From humble beginnings to mega-million dollar teams, NASCAR is more American than apple pie. Your thoughts about the Race, Chase, and Stages?

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:14:54 -0400

I've been watching NASCAR since the 1950s. I've seen it grow from a few tracks and virtually no rules to several distinctly different series, massive amounts of money spent by teams, sponsors, and fans, and more rules and limitations on the sport than Carter has pills. It is so bad, I have all but lost interest. NASCAR and the teams have made it an incredibly safe sport, considering the drivers are hurtling around paved tracks at speeds between 120 mph and 225 mph, depending upon the track. But here's what NASCAR has done wrong: there are so many car, track, and driver rules, that there is microscopic room for individuality. I hate it. I hate the way NASCAR has screwed around with stupid points, year after year. A few years back, they started this assinine Chase format, to which they added, this year, an even more assinine format called Stages. I would witnessed it up close and personal at Daytona in February. It sucks. NASCAR-loving RP'ers: it is no fun watching forty cars that are built alike, drive alike, and look alike, except for paint schemes, drive in circles. I hate the Chase, I hate the Stages. I wish NASCAR would let the boys just race. It IS incredibly safe. So, let the drivers drive, let the builders fudge a bit here and there, and get rid of those goddamn restrictor plates. In other words, bring the danger and the individuality back. NASCAR will be just fine. So, whaddaya think???

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Sep 23 at 2017 12:03 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 00:03:13 -0400

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member, I've never really watched NASCAR events much, but I did have a great experience at the Talladega Superspeedway on May 5, 2013. In the pre-race parade of drivers, I got to drive (we all drove brand new Ford SuperCrew cab trucks) two of the drivers around the track (someone told me one was famous) and then was able to remain on pit row throughout the race. It was a lot of fun! Here I took a photo and I was almost close enough to touch driver, Jamie McMurray (who finished 23rd that Sunday).

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Sep 23 at 2017 1:25 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 01:25:20 -0400

A NASCAR track, the Seekonk Speedway, in Seekonk, Massachusetts. An oval circular stock car track the only remaining track of this type in Massachusetts. Still the action of the track and things happen fast sometimes but not the speeds of the big tracks, A great event for a Friday night or also certain holidays. A lot of local drivers and sometime some more widely hosted NASCAR events. This is just racing and whoever get across the finish line and the checkered flag first after a few laps of the oval track wins. Its still the way it should be. I've always loved this sort of racing. They still have figure 8 races, demolition derbies all kinds of great stuff !

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Sep 23 at 2017 4:06 AM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 04:06:57 -0400

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member Spent many Sunday afternoon with my wife and boys watching the Winston Cup races.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2017 6:12 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 06:12:54 -0400

Formula One is where it's at these days. Each team has a different car, different designs and setups, aerodynamics tuned with precise, microscopic detail, and the most technical tracks any racer could ever drive on. Makes for a much more exciting race.

Response by CPO Charles Helms made Sep 23 at 2017 6:23 AM

CPO Charles Helms — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 06:23:23 -0400

Brian France, has all but ruined what his grandfather and father built! The Chase and playoffs is the stupidest thing they have done!! It's not stock car racing anymore with cars that look the same!! I'm with you on this, they lost my wife a few years ago with the Chase and this year with stages they lost me!!

Response by LTC Orlando Illi made Sep 23 at 2017 8:22 AM

LTC Orlando Illi — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 08:22:05 -0400

I agree. Let the good old boys race. NASCAR grew out of Junior Johnson and the good old boys running away from the "...revenuers...". It is now a PC shell of its former self. I remember when Fireball Roberts crashed and died, when Richard Petty was the KING and when Sterling Marlin was out there in his father's footsteps. In 2009 we were at Charlotte and I met Junior Johnson at his trailer outside of the track where he was selling his moonshine. His 1940 Moonshine Running Ford Coupe (recreated) was on display. I bought some of the Moonshine and it has a real kick believe me

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 23 at 2017 7:35 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 19:35:02 -0400

Shades of "Thunder Road".

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Sep 26 at 2017 4:29 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 16:29:38 -0400

I actually started sanctioned racing when I was barely 14 (back road street racing before that) and over the years we raced just about everything at least for awhile. Although drag racing has always been my favorite we also did asphalt track and dirt track racing, boats and even motorcycles and bicycles. Unfortunately age and money put an end to most of it although I do still have a nephew in the business. Once upon a time I was a big NASCAR fan but I lost interest when they quit racing real cars. The same thing is happening with some NHRA car classes.