tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post911251524927872478..comments2024-03-05T06:32:37.180-05:00Comments on The Daly Planet: NASCAR Fan Council Chasing ShadowsDaly Planet Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13834588435004023666noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-17545641531362357832011-09-03T17:20:41.071-04:002011-09-03T17:20:41.071-04:00"A rising tide raises all boats."
I lik..."A rising tide raises all boats."<br /><br />I like an analogy as well as the next person, but they are often inaccurate and lead to false conclusions. In this case, you can look out on a shallow harbor and see many boats. Unknown to you, some of the boats may have a hole in the hull and actually be resting on the bottom. A rising tide only makes things worse for these boats and may actually make them disappear.<br /><br />Let's assume there is a 20% increase in Nationwide ratings purely as a result of Danica. There's little doubt that is good for Danica, good for Bob Parsons and GoDaddy, good for ESPN, and good for NASCAR in the short term. Whether or not that is good for the other Nationwide teams and the long term health of the series is an entirely different issue.<br /><br />In my view, the most serious issue facing the series is the financial health of the full time Nationwide teams. I think this has been caused in good part by ESPN concentrating on a few favorite drivers and avoiding the rest of the field. They have been getting zero attention. And potential sponsors are getting zero exposure. So what if ratings are up 20%? A 20% increase of zero is still zero. I don't see what gain there is to a potential sponsor to sign on to a team that still gets no exposure.<br /><br />It may be worse than that. ESPN has a fixed number of broadcast minutes to fill at each race. If they use more of that time to focus on Danica, where is it coming from? Someone has to be losing minutes of exposure. I think the focus on Danica will only make things worse for the other Nationwide teams in terms of getting attention and sponsorship.<br /><br />I think we will see increasing numbers of start and park teams and eventually their demise. A short field could become a regular occurrence. Some of these teams are already like boats with holes in the hull resting on the bottom of a shallow harbor. The arrival of a rising Danica tide could be fatal for some of them.<br /><br />The truck series is already on life support, and the Nationwide series looks vulnerable. A ratings rise connected to Danica could conceal long term damage to the Nationwide series. She hopes and expects to move full time to the Cup series. I wonder what financial damage to the other teams will be left in her wake.<br /><br />On another note, I already cringe at the thought of Darrell Waltrip fawning over her and leering at her. I don't know if my stomach can take it.<br /><br />In case you are wondering about my motives, I'm just here for the racing. I'm not a Danica fan and I don't hate her. I think female drivers can compete evenly with male drivers since the adoption of power steering and effective driver cooling systems. I have a low tolerance for hype and the cult of personality. Let's just run the race and see who wins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-91900331857032704072011-09-02T11:54:55.231-04:002011-09-02T11:54:55.231-04:00Vince - To be clear, my remarks are not to be cons...Vince - To be clear, my remarks are not to be construed as a dislike of Danica herself. In fact, I was rooting for her to win at Daytona and I am looking forward to seeing how she does over the course of an entire season. But, you see, I am already a race fan, so there is no net gain there for NASCAR. <br /><br />My frustration is aimed squarely at the media types who will swear that this is the single biggest event in the history of NASCAR. If you don't believe me, just re-read the blog post we are both commenting on.<br /><br />Anon @4:00 pmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-90687351379646218642011-09-02T10:23:21.072-04:002011-09-02T10:23:21.072-04:00This is the same old argument with a different nam...This is the same old argument with a different name. If you like racing and/or dont have anything to do you will watch regardless. If you dont you wont.<br /><br /> You just have to wonder about this thing about "the third most popular female sports personality." Must not be much competition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-66260195074978295212011-09-02T02:28:32.925-04:002011-09-02T02:28:32.925-04:00"Examples are Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, J..."Examples are Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, etc..."<br /><br />Seriously, JD? I don't even see her in the same category.RPMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04294406748353031441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-5514125986022975062011-09-01T22:10:29.534-04:002011-09-01T22:10:29.534-04:00Anon@4:00pm,
