What is the Car Of Tomorrow?
Tuesday December 5, 2006
On March 25th of 2007 at the Food City 500 in Bristol NASCAR will introduce the Car Of Tomorrow to NEXTEL Cup competition. This new chassis design has been in development for over five years and will finally see action on the track beginning in 2007 with the full NASCAR NEXTEL Cup schedule planned for 2009. Here is a full explanation of what the Car of Tomorrow is and what NASCAR hopes to accomplish with it.
Comments
Seeing the car in pictures I think it’s ugly and doses’nt look like what most people view a NASCAR to look like. The cars now are safe , can’t believe this car is any safer. Also it looks like a road course car (yuk) my as well bring on more of those kind of races. Think it well loose some viewers because of car.
The COT is exactly the wrong direction to take….it just makes everyone drivie the same car. we already nearly have that situation with everyone driving the same chassis and engine that are nearly the same. There is little now to distinguish a Ford from a Chevy and with the COT there is nothing. This is a far cry from the brand identification days of early NASCAR that got them where they are today. The COT will kill NASCAR, I am not interested in watching a “formula race”, I will quit watching NASCAR if the COT prevails.
I don’t like the cars now. I like it when the cars DID look like the cars out of the show room. Safer of course. Now the only way you can tell what kind of car it is by the name in front. The COT going to be worse than that. I already stop watching nascar, I think I seen 3 whole races this year because of the TV commercials.
Well,,, If the COT looks like a road course car, lets have more road races!! (Not dorky street races like Champ Car & IRL) There are great tracks out there. What about Lime Rock, Laguna Seca, Road Atlanta, Road America, Mid-America and Sebring??? YES,, How about a 12 Hour race at Sebring?? Combining Cup and Bush drivers per car. Let’s have a mix of racing and see who the best is.
If this car is that nascar is going to have.Then it Looks like the death of nascar. Yep, they have realy gone to far this time. Oh well, their are other things to waatch on tv
I agree with all of the above. Since Dale Sr. was killed the safer wall and neck braces have made the sport safer. NASCAR is just about 5 years to late for Dale. Don’t pass the buck to the fans about a safer car, its BS. What needs to happen is make the cars look like the factory cars as in the past. Yea lets add some more commericals to TV, I’m sick and tired of it and lets not add more road corses lets get rid of them. These cars are not designed to turn right and there boring anyway until the last 10 laps. And finally, lets add Honda, Mercedes, Nissin, VW, BMW, etc. for some really good stuff. DOWN FALL is already upon us. Always remember the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s
I will never watch a nother race again.First came the chase and now the cot where will it ever end.To think Dale’s death and Matt’s championship.Caused all of this nonsence.
A few weeks ago someone called me an idiot for suggesting that nascar was going to design the total race car and force everyone to use it. Well now your know. Nascar started down the slippery slope to ruin several years ago and its quite obvious they don’t care about there old fans, there only concern now is the bottom line and sell out crowds that have no idea what there watching. Hopefully we will see a new race group forming soon.
Just get your money from TV. You dont need fans. We dont see much of the race anyway unless it is on SPEED. We see more racing on News coverage.
Good job.
i DONT LIKE THE CARS THEY RACE NOW. THEY ARE ALL THE SAME.NO DIFFERENCE!
the good races were in the 60-70-80.
There is so much money in it today.
The races just arent enjoyable any more.
I havent been to a naccar race in almost 10 years and wont be going any more at all.
I long for “Run what you Brung”. NASCAR has changed too much. I am lucky. I have seen races since 1964! I guess all the memories and memorabilia I have will have to suffice. Never will be the same without Dale Earnhardt anyway. He would roll over if he could see the COT !
As previously noted, Nascar is not what it once was. I’ve followed the series since the early 70’s and was lucky enough to have worked for Texaco when Davy Allison drove the Havoline Ford (although I have always been a Chevy man). The changes made during the first 30 years were subtle enough to make the car “that much safer” for the driver, yet still kept the integrety of the “showroom” model. Now it’s all about taking away the element of danger from the sport, and to attract “viewers” not FANS. Nobody wants to see a driver injured in a car, but it was the excitement of pushing a “stock” car to the limits that brought the great drivers into the sport, i.e. Petty, Baker, Allison, Waltrip, Gant, Labonte, and yes …. Erndhart!
Now it’s all about money. If a driver fails to mention his sponsor several times during an interview, he’s not doing his job; or if he foregets to drink his sponsors’ product on camera he’s failed again. I thought the job of the driver was to DRIVE.
Now the Frances’ are introducing the COT. This will take away all aspects of car and driver individuality. Next to the restrictor plate, this has to be the worst decision Nascar has made. It is my opinion that the Frances’ are trying to “sanitize” the sport to attract a new audience (mainly television viewers) and are failing to keep it’s base of longtime “FANS”.
Statistics show that T.V. ratings are at a stalemate yet the true fans continue to attend the actual events. The COT may be a safer vehicle in terms of testing and trials, but will it enhance racing? Will this change bring more viewers and attract new fans to the track, or will it make the true fanbase seek other venues to attend (i.e. The Hooters Pro Cup Series)?
The COT and other ventures like racing in NYC and LA seems to be the begining of the end for NASCAR. Other than the staple races; Daytona, Martinsville, Richmond, Charlotte, Atlanta, Talladega, Bristol and even Watkins Glenn, I personally will not be watching Nascar on a regular basis.
I’m sure the local 1/2 mile tracks will see an increase in attendance over the next few years.
I been a fan for years. 1970’s.. I been going to the races for the last few years. One thing I know. You look for those kind of race cars in the street. After the race.A Chevy or Dodge,Ford…. Cool ,but now who cares,if they all look the same, thought this was a sport about who has the best car, they can built. Style,paint, horsepower, tires. Evryone should come up with there own version of safe car & run it. With nice body lines & spoilers. Cool paint jobs. The big ??? is: will they still have that Nascar sound to them at the track? I love that sound. I hope so.
NASCAR has already become boring enough to lose my attention for the most part. Now, with the COT it should be about as exciting as watching “welds” dry.
Thank God for the NHRA!!!
Nascar is promoting drivers that all walk the same, talk the same, now creating cars that look the same and drive the same. BORING! I was a fan that would attend two to three races a year. I attended one race last year and that was because tix were free. Dump the restrictor plates and let ‘em “run what ya brung”. If the cars are to fast, then let the drivers get a different job. You will seperate the men from the boys. I am not a contractor in Iraq because it is too dangerous. If going 230mph in an unrestricted car is too dangerous, find other work. COT, no thank you. Stick a fork in Nascar, they are done. They are selling out to the mighty $$$. Look at the TV deals and the way they are leaving the XM listeners dry for the $$ spent by Sirius. Have they not learned anything from Tony George?
ITS BEEN PRETTY BAD SINCE THE RESTRICTOR PLATE. EVEN EARNHART SR. SPOKE OUT AGAINST IT. NOW EVERYONE IS ARAID OF NASCAR.TIME FOR THE OWNER’S AND DRIVERS TO TELL NASCAR TO STICK IT.
i think that everybody will do good next year because of the new car.
