NASCAR Surprises and Disappointments

NASCAR is a sport where you can easily find yourself in need of collecting your thoughts before making any comments. It has been exactly four weeks since I have written anything NASCAR-related and as I write, I am still sorting out the month that was.

I had a lot to say as evident by the long rants on my NASCAR podcast, but not much to write about. Why? Because talking comes easy, you know, just as easy as how Brad Keselowski continues to call out Toyota-backed Joe Gibbs Racing, or when Kyle Busch effortlessly responds to Keselowski with a STFU. Talking is easy. Writing sometimes is not.

Writing involves strategically organizing your thoughts to paint a picture and tell a story that your readers will follow, captivate them, and keep their interest. A story that offers many surprises, teaches, inspires, is thought-provoking, keeps you high, keeps you wanting more, but more importantly, doesn’t let you down and limits the disappointments; a story like NASCAR–at least the NASCAR we all fell in love with.

NASCAR Podcast: Drivers, Drama, Disappointment, Dismay

All I ever want to talk and write about is, “What about NASCAR’s veteran drivers.” I can’t write about this topic every week, but if I could, the reality is, no one cares. Why should they? There is so much going on each week that something like disappearing NASCAR drivers is not a concern, but it should be.

Over It!

“NASCAR is becoming irrelevant” and “constant rule changes are becoming an issue.” Article titles such as these have dominated NASCAR news. Reading the same thing on every single website that covers NASCAR is exhausting. At some point, it all starts to sound like the parent who tries to warn you with their repetitive, “I think, you should, don’t do this, do that.” What I know to be true about most things in life is that you have to learn from your mistakes. NASCAR is learning from all of theirs. At least, we all hope.

NASCAR Fatigue

At some point it either clicks or it doesn’t. You keep doing the same thing to the dismay of others and they abandon you. It’s no surprise that NASCAR fans are abandoning the sport. They are simply sick and tired of being sick and tired. Sponsors are leaving, beloved veteran drivers are being forced out, the experience of a NASCAR race isn’t what it once was. While other sports fans typically complain about the price of admission, NASCAR fans complain about that and everything else. Don’t believe me, take a click over to Reddit’s NASCAR board or peruse Twitter on race day.

More from NASCAR

Drivers who are somewhat muzzled aren’t far behind. Case-in-point, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Jr. is giving up his behind-the-wheel duties, but that hasn’t stopped him from expressing his views on why NASCAR should regulate drivers doing burnouts after taking the checkered flag. And then there is Keselowski, who never stops speaking up on anything he feels to be an injustice. Don’t get me wrong, like most fans, I am here for all things NASCAR. I love NASCAR and it is entertaining, but oftentimes I find myself feeling drained and disappointed.

Frustrations

Drama and controversy is part of the course. It is what usually keeps fans intrigued. It almost certainly keeps fans talking. However, when you’re dealing with “drama” week after week, sometimes you have to ask yourself when enough is enough, especially when most of it is self-inflicted.

Television ratings are still declining, the most popular driver in NASCAR is calling it quits, young drivers are taking over, leaving veteran drivers scrambling. But the sport isn’t attracting new fans, leaving die-hard veteran fans to ponder. Kyle Larson, one of the most prolific young drivers to come through NASCAR in a while, doesn’t have a main sponsor going into next year and the well has run dry for Danica Patrick, who at one time was one of NASCAR’s most marketable drivers besides Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Then there is NASCAR’s “Golden Boy” Chase Elliott, who doesn’t seem to be living up to all the hype placed upon him as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville Bill Elliott’s son and the “Chosen One” to take over from NASCAR’s previous savior, Jeff Gordon.

On the heels of announcing he was moving from the No. 24 ride to the No. 9 car once driven by his dad, he is dealing with the ramifications of cheating allegations. NASCAR believes his team illegally modified his car’s spoiler with tape during the opening playoff race, adding more drama to NASCAR’s never-ending list of problems. Oh, and there is that little matter with how sponsors seem to be leaving the sport in droves.

Can It Be Worse?

For those who watch the sport closely from a business standpoint, it is not a secret that ratings have been down. Sports Media Watch reported that Chicagoland was the lowest-rated Cup race since 2001. If the playoffs aren’t exciting the fans, and diehards like myself are feeling spent week after week, what will?

NASCAR needs a reset — perhaps a little blue tent where the powers to be can convene and figure it all out. Sometimes, things get a lot worse before they get better, but at the pace NASCAR is currently on, I have to ask, “How much worse can it get?”

On the latest episode of All Turns No Brakes, a NASCAR podcast for fans by fans, we discuss Kyle Busch and Keselowski going at it, the mysterious blue tent, cousin Carl, who didn’t show up for the playoffs, and more NASCAR talk. Check it out. Join the debate with Rene and I as we talk all things NASCAR in an unapologetic, humorous and unfiltered way.

Next: NASCAR: Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaks out about Jimmie Johnson potentially winning his eighth championship

What do you think? Are you tired of all the NASCAR drama? What does the future hold for NASCAR? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it. Also be sure to follow Beyond the Flag on both Instagram and Twitter.

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