From the Marbles - NASCAR

From the Marbles

Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:22 pm EDT

The Daily Dose: The NASCAR Chicken Little Brigade

By Bob Margolis

The announcement earlier this week that Chip Ganassi was shutting down the 40 car and putting Dario Franchitti out of a job gave the NASCAR Chicken Little brigade another good excuse to come out in full force.

NASCAR is in trouble! The new car is too expensive! Fans can't afford to come to races! The racing is boring! And on and on and on.

The Ganassi decision isn't an indicator of the state of the sport. It is an indictment of a poorly run organization that failed to execute the basic principles of business in NASCAR. If you've lost a sponsor, you need to find one.

It's hard work, but teams like Richard Childress Racing and Roush Fenway Racing are doing it.

"But, they're big, well-financed teams," you say, "and for them it's easier to attract sponsors."

Agreed.

However, well financed doesn't always mean successful. It's all about the people.

Racing is a people business. Having the right people doing the right job is what guarantees your success.

Weakness on the track is always indicative of weakness in the front office.

It's time for those in the sport of NASCAR to stop looking around for someone to blame and start looking in the mirror instead.

That includes those of us in the media, too.

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27 Comments

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  1. MarKn
    1. Posted by MarKn Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:08 pm EDT

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    Bob were you listening to Sirius this morning?
  2. CrackerJack
    2. Posted by CrackerJack Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:51 pm EDT

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    The "sport" has changed. I am no longer within their target market, hence, I do not attend or purchase/promote their endeavors. Instead my allegiance today is with the local track-owner-driver who epitomizes the average man/woman doing what they love.
  3. EMTnoodle
    3. Posted by EMTnoodle Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:54 pm EDT

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    Will racing ever "get abck to basics"???
    I don't think so.
  4. The Pest
    4. Posted by The Pest Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    Nascar and the Owners have done it, they have beat the money cow to death (the fans) and our backs we can't do this any longer.
  5. Willy Doer
    5. Posted by Willy Doer Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    Comercialism at it's worst.
  6. Leslie -Ridgefield CT
    6. Posted by Leslie -Ridgefield CT Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    Breath of fresh air - thanks Bob. I agree (actually I know) the sky is not falling and NASCAR is in good health.
  7. Bob Margolis
    7. Posted by Bob Margolis Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    I didn't listen to David Poole this morning on Sirius, although he and I did talk at length in the media center here at Daytona. We're both on the same page on this one.
  8. kinggeorge
    8. Posted by kinggeorge Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    Granted Ganassi's teams are not well run which has caused sponsorship troubles, but to trivialize the other problems in Nascar and the concerns of the fans is a bit unrealistic. The COT has not produced the kind of racing the fans like to watch nor has it allowed the teams the savings that were anticipated. The costs of attending a race have skyrocketed, from ticket prices, hotel rates, camping fees, gasoline, food and......The media I think fails to realize just what the average fan must endure to see a typical event. They are afforded press passes that allow nearly unlimited access all free of charge, expenses are paid by their employer including travel, the disconnect from us "average Joes" is becoming a cavernous gorge. The entitled few are given a voice to speak and claim they are speaking for all, but as for me, I have not given that right to you.
  9. MarKn
    9. Posted by MarKn Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:08 pm EDT

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    Just wondering because I guy called in and asked David to do a dramatic reading on Chicken Little.
  10. Willy Doer
    10. Posted by Willy Doer Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    Hey Bob, you and ol Leslie from Ridgefield can front the cost of tickets and gas to Daytona this weekend, Then i'll pretend i don't see whats really goin' on either........The people going to the track have a tiny little bit to do with keeping NASCAR in buisness. And i see a lot more empty seats every weekend.
  11. Reds24
    11. Posted by Reds24 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    Hey MarbleHeads!! Totally off subject... but I want to start picking out my fantasy drivers for this weekend and I have NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING!!! Is there like some instruction sheet I can read? help!! Plllleeeeease. Sorry - I know if off subject, but I know ya'll know more than me. All advice is appreciated!! Gotta go read up on the experts advice now... hahaha
  12. kinggeorge
    12. Posted by kinggeorge Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    Reds24--On your team screen there are A, B, and C drivers. Next to the A,B,C it says "select others".....click each to choose your drivers for each field. Check or uncheck the drivers you want. It says on each screen how many drivers you can choose. Click submit for each when done. If you check to many or not enough it will instruct you in red to make changes. After choosing all your drivers you pick 1 from A to run the race, 2 from B, and 2 from C. After qualifying you can choose a different driver to start but can not replace the drivers on your entry form. Always remember to save your changes. It's really very simple, just read all the info on the screen, they won't let you save if it's not right. Good Luck
  13. kinggeorge
    13. Posted by kinggeorge Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    Reds24-- Sorry only 1 from C to run race.
  14. Jaybee
    14. Posted by Jaybee Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:31 pm EDT