NASCAR was built on brand support, if you take that away so goes the fan base.
I don’t expect to see a COT “selling on Monday”
NASCAR=National Association of STOCK CAR Auto Racing change the name because it isn’t true how about NACOTAR National Association of Car Of Tomorrow Auto Racing? I personally like the looks of the car but it doesn’t belong in NASCAR.
i seen the new cot car about a year and ahalf ago and to me inovation in prevention of injury or loss of life is absoulutly the best reson to bring about change.I hear alot people say they won’t watch nascar anymore because of all the changes honestly i agree they shouldn’t watch if they can’t except evolution of the sport.Trust me nascar their’s future fan’s out their!
rickie, I don’t mind improvements, make thing safer for the drivers. However, Nascar was born on the cars we drive everyday. Evolution is fine, unless it taken away from the sport. If you watch old nascar races, you use to see any kind of car, any engine, hardtop or convertable racing. They change the convertable rule, that was good. Now you only can race ONE style of car, Focuse, Monte Carlo, or Charger Brand. All the cars now look like, the only way you can tell what kind is the name on the front bumper. You use could see 427,426 hemi’s etc. Now they change that to one size fit all CI. displacement. Now they have to have the same wind resistance as in all the cars. What car can you buy off the show room floor have the same wind resistance the other guy? Even Richard Petty says, It’s notreally racing any longer. He said, a driver use to figure out how to race, and drive his car, and get it to the front. Now everyone just point and go. I’m not saying the drivers are not good. Some teams tried to improve their car (and some times with safty improvments)however Nascar said no. The rule they change about when yellow flag comes out they race to the start line, they stop that, that is good, they slowed down the pit role speed, that’s good. Evolution is fine unless they go to far with it. I beieve they went past that point now. First the race to the championship thing, and now COT.
In 1984 I bought the new Monte Carlo SS. Very similar to that on the track at the time. In 1999 I bought a 2000 (go figure) Monte Carlo SS, looks a little similar, but thats it. What happened to win on Sunday, sell on Monday. This is not IROC, the cars are not supposed to be identical. Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and I suppose even Toyota should have their engineers design street cars in a way that would work on the track.
Gentleman…change is always a little frightening. It takes courage to experience a little innovation. Come on, “Man Up” you can do it!
I think like most others nascar has went to far with ruels. First was the restricter plates, then not making the cars look like showroom models, now the final thing making them all the same so you can’t tell one brand froom the other. not to menchin the stupid chase for the champion ship. If they want to do that they nead to take all the cars out that did not make the top 10. Nascar has allmost killed the cup racing.
Change is fine! That’s why they change body styles every so many years (use to be every year). Changes is fine when buying clothes, etc. However, changing so ALL the cars to look like a box on wheels, and to have them to look just alike, this change, Although I grew up around racing, I can live without Nascar. If and when the Sprint car guys get their act together I will follow them (when their on TV). Other wise. I do without.
I like many of you have watched NASCAR since the early 70’s, and the evolution of NASCAR has been good and bad. Since NASCAR has decided to go with the COT, they should get rid of those damn restrictor plates, reason being, the cars will be less aerodynamic and slower and safer. This will bring the skill of the driver back into play. Also let the teams decide what gears to run in the rear end and what shocks to use, all as long as they are safty checked by NASCAR. Bottom line is put racing back into the hands of the teams and drivers and NASCAR needs to quit trying to make it a TV sport with all the stupid hype of who bumped who and and who said what about somebody else. If anything NASCAR should step up and cut back the super teams like Roush, let them only run a max of 3 cars per race, and that goes for Busch racing too. That would open the door for more racing teams.
Talking about busch, I don’t think they should let the cup guys race in the busch. That knocks out a nother guy trying to make it out. That’s like a major leauger baseball playing in the minors on his off days. If you make it to the cup stay there until you can’t do the job, and let some else get a chance. The crap they use, Oh we love to race, so what let someone else have a chance like you/they did.
Having been raised near Darlington, I’ve been a fan for over 50 years.bringing Toyota and the cot into the picture has cost Nascar one old fan. I think that the cars U see should be GM..MoPar..& FoMoCo… it was the last sport for USA nameplates only .I’ll miss watching Nascar…but I know Nascar doesn’t give a hoot…….
The cot has got to be the the end nascar R.I.P
i dont know about you, but the car of tomorrow , I dont think is a good idea.the definition of RACE is to go as fast as as possiable.If the little boys that are driving most of the cars today could go back in time about 10 or 15 years, they would be crying on there mommys shoulders.I think safety is the most importand thing, if a guy is a rear driver than he knows how far he can push it.Why dont you people quit crying, put your damn purses down and race.remember when the average speed at one of the talladage races was well over 200 mph?take away the restrictor plates, make the cars look like factory cars, quit your crying,race or go home to mom.
I haven’t missed an Indy 500 since 1967,I have been to EVERY Brickyard 400, EVERY Califonia race (at new track) one at Ontario, the last one at Riverside, the last ten races at Sears Point (oops Infineon), the last five Dayton 500’s (including the ugly one in 2001), been to the “Rock”. I did that not because I could, I did it because I WAS, key word WAS, a fan. I’ve got over 400 1/24th scale NASCAR diecast cars, plus untold amounts of autographs and souvenirs.
I will no longer support NASCAR, nor will I buy any of those QCOTs (crap cars of tomorrow)in diecast form.
My wife is thrilled. Look at the money we will be saving.
ps….pass my regrets to Bill Weber…the legend in HIS own mind…..
I have always been one to wait and see. most people hated the idea of a “chase” format, but I waited to see what was up. for me, it turned out to be more exciting for those final 10 races, even the races that lead up to the “chase”. the COT? i’ll just wait and see. the aero specs on the car look phenominal, granted the cars look the same, but NASCAR is trying to make the cars more affordable to run (lets not forget that currently, the little guy cant compete well because it cost tons of money to make the dozen or so cars for the normal years racing), and i agree with some that the cars have lost their “stock” look, but that can actually be fixed easily (the front ends pop off (bolt on), so make the front ends in the style of the “stock” cars of the road), slap it on and race.
the bottom line is, there hasn’t been a “stock” looking race car in a long time in the Cup Series, and if memory serves, people bristled at the current designs when they were presented.
I’ll take a wait and see attitude and then judge after i see a few races with the COT. i’m betting the folks who complain now will change their tunes when they see the real racing the COT can do.
it should be fun to watch, and even more fun to see if they current drivers can handle the new cars.
time to separate the whiners from the professionals!
What’s all the whining about? I’d just as soon see an entire field of cookie cutter cars and leave it in the drivers’ hands. That way you’d get to see who the real quality drivers are.
COT? So what? Racing is evolving, get used to it. Easy to pooh-pooh safety concerns when you’re an armchair crew chief, cause you’re not the one takin the wall at 180+. Am I going to stop watching one of my fave sports because they change the look of the car? Uh, no.
Has NASCAR given in to the all-powerful dollar? Of course, that’s easy to see. But name me a sport that isn’t?
Far as Cup drivers in Busch, they need to stay in their own bracket. I never saw Montana pitchin the pigskin for a college team. It just isn’t done.
