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I grew up in Indianapolis
and my Dad was a big Indy 500 fan. As a child I remember Memorial Day as
family picnics and listening to the 500 on the car radio. The old front
engine roadsters with the 4 cylinder Offys had a sound all there own. As
I grew up I stayed an Indy car fan for a long time but then as if over
night front engine roadsters were gone and so was the sound of the
Offenhouser. Replaced by rear engine cars with exotic power plants that
were fast but just did not stir the Indy car fan in me the way it use
too. As time went on the drivers that I had grown up with were gone,
replaced by drivers that had names I could not spell let alone
pronounce. I guess that signaled the end of the attraction that I had
for Indy cars.
While up to this point I
had not been an avid Nascar fan. I still had listened to a few races and
recognized names like Petty, Waltrip and Parsons. Then it hit me,
American muscle cars and good old boys from down home…now that was
racing I could really relate to. That as it turns out, is what Indy car
racing lost, and why they lost me as a fan and Nascar gained a fan!!
Now you can call me
silly, stupid or patriotic, but I like American cars racing on American
tracks. I am not thrilled at all about Toyota participating in Nascar
races. Next thing you know we will have Mercedes and BMWs running and
asking for a race in Germany. Then you will have drivers with names I
can’t pronounce, driving cars that I do not really relate to. Of course
if you are sitting in one of those very expensive skyboxes you might
relate to Mercedes and BMW but what about the other 150,000 fans sitting
in the grand stands.
The bad thing, is this
whole concept of racing outside the US, is just about greed!! Nascar is
already making money hands over fist, how much do they need and at who’s
expense? Nascar wants world wide market share and they could care less
if I like the product they offer or not. Indy car racing had the same
aspiration at a time when they were extremely popular. Now their market
share is right up there with Ladies Professional Basketball. Please
Nascar don’t lose what got you where your at! I really don’t think I can
get into watching Drag Racing on TV…but that might be about all that’s
left!
Does anybody make fantasy
Drag Racing software? Just covering my bases.
Steve
The above ranting is mine and does not necessarily reflect the opinions
of the Nascar Cheat Sheet.com staff or its sponsors. |
