NEracing207

INTERSTELLAR on a giant 70MM IMAX screen.

I have a story that I think hits to the center of this. I worked for ESPN for two months as a temporary PA (left to start my writing career) roughly 11 years ago. During the interview process, I was asked by a decision maker at the company what I would change about ESPN. I told him I would want more highlights and more focus on games. He told me I was wrong and that fans don’t care about games once they go final, they only care about storylines. I told him that storylines need the context of games (or highlights of them on sportscenter!) and he told me, again, I was wrong. I think they’ve continued to lose touch with what makes sports fans, sports fans

The most popular period in the sports history that saw consistent steady growth was actually terrible because journalists weren’t being spoon fed manufactured storylines to write about.

In 1985 Bill Elliott WON 11 CUP races and Darrell Waltrip won 3 and Darrell Waltrip was the champion. TRY AGAIN.

Last week’s win is taking on even more added importance.

I was bored last night. What did I miss? Here are some of the significant Cup Series changes as I see it over the years. No particular order. Some good. Some not. 50 total. 1. Horsepower. HORSEPOWER. Okay that’s number 1 for a reason. Never, ever go down in horsepower.  2. Seeing Xfinity Cars running faster lap times than Cup.  3. Increased road courses x 3.  4. Harder tires.  5. Major global brands aren’t as involved and major ones have left.  6. Car number moved.  7. Print Media evolved to clicks and major outlets don’t cover it (as much).  8. The drivers aren’t relatable to fans are viewed as heroes who put their life on the line (Major issue).  9. Injuries and deaths occur less often. (This is great but still a change so must be noted).  10. Grassroots pricing is gone on tickets and food & beverage.  11. The cars all look alike.  12. The cars are assembled not built from the ground up.  13. The flagman, hat man, Miss Winston and pace car drivers were all known personalities.  14. Race director is filled with multiple people versus one (Hoots, again a personality).  15. Drivers once looked like they would whip your ass in a bar fight.  16. Super successful tracks were altered with repaves.  17. Less practice now than ever.  18. Complicated scoring systems. 19. Stages introduced. Guarantee commercials and very long cautions for no wrecks or debris.  20. Fuel savings field wide at plate tracks 4 to 6 times a year.  21. Chased a ghost we called west coast fans and are now hiring agencies to rekindle the older (southern) fan base and find younger ones.  22. Transitioned to be more like other stick and ball mainstream sports.  23. Michael Jordan came in and  may be shown the way out.  24. Dirt track racing in the Cup Series.  25. Moved the clash from Daytona  26. 4-5 different points systems to crown the champion  27. Gave Group qualifying a go.  28. Qualifying draw now a formula versus a random draw.  29. Introduction of “soft walls” aka safer barriers.  30. Introduction of head and neck restraint systems.  31. Built a track inside of a football stadium.  32. Raced at a high school football stadium.  33. Brian France removed from power.  34. Mike Helton in a lesser role.  35. Goodbye carburetors. Hello electronic fuel injection.  36. Introduced SMT virtually showing all drivers other drivers talent and IP.  37. Major changes to the testing policy.  38. Evolution of sim software.  39. Drive for Diversity est 2004 ish.  40. Migration off of major TV netwoks.  41. RTA formed.  42. Charters introduced.  43. Boys have at it. Actually don’t do that.  44. Tried midweek races.  45. Shortened races.  46. Household names retired.  47. First sport back on TV during pandemic.  48. Realistic video game iRacing came about.  49. Souvenir and merch area at track was put under a tent then consolidated back to merch haulers.  50. Social Media became king.