Yes, Yes, Yes……Still A Fan & Dave R. comments! So nice to be on the level with positive intellect! Bleacher drivers hurt my brain! Seriously, to say it trys my patience is an understatement. My husband tells me I am talking to the hand with this situation & I should regress but when I read what the two of you have written…..OMG…I knew you were out there! Thanks!
Lynda is a follower, Nascar say we are going to make the cars to look like Mack truck, and have VW bug engines. She say DUH OK. The COT cars is going to be nothing more full size Lawnmower race. At least you know what it suppose to be. Guess you have not been around racing long to know better.
They might as well go with the COT it seems as though Chev. is the only real 2door car on the track Ford and Dodge take a family sedan and they call it a “stock car” go ahead make the COT I am losing intrest already. I used to look forward to race day now I can take it or leave it. I think the sponcers will be the real losers.
I wonder if Nascar ever reads these things? I know they don’t listen too Nascar car fans on TV. I think, they have the Idea that the fans will watch them no matter what they do. Big mistake, several business have gone away for thinking like that. These high dollar sponsorships don’t get the results of their dollar, for lack of fans, they will go away or cut back. Viewership is already down.
Hi
I have been a race fan and histoeian since the mid 60s.What era you guys doing the cot looks like a leggo car are you guys doing building block enginering at the shop the car is ugly and i dont see alot of people buying those diecast.
i use to love watching the greatest drivers in the world drive the greatest races every weekend but i have to admit the irl is really putting on a show every race and they are showing ratings going up its becouse they are getting nascar fans to move over and watch their races.
please look at the cot and make the changes you need to to make that car look like a car in the showroom!!
you have had a great product for many years i believe and from what i have heard from fans that they are not going to watch these cars run they dont like the look or the way the tv is showing the events lets see the race starts and they go to a break and say we are coming back to go thru the field then they come back and after they go thru thr field they go to break and say go thru the field over and over and over its getting boring.
i am glad you are bringing back espn they gave tv a different look when they did the races and another thing why are you trying to put so much on tha announcers no one cares about them they are not famouse celebreties they are just commentaters.
Rusty did a great job with the irl just being an announcer not a great big part of the show just announcing.
the cot will kill alot of ticket sells the tracks are going to take a hit on this and i agree the short tracks will get better attendance the short tracks was where you guys started and we can still see that kind of racing at those tracks.
you are losing the fact that history is what made you famousekeep things simple.
and please let the fans back in the pits i know it was a hassle becouse people wanted autographs but hey they have to buy the pit passes and if they pay for them then award them by letting the drivers sighn those.the drivers will do anything for the good of the fans that is who pays their salery i know i am going to hate the toyota deal they are stealing money from people all over the country just look at richmond indiana they have over 100 hits at the better bussiness berue and enough law suits to make a good lawyer a rich man it could kill your attendance.
stop trying to get so technical and just go back to racing i love saftey but the care are safe now i saw fires big big hits and most of the drivers walked away this years keep it simple guys i am an exfan watching the irl and will for a long time now untill you change things back the way it was just good old stack cars racing not the george jetson special.
your friend race history man
I am so sorry that NASCAR has decided to use the car of tommorrow. During those televised races I will watch something else. NASCAR on alot of fronts is taking this sport in the wrong direction. Time for NASCAR to find new leadership.
I am 17 and grew up a diehard Earnhardt fan. But since his death even i have been noticing how politically correct and whimpy nascar has become. I read somewhere that even Brian France said that he wasn’t a fan of the sport???WTF? The COT looks like some Honda Civic with the autozone wing on the back. Bob T, chevy is killing the monte carlo for the COT, instead they will be Impala SS’s, so much for 2drs. I have stopped watching Nascar ever since they started fining drivers for cussing on t.v. and showing extreme favoritism(Hendrick Motorsports), they have lost a diehard fan who will never return.
Kyle
All you guys that moan about how it used to be need to join the rest of us in the 20th Century. Gee, horses were nice for 100’s of years, who needs cars. Candles give off enough light, who needs light bulbs. For crying out loud, things change. The vast majority of NASCAR fans are new to the sport. The guys (like me) that went to races over for years to half empty tracks are a slim minority of the total fan base. NASCAR is smart to try and keep the interest of the new fan by intoducing the COT and expanding the mix to include Toyota. The new fans are what NASCAR is all about. You guys that like the good old days can stay home and watch Andy Griffith on TV while I, and the millions of new NASCAR fans, continue to make it the greatest sport ever.
There are no such things as “new nascar fans” they are just viewers, they couldn’t give a rats behind about the sport’s history,(aka the old tracks, the south in general, and the old school drivers). Now every driver is a cookie cutter driver. Nascar isn’t even a sport in my book anymore, everthing is equal.
Kyle
PEOPLE READ WHAT NASCAR IS DOING, NO MORE ELITE DIVISION, NO MORE FARMS. THEY ARE GETTING DRIVERS FROM OPEN WHEEL OR PRETTY BOYS THAT CAN SALE PRODUCTS. PLEASE SHOW ME A DRIVER THAT LOOKS LIKE HE HAS BEEN RODE HARD TRYING TO GET THERE. NASCAR IS ALL ABOUT MONEY. DALE’S DEATH AND MATT’S CHAMPIONSHIP THINGS HAVE GOT OUT OF CONTROL, YELLOW FLAGS FOR PAPER ON THE TRACK TO TV COMMERCIAL, AND EVERYTHING ELSE. MONEY IS KILLING RACING BUT WE THE FANS STILL WATCH IT AND GO TO IT. I THINK IT WAS GREAT IN THE 80′S AND 90′S YOU KNEW WHO WAS WHO AND THE CARS HAD THEIR OWN LOOK. THE GOOD OLD DAY !!!!! MY SON ASK ME WHY DOES NASCAR START AN OTHER RACE SERIES WITH TOYOTA,HONDA,NISSA THAT WAY TRACK MAKE MORE MONEY AND YOU DRAW AN DIFF/TYPE OF CROWD OF FANS. THE TRACK WILL USED MORE AND SOME OF THE OLDER ONE NOT BEING USED BY NASCAR CAN STILL RUN. SHORT THE SEASON FOR BOTH TAKE THE TOP 15 CARS IN EACH SERIES RACE FOR MANUFACTURE CUP TITLE RIGHTS. NOT A BAD IDEAL!!!!!I GUESS THE PAST IS THE PAST AND THE FUTURE IS NOW COMING !! WHAT DO YOU DO?? PLEASE CHECK MY SON OUT JUSTINKRACING.COM
My take on the car of tomorrow is that it looks like nothing on the roads but looks more like a daytona prototype.
Nascar should keep the car but go back to useing the spoiler and do away with the spliter on the nose of the car they might have something.As far as toyota is concerned I hope america shows em nothing but the tail lights.
I agree withh y’all. The COT idea sucks!
