do you think NASCAR would achieve a little more respect and prestige if the drivers, reporters, and announcers actually sounded more like English gentlemen and not a bunch of rednecks?

 

the only way that Nascar would earn my respect would be if they ran at Monaco

 

LOL, yeah, and that too. but if NASCAR stops making left turns and run on ovals, i'm afraid most "die-hard" NASCAR fans would be put off by the complexities of real racing.

 

"duuuuuuh.... what's a right turn? How does one perform this so called 'real racing'?"

Then I'd show them all the videos I have of WRC rallies

 

actually I believe it has to do with the sponsors. when you have sponsors like viagra, budweiser, and a laundry detergent called tide, I don't think you can be considered "prestigious" compared to guys out there sponsored by tag heuer. different ballpark, different audience to appeal to.

 

There is only ONE oval track race that I will ever watch: the Indy 500

Why? Tradition, and in memory of a friend that loved the indy 500 before she got killed by a drunk driver Plus it's the only oval track race I have ever liked

sorry, I'm making this a sad thread

anyways, personally, I hate NASCAR... with a passion...

WRC, F1, F2000, SBK, Tour De France... they're all more exciting!

 

Rich,

Actually your statements sound a little elitist to me. What does it matter what people sound like? What should matter is whether the people can drive or not. I respect people who can drive at 200 MPH, regardless of what their speech is like. However, it might interest you to know that some of NASCAR's shining lights do not speak like rednecks. For example, Jeff Gordon grew up in the Bay Area and has no southern accent. So, to answer your question, no I don't think that if they spoke more like "English Gentlemen" that the sport would be more respected or prestigous. I think the sport stays true to it's roots by not worrying about how the people best qualified to talk about it sound.

You know, Magic Johnson was a great announcer and play by play guy for NBA games after he retired. Unfortunately, his speech is not perfect and he uses terms and slang that would be considered "from the hood" so he was dropped as an announcer. It's a shame because he had great insight into the game, despite the fact that he didn't sound like an "English Gentleman".

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Strike
[B]Rich,

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ElTianti


Can we set the record straight on one thing. NASCAR "Stock" cars never go 200mph, not at Daytona, not at Talladaga, not anywhere.

Be careful how you use the word "never."


The 200mph milestone was first reached on Mar. 24, 1970, when Buddy Baker drove a Hemi Daytona to 200.447mph around Alabama International Motor Speedway at Talladega.

Benny Parsons became the first NASCAR Winston Cup driver to qualify at over 200mph for the 1982 Winston 500 at Talladega.

Bill Elliot holds the qualifying record at 212mph at....you guessed it....Talladega.

Take off the restrictor plates and yes...they will easily travel at speeds more than 200mph.
Anyone who doesn't think these guys are talented drivers need to take the blinders off. Hello? Anyone recall's #3's performance racing at the 24hrs of Daytona with the Corvette team? Tony Stewart...ever heard of him? Hell, I love IRL, F1 and WRC racing as much as the next guy, but those "rednecks" both in the booth (Waltrip) and on the tracks have forgotten more about racing than any of us will ever know.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Russ

Quote:

Originally posted by ElTianti


Can we set the record straight on one thing. NASCAR "Stock" cars never go 200mph, not at Daytona, not at Talladaga, not anywhere.

Be careful how you use the word "never."


The 200mph milestone was first reached on Mar. 24, 1970, when Buddy Baker drove a Hemi Daytona to 200.447mph around Alabama International Motor Speedway at Talladega.

Benny Parsons became the first NASCAR Winston Cup driver to qualify at over 200mph for the 1982 Winston 500 at Talladega.

Bill Elliot holds the qualifying record at 212mph at....you guessed it....Talladega.

Take off the restrictor plates and yes...they will easily travel at speeds more than 200mph.
Anyone who doesn't think these guys are talented drivers need to take the blinders off. Hello? Anyone recall's #3's performance racing at the 24hrs of Daytona with the Corvette team? Tony Stewart...ever heard of him? Hell, I love IRL, F1 and WRC racing as much as the next guy, but those "rednecks" both in the booth (Waltrip) and on the tracks have forgotten more about racing than any of us will ever know.

Yes, I know this, that is why my statement used the present tense not the past tense. It's been almost twenty years since a "Stock" car turned a lap at 200mph.

Dale's lap times were not even close to Any Pilgrim's (his actual race car driver team mate) at last year's Rolex. Honestly how had can
it be if guys in their 50's (Dave Marcus) can do? In F1 you're washed up by 35, if not earlier. There's no doubt there are talented
guys in NASCAR, I just think their talent is being wasted.