Bigger Isn't Always Better
By M.L. Morgan
Well, race fans, we are all aware of the ever-expanding schedule for 2001. 36 official, points races. Lots of muttering that this is too many races in such a short period. We have muttered here at Race Views.
Once again the idea of running two divisions in Nascar's Senior circuit has arisen. Problem is, this notion is espoused only by media puppies who don't have a farthing invested in racing, and have no knowledge of running a race team, or sponsoring a race team. They are complete trainees who have no comprehension of the business of Winston Cup Racing.
You'll notice we didn't use the term "sport". Winston Cup racing is entertaining, but it's a business - not a sport. Nascar keeps score with points, ostensibly, but the points are a euphemism for Dollar$.
We personally, have no problems with this system. We are full-grown. We know about bidness. We are not jaded. It's just bidness.
Nascar is experiencing some growing pains. T.V. coverage has brought stock car racing into many new homes. Cable t.v., in particular. Nothing wrong with that. Stock car racing is very entertaining. No arguement.
Very popular deal- so much so that people all over the country with a spare $150 million are building new tracks, just to attract the ever-lucrative Nascar race dates. Let's not forget - these dates are not only lucrative for the track owners - Nascar gets their franchising fees and other charges off the gross - not the net.
Before we go any farther - most of the team owners - even the big-name teams - don't get rich from this system - that's why the sponsors are so important.
Let's quickly regroup. We are now looking at a 36-race schedule in 2001 and the teams are begging for relief. So the media puppies reprise the idea of two divisions. We think these same puppies love all the different alphabets used to describe Professional Wrestling. That crap won't be accepted in Winston Cup.
No thinking Winston Cup fan will pay the preposterous Nascar prices to see half of the best drivers compete in a particular race. Just won't happen.
We know new tracks are being built. Some of them will get Nascar race dates. Inevitable.
What is destined to happen, Nascar will have to take away race dates from existing tracks which have two race dates, including some of their own.
We said we mutter - but we never stutter - there will never be two divisions of racing at the Winston Cup level.
Mike Morgan
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