I guess you haven't seen the lin...Anon@4:00pm,<br /><br />I guess you haven't seen the lines at her souvenir trailer or the long lines at the mandatory Indy car autograph sessions before their races. <br /><br />If you don't like Danica, just say so. But she does have a huge fan base. <br /><br />The reason there aren't fans in the stands at the Indy car races has nothing to do with her. Have you even been to an Indy car race? I have on one of the ovals. One word, boring. At the end of the first 20 laps you can't tell who is running where the cars are so strung out. And you're lucky if they finish with a half dozen cars on the lead lap. Plus the cars all look alike and at least up til next year have the same engine packages. <br /><br />If you don't think Danica has a huge following, you haven't been paying attention.Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530553847645526841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-53767414334058953822011-09-01T19:52:29.588-04:002011-09-01T19:52:29.588-04:00"Double-secret NASCAR Fan Council survey"..."Double-secret NASCAR Fan Council survey" is right! I am a member of the NFC, but I did not receive a copy of that survey (there have been a very few other race weeks that I did not receive a survey).<br /><br />Whether or not Danica will be good for NASCAR or networks that cover NASCAR remains to be seen. Personally, I hope the surprises the hell out of everyone and becomes a successful race driver. If that happens, other women such as Jennifer Jo Cobb, Johanna Long, and other women just might be able to attract better sponsors and get into better cars. Whether or not that will actually happens, we will have to wait and see.<br /><br />According to her Wikipedia page, she has won 1 race, has 6 Podium finishes (top 3) and 61 top 10s (P4 to P10) in 111 Indy Car starts. There are probably a few NNS AND NSCS drivers that would be happy to have those stats.<br /><br />Danica will not change how I watch races, unless she turns into another Kyle Busch and intentionally wrecks other cars to get ahead. I frequently skip watching NNS and NCWTS races that Kyle Busch runs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-43632305693722158862011-09-01T18:53:09.442-04:002011-09-01T18:53:09.442-04:00@Anon 4:00 PM
My friend doesn't like racing g...@Anon 4:00 PM<br /><br />My friend doesn't like racing generally.<br /><br />And it's pretty low of you to accuse someone I have known for decades and you've never met of being disingenuous.<br /><br />WCKKenn Fonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00381315903467639353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-78757725823708609482011-09-01T16:41:06.261-04:002011-09-01T16:41:06.261-04:00Funny, and the end of each NFC survey I take, it r...Funny, and the end of each NFC survey I take, it reminds me that the information in the survey is supposed to remain confidential.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-11884242180953011002011-09-01T16:00:40.519-04:002011-09-01T16:00:40.519-04:00@ Vince - Where is her "huge following"?...@ Vince - Where is her "huge following"? Like I said, they weren't buying tickets to see her race Indycars, and they weren't watching her on TV either, if you look at their ratings.<br /><br />@ Kenn Fong - If the "casual fan" wasn't interested in her before, why will they suddenly decide to watch her now?<br /><br />I realize she has fans, and that there will most likely be a bump in interest initially, but if you believe the hype this blog puts out about her, you'd think she's going to single-handedly carry NASCAR's ratings into the stratosphere. Not gonna happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-22125530348261915162011-09-01T15:53:08.560-04:002011-09-01T15:53:08.560-04:00It's been too long ago for me to remember if J...It's been too long ago for me to remember if Junior's success in the 8 car was due more to his driving skill, or the skill of his crew chief, Tony Eury Jr. Thus, I don't know if I should be surprised at his skill at keeping his trainee driver somewhat competitive, and if I'm not mistaken, when Danica is not in the seat of the 7, Eury Jr is not on the box, so it is impossible to compare the success of the 7 when she isn't driving.<br /><br />Tony Eury and Danica have developed a very strong bond, and both have gone out of their way to develop that critical communication between driver and crew chief. I wonder if half as much work was put into the Hornish/Franchitti assimilation, or were their cars as strong?<br /><br />Sadly, Danica may not have the talent, nor the level of testosterone in the blood necessary to see her pull a Kyle Busch-esque charge through the field, on the way to a stunning come from behind victory. However, I think she is a capable and a reasonably patient, yet still very competitive driver (possible credit to her LACK of testosterone here, despite her occasional foot stomping, spoiled brattishness), and with a Hendrick car and Eury's talent, she may snatch a fuel mileage victory somewhere, but I doubt if we'll see much more than that.