tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post6366731079943599848..comments2024-03-05T06:32:37.180-05:00Comments on The Daly Planet: NASCAR In The Red ZoneDaly Planet Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834588435004023666noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-70376797602026987662012-11-01T08:42:18.558-04:002012-11-01T08:42:18.558-04:00The next two races are Texas (central time) and Ph...The next two races are Texas (central time) and Phoenix (I think DST is over this weekend so it would be 3 hrs.) Getting people in the stands at 11 or 12 is not easy by the time you figure in parking & traffic. Spectators should come first.<br /><br />No idea why Homestead is starting that late, though. They do have lights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-33219914910161842892012-10-31T20:22:39.990-04:002012-10-31T20:22:39.990-04:00Ratings info for Martinsville:
"The 500-lap ...Ratings info for Martinsville:<br /><br />"The 500-lap event earned just a 2.4 Nielsen U.S. rating, with 3.617 million viewers to make it the least-watched Chase race in the track's history. The event registered just a 2.8 household coverage rating, down a startling 22 percent from a year ago although that number matched 2010 viewership totals."<br /><br />So maybe Allen Bestwick's comment that only the 2, 48 and 11 were important affected more fans interest than just mine - I retweeted it to anyone who follows me and asked the question - if that is the case, why should I watch?<br /><br />Guess I wasn't the only one who tuned out! Just saw that the next 3 races will start at 3 p.m. Yeah that will make me watch -- Not!GinaV24https://www.blogger.com/profile/10828669350024430018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-75935886205020441992012-10-31T18:24:25.068-04:002012-10-31T18:24:25.068-04:00chadderbox, I have to say that I agree with Charli...chadderbox, I have to say that I agree with Charlie. I wouldn't attend a Monday night race since the distance/time ratio doesn't work for me. I can justify taking either a Friday or a Monday off for vacation to attend a race, but I'm not interested in taking multiple days - especially based on the current lack of satisfaction/excitement when i attend a race.<br /><br />The guy pretending to be Brian France is pulling our leg. LOL<br /><br />BZF believes what he says, but I don't think very many others, unless he pays them, agree with him. they are just afraid to say anything other than the party line.GinaV24https://www.blogger.com/profile/10828669350024430018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-54517578741143440382012-10-31T14:27:25.636-04:002012-10-31T14:27:25.636-04:00Regarding Charlie Spencer,
I agree about the trav...Regarding Charlie Spencer,<br /><br />I agree about the travel issues for a Monday night race. I travel to 3 races a year myself. Good point.<br /><br />Regarding the comment about "the last time I checked this sport was in the best shape it's ever been."<br /><br />Is that true? <br /><br />I know the sport is not going anywhere anytime soon but...attendance, sponsorship issues, and start and parks??<br /><br />Not sure if I agree with the statement the sport has never been better.Chadderboxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08452946399432640630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-73117779032958260702012-10-31T12:31:11.679-04:002012-10-31T12:31:11.679-04:00JD,we here at Nascar appreciate your opinion and c...JD,we here at Nascar appreciate your opinion and concern about our sport,but last time i checked my onw mind this sport was in the best shape it's ever been.