Four Wide: Brian France on competition and complaining

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Bringing you the best in NASCAR news and opinion. Get your day rolling right ... or left, whichever.

• Dustin Long posts a one-on-one interview with Brian France in which he discusses the criticism NASCAR has received from television commentators, among other subjects. Gotta say, he makes some good points here. Read this one with an open mind. [HamptonRoads.com]

• Following up on that, an interesting take on how the media shapes a negative perception of NASCAR. Uh-oh. Sorry 'bout that, folks. [The NASCAR Insiders]

• Do you know who Kevin Conway is? No? Well, he's going to be trying to make his Cup and Truck series debuts at Phoenix this weekend ... the first time anybody's ever attempted that. [Scene Daily]

• The Chase isn't really as wide-open as we all thought it was. Hell. (Aw, Jenna! Why you gotta spoil our fun, huh?) [Fryer's Five @ Yahoo! Sports]

• Grist for the Danica-bashers: Danica Patrick will struggle in NASCAR, no doubt about it. What, you think she's going to succeed where Juan Pablo Montoya, Sam Hornish Jr. and Dario Franchitti have scrabbled in recent years? [Scene Daily]

• Jimmie Johnson didn't get out of his car during the hour-plus that his crew was working on the 48 on Sunday. And the fact that he didn't might just give him his fourth championship. [ESPN.com]

