Time for something different, some NASCAR burning question where I (blogger Brian Vermette and the man behind ThinkingBrian) answer a few burning questions from the past week in this NASCAR Edition.
1. Was the 2012 NASCAR All-Star race entertaining or disappointing?
It all depends upon the way you look at it. Personally while the All-Star race didn't live up to all of the hype and wrecks that the media and some fans were saying it was going to happen. The race was ok to watch. The first 80 laps which are four heat races was pretty good with each heat race winner dropping to the rear of the field and ready to advance to the main event. Yeah that's the way I looked at it once it began to play out. But unfortunately, the final 10 laps were a blow out with Jimmie Johnson just running away with the win. That #48 team and Jimmie Johnson did one hell of a job and they had the best car of the night. (Read More...)
So bottom line, it was good hard racing, but not the All-Star bang I was looking for. However NASCAR did every thing they could and that's it, no blame.
2. Should fans be angry at Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth for dropping to rear of the field or "sandbagging"?
No way, no, this is race strategy, not cheating or sandbagging. Teams found an advantage in winning a heat race early. You win a heat race, you go to back and wait for the main event (last 10 laps that pays $1 Million to win). But I will add that its does suck for the fans because this is an All-Star race and its go for broke type racing.
3. Does the All-Star race need a facelift and find a format and stay with it?
Oh hell yes and yes. There is so many things NASCAR could do here from a new simpler format, new qualifying way with no driver locked in to the main event a head of time to a brand new venue. I would even suggest exploring combining the Budweiser Shootout and the All-Star race into one elite event maybe during either the off season or during a week off during the season. Phoenix, Richmond, Martinsville, Bristol, Iowa would all make interesting venues for a new All-Star race. Or leave it in Charlotte and create some different. Now fans instead of yell about it, come up with a solution would work better.
Let me think about my best suggestion here.
4. Is Kurt Busch vs. Ryan Newman a "WWE-Style" feud?
No, its a old rivalry and as a WWE fan, I resent the fact that Kurt Busch would even spin his latest blow up as a good thing for the sport and a WWE thing. Personally I don't care about this whole Kurt Busch thing and haven't for a while, this is NASCAR's, the car owners and his sponsors problem, and they need to handle it. NASCAR could park him for one or two races, but that requires him to do something else wrong. I'm done with this crap and instead I want to watch some racing.
5. Predictions, 5 drivers to watch in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte including a wild card.
Obviously Jimmie Johnson one to watch and I'm picking him to win the 600. But Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart are also ones to watch. However in the wild card, I would say Martin Truex Jr. will be one to watch. Did I surprise anyone. The thing is though, while yes these are ones to watch, there 15-20 drivers on any given week that could win and the Coke 600 is NASCAR's longest race any one can win it if they are in the top 5 in the 50 laps.
Damn that works for my first edition and don't forget to click "I agree", "I disagree" or "Its cool" in what do you think at the top of the article for reaction.
1. Was the 2012 NASCAR All-Star race entertaining or disappointing?
It all depends upon the way you look at it. Personally while the All-Star race didn't live up to all of the hype and wrecks that the media and some fans were saying it was going to happen. The race was ok to watch. The first 80 laps which are four heat races was pretty good with each heat race winner dropping to the rear of the field and ready to advance to the main event. Yeah that's the way I looked at it once it began to play out. But unfortunately, the final 10 laps were a blow out with Jimmie Johnson just running away with the win. That #48 team and Jimmie Johnson did one hell of a job and they had the best car of the night. (Read More...)
So bottom line, it was good hard racing, but not the All-Star bang I was looking for. However NASCAR did every thing they could and that's it, no blame.
- 1a. Does SPEED and FOX TV Broadcast need to change too? Yes, simply put one of the reasons why the All-Star race didn't work was the broadcast itself. There is simply too many talking heads on one broadcast and too much going on that doesn't include the race itself. I really only need 2-3 people in the booth with one explaining the tech side of it with a detailed software on a screen. FOX has this and needs to showcase it more. And 3 people on pit road. FOX can include a moving reporter (Jeff Hammond does this right now) and that's fine. But get rid of the Hollywood Hotel. Too many people talking at once.
2. Should fans be angry at Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth for dropping to rear of the field or "sandbagging"?
No way, no, this is race strategy, not cheating or sandbagging. Teams found an advantage in winning a heat race early. You win a heat race, you go to back and wait for the main event (last 10 laps that pays $1 Million to win). But I will add that its does suck for the fans because this is an All-Star race and its go for broke type racing.
3. Does the All-Star race need a facelift and find a format and stay with it?
Oh hell yes and yes. There is so many things NASCAR could do here from a new simpler format, new qualifying way with no driver locked in to the main event a head of time to a brand new venue. I would even suggest exploring combining the Budweiser Shootout and the All-Star race into one elite event maybe during either the off season or during a week off during the season. Phoenix, Richmond, Martinsville, Bristol, Iowa would all make interesting venues for a new All-Star race. Or leave it in Charlotte and create some different. Now fans instead of yell about it, come up with a solution would work better.
Let me think about my best suggestion here.
4. Is Kurt Busch vs. Ryan Newman a "WWE-Style" feud?
No, its a old rivalry and as a WWE fan, I resent the fact that Kurt Busch would even spin his latest blow up as a good thing for the sport and a WWE thing. Personally I don't care about this whole Kurt Busch thing and haven't for a while, this is NASCAR's, the car owners and his sponsors problem, and they need to handle it. NASCAR could park him for one or two races, but that requires him to do something else wrong. I'm done with this crap and instead I want to watch some racing.
5. Predictions, 5 drivers to watch in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte including a wild card.
Obviously Jimmie Johnson one to watch and I'm picking him to win the 600. But Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart are also ones to watch. However in the wild card, I would say Martin Truex Jr. will be one to watch. Did I surprise anyone. The thing is though, while yes these are ones to watch, there 15-20 drivers on any given week that could win and the Coke 600 is NASCAR's longest race any one can win it if they are in the top 5 in the 50 laps.
Damn that works for my first edition and don't forget to click "I agree", "I disagree" or "Its cool" in what do you think at the top of the article for reaction.
