NASCAR today question

[Ghoste]

NASCAR fans I have a question for you guys, do you follow drivers more than brands?  Or teams?  Do the cars even mean that much any more has the sanctioning body met their goal of a level playing field in that regard?

[JB400]

Honestly, I do all three.  I follow Dodge for obvious reasons. I've alway's liked Jack Roush and Roger Penske, because they have always had my favorite drivers, at least in the past. I also follow my favorite drivers that do leave their organizations and move to others, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Allmendinger, and the Bucsh's just to name a few.

[Indygenerallee]

It's all a joke, all they could care is pushing product and not focusing on real racing..

[JB400]

It's all a joke, all they could care is pushing product and not focusing on real racing..

The only thing Nascar cares about is making money just like any other business.  I do get bored just watching it and usually just catch the highlights and the story lines.

[adauto]

The only thing Nascar cares about is making money just like any other business.  I do get bored just watching it and usually just catch the highlights and the story lines.
[/quote]

I agree that NASCAR has turned into the "corprate machine". But I still like certain drivers/hate others/ like certain teams/ect. We still go to Joliet every year and have a great time. I grew up going to the small local circle tracks long before I ever even heard of a drag strip (grade school). Saw lots of USAC events back in the day too (milwaukee mile). So many guys are so concerned about the NASCAR hierarchy they cant take it for what it is and have some fun with it. 

[RTDaddy]

For the longest time I was a "driver only" fan, (Buddy Baker), and "Dodge only" for the obvious reason.  Baker going to Fords and the demise of Dodge from NASCAR forced me to approach it otherwise. 
I have steadily become less and less of a NASCAR fan for several reasons: a. Turning the series into an IROC series with all of the cars the same. b. legislating the teams/crew chiefs into a "box" and limiting their "creativity."  (If you come up with a new idea and beat everyone with it, you should be allowed to use it), c. Legislating the "characters" and personality out of the sport through various "behavior detrimental to the sport" fines, and, d. cost of attending.
Old man drug me to my first race in 1965, (Martinsville), got to see Curtis Turner and Bobby Isaac stand toe to toe after they crashed in turn 2 I think.  Got to see the wing cars run at Talledega in '70.  Saw Richard and Bobby beat the cars to death at the Fall Martinsville race in 72.  NASCAR needs to get back to the cars looking more like the "real" cars.  If you went with a car that fit the same template as a stock body, you eliminate the cost of hand forming a body, with no lower valences the cars become less stable (read slower) and things are put more into the hands of the driver.  I think this would also make the cars less "aero-dependent."  While this might mean a brand might get its butt kicked due to an inferior design, make like the old days and bring a better car to the track. 
I now retire back to my cave. 

"IF YOU'RE UNDER CONTROL, YOU AIN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH."

[JB400]

Why not come out of your cave and get on the Board of Competition?

[nvrbdn]

im a nascar fan. been a ryan newman fan for years. when he hit nascar i followed him. dont care who the sponser is, and doesnt matter what car he is driving. have a few other drivers i watch also. then there is the hate list. the only reason i talk about owners is when they (nascar) give favoritism to rick hendrick. so im not brands or sponsors or owners. just drivers.

[JB400]

Sorry, but Nascar don't play favorites to just Hendrick.  They favor whoever is the biggest star.

[Scaregrabber]

NASCAR has become a popularity contest. I do have a shred of hope for Brad K this year then it's all over (deep down I believe it is all bought and paid for awhile back but I'd love for Brad to win and prove me wrong). I won't be back.

Sheldon

[Danny Gutierrez]

I have always been a Brand Loyal fan. When Sterling Marlin made his run a decade ago I was there. I rooted for Kasey Khane in the number nine Dodge. Heck, I rooted for Busch in the blue duece. I don't care who the driver is. I root for the brand. Perhaps my thinking would be different if we had brand loyal drivers like the ferd and chebby camps have. We all know Jr will only drive bow ties. Tony bailed on Gibbs for switching to Toyota. What if Keslowski won the championship and told his boss that there was no way he would be caught dead in a ford? Unfortunately us Dodge faithful don't have that.. just my two cents.

[JB400]

Don't give up hope just yet.  (Please note, I'm not talking about hope and change that we so enjoy today )
Dodge still has their Nascar budget for next year.  They'll come up with some way of getting back in the series in 14.

[thedodgeboys]

NASCAR fans I have a question for you guys, do you follow drivers more than brands?  Or teams?  Do the cars even mean that much any more has the sanctioning body met their goal of a level playing field in that regard?

It's hard to be brand loyal when your brand leaves 

I wish they would have worked a deal with Penski but it's over, now were in the era of the super teams.

I use to loyal to a sponsor on a driver I liked but now a driver has so many I can't keep up so I don't buy anything. Gone are the cool shirts and die cast. Heck the Petty team isn't even bringing a souvenir  trailer to the races,  Just think how many differant shirts you would need if you were an Edwards fan, every week he's in a differant sponsored ride.

It's all about the money now 

[Ghoste]

So basically most people follow a driver and pay little to no attention what he is in?

[moparstuart]

So basically most people follow a driver and pay little to no attention what he is in?

not me i'm done with NASCAR again untill Dodge decides to come back again in 20 year

[JB400]

It really depends on the person.  It's about like any other sport.  Do you follow the quarterback, or do you follow the team?  Some people like the sports star, others like the team.

[70redbee]

I am a Nascar fan. I always loved Mark Martin and followed him for years and still do. I still think he is the best driver out there and does not cry when things don't always go his way. I am a Richard Petty fan, Carl Edwards, Brad, Bobby and many others. Kyle is a cry baby, his brother an a--hole but they keep things interesting. As said it is all about money anymore, big business. Gone are the days of having the same driver in the same car for the same sponser.

Now do I think it is crooked....Yes! Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Hendrick have bought Nascar and will continue to own them until someone else comes along with more money, Does anyone remember Hendrick buying the fines and suspensions back from his buddy at the beginning of this year when Chad cheated, for the pillar deal?

With all this said, I still follow along and enjoy it. I would love to see Brad win it all, but Hendrick has already paid for it up front. Greg Biffle should be the champ this year but it won't happen. As far as Junior it is a popularity contest, because of his dad, not the best driver but with Hendrick money.

After all of this, I will answer the question. I like and follow a lot of brands, drivers and teams...really didn't answer the question did I? Sorry but there is a lot that goes into who you follow and like. So give me anyone who does not drive for Hendrick or a Chevrolet.