It saddens me to see a great sport like stock-car racing being so perverted that it can’t really be called stock-car racing anymore. Perhaps another series will emerge to take it’s place…
I used to watch NASCAR races all the time, but know I hardly pay any attention to it. Thank God there is still motocross, where the bikes they race are VERY close to what we can buy at our local dealer, and there are riders like Reed, Carmicheal, Stewart, and Whindam… that is some great racin’!
It’s seems just by looking at the car that it would add downforce the front of the car, TOTALLY take away downforce from the rear of the car. Added to this, the awful tires NASCAR has been running for the past few years that go away after about 30 laps, it’s going to be loose racing out there on the track.
I have been watching NASCAR since Dale Sr. was a rookie. I don’t like to looks of the new car. I personally think that NASCAR is ruining the sport and people are going to lose interest in NASCAR. Why can’t they just leave the cars the way they are. If teams can’t afford to run with the BIG DOGS then they should stay on the porch.
Being a true fan of NASCAR how can we voice our displeasure with the new C O T? Is there any kind of movement for a protest for this car? Knowing that the car will debut at Bristol (a Short Track) could everyone turn their back to the start of the race for the first 5 laps? Would that get NASCAR’s attention?
Yeah…you guys need to get a life.” It doesnt look like a car ” neither do what they run now! Yes they are going to do away with the restrictor plate….I think I know what the real reason is . You “FANS” are scared that now the cars will be the same that “YOUR” favorite driver Little E. will not be able to keep up
Face it dudes, the NASCAR of the past is gone. As far as innovation goes, NASCAR is so far behind the curve it aint funny. Still, the technology is still better than the average Joe can comprehend. It’s more than the average NASCAR fan can understand. Don’t get me wrong, the fans are what keeps a sport like this going. It’s just that most of the fans don’t really know much about what it takes to build, race and tune a race vehicle. Personally, I could give a damn less what the car looks like. I have raced in “formula” classes, stock cars, karts, and USAC sprints. Racing is racing no matter what kind of vehicle you are in. The mantra “win on Sunday sell on Monday” stopped being valid during the start of the “Modern era” when teams started building purpose built tubeframe cars with very little factory sheetmetal. Don’t talk to me about being able to distinguish between makes. There’s not much of anything manufacturer related on any of these cars except the engine. They all use pretty much the same components except fot the engines. Hell, ALL the teams have used variations of the Ford 9″ rear axle since the late 60’s. Change is inevitable. Racing is racing. NASCAR can shoot themselves in the foot all they want. If they lose fan base and flop because of it, somebody else will start another series because folks like to race and/or watch racing too much to let it go.
I’ll get off my soapbox now.
to all of you saying the cot will make races more boring are missing the point… the cot and all of its features are designed to make racing more exciting.
It is what it is..get over it.
Hey, I just bought a new monte carlo, and I’m gonna take it down to the texas world speedway near college station, TX. Anybody else with a monte carlo, fusion, or avenger want to join me, we’ll do NASCAR right.
NASCAR needs the COT because they are far behind in the technology of other motorsports (F1, IndyCar, GT, etc.) If NASCAR stayed strictly stock, the racing would be boring. I find no problem with having cars equal, that just means its up to the drivers to win, not the car. I think the car of tomorrow should have been taken farther. Since teams make so much money, put more into the cars. Make them lighter, faster, more manueverable. Better tires. We need more than just Goodyear. Make some competition if they don’t improve. The COT NASCAR produced though, I have problems with. It is too bulky, but I like the attempts for increased downforce. NASCAR should get rid of restrictor plates, we would see even more interesting racing. NASCAR should be at the tecnological forefront, not the stock consumer front. In keeping with NASCAR tradition though, manufacturers should produce cars that at least look like what is on the track for consumers. Off topic, but I would like to see your reaction if NASCAR (Nextel Cup)went international. I think NASCAR should stay in the U.S.
I think the COT looks like crap and I say it doesn’t belong in nascar. Thank God for saturday night short tracks and asphault late models. I pray they don’t have to run this crappy looking body. To me thats part of racing a sharp fast looking car not a box.
Car of Tomorrow??????
NASCAR has “STOCK CAR” as part of it’s name. Maybe they should change their name now that they are disloyal to the founders. Competition my arse – when the flag drops on Sundays now it’s going to be like watching a Wrestling Match. That is – who drew the long straw to decide the winner. Wise up America – nip this thing in the BUD.
I used to be an ardent fan of Nascar , but they have gone in the wrong direction . the cup series is nothing more than a ” spec ” series now – no individuality – and the COT will be the ” final nail in the coffin ” as far as I’m concerned !
I have been a fan a long time…i also race on short tracks dirt and asphalt. Dirt/asphalt late models have no difference in them other than engine and slight nose/tail/window differences,,,what about sprint cars???? tell me the make of car by the way it looks…..funny cars in nhra?….F1…IRL…Top Fuel….Le Mans????? Not one PROFESSIONAL series….or semi pro for that matter looks,or comes from any type of production car. Hence the word STOCK car racing not PRODUCTION car racing….stock car racing means nothing more than a closed cockpit ,fully fendered, rear wheel drive….race car……and yes…a dirt late model is a STOCK car. A production car race is on of the most boring things to watch and race. The manufacturer with the most money wins. Nascar and pretty much all of oval racing is about drivers out racing each other, not which auto maker has the better design. The COT is putting teams and drivers forward…..now we will know who can adjust the splitters and wings at the track and win…not who has Millions in wind tunnel testing and factory backing.Besides does anyone complain that there is a 500c.i. limit to top fuel dragsters and funny cars. They are also only limited to roots superchargers,certain tires and oh yeah i cant tell the difference between makes of any of those other than stickers. And they all run hemis……3.5 seconds of cookie cutter excitement!!!!
Almost all racing is going spec any ways….it just shows driver talent opposed to big money….there are always exceptions though. Since COT and this unleaded fuel thing i say pull the plates off now. I also wouldn’t mind seeing more auto makers in Nascar…..If you oppose toyota’s involvement in the cup….look at the data plate of your fusion, monte carlo, charger, or silverado and see how much that “American” manufacturer cares about being American made. Not one of them are……those companies would rather have factories in other countries make those vehicles….And remember…Dodge is owned by Diamler-Chrysler……DiamlerBenz owns 51% of that company…..technically there is nothing different between dodge and toyota’s presence in nascar….they are foriegn OWNED and American MADE.
tell me the make of car by the way it looks…..funny cars in nhra?….F1…IRL…Top Fuel….Le Mans????? Not one PROFESSIONAL series….or semi pro for that matter looks,or comes from any type of production car
Not exactly – Sports Car racers in Le Mans, e.g., Porsche 911s, etc. are production cars that HAVE to be homologate (meaning the manufacturer has to sell a certain number to allow them to race – even the Sports GT racers, e.g,. the Mercedes CLK-GTR and Porsche GTS were offered on a homologated basis – though currently the dominant class are the “prototype” purpose built racers.