<br /><br />Brian Z Francenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-84966769242641709562012-10-31T12:07:31.862-04:002012-10-31T12:07:31.862-04:00Nascar created the Chase to create excitement duri...Nascar created the Chase to create excitement during the final part of the season after Matt Kenseth won the championship in 2003 by winning only one race early in the season. Once the CHase began only the Chasers mattered as ESPN basically ignored the drivers that weren't in the Chase. One surprise here lately is that ESPN has stopped ignoring drivers that aren't in the chase. They are now interviewing Kyle Busch who didn't make the chase and Aric Amirola who isnt in the chase. The fact that ESPN has interviewed non chasers is good and is a sign that ESPN might be chaning how they cover the chase. However when ESPN does up to speed, they do it for the chase drivers only. It would be nice if they did up to speed for the top 15 or 20 and not just the chase drivers. Alex Jordannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-17561258136445770172012-10-31T03:31:50.414-04:002012-10-31T03:31:50.414-04:00Just learned that this World Series was the lowest...Just learned that this World Series was the lowest rated EVER. Guess they better drop the "Chase<br />format" too ;-P<br /><br />I never have been one to watch entire NASCAR races, even in person. A few here & there, like Daytona, Talladega, Darlington (can you believe they DROPPED one race per year at this most exciting track?) etc, but mostly I don't watch full races anymore. I would rather watch an average football game, which works better as entertainment. Don't get me wrong - some of the racing we've had has been awesome, but there's simply too much follow-the-leader and fuel mileage strategy. Something HAS to change.Dannyboynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-84643178277002443482012-10-30T21:39:27.850-04:002012-10-30T21:39:27.850-04:00I'm sorry, but I don't care what tricks TV...I'm sorry, but I don't care what tricks TV does to broadcast the races, it's NOT going to work. Nascar is dying, and we've all written ad nauseum what the problems are: terrible racing, no competition beyond maybe 7 teams, boring races, boring tracks, sanitized/robotic/boring drivers who are out of touch with the fans, Etch-A-Sketch rules book, too long season, and the stupid Chase. Hey, maybe if Nascar divided up their series by city, or even region, assigning teams to certain cities and then having them compete against other city's teams? Nascar Nation is born, with Nascar Pittburgh Teams going up against Nascar Chicago teams. But all kidding aside, as long as Nascar is boring, and the same teams win nearly every year, and TV insists on producing crappy shows, Nascar can just sit and decline while I watch NFL and NCAA. Darcienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-81851858024879851782012-10-30T20:40:41.418-04:002012-10-30T20:40:41.418-04:00Chadderbox, Monday night races would play to empty...Chadderbox, Monday night races would play to empty stands. Stick and ball sports in large cities can mostly fill the stands with locals; they don't rely on out-of-towners to fill the majority of the seats; and sell a large minority of their seats to corporations. Many NASCAR tracks are in the sticks, don't have as large a percentage of corporate seats, and fans won't be as willing to travel into the week as much as on a weekend. Charlie Spencernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-77393957723119517702012-10-30T16:32:42.274-04:002012-10-30T16:32:42.274-04:00I agree with those who say the chase needs tweaked...I agree with those who say the chase needs tweaked some more or just done away with all together. But there is another side of the story too?<br /><br />The way the drivers and teams are strategically approaching the chase each year, and how that has affected the nascar product throughout the season overall would have been hard to predict by those who came up with the chase. I know it sounds like I am going to bat for "Brain" France, but I am not. But the fact is now we see how the chase affects the racing throughout the season and something should be done to shake it up some more. Last year produced a tie after changes were made to reward winning and smoke won, and won and won some more in the chase after having a mediocre season up to the point of the chase. Winning broke the tie. So that change was effective wasn't it?Chadderboxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08452946399432640630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-23432995008262021542012-10-30T16:29:29.781-04:002012-10-30T16:29:29.781-04:00Perfect, Sally, ITA.
