should nascar drivers start a union to take back some control from the Almighty nascar?

Answer 1

Currently, there are roughly 50 teams and scattered across the country are 1000's of drivers that would love to run in a NASCAR Cup race.

Given an opportunity to run under the NASCAR banner and possibly be in a position to impress owners, sponsors and fans. NO current driver would be willing to take the chance of losing what they worked for most of their lives.

NASCAR issues the "License" and NASCAR can taketh away! And it would!

As a previous poster said, a driver walkout did occur at Talladega and upon seeing a bunch of no-names put on a decent show, the big name drivers decided to race the following weekend because NASCAR was processing thousands of applicants. Strike over!

If it happened today, the major sponsors would pitch a hissy fit. Not to NASCAR but to their own, highly paid driver!

Although I do pull for certain drivers and against others, I am a race fan first. Every driver I have ever pulled for eventually retired or died. I never stopped being a race fan as I always find someone I can pull for. If all the drivers walked away tomorrow, there would still be NASCAR and I would still watch whoever raced. Afterall, just because an owner or sponsor believes a driver has talent, somewhere in America is an unknown driver just as talented or even more so, who hasn't gotten a break yet.

All NASCAR drivers are independent contractors who have contracts with their owners, not NASCAR.

NASCAR is a privately owned entity and as such can do as they please. The Federal Courts have said so many times.

I have been an Earnhardt fan since Ralph but Junior could retire tomorrow and I would still follow NASCAR. Fans like me are the base of NASCAR. We have been for over 50 years. Drivers come and drivers go! To a real race fan all that matters is the race, not who's in it!

I can yell, "Go Junior" or "Go (insert name here)", its all the same to me and always has been.

NASCAR is the boss. The drivers know it. The owners know it. The sponsors, well most of them, know it! Some fans apparently can't grasp the concept! Must be relative newbies.

You're welcome to initiate a fan boycott! The France family has enough money. They could close up shop tomorrow and just say screw it; it won't hurt them a bit. It would be impossible for them to spend all their money anyway as they already have everything they want! All that means is, I will be spending more time at the local short tracks watching some good racin'!!!!! Some big names might be there, too. Not the whiners, just the racers!

Answer 2

This an interesting observation. I don't think they should start a union. Drivers know their job is dangerous and they are making more now than they ever have. Also, each team is run differently despite reporting to NASCAR. I would instead like to see a union or unification for the minority track owners against ISC(NASCAR's France family). Although ISC puts on some great races with Daytona and Talladega, I would like to see less of the cookie cutters and more unique tracks.

Answer 3

The drivers and even the fans need to do something. Nascar in my opinion is too commercialized. I would love to have the same kind of racing there use to be. You could rough someone up on the track, fight afterwards and even curse and nothing would be done about it. It was just apart of racing. Now you're fined for everything. Nascar seems to be all about the money, not good racing or the people and tracks that helped them get to where they are now.

Answer 4

Its been done twice before. Once, it led to a few drivers being banished for life, the other was organized because of Talladega in 1969, and was dropped after that.

Knowing how NASCAR operates, a union would never be formed, or would work in NASCAR.

Answer 5

in the early 1970's, Richard Petty Himself, started the professional drivers association. it was started over drivers safety concerns with, the new track at TALLADEGA, AL. NASCAR, would not meet their safety demands, the drivers boycotted the first TALLADEGA 500, NASCAR, filled the vacant starting positions with, modified, late models, limited sportsmen and, anything else that would roll. the race was run, Richard Brickhouse, won, the P.D.A. was, disbanded, NASCAR, got its way and, Richard Brickhouse was, black balled by, the NASCAR regulars and, never competed in another NEXTEL cup race. the moral of this story?...DONT MESS WITH NASCAR!.

Answer 6

Unions have generally been established to protect workers being subjected to unsafe working conditions or for better benefits/wages. NASCAR never has and never will be a democracy and nobody is forced to race in their various series. Although the powers that be do not always render popular decisions, NASCAR has strived to increase the popularity of the sport and improve the safety of the drivers. It is a model for the sports world as far as their marketing ability and continued growth in fans and sponsorship. I don't see any of the drivers biting the hand that feeds them anytime in the near future.

Answer 7

It won't work. It was tried in 1969, and Bill France brought in drivers from other series at Talledega (Richard Brickhouse's only career win). Fans don't care who drives the car, just that there is a race.

Answer 8

Yes they should. NASCAR is sucking the life out of the sport

Answer 9

It has been tried before and NASCAR won,drivers are independent contractors.
That's all I have to say about that.

Answer 10

Man I have been thinking the same thing lately. The sports kinda losing me. So yes preach it brother.