Additionally, FIA WRC Rally cars are built on production vehicles with very strict rules – to the point that manufacturers will make changes to the production cars to improve the peformance of the racers – e.g., aerodynamics on a Mitsubish Lancer…
Of course there are also the Touring Car series in Europe – which remind me of the good ol’ days in Nascar – where the cars look very much like what you buy on the lot – including the same sheetmetal – Volvo even ran station wagons in the German or British series a few years back – very easy to have brand loyalty in those series…
Lastly here in the U.S. there are the two classes of SPEED World Challenge cars – which are a mix of European and U.S. cars – highly stock – yet definitely racers… The cars have to turn right and left – but the racing is fun to watch – and you can see Corvettes and CTS’s duke it out with M3’s and 911s… You also get the added bonus of seeing passing under braking…
You know I’d love to see some of you guys classify yourselves as a “real nascar fans” Did you get a certifcate from Nascar themselves proving that? You mean to say if I started liking basketball tomorrow and became a fan over the next 10 years that I’m only just a viewer, not a real fan? I think I should be the judge of that, not anyone else.
For crying out loud, the car of tomorrow hasn’t even ran yet and you’re calling this the demise of Nascar. Would you just give it a chance? I’ve been a fan of the sport since I was a kid. Do you expect Nascar would stay 100 percent the same forever? Nothing stays the same. You can’t expect Nascar to run the same exact cars for another 100 years. Just give the darn car a chance first. They will alter the look in a few years. Every year they shape those cars to look even better than they were before. If some of you think the COT will look like this forever, they won’t. Hell, look at the old Chevy Lumina. That car was a box, but they improved. They’ll do the same, the cars will look sharper over time.
NASCAR has been going the wrong way for their hard core base, but have picked up the soft fans. They will pay for this in the future. I’m a twenty year fan; however, if the COT becomes the cookie cutter “stock car” as it probably will, I’m pretty much done. The good news is it will free up a good part of my weekends and I’ll save a ton on diecasts. To be honest, I’ll still watch the Daytona 500 if Dale Jr is running strong and the part of last race if Dale Jr is in contention for a championship.
ALL GOOD RACING IS DONE AND GONE.ITS LIKE FALLEN HEROS TO A WAR.DALE SR.,ELLIOT,WALLACE.ALL RACED FOR THE FANS BUMPING AND RUBBING THE WHOLE.AND WHEN IT WAS OVER THE SAT NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND LAUGHED.NOW THE LAUGH IS THIS GOCART SERIES CALLED NASCAR.YOU WANT TO MAKE CARS EVEN BILL FRANCE JR,MIKE HELTON.HAVE FORD,DODGE,CHEVY.STAMP OUT ALL THE BODY PARTS FOR ALL THE TEAMS.MAKE A CAR LOOK LIKE A CAR AGAIN.
NASCAR Affirmative action in racing. Its still fun to watch, but it is not Stock Car racing. Too bad some rich guy out there does’nt form TSCR(True stock car Racing) and offer big money to race real Stock Cars. I think there would be an a lot of fans.
I see alot of negative feelings on here and it is very childish. For those that think the race is boring you are not a true fan. Nascar has been through many changes over the years and there will always be someone crying how they hate changes. And those that say their never going to watch Nascar again because of one reason or another is just plain silly. Those who do say that are not going to stop watching Nascar or you would not have taken the time and the interest to post in this forum. Nascar is going to put the cot in the races like it or not. Some things I dont approve of in Nascar but after time I may have a different outlook, Just like when they changed the last 10 races and only the top 10 drivers in points could race for the cup. I hated that but after time I love it now. So before you post on here think for a minute of what your saying.
Have you ever noticed, with any product, with the onset of success the first thing they do is tinker with the product that brought them success?
Personally, the COT looks like to what I call a “Cracker Box Car” since this new COT looks like an ugly boxy car that can’t steer worth a crap or should I say an ugly boxy winged street race car.
Wow. No wonder everybody makes fun of NASCAR fans. My third grade autistic son has much better grammar than 75% of the inbreds posting on here. Have some self-respect and learn how to use the English language, for the love of God.
The COT is the biggest mistake NASCAR has made so far. I can live with the Chase, although I still don’t like it. In a few years, they can use the stingers as bookshelves for the volumes of books that will be written on the “Rise and Fall of NASCAR.” They will lose many of their core fans with this move. Most of the current viewers (not fans) will be around for a few more years regardless of what NASCAR does until the next sports fad comes along.
I watched a nopi race on the datona road course the other day. Mustangs, GTO’s, BMW’s, even a TransAm. It was exciting. If they would drop the tuner car division, this would be great.
COT’s are my last straw.Nascar
represents global corp thoughts
No more modified stock cars in
competition and track development. corporate race cars of today [ special chassis
special engines ,]special rules
to even by-pass the image of a
stock car in area of spoilers.
should have single “indy hubs”
and inboard chassis jacks..nope
we have the evil “P” word.Parody..toss in tires without some inside anti-skid treads..and you have 38 cars on
last lap..no pass..bump draft [ is like dirty dancing in the old days ,sigh],and Sterling Marlin saying how ” parody,parody tootles the flute in Macnamara’s band.He and his day the late Choo Choo
forcasted the ” Day of the COT”
Many of us never bought any of
Nascar’s corporate “coy behavior” and now we sure are not taking the bait of the “COT”..Will just invest in my Nascar car collection of history from 1948-84..and just
“lust for the days [daze]gone by..sigh
Sorry to say folks but we are not living in a perfect world. No matter what the issue is about there will never be everyone agreeing on the same thing(except for agreeing on the issue that not everyone will ever agrees on the same things).
Yes I agree the car of tomorrow sucks and is yet another blow to the gut of the die hard race fan. However the biggest problem with racing today isnt the COT its the Nascar sanction. Nascar is so concerned with making money and that is the bottom line. Safety is a big issue and Nascar has done a great job of incoorperating better safety measures however this is just window dressing the fact that every other change they have made was designed to make money. Nascar and its greed will be the death of stock car racing. The chase, unleaded fuel, constant changes with fuel tanks and tires, set spoiler heights, restricter plates, the infamous debri cautions, and etc. Where will it end. Heres an idea lets go back to where racing was racing. The team with the best car, driver, crew combination won the race and the team who put together a consistant SEASON won the championship. I hate you Nascar for letting your greed ruin the one sport I truely loved. Nascar has lost me as a fan and supporter. Not due to the COT but due to the fact that Nascar is taking the racing out of racing. I will end by giving Nascar a suggestion. If your so concerned about saftey, cost of the sport, and teams being evenly competetive. Heres my suggestion. Lets but each driver in a Nascar stock car simulator and let them race. In my opinion its basically what we have going on now.
I gave up on NASCAR when Dale ruled and driving skill became second to just pushing the leaders out of the way. He wasn’t clled “The Intimidator” because of his techincal driving skills.When NASCAR became just the WWE of motorsports, it ceased being racing and became simply entertainment. This new COT has done nothing to correct the downhill slide. Give me left and right hand turns, shifting and passing under braking. NASCAR is dead to me.
I just watched Bristol for about five minutes out of curiosity. It looked like Rally cars on asphalt. NASCAR didn’t shoot themselves in the foot on this one, they shot themselves in the groin. COT, North Wilksboro, The Rock, and the Chase are doing them in with the hard-core. They will figure it out in a few years, but it will be too late for a lot of us.