"The traditions, the per...Perfect, Sally, ITA.<br />"The traditions, the personalities, the rivalries, all those things made Nascar special and different to me. It was it's own little world, with fans who knew and appreciated what it took to be a Nascar driver/team. Then, all of a sudden, Nascar decided it wasn't enough to have their own special world, and it's been going downhill ever since." GinaV24https://www.blogger.com/profile/10828669350024430018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-22257238499372386372012-10-30T15:48:28.442-04:002012-10-30T15:48:28.442-04:00Monday night races in the spring, early in the sea...Monday night races in the spring, early in the season would be interesting? Maybe 1 or 2 before the baseball season heats up. One in March and one in April? <br />Wouldn't that allow for the event to be highlighted?<br /><br />Overall though, the poor network coverage has to be corrected for the good of the sport. It's not all about what day the races are being run on. Chadderboxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08452946399432640630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-67861974598386759282012-10-30T15:43:24.158-04:002012-10-30T15:43:24.158-04:00One of the key factors in the Red Zone Channel cov...One of the key factors in the Red Zone Channel coverage is the host. If you have watched the channel you know what I am talking about. The host operates with no agenda whatsoever and lets the action dictate the direction. He just rolls with it and provides the action. <br />A nascar channel for diehards similar to Red Zone would have to operate without an agenda and that is very different from what we get with ESPN. Chadderboxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08452946399432640630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-11119775876170177522012-10-30T11:53:08.291-04:002012-10-30T11:53:08.291-04:00I just do not see NASCAR faring any better against...I just do not see NASCAR faring any better against NCAA football on Saturday nights or high school football on Friday nights than NASCAR does against the NFL on Sunday afternoons and nights. The only way for NASCAR to do well on Sundays is to drop the green flag and hour before the early NFL game and that runs the risk of losing viewership in the Western US. I know once the ball is kicked off and I am watching, the channel doesn't get changed until halftime at least and if it is a competitive game, not at all. NASCAR's brain trust cannot and will not ever admit the error of their ways concerning the Chase. Had the manufacturers not forced NASCAR's hand on the Car of Tomorrow's one size fits all problem, we would have never seen any movement on that issue. And until someone outside of Daytona forces their hand on the Chase, NASCAR will not ever budge on that issue. NASCAR historically has never been proactive, only reactive, and I do not see that miraculously changing anytime soon. NASCAR cannot and will not reorder the schedule because of traditions and commitments to communities that host the events. The logistics of such moves are greater than NASCAR's drive to succeed. Inertia. NASCAR's Achilles heel.Joe Bobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-82900854547516723252012-10-30T11:45:12.028-04:002012-10-30T11:45:12.028-04:00I guess I'm in the minority that doesn't c...I guess I'm in the minority that doesn't care for the Red Zone. I have DISH & watched some of the previews. I thought it was made for the MTV generation that has no attention span. I've been a football fan since I was a child, when there was no cable, no 3 hours of repetitive pregame. When I watch a game, I like to invest myself in the game, learn the players (when it's not my team), the strategy, the type of plays that have been working...decisions made by the coaches early in a drive...who's been injured...sometimes it's not about those last few scoring plays. It's for the people who can't stay on one channel for more than 5 minutes. Not for me at all. I get that it's popular, people actually *pay* for it, which amazes me, but like they say, different strokes.... I don't think it's designed for hard core fans...to me, it's geared toward two things that until recently, I hadn't realized were so important to the league...fantasy football and gambling, neither of which I care about.<br /><br />But in terms of racing, there are a lot of opportunities NASCAR could take to improve coverage with camera angles & technology...but as GA Red & matriarch & others have said, unless they fix the other problems, it might be useless. I have been a diehard, watching every race start to finish even while I was cursing my screen and turning on MRN. But after Martinsville, which used to be a favorite, I have thought to myself...do I really care that much about this? I'm not one to threaten and say 'I'll never watch this again if 'x' happens...' But it's wearing on me, it really is. I think some of the suggestions here might help, some might not. But as long as NASCAR is content and making $$$, they seem completely indifferent to what the fans have asked for.glenc1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-75183687198876996582012-10-30T10:54:29.729-04:002012-10-30T10:54:29.729-04:00E-ticket -ha, I had the same thought, I was watchi...E-ticket -ha, I had the same thought, I was watching the NFL on Fox and they said that game 4 of the world series was being played that night and I realized that I hadn't even thought about it. I'm sure baseball fans did, but I don't normall follow baseball so it wasn't even in my head.