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1. Posted by kinggeorge Mon Nov 09, 2009 6:42 pm EST
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Read the France interview and he did make some good points, mostly the answer to the last question where we don't always get a stellar Superbowl, World Series etc. I'm not sure if it's just me but other then that I had a hard time trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about. That man has a difficult time putting a coherent thought together.
The story on The NASCAR Insiders was very insightful. Made a lot of sense.
2. Posted by Jim T. Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:00 pm EST
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I agree with France. The biggest problem today is Jimmie Johnson's domination and the lack of performance from Dale Jr , Carl Edwards and all the rest. If you change the chase format to try to make it harder for Johnson you lose your credibility. Here I go again: If Dale Jr could win a couple races you wouldn't be able to find a ticket to any track.
3. Posted by Dani Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:29 pm EST
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As for Brian France and his interview, I got tired of his analogy with the NFL, etc. Maybe he should just concentrate on Nascar. It was a lot of blah, blah.
Jim T - I can't help but think you're right about Dale Jr. If we could switch JJ's place with Jr... can you just imagine?? I don't think you could buy a ticket at any track!!!!
4. Posted by Dani Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:33 pm EST
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correction... I meant to say put Dale Jr in JJ's place.
5. Posted by Moon Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:09 pm EST
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Brain Frances is a Blow Hard....can we say that on here....oh well I am saying it, cause it is totally true.
BTW.....A big Hello to Jim T......miss talking with you...sending you sweet dreams and wet kisses.
6. Posted by RichardW Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:38 pm EST
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Brian France needs to stop trying to turn NASCAR into football on wheels.. The fans don't like it, at least the race fans don't.. It focuses on a phony points system that evens up the score.. It isn't "post season" among the leaders, as in other sports.. It stops drivers from competing against the field (if you were Jimmie, would you really have raced Hamlin for the win at Martinsville??), and it ain't racin'.. Ending the race, or in some cases not ending the race in the middle of a lap, is more than a little arbitrary.. Double file restarts wreck cars for little reason, and combined with green, white, checker finishes only create wrecked cars, not racing.. NASCAR was a much bigger sport, with a much bigger fan base before these none racing changes started driving fans away.. I give credit to ABC, for not playing his "everything's rosy" game.. I'm a race fan.. I watch lap times.. I know what is really going on.. When the top ten are all turning 52.00 second laps at Talladega, lap, after lap, after lap.. Someone has to figure a fan, or two noticed.. Those cars could all go faster than that, without the draft..
7. Posted by Dave H Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:16 pm EST
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How do we fix this so our cash cow Jr can actually find a crew chief who knows how to put gas in the car??
Flies on the back stretch ??? Under 10 laps to go??
Nascars answer to bad racing,,
Green White Checkered....
Be glad when college womens golf is back on the radio,
Tag team Duckmilking,
Topless Tiny Tim Look a like competetion,
All I want for Christmas is my . Green 8.8 Danica might be my sister shirt
I am waiting for Mad Magazine with Jr on the cover "What me win?"
Pay attention France Family we have more money makers right here for ya. You dont even have to ruin racing more than you already have.
8. Posted by Dave H Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:16 pm EST
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How do we fix this so our cash cow Jr can actually find a crew chief who knows how to put gas in the car??
Flies on the back stretch ??? Under 10 laps to go??
Nascars answer to bad racing,,
Green White Checkered....
Be glad when college womens golf is back on the radio,
Tag team Duckmilking,
Topless Tiny Tim Look a like competetion,
All I want for Christmas is my . Green 8.8 Danica might be my sister shirt
I am waiting for Mad Magazine with Jr on the cover "What me win?"
Pay attention France Family we have more money makers right here for ya. You dont even have to ruin racing more than you already have.
9. Posted by Kim Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:32 pm EST
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Does Brian France have to drug test???
10. Posted by Carol Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:50 pm EST
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Dang Dave. You might want to start a Christmas Club account.
11. Posted by tecumtha007 Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:27 am EST
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I read the blogs but rarely watch the races anymore. Its not that J.J is going for his 4th in a row. Its more like 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, & 9th are all Hendrick powered cars and Jr. is 23rd. with the No. 2 pit crew. makes you wonder why hes not in the top 10. How is it since they are trying to level the field that the Hendrick cars can run that much better than the rest of the field ( with exception of Jr. ) I guess I'll keep watching Football. My Browns have a better chance of winning a game than Greg Biffle of winning a race.
12. Posted by rearaxle52 Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:45 am EST
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I don't need to read the Brian France interview to know how it went. Just cooperate BS. I'm pretty sure he brought up more questions then answers. Blah, Blah, Blah. How about this idea NASCAR. Just get out of the way. This is no longer racing. It's more like surviving. The damn COT that NASCAR created is so difficult to manage that only a few teams have really found the formula to make this box handle correctly. If you don't want them to bump draft, how about going back to the old car. They couldn't bump draft with that car because the bumpers didn't line up. Nascar built a car were the bumpers line up perfectly and then they tell the drivers not to use them or else. Does any of this make any sense?
The race at Texas was pretty boring for the most part. Not much passing, Yawn. The outside groove never really worked for anyone, Yawn. The best parts of the race were when JJ wrecked and Busch in the 18 ran out of gas. The rest of the race was pretty uneventful, another big Yawn. Typical Nascar following. Like I said, it's not really racing. Once again the race was on Pit Row not out on the track.
13. Posted by Rudy88 Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:16 am EST
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Maybe it's because it's 4:am, but I felt he answered like a true politician! I was very disappointed and didn't think he gave a good answer to anything.
14. Posted by Frevic Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:48 am EST
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France just dont get it, he has lost his fan base, Nascar will continually drop in crowds, etc, TV viewership also dropping, you have lost your appeal, and nobody wants to watch The Hendrick Nascar Touring Show
15. Posted by Rudy88 Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:14 am EST
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Doesn't bother me so much that HMS has taken over! It bothers me more that France didn't REALLY answer any of the questions directly. Seemed to me that he wiggled around most of them. The chase itself isn't that bad IMO. I would rather see that than have the last five or ten races mean NOTHING, because a driver was so far ahead in points that no one could catch him. Now, to me, that would be a drag.
16. Posted by brinirmess Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:16 am EST
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France must be wearing Rose coloured glasses- To say that Dover and Loudon were some of the less interesting races. How bout California, Nevada, Arizona? Funny you are Mr. France.
17. Posted by Jim T. Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:08 am EST
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Be patient people. This is nothing a #88 car burnout can't fix. The stands will fill back up and the most boring races will be exciting again if Dale Jr wins. I don't remember the "Boring Argument "this time last year . I remember the Carl Edwards fans by the thousands declaring him ythe next Cup champion. A runaway with the points by JJ will cause these type of side effects. Two more races and everybody will get a fresh start and the points will be reset. Most of these problems will be gone at least temporarily."Fair Weather Fans".... every sport has the same problem. Even the NFL.
18. Posted by Willy Doer Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:22 am EST
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Brian France IS a politician. Unlike his Grampa or his father....he has no idea what to do with this sport other than try to market and commercialize it down peoples throats...( most of which have never shown much intrest in the 'neck sport in the first place wink,wink, west coast). He is /was never a gearhead...and doesn't care if the racing is good..as long as Sprint and all the others keep lining his pockets with Moolah. Just like the rest of the corporate @ssholes in the world.
19. Posted by RICK C Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:27 am EST
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Can we impeach him yet?
20. Posted by johnny c Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:33 am EST
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Rudy88 If a driver is 500 points ahead after 26 races & no one can catch him,that's tuff s....He deserves to win the points,no matter who it is.I know nascar is still kicking their own ass.Gordon had the points won,the 1/st year the f%#^% up chase started.Every body went back to 0 & let a Ford win the points.Everyone at nas.still have nightmares of that.They can't believe they f/%#* up that bad.1 more thing,after a car is wrecked,you have 1 chance to run fast enough,or go home.I may be wrong,j j got on the track,run 1 lap slow & come in the pits.Pull the fenders off the tires.If he reached the mininum speed in 1 or 2 laps,it would be ok to work on your car.I don't believe he was fast enough & had 2 chances to fix the car.I will never know,only nas.knows.THE PERFECT RACE Johnson leading & wreck,all 43 cars in the wreck.Pace car makes laps,race cars in garage.4-5 cars come out to finish the race! johnny c
21. Posted by Rudy88 Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:37 am EST
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Johnny - I was wondering about that pit stop also. I was doing other things at the time and I'm not sure what he pitted for. Pitting may be OK. It might be that you can't go back to the garage and work on it. I'm sure someone on these boards will come up with an answer to that.
22. Posted by Jean Pierre Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:39 am EST
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France
Thank you for screwing up NASCAR
You are a douche bag and have lost more fans then anyone else
23. Posted by Almost Lewboski Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:42 am EST
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Brian France is operating beyond his skill level.
24. Posted by Carol Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:44 am EST
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So Johnny, by your statement it should be Tony Stewart leading the Chase? He was the one who was leading the points standings after 26 races. If JJ jadn't made it up to minimum speed they would have black-flagged him. There's nothing in the rules that says you can't pit under green if your car needs work.
25. Posted by Zach Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:24 am EST
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The guy who said Racing shouldn't be decided on Pit Road is dead on. Lift the restrictions, the templates, the inspections, etc. As long as you're not running with Jet Fuel or something else that might end life, then let the smart guys and good drivers come up with something that one week blows the doors off everyone.
Coming from 2 laps down (WITHOUT THE F'ING LUCKY DOG) and speed past everyone. NOW THAT WOULD BE DAMN FUN TO WATCH. Of course the next week that plan might leave him in last place, but GOSH DAMMIT.. It WOULD BE racing and fun as hell to watch. Then the whole race (and not the last 5 laps) would mean something. Plus we might see some cool new STREET CAR technology come out of it.