<br /><br />And once the initial novelty wears off, fans aren't going to flock to the tracks or the TV unless she surprises us all and starts winning.<br /><br />If that girl can flat out win a race by outdriving the rest of the field, the media will go absolutely berserk, and if she begins to win on a regular basis and contend for a championship, that will put the entire world of sports on its ear.<br /><br />That kind of performance could quite possibly forever change NASCAR and motorsports in general for the better, yet she will STILL not get any respect from the hardcore fans, and as with Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson's past success, they will again credit the success to superior equipment, or that the races are rigged.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14920629334740298963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-77204360300220986042011-09-01T15:43:32.132-04:002011-09-01T15:43:32.132-04:00"Don't get turned off by this topic, it&#..."Don't get turned off by this topic, it's not about Danica"<br /><br />The whole damn article was about Danica. Even when we're not talking about Danica you talk about Danica! <br /><br />At this point if the woman succeeds in living up to the hype she'll have to win championships in all three major series, take rookie of the year in all three, win the Indy 500, fix the economy, create enough jobs to bring unemployment down to 1% AND save about a million puppies from being put to sleep.Cariessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13951986664868609479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-78554039651328741012011-09-01T15:41:27.416-04:002011-09-01T15:41:27.416-04:00J.D.,
It seems odd that the NASCAR Fan Council wo...J.D.,<br /><br />It seems odd that the NASCAR Fan Council would ask its voters about Danica. Sure, some respondents are going to bash her, and claim they will stop watching. But I think there will be a net gain and that will come from an influx on that species some of your readers seem to equate with Sasquatch, the "casual fan."<br /><br />Whether that transfers to more or fewer tickets sold is an open question. There's no doubt there'll be a flood of new money coming in to buy her logo merchandise.<br /><br />However, I think what some of your respondents miss is that Danica is the rising tide that floats all boats.<br /><br />Now that she's in Nationwide, local Sunday night sports round-up shows are going to mention her and Nationwide, especially if she manages a top 10 finish once in a while. Outside of the Southeast, when was the last time Nationwide got prominent play in local and regional media outside of the Southeast, unless it was for some made for YouTube crash?<br /><br />This prominent play will certainly result in a ratings bump. If it's sustained, that may encourage sponsors on other teams to extend their programs.<br /><br />I know this, though. Bob Parsons didn't build GoDaddy into an empire without knowing marketing, and he wouldn't be raising the ante if he didn't think it would pay off.<br /><br />I can tell you one female sports fan who wasn't watching NASCAR at all, ever, told me she was innterested and intends to tune in a few times next season. (She didn't watch any of Danica's Nationwide races because with a partial schedule, she didn't know when she was driving and her interest wasn't strong enough to make a weekly commitment to Google the information.) She won't ever buy a ticket or any logo merch, but she buys car insurance, tires, soda pop, and the other products advertised during the race. Some may skoff, but her eyeballs are worth something.<br /><br />As my own interest in Sprint Cup continues to dwindle, I will be more interested in Nationwide next season.<br /><br />West Coast Kenny<br />Alameda, CaliforniaKenn Fonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00381315903467639353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-71545361250828145732011-09-01T15:17:57.127-04:002011-09-01T15:17:57.127-04:00Vince, I didn't get one either. I wonder how ...Vince, I didn't get one either. I wonder how they decided who to send it to?GinaV24https://www.blogger.com/profile/08428501118097469128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-8005245783643051782011-09-01T15:14:58.492-04:002011-09-01T15:14:58.492-04:00I got the fan council on DP. I answered it as I sa...I got the fan council on DP. I answered it as I saw fit & indeed, said there was too much of her in the media.<br /><br />She's a decent driver in OW but the hype between her commercials & NASCAR yapping non stop already, I am avoiding much nascar news these days.<br /><br />The sport is ignorant to think ONE PERSON can change everything.