Killing NASCAR
By Jim
@jayperiod (870)
United States
May 1, 2007 8:18am CST
It's been a rough week for NASCAR. There's the AT&T lawsuit. There's Stewart's big mouth. And now, it's the rednecks in Alabama.
By next week, a judge may rule as to whether NASCAR can keep AT&T from putting their logo on Jeff Burton's car. Cingular is changing to AT&T and they want to change the sponsorship. NASCAR says that it's agreement with Nextel prevents that. So, a judge will decide if Cingular's grandfather clause stretches to the AT&T/BellSouth/Cingular merger.
Stewart compares NASCAR to wrestling and the world takes notice. Of course, he picked a bad week to do so, as many of the fans in Alabama don't realize that wresting's fake. He may hurt himself in the process. And, NASCAR tries its best to disprove him by NOT throwing a caution for a blown motor until after Gordon has passed McMurray. Bias...what bias.
Then, we get the usual Talladega fans, throwing things on the track just because they don't like the outcome. This isn't the first time this has happened at 'Dega. I used to go to both races each year at 'Dega. From that experience I can tell you, Talladega has some of the worst fans of any sport, anywhere. When the world of sports looks at the highlights of Gordon's win, all they are going to see is a bunch of drunken rednecks throwing stuff. They are going to think NASCAR hasn't come along any from the days of moonshiners and fights on the backstretch.
My question to you is this; which hurt NASCAR more this week, Stewart's comments or the 'Dega fans stupidity?
3 people like this
5 responses
@AndiCat (325)
• United States
1 May 07
It's a toss-up. I guess I'd have to say the Talladega trash-throwing fools.
Regardless of the warnings and admonitions by NASCAR and Dale Jr. himself, they just don't seem to give a rat's furry behind. Ive never been a HUGE Junior fan
in the past, but he has started to grow on me. I've never EVER been a Gordon
fan, nor will I ever be, but the total disregard for the safety of the drivers
by some of these Junior fans is ridiculous. It's no wonder NASCAR fans get the
reputation that we do.
@dawnrm69 (1174)
• United States
1 May 07
I agree with you and I think that Stewart was wrong in what he did. I hope someone gave a case of tissues. I have never been to a nascar race but I watch em on t.v. and I do not agree with them throwing things on the track. I have heard that people that go not only to talledega but a few others do get wild. I know that there are alot of stupid drunks in Alabam! I grew up in that state and I have moved out of that state and I do not want to live in that state again! It is o.k. to drink one or two but when you drink and get stupid you have had way too much! I am not a gordon fan I prefer jr! I like some of the others and well gordon is o.k. but I think at that one point knowing that it would have been his dads bday gordon should have helped jr get in first place and win if he truly honors sr I think he would have done that! Gordon won the week before and jr has had a rough time. O.k. I will stop here I have gone on a little too much
@Dseacrest (203)
• United States
1 May 07
It is really hard to say who caused the issues. I have to say the the fans need to back off on this throwing stuff at the drivers. I mean how can a sport stay fun and entertaining if people are tossing things at the drivers. I just isn't right. Anyhow, thanks for sharing your side. I appreciate it.
3 people like this
@matlgal (1686)
• United States
1 May 07
I agree that I think they were both harmful to NASCAR. The fans particularly were in poor taste. For the love of Pete are they taking behaviorial lessons from the Raider fans!! How rude and what poor sports that they are so disrespectful to their own driver much less to Jeff. Jeff won the race fair and square, Jr.... didn't plain as that. NO Dale Sr. wouldn't have wanted it rigged or GIVEN to Jr. Heck NO!.
Tony-? well what can you say about dear old TONY? He's a pain the the butt, he's mouthy and he knows it. He whines all the time that's why he got his own show so he'd have a place to go whine and get attention. He does alot of commericials, he has the radio show, he does charity work, and other things.... maybe he needs to concentrate more on his driving?
Here in Calif at Fontanna raceway they do not allow cans in the stadium at all. With those stats on the force at which a can could hit a car at 200MPH I think that should be enough to stop it at every track. I think arresting the whole lot of them is a good thing and fine the hell out of them! Be a good Sport, or stay the hell home!.
"nuff said"....
1 person likes this
@jayperiod (870)
• United States
1 May 07
This isn't the first time this has happened at Talladega. And having been, you wouldn't believe what goes on outside the track the night before and after a race. I think fitting punishment would be to strip Talladega of one of its races for a few years. Maybe the fans would realize what they've done and grow up. There are a lot of places that want a race and would treat it better.
But, ISC owns 'Dega, so don't look for that to happen.
1 person likes this
@lisagayle (393)
• United States
1 May 07
I think they were both equally hurtful to NASCAR. I do not like Tony Stewart anyway, but that is my own opinion. And Jeff Gordon is not exactly my favorite one either. But I did think it was very good of him to ride with the Dale Sr. flag when he tied him in all time wins. and he had the blessing of Jr.. When the fans started throwing things onto the track, I wanted to reach out and slap them all. I wish there were a way of finding out who all threw things and not let them into a live event of any kind for at least a year and also a big fine issuee to each one and all of the money given to Nascar Charities. Maybe the idiots would think twice about doing this kind of stuff ever again. If not , keep fining them and banning them until it sinks in, it would be a great way of fundraising for charaty.
2 people like this
@toourhealth (112)
• United States
1 May 07
That a hard one to decide. Nascar will pull through all of this though and things will get back to normal again.
3 people like this
