Going off on somewhat of a tangent here, but looking back over the last several weeks of the NASCAR schedule and struggling to figure out what the organization's long term strategy is:
Su May 18 - North Wilkesboro - All-Star Race (Night Race) *Comments: 3rd Year in a row at NWS and the novelty is definitely wearing off. They did at least cut The Open out of the main telecast which was a positive, and I guess I probably prefer a night race on a Sunday to a night race on a Saturday so that at least I remember to watch. **I'd really like to see NASCAR put the All-Star Race on a rotating schedule between Charlotte, Rockingham and North Wilkesboro going forward from here - but I know that would just make too much common sense.
Su May 25 - Charlotte - Coca-Cola 600 *Comments: One of the 4 Crown Jewel races of NASCAR and it got moved exclusively to Prime (No Broadcast TV or Cable coverage).
Su Jun 1 - Nashville - Cracker Barrel 400 *Comments: Week 2 of the Prime Blackout. Third week in a row of a Sunday night race. Just an OK track in the big picture.
Su Jun 8 - Michigan - Fire Keepers 400 *Comments: Week 3 of the Prime Blackout. Traditional Sunday afternoon start on a longtime traditional track that is different than any other track on the entire schedule and now only has one race per year.
Probably would have enjoyed watching.Su Jun 15 - Mexico City - Viva Mexico 250 *Comments: Week 4 of the Prime Blackout. Another NASCAR contrived attempt and another NASCAR contrived swing and miss.
Su Jun 22 - Pocono - Great American Getaway 400 *Comments: Week 5 of the Prime Blackout. Traditional Sunday afternoon start on a longtime traditional track that is different than any other track on the entire schedule and now only has one race per year.
Watched through the driver's in-car camera's on MAX (which I get for free). Different for sure - but learned something new for next season's blackout period.
Sa Jun 28 - Atlanta - Quaker State 400 *Comments: Coming off of 5 weeks in a row on Prime and they schedule it as a Night Race and on a Saturday.
Didn't even know the race had been run until I started looking for it on TV early Sunday afternoon. 4th night race out of 7 straight weeks of races of which 5 of the 7 were blacked out.
Su Jul 6 - Chicago Street Race - Grant Park 165 *Comments: I'll start with the positives. The race was televised and it started on a Sunday afternoon (how's that?
). The race itself was basically unwatchable, save for a battle for 5th in the last 15 laps (that's kind of sad actually to have to even type that), and
Boris Said who can't even figure out how to finish inside of the top 30 on a regular track, won his 2nd Road Race in the last 4 weeks (with another Road Race - 3rd out of the last 5 weeks - somehow on the schedule again for next week).
Not the best "viewer friendly" stretch by a long shot, and possibly even an all-time understatement of negativity on my part.Next 7 (and Last 7 before the Playoffs):
1. Sonoma - Track (-), Day of Week (+), Time (+)
2.
Dover - Track (+), Day of Week (+), Time (+)3.
Indianapolis - Track (++), Day of Week (+), Time (+)4. Iowa - Track (-), Day of Week (+), Time (+)
5.
Watkins Glen - Track (+), Day of Week (+), Time (+)6. Richmond - Track (+), Day of Week (-), Time (-)
7.
Daytona - Track (++), Day of Week (-), Time (-)
*Parting Shot - I have nothing against Road Track races in the big picture (but now we have waaaay too many). I have nothing against Night Races in the big picture (but now we have waaaay too many). I have nothing against Saturday Races in the big picture (but now we have waaaay too many).
Where's Warren Peace? I need someone to come knock some common sense back into me again...