I saw the first cot race at Bristol and I thought it was no different then before. Same kinda wrecks and simular speeds, in fact faster speeds then a year ago. Only difference I saw is the front end of the car is more fragile and can be damadged easier also the pit stops are different with the higher and side wing. For a short track race I give the cot a gold star but wait till they go to a track like Talladega or Daytona, they will be going slower then turtles. I hate change but so far I dont see any difference in the cot.
OK when was last time ANY of the NASCAR stock cars were STOCK!! Come on folks!! It still takes skill on the part of hte driver and the team! That’s what’s exciting you want exciting? Watch the WRC ralley’s!
I hope NASCAR goes to full COT races next year instead of phasing in. That way I won’t have to pick and choose which races to watch and it will free up all of my weekends from Feb to Nov. Like most of you, it’s over. It will take the advertisers to figure it out before NASCAR will make any changes. Watch, a few years from now. they’ll say they listened to the fans and will try to change it back. Too late.
If you read “Stock Car Racing” magazine April ‘07 you would see the King Richard Petty had a lot of input as too the COT. He said that he wished they would have made the jump in one shot. Not race COT and the older cars in the same season. From what he says it will take far more driver skill to tame these cars. I cant wait to see a track where drafting is a factor. Any Earnhardt fan will still be a fan when he’s driving a COT. Long live Nextel Cup. Also I hope they lose some fans, maybe then I can get tickets to NHIS. Go race!
I am for the cot. Racing is racing no matter what the vehicle and there is always going to be people complaining and fussing that they dont like this or that.
Isn’t it funny how everyone complains about the cot but it the same drivers are running up front. Hmmm that sais something.
Check out those Bristol ratings from last week, down 17%, that says it all.
Let the racing team design their own body styles without the restrictions and leave thier governing to engine size and tires.So that the race is run by the pit crew and drivers and not so much as Nascar.
NASCAR’s COT SUCKS! Looks like half-assed attempt at designing a race car using a gradeschooler’s point of view. it’s cheesy!!! seriously… come on, this is non-sense, has nothimg to do with stockcar racing.
I don’t like COT for all of the above reasons. I’m an Earnhardt fan from Sr. to Jr. (or was) and I will not be watching any more COT races. I did for about two minutes the last two races, but couldn’t stand looking at the “cars.”
Go back to the 60’s style racing where the manufacturer could win races. I’d rather see them race cars off the dealers’ lots than to see what they have now. The ones who like COT are the same who would like to see parity in stick and ball sports. Cup is over for me (but I’ll still watch Busch and Craftman Truck until they change).
After watching the last 2 races with the COT debut I must agree with the lions share of “TRUE” Nascar fans and say this is going to have irreversible damage to the sport. I do not like that car. Showing up to the track with a off the shelf cookie-cutter race car is beyond the comprehension of what stock car racing is all about. Sure you can attract some people with lights and glitter but there losing the real fan that knows what its actually like to hold a wrench in there hand. Race what you got and if you can’t cut it, load it back up. That’s what racing is. Shame on you Nascar!!!
All you who say Cot is no good may be right. But Cup cars have been non stock since the 70’s. My charger never looked like the one in Cup racing. This change will probably not have any lingering negative affect. The rules NASCAR put into use will damage the sport more than the car change. Remember Dale Sr. did not have much good to say of yesterdays car, he also hated the restrictor plates.
Nascar Cup racing is strong and it will survive lossing all of you so called “True” fans.
Very good post Jonny A, I’m with you 100%.
I agree with Jonny A to an extent. It’s just that COT has crossed the line on “stock” or at least what a stock car should look like. They are still relatively close to what the real car looks like. I agree with an earlier comment that NASCAR will stay strong for a while, but today’s fan are generally softer and many won’t be around for the long haul. I don’t see a major drop in ratings for a few years, and only then will NASCAR reassess its position. After 28 years, COT finally did it for me.
I watched the COT races and didnt see much difference in the racing. The racing nascar is headed in is very close to the uprising “spec racing” on your local short tracks that i race on. I dont see the big deal hear. Go to your saturday night race track and you will see the top class cars are all the same…except for minor differences. On dirt cars it is more prominent. Nascar drivers today came from this type of spec racing anyway. I wish some other organization would lure the drivers away from nascar. Someone should step up to the plate. I dont mean to seem biased toward COT.
I read all 90 comments being off work with an industrial injury. I agree with the majority that COT is a disaster for the sport. Even though I can barely get around and am stuck watching a lot of TV, I won’t watch another COT race.
I’ll keep over my over $5000 in collectibles, but I won’t try to buy NASCAR sponsored products anymore. I had a great time for 20 years watching six of Dale Earnhardt’s seven championships. Good bye NASCAR, but thanks for the great memories.
The Car as a whole seems so different that it wii take a little/long time for the fans to accept.Im very concerened with the “splitter” and its ability to cut tires on the car running next to it! We’ve seen this at both race tracks thus far. I am all for saftey, But at 200mph at Daytona or Talladega, or even Atlanta, This is in no way SAFE!!!! Please tell me the splitter will be shaved slightly so the “CUTS” will be STOPPED!
They have only run short tracks so far next week will be a little bigger track but lets see what happens when they go to Talladega or Daytona, I think they will draft good and be a tight race but going slower then malases. As a (old school) driver and racing today I can see why there is so much anguish over the cot, cause the older generation grew up with stock car racing and the look of the cars, but we are going into the future and its changing.
I know this is apples and oranges, but we once had a great 1/10 RC race series. There were two classes where the rules restricted nitro engines to .15 and electic motors to 15 turns, every other factory and after market mod was legal. The racing was great, but the owner got concerned with parity and sought to reduce the costs because of a few complaints. The restrictions increased to the point of near box stock requiring the same RC kit with all Dodge Stratus bodies (nothing against HPI, but they sort of looked like COT’s). Slowly, less began to show up. Bottom line, it killed the series.
We were not the top contenders because we didn’t put in the time or money, but we really miss the racing. Once in a while we would hit the set up right and run with or even beat the big dogs which made it even more fun for an underdog team.
We can see the same parallel with COT. Now, the owner is talking about going back “toward” the way the series was before, but I don’t figure many will go back. I can see the same with COT and now ex-fans like us. I don’t think Nextel Cup will die, but the fan base is going to shrink to the point that NASCAR will make a futile attempt to get the old fans back a few years from now.
Final Martinsville TV ratings off 14.5%
1st COT race ratings down 17%, next one down 14.5%. Brilliant.
If you want to talk ratings. Martinsville spring ‘05 ratings were not as good as 2007 COT martinsville.
California without COT down 2 years in a row. Bristol has been in a ratings slide for 2 years anyway. Daytona without COT, ratings down.
Nextel racing has peaked in popularity. The car they race wont help the sport. Last years and other prior year models were already losing ratings on the majority of tracks. The inconsistant rules and penalties are what IMO are killing the sport.
