205 replies to this topic

[KWSN - DSM]

Going by last 5 seasons, and only counting races where numbers are listed all 5:

 

2009 - 185.315.000 viewers

2010 - 179.348.000 viewers

2011 - 186.348.000 viewers

2012 - 174.949.000 viewers

2013 - 175.561.000 viewers

 

So yes 2013 up from 2012 but last two seasons lowest viewership in past 5, and comparing 2009 to 2013 then it is a decline of 10 million sets of eyes, as we know that number of paying spectators have gone down as well, I have a hard time seeing the Chase adding anything to NASCAR which is worthwhile. And if anything then the move towards 'entertainment' over sport is what is costing them.

 

[KWSN - DSM]

Several weeks ago I had a chat with someone who was studying NASCAR TV ratings professionally, like a proper statistical analysis.

The mini-conclusion we came to was that since the NASCAR fan base is a bit more 'working class' and hardest hit by the recession, they would cut back on entertainment spending. Which shows up most obviously in the thin grandstands at some races. But we also saw a slightly more pronounced drop in the races that were shown on cable(pay) rather than network(free).

 

That would make sense explaining the decline I just posted.

 

[redreni]

Jesus, why don't we just hang Clint Bowyer too while we're at it?
 
I do agree that intentional wrecks make me a bit uncomfortable, though. NASCAR has been bullshitted by several big accidents with no injuries in the last 10 years or so, and most of the drivers seem to feel invisible. And they will, until they hit a fence the wrong way and end up in little pieces along the trioval at Daytona, or they wind up with a fire that doesn't extinguish itself. Which is probably coming. I would've thought Hamlin's injury might've smartened a few of them up.

I have no beef with Bowyer, I just take a very dim view of racing drivers crashing on purpose. I also take a dim view of manipulating races by causing full-course cautions. The way I see it, all the other alleged "manipulations" were just standard team orders and I see those as part of the game, but if it‘s accepted that what Bowyer did is okay, it will become commonplace that one car takes a strategic decision to gamble on there being a full-course yellow, then hey presto his teammate causes the yellow he needs.

[OvDrone]

Just as I was starting to warm up to Bowyer, the BS hits the bloody fan. If Gordon gets a free pass then so should Truex. I know that the shenanigans were there to help him, but he was innocent. ( and I really want a driver in the Chase I can really be behind ) Wallace! You owe me three beers, buddy.

[KWSN - DSM]

I have no issues with team orders, so any team should be allowed to call their drivers in for pitstops if they so chose, every lap if they so chose. But creating a yellow from a selfinduced crash is as far as I am concerned a cardinal sin in autoracing, it is the reason Falvio and Pat was out of F1 for some time, it is the reason Nelson Junior is now a truck driver in the US. MWR, Bowyer and all involved crew decision makers should have been sat on the bench for a minimum rest of this season.

 

This have doubtless happened before, but should not be an excuse for allowing it to happen again and the meeting today better make it very very very very very clear to all drivers and teams that regardless of who you are, you will be sat down for an extended period of time next time this happens and it will mean both car, driver and team.

 

[Ross Stonefeld]

I don't think Piquet was forced out of F1 by Crashgate, he went public about it in part because no one wanted him anymore.