going away from NASCAR by allowing the reign of Steve O’Donnell to continue. I understand that Brian France isn’t capable of doing the job needed, but there has to be someone out there who can and will do the job that’s needed. Steve O’Donnell isn’t that guy. His focus is on everything other than racing and NASCAR’s future is heading farther and farther away from racing.
I decided to be wildly optimistic this year, so I’m going to do the same with regard to the 2017 NASCAR season. The press conference left me concerned and a bit disgusted, but, owing to my pledge to optimism, Let’s go racing boys!
NASCAR News:
- Class of 2017 Inducted into Hall of Fame.
- Owen Wilson Named Daytona 500 Grand Marshal.
- Suarez to Run Clash.
- NASCAR Unveils New Logos, Series Name.
- Suarez Moving to Cup in ’19’ Ride.
- Carl Edwards Press Conference Transcript.
- Fellow Drivers Applaud Edwards’ Decision.
- Steven Tyler Performs at Busch’s Wedding Reception.
- Sadler Joins TBR for Daytona 500.
- NASCAR Rule Book Updates.
- RWR Unveils Cup Series Plans for 2017.
- Gaunt Brothers Racing to Compete in Cup Series.
- SHR Transition Going Smoothly.
- Stewart to Return to Sprint Cars in Florida.
- Auto-Owners Expands with FRR.
- Charlotte Road Course Race Planned?.
- Go Fas Names Nead Crew Chief.
- DiBenedetto Joins Go Fas Racing.
- Gase Joins BK Racing for Multiple Races.
- First Light Poles at Martinsville Installed.
- RPM Scaling Back to One Team.
- Evernham Supports Possible Dodge Return.
- Front Row Motorsports Sets 2017 Lineup.