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I know
the arguments for
keeping two races at
Auto Club Speedway in
Fontana, California.
It's in a major
population area, it gets
the attention of the
media, and draws fans
that come to see the
stars as much as the
race. I can rationalize
that as being valid and
have come to understand
the rationale. But what
about that starting
time?
On Saturday night, we
were treated to a
Nationwide Series race
that started at nearly
10:00 PM. That was only
7:00 PM on the west
coast, but what of the
fans on the east coast?
Many fans I've talked to
either skipped the race
or fell asleep during it
if they lived on the
east coast. I understand
the heat issues which
will be addressed with
the schedule change next
year, but making the
race a west coast only
event can't jive with
NASCAR's stated goal of
making the sport
national in scope.
Of course, sleep
might have been the best
option with the total
domination of the race
by Kyle Busch, an event
that seems to occur
weekly these days,
whether it's Busch or
any other driver, but
that's only my opinion.
On Sunday, the race
started a couple of
hours earlier, but once
again, on a non-NFL
Sunday, why would NASCAR
do this? I don't have an
answer unless it was the
heat or the sanctioning
body bowing to the
wishes of ESPN.
Regardless, the late
hour and the domination
of Jimmie Johnson most
likely cost NASCAR some
points with the core
fans that live closer to
the Atlantic than the
Pacific. It was almost
hilarious to hear
"Chocolate" Myers tell
his radio audience today
that he fell asleep and
missed the second half
of the race Sunday
night. Hopefully, these
late starts will not
happen in 2009.
I understand the
feelings of the fans on
the west coast, but
there should be some
sort of compromise on
this next season.
Finally, despite the
problem with the
starting times and the
fact that two drivers
were hardly challenged
in both races, these
tracks with little
banking are simply not
that exciting to watch
to begin with, and a lot
of that problem rests on
the shoulders of the
television crew at the
track. ESPN's coverage,
which consisted of long
periods of showing the
No. 48 car so far ahead
of the field it was
embarrassing, is simply
not up to the standard
FOX has set over the
years. Then there's the
track. There is a reason
why they do not sell
this out. Reports of
high prices
notwithstanding, Auto
Club Speedway does not
offer an exciting race
for many fans. Just ask
those who drifted into
the arms of Morpheus
before the end.
You can
contact Ron at
ron.fleshman@verizon.net
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