Ratings from 2 years ago and beyond are irrelevant concerning advertisers run rates and we all know that what the clowns running this sport are obsessed with along with attendance and everybody has noticed the increasing number of empty seats. Not only that, tracks running the COT so far are showing a trend of greater ratings decreases than tracks that haven’t run it. We’ll see if the sheep get brainwashed by Nascar’s psychological game plan (the constant hammering of how great this is all gonna be by the yes men on tv) and those trends change.
Not only are the ratings decreases greater at the 2 tracks that have run the COT, those 2 tracks are considered among the best for racing which makes the accelerating ratings decreases even more troublesome.
Nascar sucks more every year. I’ll Stick with IRL and Champ Car!
Like Phamton Debris, I’m sick of hearing from the TV announcers who want to stay in good graces with NASCAR. I think a ratings increase at the Texas race might be saying something about COT races. But, it wouldn’t surprise me if they are down too largely because of NASCAR’s subborn and unwise direction with COT. The real fans, not today’s fad fans, are leaving. I’ll be watching Texas and any non-COT races this year, then quit whether or not they use 08 as another phase-in year. Those that think we’re out of line complaining about COT haven’t been around long or were never core fans.
I have been an avid fan since 1978. I go to as many Nextel races a year we can afford. I head out to the local short track (Lee USA speedway) on Fridays, and Star speedway on saturday nights. My buddies are racers. I tell you what, I can’t wait to see COT in Loudon.
As far as irrevalence in past ratings, is it irrevalent that a majority of last years ratings were down from ‘05? As far as I remember Martinsville was never a huge draw ratings wise, like Loudon. The only reason people watched Martinsville was for Rusty Wallace’s brake camera! Now he is gone.
With all you disgruntled hard core fans, maybe now I can finally get my name to the top of the wait list for Loudon tickets. Yeah right!
A lot of issues are killing NASCAR and they are all self inflicted. COT is just the latest. Their “interpretation” of the rules and “less than consistent” penalties have only gotten worse.
IMHO, the worst ruling is allowing a driver or team to keep a win when they are penalized for cheating. This is like the NFL letting a passing touchdown stand when the QB was across the LOS when he threw the ball.
Are all of the NASCAR exec’s that stupid? The ratings over the next two or three years will tell.
I agree with Hit and Run. If you are caught cheating why let the win stand? Have it go to the next guy and dock any points gained. The hard part is distinguishing between intentional and unintentional cheaters.
I have a dislike for the lucky dog rule. I wish they would give it to cars within a very small window of time of the leader. Some times they give it to some guy 10 seconds or more in back of the leader!
Sorry I just got off track of COT.
I’ll continue to be off track sort of, Stewart finally said what the fans are thinking, NASCAR is getting like pro wrestling with the “debris” cautions to tighten up the finish. With COT, bad calls, and now this, it’s no wonder the interest in NASCAR is dwindling. They can screw up a free lunch. I only watched the non-COT races this year. But, that’s it for me.
1st COT race ratings down 17%, next one down 14.5%, 3rd down 8.3%.
Well the decrease is getting smaller.
Glad to see Stewart call a spade a spade when it comes to “Phantom Debris”. Not only do they throw cautions with no debris on the track they also create cautions with debris from drivers then they out right lie about it and put a safety issue spin on it. Even Despain on Wind Tunnel has pointed this out numerous times. I’m sure some remember the glove that magically flew out the window at one race and Jimmy Spencers’ roll bar pad magically appearing on track at Pocono when Jeff Gordon got too big a lead just to name a couple. Nascars’ full frontal assault on the intelligence of the sheep is just to obvious. One good thing about this season so far, Toyota coming in has managed to keep the head yes man Waltrip off tv (thanks to his qualifying, or lack thereof) a lot more which is a pleasant surprise.
And you saw what happened to Tony yesterday by the NASCAR Reichstag. Their “decree” cautions have become so ridiculous even the “yes men” on Fox are having a hard time spitting them out with any sincerity. I’d like to see Dave Despain and Robin Miller run NASCAR, then Tony Stewart when he retires. Regardless, I’m watching my last Talladega with no COT’s.
Well look who got the first black flag at Talladega today and coincidentally at the track that Beavis built “inherited” according to the yes men today. Bob, as far as cautions I am with you on that. I think Tony is well on his way to building a racing empire run by his own sanctioning body that puts racing 1st and corporate sellouts 2nd. He mentioned retiring after he got enough money but I bet what he really means is he’s out to get as much of nascars’ money as possible to help build a racing division true racers can be proud of and not a bunch of sell outs to corporate America. While I realize corporate America pays the bills in racing it can be done with honesty and integrity the likes of which nascar has not seen in 15+ years (ever since nascar went to the big board on the stock market and became beholden to the crooks on wall (crime) street). The stench of biased commentary for Beavis at Talladega can be substantiated merely by the number of times they put Beavis on camera during the race along with the yes men who point out Beavis and the number of his fans who are standing, along with the story at insidethepitobx when they documented how they caught nascar letting him cheat in the busch series when he had no sponsor yet led every lap at Daytona then magically got Yum Brands as a sponsor the next wek as well as the complaints about how restrictor plates were being handed out when he “won” all those races at restrictor plate tracks.
I just saw Robin Miller’s comments about Mike “Heil” Helton’s meeting with Tony. Robin said Tony was given a frontal lobotomy and now talks with a drool bucket saying, “NASCAR is right, I am sorry, NASCAR is right, I am sorry…” Robin also said they’re trying to neutralize Tony’s personality, the only thing to look forward to after a race.
I think they can keep him “contained” for a while, but he’s too frustrated to stay that way for long. I always looked at Stewart as a “stand up guy,” something the NASCAR high command has no concept of. I miss the old NASCAR stock car racing, but ARCA’s not that bad of a substitute. I hope PD is right about Tony starting a real series someday.
Well Nascars going to do what they want no matter what anyone sais. Money talks and Nasar is a billion dolar company to do what they want with anyone. I did not beleive for a long time that Nascar was crooked but lately with the make beleive cautions, this has changed my mind. There are big money makers betting on the races, not a few measly hundred but a few hundred thoasands and this is big for Nascar so they are going to decide who wins the race. Agood example is the 2007 Daytona500 when Mark Martin was going to win and all of a sudden here comes kevin harvic on the outside with no help and passes 7 cars as mark had someone pushing him but was still going slower. I see incedences like that in every race this year as well as 2006. Jeff Gordon is big money, I strongly feel thats why hes doing so good this year. I’m a Gordon fan dont get me wrong but I would like him winning fair.
I should have seen this coming. Ironically, in the early 90’s NASCAR became my primary sport. I was sick and tired of multi-millionare players going on strike and owners locking them out and their general bellyaching. What finally did it for me was the number of criminals in pro sports (and often not prosecuted because of who they were).
NASCAR then, and I still think the drivers are now, was basically clean. Whether you liked Dale Earnhardt, Martin, Gordon or Stewart they were or are hard competitors and good American role models (I exclude the Busch’s). I did not figure I would ever think that the NASCAR exec’s would be crooked.
The last few years and especially with the recent “yellows” have changed my mind. I should have known that big money would sooner or later get to NASCAR (the exec’s are still responsible) since it ruined the stick and ball sports.