<br /><br />Just like they blame the poorer ratings on Jr not winning.Sophiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789033556426951026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-12169772733428494012011-09-01T14:48:30.497-04:002011-09-01T14:48:30.497-04:00I'm on the NFC, but didn't get a survey th...I'm on the NFC, but didn't get a survey this week. :( But I think DP will be a plus for a series that is in dire need a NNS personality and not the usual Cup personalities that are force fed to us every week by ESPN. <br /><br />The facts are Danica has a huge following across all demographics. She will put butts in the stands for the NNS races and eyes on the TV broadcasts. Which will be a big plus for a series that needs a kick in the pants.<br /><br />Hate Danica all you want, but have you lead 4 laps at Indy? It takes a set of big ones to go off into the first turn at Indy at over 200mph and not lift. She has talent and has done progressively better in her NNS runs this season, especially at the tracks she's been to before.<br /><br />As far as the hype, it's no different than the hype for Jr. or KyBu or JJ. Jr's not really done much the last few years, but is still hyped because of who he is and who his father was. He can't help it that he's hyped and more than Danica can. She's young, good looking and drives fast. If I was a sponsor I'd be signing her up and hyping her too. You'd be a fool not to.<br /><br />I do not see any negatives to her coming to NASCAR at all. But Indy Car has problems. The slow decline of that series is only going to get worse.<br /><br />My 2 cents.Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530553847645526841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-79791532519959477302011-09-01T14:38:28.782-04:002011-09-01T14:38:28.782-04:00If ESPN is going to over hype DP then they could s...If ESPN is going to over hype DP then they could start on NASCAR Now.<br />It was to be on during the 9 o’clock hour last night, the DVR was set and I dutifully turned on ESPN2 and we sat up to watch…….. Some blowhards arguing about football I think don’t know I changed the channel.<br />No worries to you out there worrying that ESPN will go overboard on Danica, late with the show or not at all. This, the NNS, seen on ESPN/ABC will fade into football oblivion seen between kick off and victory dances.<br />If she succeeds then it will become a story, a big story and will follow her into the cup series, regardless of her qualifications, perceived or real.<br />Women can compete straight-up against men in very few sports and our sport provides that opportunity, today’s media will glom onto this like tar, it’s a story that they don’t have to work at to “get the story” and as long as it lasts they and DP will be making boatloads of cash.<br />Men only in the professional games they play. <br />Men and women in the major league sport of motor racing.<br /><br />FYI: My wife got that survey the other day and like a lot of the Fan Surveys she gets we do raise our eyebrows wondering what and why they are asking some odd questions sometimes. She was asked to participate and we don’t know why, we haven’t been to a race (Phoenix) since ’09 When the opportunity arose we jumped at the chance to give our feelings. Except most of the questions are a yes or no kind of thing.<br />We are and have been motor racing fans forever, my wife and I met at a racetrack and we watch all the NASCAR races. To be clear, all NASCAR races, Cup, Nationwide and Trucks. We watch F-1, NHRA (great on ESPN3.com), SuperX, ANY Sprint car race and on and on. <br />I’m old; I had to listen to the great Jackie Strwart scold Cale Yarborough because he wasn’t holding the steering wheel in the classic 10-2 position at Daytona. Picture Cale holding on for dear life on the high banks of Daytona (Been there at least 5 times) as seen on Wide World of Sports sandwiched of course with figuring skating or something.<br />So who cares what the talking heads are saying, I’m here for the racing and tuned them out in the ‘60’s.<br />If DP does well then good for her, if not at least the car is bright enough to see almost any time, except of course for those close-up and bumper cam shots the produces love.<br />If DP fades to the back, oh well see ya’, whose leading? It’s still just racing and she looks good enough to this point to compete on an even level.Toady; Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-9851959516358197382011-09-01T13:32:04.353-04:002011-09-01T13:32:04.353-04:00The NFC has been used as little more than a market...The NFC has been used as little more than a marketing research tool rather than actually listening to what the fans have to say and want.