I share the “back then” sentiment on almost every sport I follow. Racing, football, basketball, etc. Nothing seems as great as it was “back then”. But, is it because the sport has changed, or because we are getting old and don’t adapt well to change?
I watch a lot less racing and sports. Is it because the product is bad, or my focus has changed to other priorities?
I’ll say it’s a blend of everything!
With the amount of money thrown around in pro sports, its just a enterprise…nothing but a business, nothing more. Even boxing…the loser get 10 million??? Wtf. If you want to see a fight, the loser gets a bus ticket home. Lol.
It seems like amateur sports Is much more exciting…look at local dirt track racing…great action.
Getting older? Get off my lawn! Lol
I ask myself these same questions all the time. Was it really better or has my perspective changed?
Am I jaded? Am I grumpy, old, and tired? The answer to most of these is “Yes”.
All professional racing nowadays is purely for entertainment. It doesnt exist without someone making a lot of money. As mentioned above, if you want to see good racing for the love of racing, go to your local dirt track and watch the mini-mods or the micro sprints or some other small support class.
well the desert race was an enjoyable one !
so good to see catherene to drive with the guys with no fear . i really like the new fluo green colours on the fuel taps in the cars …
a little bit disapointend from one of my favorites baba walace , but at last we see the checkered flag to .
and boy we watch it on o six pack of expensive american inported beer here . it was a 3 member party so 2 for each one !
Well it wasnt the best race of the year , but had some action .
Hamlin really knows that route !! Baba wallace did a good job . Love it ! And also the camera did miss the fight that logano give after the small whreck he was in αnd finished in top tens !!
i cannot wait !!
almost ready to launch !
I’m headed to Rockingham next weekend for the Xfinity / Trucks / ARCA race…should be a good time. Hope weather holds good. First NASCAR race in 25 years…Grew up 35 minutes from Watkins Glen and used to watch from the Esses for the Bud at the Glen.
So jealus and so happy for you Ted !!
I will check for you when the cameras turn and check on the crowd !!
. Have a good one racing day sir !!!
Stamatis, i can’t figure you out. You seem like a damn Merican, good ole boy! Lol
Well i had my father working as a ship mechanic for many year’s at the states so i had the luck to raise on europe but have all the toy’s and movies and music that you have as we growing up ..
after that it was my choice to dont mind the ocean between us and always ask my self about what the other guys they do now ?
Or how they will solve that or repair that if they where here or i was on their garage ?
Thats the story about me . Yes i am a gringo sir ! Laugh 
Thats actually cool. Thanks for the detail…gringo! Lol. I agree with you 100%. I’m a lover of different cultures and countries. I was very fortunate to have been able to travel so much (over 30 countries) as a young adult in the military. It opened my eyes and made me a much better person. I’ve also been in some bad situations and been in bad places…conflicts, but i’ve always seen some positive. The take a way is, the worlds people are a lot more nice than most give them credit.
Cheers mate . Its not united states soil in here but its as near as i can .
It was kartpulse that kept me alive when everyone around me believe my racing days was over . 5 years before today .
So now refreshed again i am enjoying my payback days .
Kisses
Kisses back!!! Lol
Well yes it was an everage and maybe a little boring race , but the thing that make me sad wasnt the low racing action in bristol . it was the big amount of empty seats at the racetrack .
bristol Tennessee was a sold out crownded pack race the previous years and thats something we need to see it .
i am reading about expensive tickets that make simple people turn away from the sport . i can see the new regulations that it is even worst when they have to apply on smaller tracks , like the half mile i think in Bristol ..
but whats the idea over there ? whats your oppinion about that sad picture i got in my tv ?
i mean ,
i cannot believe that so many people that held the sport as one of the most loved weekend watches or go racing trip to watch from the stands , are dissapiared .
are the nascar officials silly ? do they care only for tv rights ? Whats the real big picture that they see ans i can not ?
Many of us “historical” fans (late 70’s / 80’s / 90’s) detest the arbitrary penalties. I’m not a fan of stage racing, but can see how it adds some interest. I just think it should stay green. Treat it like bonus points for fastest lap.
Once we got away from the same paint scheme all year, it got harder to root for drivers because their identity is diluted. When you think Darrell Waltrip you think Tide…Dale Earnhardt is Goodwrench black #3…Jeff Gordon was the DuPont rainbow… Now there are too many and too confusing liveries. (IMO, of course.)
Also, ticket prices and the whole experience are outpricing the average beer-drinking redneck. NASCAR seems to be trying for the wine and cheese crowd, but that’s never been the backbone of the sport. And as the cars continue to derive further from “stock,” showroom available models, interest wanes there too.
In short, NASCAR is cutting its’ legs off while having its’ head in the clouds also.
One dilemma is that manufacturers have backed away from V8 RWD sedans… I’m not sure a turbo 6 has the same appeal. I’m positive a turbo 4 doesn’t.
So, I’d like to see a return to outright competition, smaller teams, less rules, and cheaper prices…
Thank you ted !! Thats the picture . I can see it
@Ted_Hamilton is spot on. NASCAR forgot its roots with rednecks running shine and then racing those same “stock” cars at the dirt track.
Some trade-offs for safety make sense, like cages in cars. But all the aero, allowing 4 door sedans, spec parts, cookie cutter 1.5mi tracks, stage racing, progressive banking, track traction modifiers, etc, have all been steps in taking away the heart and soul of the sport.
The race at Bristol is a case in point. The current car is already challenged on short tracks, and then we put them on a historic oval that has been ruined with progressive banking trying to make the racing “better”. Bristol was at its best when it was a 1-1/2 bottom groove track. If you got trapped behind someone down low you had to make something happen or lose out to the faster cars in front or coming up behind. The sense of urgency in that led to drivers getting elbows out and using fenders. Rooting someone out of the way on a slower speed short track without wrecking them is a skill that belongs on short tracks with fendered stock cars and perhaps nowhere else. Bristol has lost that…and the energy that comes with it.
I agree with all points previously stated. The stages is what I really don’t like. I also believe the large multi mega teams don’t help…atleast for me. I was all for the new spec chassis, Dalara…but I’m not sure now. I remember talk years ago that they were going to ban food and drink coolers…if they do that, it will be the end of nascar. Lol. If you compare ticket prices with nfl they don’t look to bad. When you factor in bringing your own food and beer its a bargin. My business partner has season tickets to the carolina panthers…its like $40 to park..tickets $150 each…beers are over $10…some stadiums its $14. Crazy!
