Bret928

I’ll still watch it once in a while but, truthfully NASCAR lost me when they started using restrictor plates and they forgot what “stock car” racing was.

Its funny to think is that the cars back in the 60's & 70's had more in common with the cars people could actually buy off of the show room floor, than to day. Bout the only thing today’s NASCARs have in common with street (“stock”) cars is their names.

Also worth mentioning – the cars that raced 30-40 years ago where actually faster than today’s cars.

Nope, while it’s interesting to watch sometimes – following the money NASCAR lost its way along time ago.

Ispeed

It is entertainment, not real racing. It was probably better 30+ years ago.
"Debris on the track?" Really!

69gaugeman

If you haven't been to a NASCAR race you obviously have no idea of all the surrounding hoopla that goes with it.

It is an incredible event. Starts days before and when you take a town like Johnson City, TN and TRIPLE the population, you get some intense parties.

And Andrew, you would never get that close to any honeys at F1. Nascar however, if you can stand country music OMFG!

Chuck Schreiber

Brett,

You got out of it when they started using restrictor plates? That was in 1988, and only on superspeedways.

You'll be happy to hear that they don't use restrictor plates on any other tracks than that, so I guess we'll have you back as a fan??!!!

shmark

I've been to several, including Talladega twice so I've got a pretty good idea. The parties were fun, the trips were fun, the racing was boring. Sorry, diff'rent strokes.... I'd rather watch a race with one lead change over the entire race that was stalked, strategized, pit-stop timed, challenged, beaten, scrambled and finally made, than 40+ swaps.

Chuck Schreiber

1 lead change? Is that really a race??

Bret928

Actually the first use of restrictor plates came in 1971 as part of a “staged” plan by NASCAR to reduce the overall engine size from 427ci to 358ci. Similar to when F1 started to phase out V10s in favor of V8s but rather than restrictor plates they mandated rev limiters on the teams still running V10 engines.

The idea being to allow teams with limited budgets to run the larger engines while they developed the mandated engines.

Bret (with one "T")

Jim bailey - 928 International

I will watch some but never admit it... still freaks me out to see them rev at 9,400 RPM 200 plus MPH ! It's a push rod motor with NO ROLLER ROCKERS ... Insane that they can do that for 500 miles.

shmark

I'm not knocking what they have been able to do within the design requirements, pushrods at nine grand for 500 miles is crazy, and their engineers are seriously good. Heck the cars that most impress me are top fuel funny cars and dragsters. What they are able to do from induction to combustion to clutch packs, drive train and wheels/tires is just amazing. And I can't stand watching drag racing either.

Bret928

Agreed, that’s cool. But I kind of have a soft spot for the normally aspirated Formula One 2.4L engines pumping out 750-800hp at 19-20,000 RPMs.

I mean at 2.4 liters that V8 is only a half liter larger than my little MG’s cast-iron four banger engine and at ~200lbs is about half the weight.

That’s impressive!

RSKY BIZ

You guys check out the poll?
55% 'red neck' choice... 44% all other options combined. . .

. . . As you were...

Doc

69gaugeman

That's 'cause most of us are rednecks (at least at heart) , even if they won't admit it

FlyingDog

NASCAR is like Apple. Lots of marketing hype and rabid fans. Simplified usage for idiots (only turn right twice a year in NASCAR, no right mouse button on Apples). Brightly colored packaging hides the fact that they're all the same inside. Break constantly when you try to do real work with them. Overpriced.

Why can't NASCAR be disbanded instead of CART/Champ Car?

blown 87

I went to the Daytona 500 a few years ago, I do not see the thrill in it.

Most of the NASCAR fans I know only go to party, not to watch the race.

BTW, there was not a option for "I would rather paint the living room than see NASCAR" so I did not vote.

Mongo

F1 fan when Schumacher was reigning, now I dont' watch it much.

Same with NASCAR and the Hendrick Motorsports domination.