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    Where's Bob? This can't be Bob, because he actually makes sense! Ganassi's problem is that he's a Roger Penske wannabe. While Big G is having success this year in the IRL & Grand Am, the NASCAR side is struggling mightily. Why? Lack of attention, lack of focus, lack of funding...if he would committ to NASCAR, instead of piddling around with the other series, his teams might have a chance. As it stands now, I hope that Dario takes this chance to race to the nearest exit. He'll never be successful if he stays with the sinking ship. It should speak volumes that Coors finally escaped!
  15. Spiderbandit88 - Read the Blogs, Not the Comments
    15. Posted by Spiderbandit88 - Read the Blogs, Not the Comments Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Everybody needs a little KFC.
  16. Reds24
    16. Posted by Reds24 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    thanks KG... I knew I could count on you!!
  17. danthenascarfan
    17. Posted by danthenascarfan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    Bob, have to disagree somewhat. Currently, money is the most serious threat to NASCAR. When Roush Racing, a well managed, well financed, well run team with 35 major sponsors sells 50% of it's operation to Fenway Sports Group, I'm sure it wasn't because Jack wanted free Red Sox tickets? Richard Petty, turning to Boston Ventures. as Richard stated, to have the capital necessary to not only compete but to win. And Everham, with 34 major sponsors, doing the same with Gillett, that tells you what kind of money it takes to win.. And yes, good leadership and good people are still needed, but money gets you those good people. NASCAR is a black hole for money, and it's getting worse. And what about those teams with good people who can't make the big deals? This should worry NASCAR. One day we'll be lucky to have 25 cars in a race.
  18. Rita B
    18. Posted by Rita B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Ganassi takes open wheel drivers and sticks them in a 3400 lb car and says race this!!Well now Darion is my favorite of all the open-wheel guys, and he should sendJPM packin'. OBTW I like Ambrose too.
  19. Rita B
    19. Posted by Rita B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Sorry meant Dario
  20. Leslie -Ridgefield CT
    20. Posted by Leslie -Ridgefield CT Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    Labrat, sorry I can't front anyone anything. From my perspective attending a NASCAR race is a huge luxury which I can enjoy sparingly and only at venues that are within driving distance without a stayover. However, just because the likes of me cannot partake lavishly, does not mean that the sport is imploding.
  21. TCM29
    21. Posted by TCM29 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    As I stated before the ugly cars and today's drivers have lost genuine appeal to the core fan base.
    The Cars- Ugly, giant, bus looking slabs with lots of decals and not at all like what each manufacturer produces. It used to be fans were Ford, Mopar or GM (remember the Matador?) but now it really doesn't matter. Plus chickens#it rules and huge fines for slight (oil tank lid?) infractions that can actually determine the outcome of a "championship".
    The Drivers- Ever wonder why legendary drivers like Gant, Trickle, or Ridley entered the top level at such a late age? They had to prove themselves, not like the millionare (or billionare) rich kids that comprise half of today's field. I watch on TV because it's free, but that's as far as it goes!
  22. Rudy88
    22. Posted by Rudy88 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    kinggeorge #8
    I usually agree with just about every comment you post, BUT this time I think we both read Bobs blog differently. I felt that what he was saying was, that Ganassi was going down because of its own ineptitude and NOT the fault of NASCAR and that it did not mean that NASCAR was on its way out. It's possible that I read it wrong, but it one of the few times that I agreed with Bob.
  23. silverado71
    23. Posted by silverado71 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    gary
    They are running one type of car in Sprint Cup. Nationwide has nothing to do with Sprint, they are seperate racing leagues. Chip just got in over his head on the cup level. He needs to stay with Indy cars or go all out with nascar or get some advice form Penske.
  24. Gary S
    24. Posted by Gary S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:28 pm EDT

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    I agree, Chip is in over his head, along with about 35 other teams. I'd like to see you make an 800 horsepower dumpster turn at the end of a half mile straightaway.
    I know what Nationwide cars are, their the ones that look like race cars and have low enough center of gravity and enough downforce to justify their horsepower and speed. They're also the ones that have better races.

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