oldsaw wrote: In reply to novaderrik: Part of that statement is true and some of it is pure bunk. Yes, there was a time when drivers would mix-it-up and throw punches. That was also the same era when races were won by one, two, three lap (or more) advantages. There are reasons why Nascar has manipulated the race format to force close competition - because it's a myth that "it used to be that way". If the current competition wasn't as close as it is, people would turn off the TV and go mow the lawn. While drinking just as much beer.
i've been watching NASCAR since 87, and while it's true that races were won by multiple laps back in the day, it's also true that no one ever won multiple races or championships without fighting for it lap after lap and race after race. sometimes the championship would be locked up with 3 or 4 races to go- but the teams still got out there and raced.
the old school fans don't care if someone blows out the rest of the field- they put in the work and were better than everyone else and deserve to win that way. the idea that the race needs to be close and that someone making the other 42 teams look bad is a bad thing is what is driving the fans away. the races were just as good or even better on live tv back then- only now they get more time to sneak away for commercials becasue every car that spins brings out the caution for a minimum opf 3 or 4 laps. it's also really annoying how throw a caution if someone starts to pull away they suddenly that piece of rollbar padding that has been laying in the grass next to turn 3 for the entire race is a threat to the safety of everyone..
another thing that bothers a lot of the old fans is the way the top 35 in points are guaranteed a spot in the field, and all the provisional spots for past championships and what not. if the 48 car crashes in qualifying and doesn't get a time, they are still in the race with the backup car and a small struggling team is on the trailer going home. how exactly is that fair to anyone besides the sponsor of the car that didn't actually qualify but still gets to race?
