200-300 miles for a cup race is way way too short. I've been going to Pocono for 20 years and have always enjoyed the 500 milers. Although i will say it was a better 500 mile race
before NASCAR screwed with the gear rules taking away the enduarance factor out of it. 500 miles at Pocono used to truly mean something. Now i would have no problem if they kepted one race at 500 miles and changed the other to 400. There needs to be atleast 1 500 race between the Coke 600 and Cali 500 plus tradition matters to me.

I've been going to Dover just as long and i still wish one of the races was still 500 miles but 400 miles at Dover can be nearly as long as 500 at Pocono.

17isdewalt - 14 April 2008 02:51 PM

sorry... can't go along with this (like any of us have any control) big tracks with 300 mile races???? that's the nationwide series... Cali... 150 laps?? pocono 120 laps??? no thanx...the point of cup racing IS most definitely part endurance... both man and machine...rf

Exactly.

I don't understand why people repeatedly come up with the idea that Cup should imitate lesser series and run fewer races at shorter distances.

The 400 and 500 mile distances and the grueling schedule are what distinguishes Cup from Nationwide and ARCA.

If lots of people wanted to watch stock cars run short races and short schedules those series would have already become more popular than Cup.

I have never been able to go to a Nascar race even though i would love to but i consider myself just as much a fan as the people who can attend the races. And i do judge the race as a TV fan because that's the only way i have of seeing the race. Years ago we raced at a dirt track for about 15 years before we had to quit. It was so exciting and i remember the wrecks,fights,eating a corny dog and just having fun with all the family and friends. We even had our own section we always sit in all together. I know i am getting sort of off the subject here but i wanted to make a statement that i know how it feels to go to the races and i'm sure it's nothing compared to Nascar,but to us it seemed big. I didn't care how long the race was because we had fun and sometimes we would get there just as the cars were coming in the gate and we didn't leave until 3:00 in the morning. My point is to some of the fans the races are too long and to some they are too short. Just enjoy them and have a good time because some day you may not be able to go or even watch them on TV.

browneyes - 14 April 2008 05:26 PM

I have never been able to go to a Nascar race even though i would love to but i consider myself just as much a fan as the people who can attend the races. And i do judge the race as a TV fan because that's the only way i have of seeing the race. Years ago we raced at a dirt track for about 15 years before we had to quit. It was so exciting and i remember the wrecks,fights,eating a corny dog and just having fun with all the family and friends. We even had our own section we always sit in all together. I know i am getting sort of off the subject here but i wanted to make a statement that i know how it feels to go to the races and i'm sure it's nothing compared to Nascar,but to us it seemed big. I didn't care how long the race was because we had fun and sometimes we would get there just as the cars were coming in the gate and we didn't leave until 3:00 in the morning. My point is to some of the fans the races are too long and to some they are too short. Just enjoy them and have a good time because some day you may not be able to go or even watch them on TV.

I know you've taken quite a bashing because of many of your posts (and rightfully so), but that was very well put.

GoRainesGo - 14 April 2008 05:31 PM

browneyes - 14 April 2008 05:26 PM

I have never been able to go to a Nascar race even though i would love to but i consider myself just as much a fan as the people who can attend the races. And i do judge the race as a TV fan because that's the only way i have of seeing the race. Years ago we raced at a dirt track for about 15 years before we had to quit. It was so exciting and i remember the wrecks,fights,eating a corny dog and just having fun with all the family and friends. We even had our own section we always sit in all together. I know i am getting sort of off the subject here but i wanted to make a statement that i know how it feels to go to the races and i'm sure it's nothing compared to Nascar,but to us it seemed big. I didn't care how long the race was because we had fun and sometimes we would get there just as the cars were coming in the gate and we didn't leave until 3:00 in the morning. My point is to some of the fans the races are too long and to some they are too short. Just enjoy them and have a good time because some day you may not be able to go or even watch them on TV.

I know you've taken quite a bashing because of many of your posts (and rightfully so), but that was very well put.