Earlier, when I truly quit following pro sports, my kids were in youth sports. They are phasing out now with some D II possibilities, but I will put youth sports above the pro’s. It’s still a pure game when the adults don’t mess it up.
Although, I’m not a fan of the Chase format, most fans are and probably most initally opposed it. I think the message to NASCAR is they can do whatever they want and the fans will accept it given time. I believe COT will be a different story. But, I’m about through (except for a few non-COT races) unless there are some radical changes that I don’t see coming. It looks like NASCAR has modeled their policies and propaganda after “Animal Farm.” I’m not as bitter as I thought I’d be, I’ll get the racing I need through ARCA and our local track. NASCAR might be remembered as in “Casino” when Pesci said, “We had it all, but we (screwed) it all up.”
Down with the COT.What this sport NEEDS is real competition again.Same chassis and motor,restrictor plates are killing it.I believe a ford should be a ford,chev achev and so on.OK ,keep a safe designed chassis,but the engines should be true manufacturers,the bodies resembling a vehicle on the street,like the old days.The old Woods brothers Merc’s, Petty Plymouth,doin what they can to beat the other guy with their basically dealer bought cars made for interesting competition.Granted,safty NEEDS to be formost,but surely NASCAR can figure some other meanns of providing the safety. What we are going to get is nothing more than a looooooong IROC race,same equipt.
I think the car of tomorrow is stupid. This is an american sport and now it will look like a bunch of ricers driving in circles. There will always be danger in a sport like this. Thats the chance every driver takes ever time he straps into the car.
The COT looks like my daughters 07 Corolla, the ugliest and only non-Chevy in our family. NASCAR should use those, the 1.8 liter engines will make the races safe. Also, I about puked when the “Fox Clowns” mentioned “this is the first time a Cup car has had a wing in nearly 40 years.” NASCAR is too arrogant to admit a mistake, but they will pay for it later.
Ok yes I am off topic but here’s what Nascar fans are getting besides massive over production and more visual garbage in the way of ads and other bs….
Darlington Race 5/13/07
Mike Joy says Harvick is on the inside for the restart when in fact it’s Tony Stewart.
During the broadcast Denny Hamlin hits the wall and DW said the car has not been the same. Then DW says he loves the fact that the COT can hit the wall and it doesn’t hurt and the driver can keep going with no effect.
DW says hey to Roger Penske at Indy and Mike Joy says he’s here at Darlington. DW backtracks and says he loves how Roger can fly anywhere to be at a race.
Then you have 4 cars (01,11,16,17) battling for the top 10 and they cut to go to Johnny Sauter #70 running 22nd for about 1 minute.
Next we go to Charlotte to the open qualifier. Larry says the track has lost grip. Tony Raines qualifies and says track has lots of grip. DW says the track gains grip when the sun goes down and Hammond says the track is losing grip as the sun goes down.
What we have here is a collusion of fraud being thrust upon on the public by a bunch of people who regularly contradict themselves. How much more biased bs announcing must fans suffer through by DW over his brother’s incompetence and inability to qualify?
COT = crap
DW says Mikie is carrying too big of a suitcase = His brother is way over his head and sold NAPA a bill of goods.
With my 0 driver points, Mikie is one position below me. NAPA should amend the contract to require “positive” driver points at the end of the season or it is null and void.
DW says race cars are supposed to be cool looking and it will take some time for him with the car of tomorrow = COT is butt ugly
I used to like DW as a driver, but now he’s about the worst version of a company man. Mike Joy is just his normal “NASCAR can do no wrong” self. And Larry Mac seems to have forgotten everything he knew as a crew chief and seems tuned out.
Personally, I’ve got a bad feeling about COT in the plate races and hope it doesn’t turn out to be the Coffin of Tomorrow for the drivers’ sake. With 2008 now all COT, I’ll have 36 weekends next year to get a lot done I would put off during Cup season. COT and the Fox idiots are more than I can stomach.
Ditto —> COT = CRAP
As a current driver I am glad Nextel is changing to cot, that means me and our series will get beter cars! lol
I dont care what anyone sais, every cot race so far has had outstanding races and finishes.
AGREED!
COT=SUCKS If I wanted to see a bunch of identical racing cars go hard around the track I’d watch IROC, F2 or Formula Atlantic. I want stock car racing with some relationship to stock cars. If I want to watch a road course race I’ll watch F1. I want drivers that spit and beat hell out of each other when they get done dirty. I want Darlington to run on Labor Day, and more short tracks. Most of the new superspeedway tracks are boooooring and I just TIVO the race and watch the last 15 minutes. .
I think you all are complaining way to much, the COT has made the racing more exciting for everyone. I just think you all are afraid of the change and that possible open wheelers and cup drivers are now on the same playing level. They both have the same amount of exp in a new car.
I couldnt agree with everyone anymore. I have watched Nascar since about when I was 12 and rarely missed a race until this year. I cant stand what has happened to nascar. It could change anymore than it has and when I think things couldnt be worse they introduce this new ricer COT car. Now I will only watch big races and dont follow it as much.
I can not beleive all the cry babies on here. Simply put: if you dont like the new cot and you still watch the cot races you do not need to complain to anyone but yourself. Cot is is here and has the best races in nascar. Why would Indy, champ, cra, arca, bush series all come to nascar if cot is so bad? lol Speaking of bush, they will be completly changing to full cot also in a few years. I guess cot sucks so bad everyone is changing to it. Geez quit making me fall out of my chair from laughing so hard people.
poor americans, its very sad that 60% of your people never left their country.
thats why your brains like a cheeseburger…….
thumbs up 4 the COT
I think the cot will be very successful, it’ll take for about a few years for everyone to catch on but when it does its going to be awesome!
they need to stop calling it “stock car racing” this car isnt even close to stock…..stock car racing should be racing teams buying a STOCK Impala, STOCK Charger, or a STOCK Fusion then put some better tires in, add some roll bars, put in a racing seat, paint a # and a few sponsors——THEN GO RACE
if nextel changes anything else about racing, they are going to lose a once very loyal NASCAR fan
Until someone mentioned it today, I forgot about the 500. At first I was pissed about COT, but now that I’m done with NASCAR, I’ll have a lot of free time and more money this year. It was good while it lasted. I still can’t believe the manufacturers “went along” with this and that a fair number of fans think it’s a good idea.
It has’nt really been racing for a long time. After the restrictor plate came out and make no mistake about it that was to stop one man and the wrong manufacturer namely Ford and Bill Elliot from winning super speedway races it had nothing to do with “safety”. The worst accidents have been since the advent of the plate see the death of Dale Earnhardt. The COT is just another insult in a long line of insults by NASCAR and the its hierarchy to the intelligence of its fans. TV ratings are down the fan base is dwindling Hell half the seats were ewmty at the Dover race just last weekend 5/31/09. If ARCA had any brains at all they would hire Humpy Wheeler to take over and get Firestone and Hoosier together for a tire deal. Bring back some real cars aka Ford,Dodge,Chevy put them back up on the suspension and off the bump stops so they dont rip the damn tires off the car for lack of suspension. Throw that dam plate in the trash Then you would have a product that would easily dethrone NASCAR