<br /><br />Hockey? Sheesh, I used to be a big hockey fan but then they caught the same disease as baseball and even NASCAR, too many games, too many teams, diluted the product so that it wasn't worth following the sport until the playoffs and they go too long. Hockey is a winter sport - the playoffs should be finished before warm weather comes - as in by the end of MARCH. Baseball IMO is the same way - it's a summer sport, finish it up by the end of September. <br /><br />I don't think that I'd start NASCAR's season in December because the weather is pretty funky most places - even in the west and southwest, but I do think the idea of having one race at each track instead of multiples AND finish the season by the end of September has meritm but NASCAR would never do that.<br /><br />The loose wheel - I'm not sure how losing the chase would devalue the sport? Based on the sponsors pulling out, the TV coverage being lackluster at best, many fans losing interest - even though Jr - was running well this year, it doesn't seem that the value could fall much further.<br /><br />Salt, yeah, I hate feeling like that, but I don't enjoy wasting my money & vacation time to do something that I don't enjoy any more because of someone else's poor decisions.GinaV24https://www.blogger.com/profile/10828669350024430018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-89189714563773307412012-10-30T10:18:06.116-04:002012-10-30T10:18:06.116-04:00Being a Nascar fan used to make me feel as I had t...Being a Nascar fan used to make me feel as I had the inside line on a great sport that those 'stick and ball' fans would never understand. The traditions, the personalities, the rivalries, all those things made Nascar special and different to me. It was it's own little world, with fans who knew and appreciated what it took to be a Nascar driver/team. Then, all of a sudden, Nascar decided it wasn't enough to have their own special world, and it's been going downhill ever since. With leadership that looks only at the bottom line and not the health of the sport, it's not going to get better any time soon.Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03233133246348697023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-13760065571996538302012-10-30T09:04:35.342-04:002012-10-30T09:04:35.342-04:00Roadgeek Adam, point taken. If NASCAR does decide ...Roadgeek Adam, point taken. If NASCAR does decide to put Chase races on Saturday nights, those tracks without lights will be moved outside the Chase.<br /><br />If they're going to keep the Chase, a shuffling of the schedule is needed anyway whether they move to Saturday nights or stick with Sundays. I'm tired of the same 10 tracks deciding the championship.MRM4https://www.blogger.com/profile/04045747192945960087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-75459940532582835212012-10-30T03:22:43.240-04:002012-10-30T03:22:43.240-04:00Is it any coincidence that NASCAR's biggest po...Is it any coincidence that NASCAR's biggest point of growth was when they weren't deliberately trying to "steal" viewers from the NFL. The mid-to-late 90's was by far and away the boom era for NASCAR. Then the new television package for 2001 happened and slowly but surely NASCAR tried more and more to rival and surpass the NFL. However, in my eyes, that was a mistake. NASCAR will never rival the NFL. It will never rival football period. Saturday isn't the answer because college fans are probably even more die-hard than NFL fans. With more games to watch on Saturdays that would further dilute your potential viewership. I fell in love with NASCAR before I even cared for football. However, I have found myself more and more gravitating to football since NASCAR hasn't left me much to be desired in recent years. The Chase format has its place in this day and age but still creates a rift between those that like it and those that don't. I do not like the Chase. The races seemed to have more action when you had a season long points battle, but without the Chase the value of the sport would decrease. Sadly, NASCAR would never stand for that. <br /><br />The Loose Wheelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06048709313597675807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-74665825998140390682012-10-29T23:43:15.010-04:002012-10-29T23:43:15.010-04:00World Series... Anyone watch that? Who knows who w...World Series... Anyone watch that? Who knows who was in it.. NFL and now College Football are Changing the Landscape. The NHL is shooting itself in the foot right now as well.. NASCAR has to get in the ZONE or they too will be like Baseball.. Does anyone watch anymore??E-Tickethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03373431350836360535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-30234202110877920132012-10-29T22:00:12.621-04:002012-10-29T22:00:12.621-04:00JD
