NationStates Jolt Archive

OK, after today's Daytona 500 I have to say I'm pissed about the current rules in NASCAR. NASCAR used to be fun to watch in the era when Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and Bobby Allison ruled the roads, they used to agressively push for position.

Today, they penalize you for that driving. Today's example was the BS they did to Tony Stewart for his nudging of Matt Kennseth. Was it intentional? Well, yes it was, but this used to be commonplace. Why is it that NASCAR has to impose rules that take the fun out of racing. It is much more fun to watch when people battle for position and do so with agressive driving.

Oh and restrictor plates also aren't a favorite of mine. Why did they have to impose them at Daytona and Talladega? Those 2 tracks would be fun to watch a race at if they didn't have the restrictor plate rules. I think NASCAR is becoming a pussie sport now. Richard Petty must be disgusted when he watches a race on TV today.

You just wanna see lots of crashes, don't you. :D

You just wanna see lots of crashes, don't you. :D
Shhh! that's a secret. :D

I just want to watch real racing instead of what we have today. I mean Kennseth was well in his right to nudge Tony Stewart coming out of pit road, but they penalized him even after what Stewart did to him.

Why is it that NASCAR has to impose rules that take the fun out of racing.

Because Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash, and all the NASCAR fans went, "Waaah, our hero has died! We mustn't let this happen again!"

Sounds like the rules the FIA has been bringing in to try and reduce speeds in F1 (and with good reason). None of them have worked, and have only served to damage the racing.

Because Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash, and all the NASCAR fans went, "Waaah, our hero has died! We mustn't let this happen again!"
Most of these predate the Earnhardt crash. They've had restrictor plates every since Eliott set the 212 mph pole at Taladega in 1987.

Shhh! that's a secret. :D

I just want to watch real racing instead of what we have today. I mean Kennseth was well in his right to nudge Tony Stewart coming out of pit road, but they penalized him even after what Stewart did to him.
I'm not dead-set against restrictor plates. They certainly limit the acceleration, but they are also applied equally. The thing that irritates me about the race, and I'm so glad that Jimmy Johnson won it, was the way his crew chief was run out of town for exploiting loopholes in the rules.

Everyone had the same chance to take advantage of a poorly written rule, yet he was the only one that did. NASCAR closed the loophole, but then threw the guy out of the race. That's the kind of bureacracy that makes racing look more like cricket or soccer.

Most of these predate the Earnhardt crash. They've had restrictor plates every since Eliott set the 212 mph pole at Taladega in 1987.

Well, you were talking about the increasingly strict rules against contact in the section that I quoted from.

Well, you were talking about the increasingly strict rules against contact in the section that I quoted from.
I don't see how current rules would prevent that crash though. Kenny Schrader did not intend to hit Earnhardt. It was caused by Earnhardt moving up to block. That is still legal today. He didn't try to make contact. He misjudged the distance between himself and the other cars causing the collision.

I agree that would be a lot more fun to watch, but my guess is the NASCAR officials don't want to jeopardize the lives of the racers.

I don't see how current rules would prevent that crash though. Kenny Schrader did not intend to hit Earnhardt. It was caused by Earnhardt moving up to block. That is still legal today. He didn't try to make contact. He misjudged the distance between himself and the other cars causing the collision.

The current rules wouldn't have prevented that crash. All the current rules are is an overreaction to Earnhardt's crash.

I think NASCAR is becoming a pussie sport now.

It always was.

Oooh, men in fast cars. Like some 1980's teenage girl's sex fantasy. :fluffle:

It always was.

Oooh, men in fast cars. Like some 1980's teenage girl's sex fantasy. :fluffle:
If you get a chance to see a race on ESPN Classic from the Bobby Allison and Richard Petty era you will see it was not a pussy sport.

The current rules wouldn't have prevented that crash. All the current rules are is an overreaction to Earnhardt's crash.
agreed

People watch nascar for things other than the crashes?

I think NASCAR is becoming a pussie sport now.
If you considered driving cars around a track at high speed a sport in the first place, I guess you could think that.

If you considered driving cars around a track at high speed a sport in the first place, I guess you could think that.
But millions of people love watching other people drive around making left turns for hours!

But millions of people love watching other people drive around making left turns for hours!
They do make some right turns at Watkins Glen and Sears Point

I agree, Nascar is a pussy race now.

Watch some real racing, that takes some skill. Like Cross Country Rally Racing, those guys are the real racers.

And they crash, alot.