<br /><br />That being said, all of the hype, marketing, branding, etc. will push fans away once again the same way it has with some other drivers who don't deliver on the hype. <br /><br />Danica hasn't put fans in the stands for IndyCar or NASCAR, she's managed to alienate race fans in both racing organizations, and other than her ability to market herself, what has she really accomplished? <br /><br />And with her dislike of road course racing, maybe she should consider drag racing instead? They only have to go straight when they race.<br /><br />She'll be force-fed to us until the next Savior of NASCAR comes along. Break out the Tums,Pepto, and insulin.The Mad Mannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-55836751456869011192011-09-01T13:14:30.640-04:002011-09-01T13:14:30.640-04:00Sam said, "She will absolutely not drive me t...Sam said, "She will absolutely not drive me to watch racing any more, or perhaps even less if it's all this DP crap 24/7."<br /><br />Hey, if ESPN can pay the University of Texas 30 million for the Longhorn Network, maybe they can pay someone for a Danica Network. Then all you'll see of her is during the race, unless you buy into the Danica Channel.bobbydjrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00445262907429460664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-80404199278089078232011-09-01T12:51:28.215-04:002011-09-01T12:51:28.215-04:00As Anon 11:20 said "And by the way, none of t...As Anon 11:20 said "And by the way, none of the non-race fans I know can recognize her name", it won't put any person that is not already a fan in the seats or in front of a TV. The casual fan who has heard of her may pay attention in the beginning but it won't last long and may drive some of the more traditional fans who actually want to watch racing away.<br /><br />I don't like the hype of any driver and I just want to see good racing covered well. Recently, I don't know if there was good racing because the coverage was not good.OSBORNKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06265276174788619591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-11890939346491161082011-09-01T12:13:25.750-04:002011-09-01T12:13:25.750-04:00Nascar must be brave to ask that question of the f...Nascar must be brave to ask that question of the fan council. Not sure they'll expect the level of disinterest they'll likely get. At least I would assume the fan council is made up of people who are already more than a casual (watch 3 races a year) fans and for many of those Danica is just a distraction from a sport they already (hopefully) love. The value of Danica is in converting the 3 race a year fan into a more regular interested party and in bringing new eyeballs and I would be surprised if those people are in the fan council to sound the "Excitement" horn. If you're already a fan and watching the race "the next new toy" is just that...something you wait for the announcers to get sick of and get back to talking about racing.SnowdogBobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04260378922378458821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-19851688642527680692011-09-01T12:04:11.326-04:002011-09-01T12:04:11.326-04:00If I ever contract cancer, I sure am glad that Dr....If I ever contract cancer, I sure am glad that Dr. Patrick can cure me. As she walks on water through the waiting room saving souls, she can gently heal me. Jennifer JoCobb is better looking, and a BETTER driver. What's wrong with this picture?Garrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-37232626269619388992011-09-01T12:03:29.179-04:002011-09-01T12:03:29.179-04:00Wonder how many laps Kim, Paris or Jessica could ...Wonder how many laps Kim, Paris or Jessica could make around a track in traffic? At least Danica has proved capable of that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-23877501111200643782011-09-01T11:44:32.307-04:002011-09-01T11:44:32.307-04:00If by some very badly advised chance the NASCAR Na...If by some very badly advised chance the NASCAR Nationwide series looks like "the NASCAR Danica series" on TV, they will absolutely lose me as a viewer. Better NMG produces a separate TV series for her & leave RACE COVERAGE alone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-59911679046890886642011-09-01T11:44:31.492-04:002011-09-01T11:44:31.492-04:00It's no biggee! Previous weeks in Fan Council ...It's no biggee! Previous weeks in Fan Council have pertained to individual drivers in Nationwide. One survey asked questions regarding Travis Pastrana, another asked about Justin Allgaier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080132098367510832.post-32461289504726914372011-09-01T11:35:39.234-04:002011-09-01T11:35:39.234-04:00JD, what's your definition of success? Simpso...JD, what's your definition of success? Simpson had a moderate singing career, and has turned that into a billion dollar empire. I'd take that kind of success any day. It's unfair to link Danica to Kardashian & Hilton. She was a champion kart racer and worked her way up. She's been on mediocre teams...maybe that's all she would have been able to do, maybe not. But she's not talentless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com