gary243 - 12 January 2009 11:58 PM

Mearn - 12 January 2009 10:27 PM

One thing I found interesting and another I found...asinine?

Earnhardt accounted for close to 40 percent or more of all sales in 2008

I figured he'd be number one, but not by that much.

That doesn't surprise me at all. And I think it proves something that we don't normally consider when looking at NASCAR's recent decline the past few years.

We always talk about the COT, the Chase, tickets prices, boring tracks, poor TV coverage... and all that over and over. But what few consider is that when the far and away the #1 most popular driver on the circuit goes from winning 15 races over his first five seasons, to winning a total of just three in the past four years, that hurts NASCAR big time. Then you add in what were #2 and #3, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart winning a combined one race this past year, it makes things even worse. Between Junior, Jeff, and Tony, that's the majority of NASCAR's fanbase rooting for guys who won 2 of 36 races.

I have been thinking the same thing. I have a few NASCAR friends who started watching in 2001 who are Jr. fans. They aren't particularly into cars, aren't into any other form of racing and have become less and less likely to catch a race any given weekend.

gary243 - 12 January 2009 11:58 PM

Mearn - 12 January 2009 10:27 PM

One thing I found interesting and another I found...asinine?

Earnhardt accounted for close to 40 percent or more of all sales in 2008

I figured he'd be number one, but not by that much.

That doesn't surprise me at all. And I think it proves something that we don't normally consider when looking at NASCAR's recent decline the past few years.

We always talk about the COT, the Chase, tickets prices, boring tracks, poor TV coverage... and all that over and over. But what few consider is that when the far and away the #1 most popular driver on the circuit goes from winning 15 races over his first five seasons, to winning a total of just three in the past four years, that hurts NASCAR big time. Then you add in what were #2 and #3, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart winning a combined one race this past year, it makes things even worse. Between Junior, Jeff, and Tony, that's the majority of NASCAR's fanbase rooting for guys who won 2 of 36 races.

I think there is a connection between the poor racing and the clustering of fans around only a few drivers. Due to a number of factors, racing is basically dead in NASCAR. When you remove the substance from a sport, all joe the fan has to cling to is a likable personality. Joe the fan will most likely pick someone he can relate to. Jr is just an average joe so, little wonder he gets majority support.

Moral of the story, put on a better show and people will start caring about winning again..

gary243 - 12 January 2009 11:58 PM

We always talk about the COT, the Chase, tickets prices, boring tracks, poor TV coverage... and all that over and over. But what few consider is that when the far and away the #1 most popular driver on the circuit goes from winning 15 races over his first five seasons, to winning a total of just three in the past four years, that hurts NASCAR big time. Then you add in what were #2 and #3, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart winning a combined one race this past year, it makes things even worse. Between Junior, Jeff, and Tony, that's the majority of NASCAR's fanbase rooting for guys who won 2 of 36 races.

Wait - I thought NASCAR was rigged? Why isn't Jr doing better?



....

I think part of why Jr's sales did so well last year is because all the Jr fans had to buy new merchandise. I'd expect Tony's sales to get a bit of a bump this year, too.

I know JJ's sales must be up. I remember being at Daytona in 2003 and being excited when I ran into somebody else wearing a Jimmie Johnson shirt (I counted maybe 5 total that day). At Martinsville this year, I couldn't swing a cat without hitting a Johnson fan.

I've already done my part for Tony, Junior and Mark Martin's 2009 sales.

Well i didnt see that comin.

VetteGuy62 - 13 January 2009 10:09 AM

gary243 - 12 January 2009 11:58 PM

Mearn - 12 January 2009 10:27 PM

One thing I found interesting and another I found...asinine?

Earnhardt accounted for close to 40 percent or more of all sales in 2008

I figured he'd be number one, but not by that much.

That doesn't surprise me at all. And I think it proves something that we don't normally consider when looking at NASCAR's recent decline the past few years.

We always talk about the COT, the Chase, tickets prices, boring tracks, poor TV coverage... and all that over and over. But what few consider is that when the far and away the #1 most popular driver on the circuit goes from winning 15 races over his first five seasons, to winning a total of just three in the past four years, that hurts NASCAR big time. Then you add in what were #2 and #3, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart winning a combined one race this past year, it makes things even worse. Between Junior, Jeff, and Tony, that's the majority of NASCAR's fanbase rooting for guys who won 2 of 36 races.

I think there is a connection between the poor racing and the clustering of fans around only a few drivers. Due to a number of factors, racing is basically dead in NASCAR. When you remove the substance from a sport, all joe the fan has to cling to is a likable personality. Joe the fan will most likely pick someone he can relate to. Jr is just an average joe so, little wonder he gets majority support.

Moral of the story, put on a better show and people will start caring about winning again..

You are a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

jpalm - 14 January 2009 12:05 AM

You are a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

Okay, point well taken. I had just opened my 401 statement for last year.. But today is a new day, so
how about this? "I am optimistic Brian France will do his best to restore NASCAR to its rightful spot as the world's preeminent auto-racing series and that any slight downward trend we may be seeing in either racing quality or fan loyalty is simply growing pains that will be rectified as teams acquire knowledge of the new and vastly improved racing machine they are currently privileged to field." There we go...

VetteGuy62 - 14 January 2009 10:20 AM

jpalm - 14 January 2009 12:05 AM

You are a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

Okay, point well taken. I had just opened my 401 statement for last year.. But today is a new day, so
how about this? "I am optimistic Brian France will do his best to restore NASCAR to its rightful spot as the world's preeminent auto-racing series and that any slight downward trend we may be seeing in either racing quality or fan loyalty is simply growing pains that will be rectified as teams acquire knowledge of the new and vastly improved racing machine they are currently privileged to field." There we go...

Anyone paying any attention to the DAKAR can see he has a LONG way to go... the world really loves it... the ASO is probably as giddy as Rick Hendrick with the sales.

VetteGuy62 - 14 January 2009 10:20 AM

jpalm - 14 January 2009 12:05 AM

You are a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

Okay, point well taken. I had just opened my 401 statement for last year.. But today is a new day, so
how about this? "I am optimistic Brian France will do his best to restore NASCAR to its rightful spot as the world's preeminent auto-racing series and that any slight downward trend we may be seeing in either racing quality or fan loyalty is simply growing pains that will be rectified as teams acquire knowledge of the new and vastly improved racing machine they are currently privileged to field." There we go...

It was a comment on your avatar more than anything.

jpalm - 14 January 2009 12:11 PM

It was a comment on your avatar more than anything.

I actually went surfing to find a smiling version of my alter-ego, but couldn't find one (at least in character)