A very good presentation of the sorry state of Nascar. One of the things you didn’t mention that help the enshitification was the TV money that came when NBC started broadcasting the races. One season Matt Kenseth wrapped up the championship with two races to go and the network felt like there wasn’t enough “drama” and no good “stories” to tell. They wanted each season to have “seventh game” moments. This led to first the Chase and now the playoffs.
This is such an interesting example. I really do not know enough to evaluate it.
I suspect stock car racing was always pretty shitty and disrespectful — shitty sponsors, lack of respect for laws about things like gambling, glorifying smuggling roots, rampant cheating — but that the limited way the sport was presented might have hidden a lot of that. Maybe the problem now is that smart people with brains can see and figure it out. Then there is also always the rose colored glasses of our youth.
But I truly do not know. Fortunately, it looks like your Substack is the right place to learn about those potentially shady roots!
I wanna say that’s the best thing you’ve ever written. So full of passion and fire and TRUTH! About much more than just sports and motor racing!
But I think that article belongs in some sort of special category. Because, in a way, saying that was your best article ever diminishes all the great articles I’ve read from you that were 99% about a racer, or builder, or track, or…or…or!
So, thanks for boldly saying all the things the rest of us only wish we could articulate that well!
I have to agree with you....ever since the advent of "stage" racing and before that, "competition caution" periods, I look at NASCAR more like Championship Wrestling. I also think the restrictor plate has let to a lot of problems. The drivers basically drive flat out and try to avoid wrecks.
Thank you for the kind words! It's so incredibly frustrating to watch, because I think NASCAR is on the right track broadening its horizons to Chicago and Mexico City... and then I tune into the event with the most heritage, and it's become a shell of what it used to be.
A very good presentation of the sorry state of Nascar. One of the things you didn’t mention that help the enshitification was the TV money that came when NBC started broadcasting the races. One season Matt Kenseth wrapped up the championship with two races to go and the network felt like there wasn’t enough “drama” and no good “stories” to tell. They wanted each season to have “seventh game” moments. This led to first the Chase and now the playoffs.
This is such an interesting example. I really do not know enough to evaluate it.
I suspect stock car racing was always pretty shitty and disrespectful — shitty sponsors, lack of respect for laws about things like gambling, glorifying smuggling roots, rampant cheating — but that the limited way the sport was presented might have hidden a lot of that. Maybe the problem now is that smart people with brains can see and figure it out. Then there is also always the rose colored glasses of our youth.
But I truly do not know. Fortunately, it looks like your Substack is the right place to learn about those potentially shady roots!
A Tour de Force Elizabeth! Great, great job here!!
Thank you as ever for your support and your kind words, Rick!
I wanna say that’s the best thing you’ve ever written. So full of passion and fire and TRUTH! About much more than just sports and motor racing!
But I think that article belongs in some sort of special category. Because, in a way, saying that was your best article ever diminishes all the great articles I’ve read from you that were 99% about a racer, or builder, or track, or…or…or!
So, thanks for boldly saying all the things the rest of us only wish we could articulate that well!
You are exactly correct in every detail.
Thank you Jeff!!!
I have to agree with you....ever since the advent of "stage" racing and before that, "competition caution" periods, I look at NASCAR more like Championship Wrestling. I also think the restrictor plate has let to a lot of problems. The drivers basically drive flat out and try to avoid wrecks.
Thank you for the kind words! It's so incredibly frustrating to watch, because I think NASCAR is on the right track broadening its horizons to Chicago and Mexico City... and then I tune into the event with the most heritage, and it's become a shell of what it used to be.
Exactly for each positive step they take, they take multiple steps backward.