Thank you so much,you made my day...

browneyes - 14 April 2008 05:34 PM

GoRainesGo - 14 April 2008 05:31 PM

browneyes - 14 April 2008 05:26 PM

I have never been able to go to a Nascar race even though i would love to but i consider myself just as much a fan as the people who can attend the races. And i do judge the race as a TV fan because that's the only way i have of seeing the race. Years ago we raced at a dirt track for about 15 years before we had to quit. It was so exciting and i remember the wrecks,fights,eating a corny dog and just having fun with all the family and friends. We even had our own section we always sit in all together. I know i am getting sort of off the subject here but i wanted to make a statement that i know how it feels to go to the races and i'm sure it's nothing compared to Nascar,but to us it seemed big. I didn't care how long the race was because we had fun and sometimes we would get there just as the cars were coming in the gate and we didn't leave until 3:00 in the morning. My point is to some of the fans the races are too long and to some they are too short. Just enjoy them and have a good time because some day you may not be able to go or even watch them on TV.

I know you've taken quite a bashing because of many of your posts (and rightfully so), but that was very well put.

Thank you so much,you made my day...

Nice post. Everyone has different ideas of a good race. The 1st 5 races of the year could be 8 hours long as there isn't much else to do in Feb-March.

NoviVespa3 - 14 April 2008 05:06 PM

Steve Levin - 14 April 2008 03:04 PM

I have to agree with this. There's nothing wrong with 6 big races a year; but more than that takes away the 'specialness' of them.

Steve

The specialness of the track is not there if you watch every race on TV and never go to a race. But, the fan going to Michigan or Pocono, his race is "very special." A lot of people make the mistake by stating their opinion of a race that they watch on TV, as opposed to the actual fan that puts his butt in the stands at that track. The track was built for paying fans, not couch patrons at home.

Exactly! ive heard a lot of people bash Atlanta, but if you're at the track, its awesome. not a bad seat in the house, and the action is usually great. even with the fiasco that goodyear brought on in March, it was entertaining to see the drivers hold on to the cars.

browneyes - 14 April 2008 05:26 PM

I have never been able to go to a Nascar race even though i would love to but i consider myself just as much a fan as the people who can attend the races. And i do judge the race as a TV fan because that's the only way i have of seeing the race. Years ago we raced at a dirt track for about 15 years before we had to quit. It was so exciting and i remember the wrecks,fights,eating a corny dog and just having fun with all the family and friends. We even had our own section we always sit in all together. I know i am getting sort of off the subject here but i wanted to make a statement that i know how it feels to go to the races and i'm sure it's nothing compared to Nascar,but to us it seemed big. I didn't care how long the race was because we had fun and sometimes we would get there just as the cars were coming in the gate and we didn't leave until 3:00 in the morning. My point is to some of the fans the races are too long and to some they are too short. Just enjoy them and have a good time because some day you may not be able to go or even watch them on TV.

Jeez ... I know I promised not to respond to anything else you posted, but I'm stuck now ... this is right on. Nice job. I spent entire weekends at short tracks all over the NW with my family and friends ... did it for years. I don't do that anymore and I really miss it.

Guess I'm just different - I haven't gone to the Coke 600 cuz I can't imagine spending that long in those stands. I have been to the fall race (and it was plenty long!) and I wouldn't have any problem with the All-Star race, but when I think of sitting for five + hours in the stands... I'm as big of a NASCAR fan as you're likely to meet but that's just too long. That said, I'd never advocate shortening that race - the length is part of the distinction, and I can imagine if you got drunk enough like it seems that half the fans do it wouldn't be a problem, but for me as a fan in the stands I don't need it to be that long.

I can't imagine I'd feel any differently about Pocono. That race needs to be shortened.

Right now, it's best to keep the race lengths as they are. I find the strategy and endurance aspects of Cup racing attractive. Besides, F1 races are shorter and they rarely have those types of races some are asking for.

On another note, it is interesting to see that the American Le Mans Series fans are having a similar discussion...not enough endurance events.