Since Nextel has taken over sponsorship of the Cup series from Winston...?

Question

do you think our sport has improved?? Has it become more or less viewer friendly?

Steve & infoman... I agree with both of you. BUT... even since we got rid of NBC, I believe the coverage has gotten a LOT worse. Think back a few years.
I sure don't ever remember watching 3 minutes of race then 4 minutes of commercial.
Tell you what... if you have HD... try watching the replay on HDNet once. You see all the race you see on Fox in an hour & forty-five minutes less time.
Sure... they need commercials. I'll admit to that. I just feel that if it keeps going the way it has been over the past three years, we'll be watching solid commercials and they'll just post the results at the end of the race.
Last... I think the France royal family is wealthy enough.

Darrell... what can I say??? You're on the money... again.
I figured you'd have a lot to say on this.
You got a "thumbs up"

Answer 1

Winston was a great title sponsor and it's too bad we've become so politically correct. They are largely responsible for building the sport up to the popularity it now has. Gone are the trophy girls and the Winston Million. Gone are some great tracks that don't get a race or have been reduced to just one race race. Nextel probably won't be around much longer with the AT&T lawsuit not going in their favor. Nextel has not neccessarily been bad for NASCAR but they have merely capitalized on the hard work that Winston did before them. I think most of the rule changes that have hurt the sport have not been because of Nextel but because of the Frances and Mike Helton.

Answer 2

I don't really know if either of those sponsors made it more viewer friendly. I think what has made it more viewer friendly is the broadcasters. We have the best broadcasters in sports. They let their personalities show, they have fun, pick on each other, and inform us. The thing I like the best about our current broadcasters, they don't worry about the powers that be at NASCAR. They say what they think, they tell us when guys cheat, how they cheated, what their fines should be. They bring us the fights, on and off the track. When Winston was the sponsor, I think, I don't know for sure, but I think that NASCAR had some kind of hold on them. I can remember several races where they cut away from commotion. I feel very lucky to be a fan of such a family sport!!

Answer 3

Nextel did take NA$CAR to an entirely different level. One that maybe the sport needed, but I dont have so much an issue with our sport going to other levels, my issue is the tradition that is getting left behind. IMO, wither Nextel or Winston would have been the sponsor, King Brian would have made all these stupid changes that he has made. I miss Big Bill, Brian listens through his wallet, Big Bill listened to the fans. The 2 things that really hurt NA$CAR was Big Bill retiring and Dale Earhardt not being with us.

The reason I say Dale is because NA$CAR listened to him, he had a real big influence on the sport and the France family. When Earnhardt died, nobody stepped up into his shoes. Many feel that Rusty should have, many feel that Jeff Gordon should have. But nobody did and IMO, no one still has. We the fans need this because then we have a voice to be heard.

I think Dale Jr tries, but he gets stoned for it and people say that he is either riding his daddy's coat tails or that he hasnt won a cup, so who cares. Fact is, wither Jr ever wins a cup or not, he is needed in this sport, he is the face of NA$CAR wither people want to accept that or not. He has done more for the popularity of the sport than any other driver has. This is where his true greatness is measured. Even if Dale had not died, Jr would still be a popular person because he doesnt hide himself, he is who he is. I was amazed that he was more worried about what his fans thougtht of him leaving DIE, that speaks volumes for him. I like his old school mentality. There isnt enough of it.

So in all, no the sport hasnt improved, it's more popular, but by no means has it imporved and because of the sponsorships, for most part I think it's less viewer friendly on regular TV, but if you add the HOT PASS and in car cameras TRACK PASS and so on, it is more viewer friendly.

Answer 4

I don't think it has improved one itsy bitsy bit. It is absolutely the worst it could possibly be.
I would not say it had anything to do with Winston or Nextel it was the big TV buy out. NASCAR sold out to the whole family of fans and the sport channels that helped make them what they are.
It has become newbie friendly and to hell with all of us that have been into racing for decades. We don't count anymore because we are not buying into there crap.
DON"T GET ME STARTED

Answer 5

I think it has pretty much stayed the same. Fox's coverage is still very entertaining and informative. Speed Channel's shows continue to keep Fans informed of what is going on.

I think there have been improvements of the Non-Fox coverage. I am glad NASCAR got rid of NBC; sadly they did keep TNT; which had a minute of advertising for every minute of racing; which caused a significant drop in viewership in the second half of the season.

NEXTEL has brought on board Fan Scan at each track. Though the system is nice; there are only 5,000 sets brought to each track; and it is first come first serve with NEXTEL Customers getting preference in line.

Answer 6

I think it's growing but away from it's roots. Since Nextel got involved they have taken the races from the smaller hometown tracks (Rockingham) and put it in areas that are more "commercial" (Vegas). Since I live in North Carolina I hate to see it continue to go like it has. It has taken the personality out of the sport. I still enjoy it but not like I used to.

Answer 7

the sport has not improved, if anything it is becoming more generic...definitely less viewer friendly unless you like the LONGER commercials and not seeing what happened in the race...

Answer 8

I don't know I came into NASCAR in what was the Winston cups last year. I like the sport as it is, but then again I don't have anything to compare with like you veterans.

Answer 9

NASCAR has sucked ever since Dale Earnhardt left Ford at the end of the '83 season and defected to The Dark Side.

Answer 10

seem like some of it got better and other parts kind of when down hill like it better with winston but you know cant talking smoking on tv tho i dont remember them saying anything about smoking either some wussys just didnt like the name i guess wonders what would have happen if it had been bud tha got it oh boy im sure that would have causes a big fight