Has NASCAR ruined the Bristol race?

Question

I went to the race this weekend. . . .I have been to Bristol races since 1994. . .and I have to say the last couple of years they are just not as exciting . . .espescially the fall race. I think some of it has to do with the points system and the drivers just aren't willing to give it their all because of the chance of losing points and not making it into the race. Also, they keep changing the track and it is just not the same racing. I sat behind a man who actually fell asleep during the race. . .seemed to sleep like a baby too. . ..what do you think?

btw, I meant "into the Chase" instead of "into the race" . . .lol, it is a Monday. : )

I did have a good time. . .the heat was killer though, lol. . . .The first 250 laps were exciting with the racing going on in the front of the pack, but after that it seemed to lose the thrill a bit. And, once Edwards took over it was gone. . .I love Bristol, but it is changing and I guess with any change you have to have time to get use to it. Oh, my sis went to the Friday night race and she said it was amazing. Three wide on the last few laps. . .at Bristol, lol. . . amazing!

Answer 1

It's nice to hear from someone who remembers Bristol when it was not concrete. I've been to the Bristol night races since 1991. The last (and probably my final) night race I went to was in 2005. The excitement and competition/speed/on the edge driving has completely disappeared at Bristol. It started with the ugly/slow/school bus COT, then the banking, followed by the HARD Goodyear tire. A lot of people mention that 2, 3 or 4 wide racing is exciting. But did anyone notice that out of all of that side-by-side racing few passes were actually completed and the ones that were completed took 3-4 laps. The drivers couldn't even mat the throttle early in the turn and get a run on the inside. Those of you who don't see it and don't like it like it was in the old days really missed out on a lot of real competition. Why don't they make the cars wrapped in bubble pack and let them have as much power as go-karts? Heck, even go-karts have more side-by-side racing at low speeds and is more exciting than the new Bristol changes.

Answer 2

I love Nascar, so I'm generally not the type that complains about the racing, but I do agree that Talladega and Daytona are ruined. I never really cared for them anyway because the first 400 miles mean nothing, except a chance to get wrecked. The racing begins with 20 laps to go. The race yesterday, first 185 laps were boring, and last 3 exciting. I do think Bristol is fine. I wish it was like before, but I think it's fine the way it is now too. To make Nascar racing better, they need to add more road courses, at least put one in the chase if they continue to keep the chase. They need to shorten the plate races to 50-100 miles, but have intermission like the all star race. Absolutely no need having 500 miles at a plate race. They also need to get rid of some of the 1.5 mile tracks. I hear a lot of people complaining about Fontana, well at least that is only 1 of the 2 two mile tracks. It's unique. They need to split it up a bit. They should have added Iowa to the cup schedule instead of Kentucky, nothing against Kentucky. They need to put Darlington in the chase, and bring Rockingham back. Bottom line, they have too many 1.5 mile tracks, and not enough road courses or short tracks. Plate races are unneccessarily too long. If they are going to keep the chase, they need to put all the style tracks in the chase. I think all races are perfect. Nascar fans generally need to stop complaining about races. They must not like Nascar if they think races are boring. The only way you are going to have side by side racing the entire race is if every car is identical. If you have a driver that is faster than another, they will pull away. Nascar races in general are fine the way they are, except for the plate races. They could change up the tracks on the schedule. That bothers me more than the actual races itself.

Answer 3

The first race at Bristol this year was pretty exciting I thought and that was with the COT so you really cant say that it is the car's fault because its not. If you thought it was boring then it will simply be the new surface's fault. Once it gets some wear on it it should be more exciting. Maybe not to where it was but I actually enjoyed the different lines that they were running. There are always races everywhere that dont meet your expecations but it happens. Next time will be better.

Answer 4

Hey sparkles, I bet you still had a blast though. The Busch race was pretty exciting and the cup race wasn't THAT bad. I really like the 2 grooves of racing and the progressive banking they put in there. It may not make for as many wrecks but the overall racing is better, in my opinion. I remember watching a couple of races there where there were so many cautions that a 1/4 of the laps run were at pace car speed. The COT is just not going to spin and wreck as often as the old car. Another factor was the harder tire that Goodyear brought with them this time. Just like they did at Vegas, they erred on the side of safety and had too hard of a tire. A softer tire would grip better and allow the better cars to pass easier, especially with 2 grooves to run. That's the other reason for not as many wrecks, you could actually pass someone on the top. They used to HAVE to do the bump and run because it was too hard to move off of the bottom of the track. Be patient, the drivers LOVE it and the racing will only get better there with time.

Answer 5

I don't think it has been ruined. I'd rather see passing and three wide racing than watch so many caution laps. Green flag pits stops at Bristol? I thought that was pretty exciting! And I think there are two sides to the getting into the Chase argument. Sure some drivers who are in, don't want to lose points and will be more cautious but other drivers who are on the border or in danger of falling out will take more risks to make it. So, I don't think the points change has ruined Bristol either. I had no problem with the race this week.

Answer 6

i think the progressive banking of the track surface took away the personality that bristol was known for. you used to have to be tough to survive bristol and now it tends to act more like other tracks and has lost the "thunder valley" image.

as far as the chase, i think the current system makes drivers more prone to taking stupid risks, because those on the edge are doing everything they can to get/stay in the chase.

mostly, i think many of the changes that have been made over recent years (chase ystem, lucky dog, progressive banking, etc.) need to be reversed. brian france is a buffoon and is doing his best to turn nascar into a major cash cow, and is sacrificing the integrity of the sport.

Answer 7

Hey there, I was at Bristol (didn't see ya though lol). I've been going to Bristol since 2001 and I'm agreeing with you. There is something different. Have you ever seen green flag pit stops at Bristol? My personal feeling is that the COT, has made it that way. I didn't have anyone falling asleep around me, but I did see alot of people leaving with more than 50 laps to go.

Answer 8

I think everybody has been more reserved with this race because of the whole chase thing. I think the resurfacing of the track would have made it better with the car of yesterday, but I dunno..... I think the COT is going to make for some boring races and not only at Bristol.

Answer 9

I seem to think, the racing has gotten better with all the competition with the drivers. as for bristol, I think it made more drivers happy. Not so much the fans, with the less wrecks. More lanes to pass made it for an exciting race with Kahne, Edwards, and Earnhardt at one point.

Answer 10

I think it was a combination of the freshly paved track and the hard tires. It should be better next year. 2 and 3 wide racing was nice, IMO.