The best case scenario for the true stock car racing fan would have been a lengthy trial. Such a trial would have left no shady section of text in the dark. For example, all the schemes that the NASCAR monopoly has used to choke the life out of American Stock Car Racing would lay exposed. We should have never allowed ourselves to kid ourselves as fans. This was never about us. It was never even about anti-trust and fighting monopolies. My fellow fans, this was nothing but an argument over slices of the monopolistic pie.
You see, my fellow NASCAR fans, the way Steve Phelps and Steve O’Donnell feel about legendary car owner Richard Childress is very telling. How so? If they feel that way about a hall of fame owner and pioneer of the sport, how do you think they feel about us, the everyday NASCAR fan? It would have to be how they felt about Childress multiplied by millions. Now you know why they never listen to us. They don’t even listen to the drivers and owners! Why on earth would they care if we enjoyed a race?
(James Gilbert — Getty Images)
NASCAR Court Settlement Ignores Stock Car Racing Fans
It’s frustrating to think about. A trial with no settlement could have entirely reshaped the world of NASCAR and stock car racing all together. In my opinion, that’s exactly what has been needed for some time. While I am happy for the teams, I can’t help but feel betrayed as a fan. I’ve always sided with the teams against the monopolistic NASCAR. For a while there, it really felt like the teams were on our side. In the end though, this was a case between different levels of ownership. It was about nothing more than money. The NASCAR fan is just the cash crop that they milk for their profit. Lower Horsepower, higher downforce, increased grip tires, and “crappy ass” next gen car parts that can’t be modified decreases the costs of putting on a show. (Notice, I intentionally did not say, “putting on a GOOD show.”)
It looks like we are going to be in for more of the same next season. CARS Tour certainly puts on some good shows, but how long before NASCAR goes after that competitor? Had this trial been able to go on and end with a ruling, NASCAR would have to watch themselves with how they try to kill off (or buy up) a competing series. Now they can carry on as they have done for years. Speaking of the CARS Tour, there is a solution there which could be good for fans, even with this NASCAR court settlement having taken place.
(Wayne Riegle Photography)
NASCAR Needs New Executives
There was a reason that SRX was so fun to watch. It’s the same reason that CARS Tour races are so enjoyable to watch. Both series had one thing in common. They were run by racers. Tony Stewart ran SRX. The CARS Tour is owned by Kevin Harvick, Justin Marks, Jeff Burton, and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Instead of looking to kill off these types of competing stock car series, NASCAR should learn from them. Fire Steve Phelps and hire a racer to take his spot. Fire as many of the current set of NASCAR executives as you need and replace them with racers. Then NASCAR will be able to actually improve its product rather than try to eliminate its competition.
There are plenty of Hall of Fame NASCAR racers out there who still care enough about the sport to accept an executive position within the company itself. I hear Mark Martin is quite active on the social media platform, X and has a lot of ideas on how to improve the sport. Personally, I’d love to see Tony Stewart replace Steve Phelps, but Tony has moved on from NASCAR. Let’s fix NASCAR before too many of our all-time greats call it a day and move on.