[Stevensville Mike]

Looks like Robin Miller is onboard with this topic, too:

NASCAR's changes are great - for IndyCar
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Robin Miller

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints...at-for-indycar

[Sandy Lowe]

Originally Posted by Aces&Eights Screw the drive for diversity BS, I want the 43(YES, 43) best most rugged, foul mouthed, cigarette smoking, tobacco chewing, hairy and hungover drivers you can assemble, not spokes models.

Where are you going to find these drivers? Certainly not from the USAC sprint & midget ranks. You might be describing Billy Bob redneck hornet driver at some podunk stock car track, but it sure doesn't sound like a description of Kyle Larson, Ricky Stenhouse, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Chase Briscoe or any other short track open wheel driver in NASCAR.

[Nate]

Originally Posted by Aces&Eights I disagree, the desperate attempts of NAPCAR to emulate, "Stick & Ball" sports by creating a pseudo, "Playoffs" only further demeaned their product. This is why with all their manipulations(ie, Lucky Dogs, Race to the Chase and countdown to checkers) to create drama have only caused viewership and track attendance to continue to decline. To me what went wrong was over media saturation, with 2 hour pre-race babblings, weekly "reality style" shows that go "way-way" behind the scenes with drivers, so that you know everything about them down to there toothpaste preferences and underwear style. A little mystery goes a long way(think lingerie) in providing interest, revealing everything, all the time, can get boring... What use to be a serious sport is now covered by an electronic ground hog and too often repeated tag lines, "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity" or "Let's pull those belts tight, ONE MORE TIME!"

I got a good laugh out of this one. But you are right.

Also, lets not forget that the series itself is not competitive. Little stat I read yesterday. In the past 80 races, 77 have been won by either a Penske, Stewart-Haas, Gibbs, or Hendrick car. That equals 14 cars...that means the other 26 might as well just pack it up because you've got a snowball's chance in hell of winning. The article said that this format will somehow change that? I can't see how...

USAC, by comparison is far more competitive. I believe the national sprints had 20 winners this past year? Richie or Spridge could probably say for certain. Just look at Indiana Sprint Week, 7 different winners over 7 of the toughest nights in motorsports. TRASHCAR didn't have 7 different winners last year until they reached their "All-Star Break".

[Aces&Eights]

Originally Posted by Sandy Lowe Where are you going to find these drivers? Certainly not from the USAC sprint & midget ranks. You might be describing Billy Bob redneck hornet driver at some podunk stock car track, but it sure doesn't sound like a description of Kyle Larson, Ricky Stenhouse, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Chase Briscoe or any other short track open wheel driver in NASCAR.

Robert Bell comes to mind. They don't all have to come from USAC, the diversity we need is whether your from "Dirt, Asphalt or Open Wheel" NOT, "who's your Daddy? They don't all need to be fresh faced pimpled up kids, throw in some middle aged treacherous types, to scare the young folks. I'm not saying Robert Bell is any of those qualities I mentioned, but any man dedicated enough to build a car in his living room, deserves a shot.

[Sandy Lowe]

Nate, during the 2016 USAC sprint season four drivers accounted for over 46% of the feature wins.

[Nate]

Originally Posted by Sandy Lowe Nate, during the 2016 USAC sprint season four drivers accounted for over 46% of the feature wins.

And of those four drivers how many finished in the Top 5 in points. I'd imagine Windom is one of those four. I'd bet none of the others are. It's a competitive series because you have to be consistent, wins don't always equate to a championship.

[Nate]

Granted, Bryan had the most wins of anyone last year but he wasn't running the entire schedule either so he wouldn't have been up there in the top. Ballou would have finished towards the top had he not gotten hurt.

Not trying to argue. I'm just saying that in 45 races there were 20 winners. That's pretty good. NASCAR by comparison had 14 winners (including special events) over 41 races.

But what I see wrong with the way NASCAR handles business is the consistency that Brady Bacon showed last year in USAC doesn't equate to a championship by NASCAR standards. "He didn't win enough"

[Charles Nungester]

Welcome to Nascar, Where the points mean absolutely nothing, But you can't run with us unless you have them from last year and we reset the whole works to screw consistency for a gimmick.

Yes, Mark Martin was screwed out of a championship and so was Gordon TWICE under the playoff format, So was Carl Edwards.


I remember either Petty or Earnhardt saying they won seven championships under seven different formats. Yet non of them eliminated 200-300pt leads over tenth place guy and put him just 30pts behind.

[Aces&Eights]

Two more drivers I thought of that would fit the bill from USAC, Dave Darland and Robert Ballou. Cagey veteran and a Wild card in a plain white car with a black rear bumper. Ditch the pseudo diversity BS, its a sham and promotes race and gender over talent.
1) Shorten the races to 100 laps,
2) Draw and run 25 lap heats and Run C and B-mains,
3) Stock block & heads from a truck engine regardless of manufacturers design. No restrictor plates. 8 inch max width on tires.
4) Only 30 best start the feature, no provisionals, no special consideration, no promoters choice.
5) No cautions for anything but a disabled vehicle or fire, no competition yellows, no radios, no mirrors.
6) No spoilers, No bumps, No sway bars, No belted radials bias ply only.
7) Any suspension design front/rear, no independent rears.

[TQ29m]

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester Welcome to Nascar, Where the points mean absolutely nothing, But you can't run with us unless you have them from last year and we reset the whole works to screw consistency for a gimmick. Yes, Mark Martin was screwed out of a championship and so was Gordon TWICE under the playoff format, So was Carl Edwards. I remember either Petty or Earnhardt saying they won seven championships under seven different formats. Yet non of them eliminated 200-300pt leads over tenth place guy and put him just 30pts behind.

Chuck, if I read you right, you're abdicating "points" matter, and nothing else, I would agree with that, makes it much simpler for the drivers, they can figure where they need to be, while they are making laps, till the laps run out, I'd support that! Hell Yes! Bob