My review of past mouthings-off is into the homestretch now, and today’s installment covers whichever half of 2019 I didn’t discuss last article. Here goes. ( Part one here )
BAD!: The charter system, stage racing, driver development programs, “stock” cars that are as stock as my body is 15 years old, and rules and a point system that make our tax laws look simple and reasonable.
GOOD: More short track and dirt track races on NASCAR’s touring schedules, and cars that at least look a little bit like those you can test drive down at the dealership.
OTHER STUFF:
- We need more “local hero” drivers racing against the big-time teams.
- We need races that appeal as much to in-person fans as to those watching on screens – or we need to stop charging the in-person folks so much for watching a race designed to be seen on a screen.
- We need to think about (and accept) some major changes like non-stop promotion of “gaming” (sounds better than “gambling”), the possibility of stock SUVs (instead of cars), and (maybe, eventually) driver-less racing
Take the extra time to watch the Perris Speedway race. I’d love to see some of NASCAR’s best take a crack at that one day.
Here’s one I’m going to ask you to consider reading again: Click right Here!
In this article I have my ideal NASCAR schedule, including not only dirt oval racing, which was added subsequent to my writing this, but also dirt road racing and mixed surface or other “novelty” tracks. I still think that would work. Take another read and see what you think.
The 2021 season hasn’t been too bad so far (except for the usual freak shows at Daytona and Talladega), but with vehicles bearing no reasonable resemblance to what we drive on the road, with hopelessly complex rules and a point system to match, and with a closed system limiting racing to members of the charter club, this still isn’t my NASCAR, and my interest continues to wane. For a fan of nearly 60 years, that’s sad.
Frank Buhrman.
(Photo Credits: The cover photo is from Perris Auto Speedway’s website, which credits it to Vane Ledgerwood. The Bristol photo is credited to Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images. The Batman car photo also is from Perris, which credits it to Doug Allen.
Awww, Frank, I really enjoyed reading this and going back in history. Great ideas and suggestions and ways to regain interest in racing. Perhaps local tracks are one answer, if we can still find them. You really took me back on this one, especially when I read the one from RFF that you gave the link to. I am going to to put a link in here (hope it works) to where I was watching racing in the 70’s. As a new resident to CA, I found several tracks (Calistoga, Sears Point and West Capital) to be very exciting. West Cap was our weekly go to track. I was a fan of Wally Baker and G. P. (Gary Patterson). Please copy and paste the following if link does not work. Thanks and enjoy
http://wcraa.com/photo-gallery/old-race-car-photos
Vivian, those photos are awesome. Thanks so much for sharing. The name that stood out for me was Al Pombo, because when I first started following racing and kept up with NASCAR Modified and Sportsman points, he was usually the highest-ranked West Coast driver. As you know, my home track from back then, Southside Speedway, closed this year, and fans have been posting great photos on a remembrance Facebook page; I wish somebody would assemble all of them the way this collection is done.
This weekend I’m headed out for three straight racing nights. On Saturday, the PA Sprint Series runs at Port Royal Speedway, a fantastic track, along with 410 sprints and another open-wheel division. On Friday and Sunday, though, I’ll be at go-kart tracks (both new to me) to see the PA Micro Midget Association race. These guys are hobbyists running micro sprints with go-kart motors for the fun of it (race winner gets $50). My observances might get onto PRT at some point. I’m with you on the excitement at these tracks being much better than big-money NASCAR these days.
Thanks again for commenting and providing the link. Stay cool out there.