Do you think that NASCAR cares? They are one o...JD<br /><br />Do you think that NASCAR cares? They are one of the most corrupt sports organizations in the us, probably the most.<br /><br />BZF is on an intense power trip, so much so that he just dusts off fan complaints.<br /><br />The people who try to stand up to him are reprimanded very seriosly either through driver fines and/or job termination.<br /><br />NASCAR has shown they are not willing to change.<br /><br />You said in a column years ago that there comes a time when it is impossible to give second chances to people who refuse to change.<br /><br />Gina has pretty much given up hope, so have I and every longtime fan who has supported NASCAR for generations.<br /><br /><br />Oh The chase just has to be trashed.<br /><br /><br />saltsburgtrojanfansaltsburgtrojanfannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-46692589875497632582012-10-29T21:41:42.588-04:002012-10-29T21:41:42.588-04:00Anon 6:44 pm - Amen and you are so right. Start th...Anon 6:44 pm - Amen and you are so right. Start the races earlier, not later and let everyone have a life. Starting the chase races after 2 just wastes so much time from the day. If you're going to the race, you still have to get there early. I don't mind arriving early but I sure don't want to be there half the night, too. I'd like to get home at a decent hr after having fun at the track - that seems to be more and more a lost cause. <br /><br />I wish that the owners in NASCAR would stage a palace coup and do what Indy car just did since its obvious that the emperor has NO clue.GinaV24https://www.blogger.com/profile/10828669350024430018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-25307539076891175202012-10-29T21:23:05.743-04:002012-10-29T21:23:05.743-04:00JD has a great idea here. I wonder if he'll g...JD has a great idea here. I wonder if he'll get a monthly royalty check from NASCAR if they use his idea? I know, I know. :)<br /><br />I remember having this thought back in the early 1990's right after NASCAR grew rapidly after "Days of Thunder" and people were talking about NASCAR going up against the NFL and MLB: And that was why not let the racing season begin in mid December, keep the Daytona 500 when it currently is/was, and let the season end in late August before MLB has their playoffs and before the NFL season gets rolling? <br /><br />You would already have people tied in to the points race near the end of the season and you wouldn't be competing near as much with MLB and the NFL for viewers. NASCAR has already proven they hate the traditional tracks that made NASCAR so why not change the start/finish months of the season?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-13869421495787036342012-10-29T21:13:58.279-04:002012-10-29T21:13:58.279-04:00Along with all the missteps Nascar has made, the &...Along with all the missteps Nascar has made, the 'chase' has been the worst. Instead of each race being it's own entity with it's own importance, the first 2/3 of the season is buried beneath theis stupid 'chase'. Narrowing the focus of the final 10 races to basically 12 drivers is a total turnoff. If all TV is going to cover is those drivers, why should the 'other' 31 cars spend their time and money to go to the races? I have several drivers that I loke to 'follow' thru a race, but am denied that opportunity be the way races are covered. Putting so much emphasis on the season 'champeen' has taken too much away from each race to make it compelling to watch. Someone finally realized how far they have gotten off track (pun intended), and has started backtracking to some of the 'old ways'...testing again at track where they race, no more 'top 35' rule. Now, if they would get away from the phoney 'chase', the COT and the innovation killing rules, maybe Nascar would be fun to watch again.Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03233133246348697023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-39197454205641620032012-10-29T20:44:54.247-04:002012-10-29T20:44:54.247-04:00Charlie,
The point is that when NASCAR went to th...Charlie,<br /><br />The point is that when NASCAR went to the Chase format it was to try and lure NFL viewers away from the two regional games being shown on the over-the-air TV networks in each market.<br /><br />The NFL responded to that challenge with the Red Zone, a cable channel that lures the hardcore fans by showing every key moment of every game for seven hours on NFL Sundays.<br /><br />NASCAR needs to respond to this new challenge by taking a moment to rethink what could get TV viewers back to the sport.<br /><br />It is very clear the Chase has resulted in a zero increase in TV ratings. When we look at this, we see that what has become lost in this new mix is the individual personalities of the races.<br /><br />Back in the day, each race was a mini-Woodstock with its own specific character. Restoring this while rewarding drivers for racing for the win would perhaps be a positive step in rebuilding the sport.<br /><br />We know all the other agendas, such as marketing and the new car. This was just my suggestion that perhaps this lame duck period could serve to host a review of the Chase.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />JDDaly Planet Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834588435004023666noreply@blogger.com