|
|
 |
|
Looking back, looking ahead
Posted
at
10:58 am
by Scott Whitmore
Looking back
Earlier in December I took part in a NASCAR-sponsored media poll to determine the top 10 stories of 2008.
Although I take it with a grain of salt (after all, any group that would let me be a member has to be suspect), here’s what the national media came up with:
1. Jimmie Johnson’s 3-peat as Sprint Cup champion.
2. Kyle Busch winning a combined 21 races in NASCAR’s top-three series.
3. Tony Stewart leaving Gibbs Racing to become owner-driver of Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009.
4. Carl Edwards winning a Cup series high nine races and finishing runner-up in both the Cup and Nationwide series.
5. The end of Jeff Gordon’s streak of 14 straight years with a Cup victory.
6. Ryan Newman winning his and owner Roger Penske’s first Daytona 500.
7. Johnny Benson edging Ron Hornaday Jr. for the second-closest Truck series title.
8.Dale Earnhardt Jr. snapping a 76-race winless streak in his first season with Hendrick Motorsports.
9. Clint Bowyer wining the Nationwide Series Championship.
10. Joey Logano, 19, making his NASCAR debut and competing in 19 Nationwide races, including winning the race at Kentucky.
What is important to know about this list is the fact that we were asked to make our selections from a group of stories provided by NASCAR.
That’s why you don’t see my number 2 story of the year on the list, namely the affect of the economic downturn on racing.
Although I don’t think Jimmie Johnson’s 3-peat is in the same league — or should be in the same recordbook — as Cale Yarborough’s, I still rank it as the top story. Let’s face it, Cale won three straight season championships; Jimmie won three Chase championships … just not the same thing.
But, between sponsors bolting to new teams, teams folding and merging, and manufacturers pulling out of both NASCAR and F1, how can you not consider the economy as an important story?
Unless you’re NASCAR and don’t want to encourage negative publicity about yourself, you can’t.Looking ahead
Here’s a few fearless predictions for big-time racing in 2009:
1. Get used to seeing empty seats at NASCAR Cup races, especially at any track outside the Southeast. Even if the economy starts to get better, I don’t think people will think first of spending to attend a race.
2. At some point — maybe toward the middle or later in the season — each of NASCAR’s top-three series will start a race with less than a full field. Even field-fillers will take a pass at some venues.
3. The racing in Formula 1 will be more exciting as the gap between the former haves and have-nots (i.e., Ferrari/McLaren and BMW-Sauber/Red Bull) shrinks. The new smaller wing should also help by continuing the trend of putting the drivers — not the engineers — to the forefront.
4. By aggressively marketing its drivers and history — Say hello to Danica and the ghost of Paul Newman — IndyCar will see an increase in popularity and attendance. The nature of the schedule, mixing ovals with road and street courses, means the series champion has to be a complete driver, not just a specialist, too. Once the glut passes and gas prices begin to rise again, the use of "green" fuel will also be a marketing point.
5. The role of women in racing will continue to grow. Danica Patrick will win at least one more IndyCar race, and Hillary Will, Ashley Force and Melanie Troxel will become regulars in the finals at NHRA events.
NASCAR’s Danica will be racing somewhere in America or Canada, maybe in the Drive for Diversity program or at a local track. But NASCAR sorely needs her to make the jump to the top-three series as soon as possible, along with a bunch of other drivers who can serve as representatives and role models.Final word?
Normally I don't go in much for the "end of year wrap-up." And is it me, or did the TV, Web and radio start with the "Best of" and "Looking back" stories waaaay too early?
It's just like how stores are now putting out Halloween candy and decorations in August.
But I digress ... I thought I should do another post in 2008 because who knows if this blog will still be up and running in 2009. I'll keep posting as long as they let me (maybe they forgot I was still here), but only time will tell.
Have a safe and happy New Year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Return to Trackside |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map