Chuck , there is nothing wrong with some spirited debate about the NASCAR product as in the conduct of the event or today's spec car that you describe , in example.

My career began with NASCAR in 1971 and I was fortunate to know the original founder , Mr. William H.G. France or " Big Bill " to his friends.
France ,Sr. turned the reins to son , Bill ,Jr. in '72 and the growth of NASCAR was unprecedented in all of sport for the next three decades. Brian had impossible shoes to fill when he assumed control in 2003 and is largely criticized for everything that has taken place since. Some is just.

Today's NASCAR is not what Big Bill could have envisioned or one that Bill , Jr. would have crafted. Brian's tenure , unlike his father's , is not one to manage growth , but rather to manage from the position of peak market share. In other words , there is nowhere to go but down. Brian is in an impossible situation as compared to that of his father and grandfather. I wish him well !

However , I'm not sure that Brian is responsible for much of what the core fans complain about. Mike Helton was named President in November of 2000 and just 3 months later the sport lost it's greatest star in Dale Earnhardt , Sr.

Helton became the public face of the Earnhardt death investigation and gained stronger footing in formulating NASCAR policy because of it. His presidential powers were self-expanded and he has taken advantage of it ever since. Truth be known , much of what most people find offensive about NASCAR is borne from a Helton policy.

To those of us that can remember seeing those Ray Nichels prepared Dodges , the Plymouth Superbird of Pete Hamilton , or David Pearson wheeling that big-ass Mercury Cyclone around Darlington on Labor Day , it's hard to wrap your arms around today's spec car with decals in attempt to establish an identity to something in a showroom.

:stuck