Has NASCAR "Jumped the shark"?

Question

For those of you that are under the age of 30, I should begin by first explaining the phrase "jump the shark." In the 1970s, "Happy Days" was one of the most popular TV shows in America, anchored by the Cunningham family and the uber-cool Fonzie, as portrayed by Henry Winkler. Eventually, as with all TV shows, major characters began to move on, stories became silly and plots thin. During one particularly awful episode, a series of dopey circumstances led Fonzie to attempt to leap over a shark while riding water skis and wearing his trademark leather jacket (the latter point is particularly stupid since salt water would destroy such apparel, especially 30 years ago). The episode was so painfully reaching and horrible, that it came to symbolize the moment when a long running successful TV show has reached its peak and the decline as begun. Since then, the phrase has been applied to a myriad of situations, movements and on-going storylines that have seen better days.

Now, as Bugs Bunny would say, "on with the show:"

Answer 1

absolutely. Its popularity in attendance at the track and ratings on tv has been declining since 2005. The peak was 2005. Its time for the courts to break up the ISC/France Monopoly.

Answer 2

I don't think NASCAR has Jumped the shark. In 2006 it was the last time in 10 years that attendance for the Nextel cup didn't go up. It didn't really even go down. NASCAR and some of the team owner's have been trying to reach a new fan base for the last few years also. An example is Fenway racing(just wait for the Yankees to copy that one). Another example is the new track in Mexico city. In the next few years I believe that NASCAR will acquire a lot of new fans from other sports. Also with the new addition of Juan Pablo Montoya Latin Americans may start to become interested in the sport. Plus its always fun to watch a good battle on the last lap or the big wreck at Daytona or Talledega.

If you are someone who doesn't really watch NASCAR give it a shot and watch a couple races. Watch all the way through the race. Don't just turn it off when you think its starting to get boring because that's probably when the next wreck or big pass will come.

Answer 3

Hey, I saw that episode.


There have been reports that NASCAR is suffering this season. I can't really explain it except maybe the faithful are decreasing their interest due to the fact that the fan favorite (Dale Jr.) isn't winning or living up to the expectation most of us had for him 5 years ago.It may also be true that there are too many events. Having more than one race at a track makes the season long and harder to keep track of, while it certainly must generate revenue from an attendance standpoint, it is probably unhealthy for the NASCAR "interesting factor".

Maybe some people are having a hard enough time keeping their own cars fueled that they are completely angry about the fuel consumed on a typical NASCAR weekend. Payback.

Answer 4

With the "debris" cautions, it is nothing more than a silly plotline to a pro wrestling match. It gives the impression that anything can happen when the outcome seems assured. It sounds great, but to orchestrate the "anything" is reality TV at its worst.

With the drunken fans pelting bottles onto the track the past couple of weeks, it simply makes the sport look like its worst parody; a bunch of losers drink warm beer all day and then "celebrate" by throwing bottles because they didn't like the outcome.

It is when many sponsors get fed up and feel that the money being invested in NASCAR could be put into advertising someplace else that the shark will be jumped.

Answer 5

CORRECTION:
"Jump the Shark" was coined from the 1960s TV show "Flipper."
While the eponymous dolphin was always butting into sharks that were threatening Timmy (Flipper's boy pal), there was one episode in which Flipper actually leapt over and ahead of the shark to protect the swimmer. This was too much even for die-hard fans and the show immediately crashed.
Perhaps Winkler was aware of this when he did that dumb stunt on Happy Days, which was nearing the end of its run.
Anyway, NASCAR has not jumped the shark. But it has slipped into over-regulation. Things have been dicey since Earnhardt died, but the safety nutcases have focused way too much of the attention in racing on the wrong aspects of sport.
And now the fans are lobbing their empties (presumably no self-respecting neck would lob a full beer) at Jeff Gordon for passing Senior's mark. They should have been cheering him.
Not shark-jumping. Just awful.

Answer 6

NO. Not at all.

"Jump the shark" IS from the episode of Happy Day's. Not Flipper.
I heard a 30 minute interview with the guy(s) that came up with the phrase.
They have a new phrase for celebrities that have past there prime. It's "Jump The Couch". From Tom Cruise's appearance on Opra.

Answer 7

I don't think it's neccessarily on the decline, but there are some things NASCAR has got to change. The big thing that gets me extremely angry is when NASCAR is not consitant with rules and punishments/enforcing those rules. They have their so-called judgement calls that sometimes you take the exact same situation, 2 different drivers and 2 totally different outcomes. NASCAR has got to be more consistant, it's no wonder we feel they play favorites sometimes b/c they make it seem that way. That's the biggest thing about NASCAR I can say right now that has gone wrong, consistancy.

Answer 8

No, NASCAR has not jumped the shark. The recent problems with low TV ratings may just indicate that its growth is slowing, not dying. I think NASCAR's affiliation last year with NBC hurt the sport. NBC did not promote the sport like a major spectator sport deserves and their announcers were horrible. NASCAR though has to be careful not to distance themselves from their hardcore fans in a search for new markets.

Answer 9

I don't think so. Anyone who watched the BUSCH race on Saturday knows why the thrill is still there. Labonte and Stewart were as happy as two best friends racing their hot rods against each other on back roads in that race. You could hear it in their voices and see it in their faces after the finish. THAT'S what NASCAR is all about. The Cup races may be getting a bit cheesy-er but that Sat race was pure fun!

Answer 10

No. Its just changing and evolving. The world can't retain old rednecks with tobacco spit running down the side of their cars as entertainment.

NASCAR is as good as it ever was. There will always be those who don't like this caution or that penalty or whatever, but isn't that the same in all sports? Tony Stewart is just a whining crybaby and he's the one bringing this out...