NASCAR Fans Can't Have It Both Ways

   As I have observed the uproar over Kurt's comments after the Nationwide race on 6/2/12, a few things occurred to me. First, no matter what Kurt says he will be scrutinized for those words. His fans will defend him no matter what, his detractors will always find fault. Second, Kurt has some sort of inner demons he is fighting. Third, those demons are forcing him to say and do things that I believe he knows is wrong but just can't help himself. 
   When he was asked a racing related question after the Dover Nationwide Race, you could almost see the look on his face change. He went from someone happy over a great finish for his brother's new KBM Nationwide team, to this person that seemed to have lost his mind. 
   As far as the question, it was asked by Bob Pockrass of the Sporting News and it was as follows "Did it impact you...how you raced Justin(Allgaier) the fact your on probation? You said how he raced you..." that's when Kurt lost his mind briefly. I believe what Kurt said was meant as a veiled threat to the reporter. The reporter has stated publicly he didn't feel threatened, that however doesn't mean Kurt didn't mean it as a threat.
   Many fans have said that the question wasn't a legitimate racing question. If you look at the question objectively he specifically asked  if being on probation affected how he raced. So if it's your opinion it wasn't legitimate, I can buy that - if you believe that all of Bob's readers already know that probation does affect how Kurt would race. That being said no one could logically say it wasn't a racing question, heck the word racing was in the question. 
   I got the opportunity to find out from a writer that covers the NASCAR beat what a typical race deadline is. I did this so anyone that reads this will understand how little time they have to get their stories in to their editors. Here is what he told me: 


"For the person writing a race story, likely 5-10 minutes after the race is over for a first story and then an hour or so after the winners interview for the rewrite. For other stories, they should be coming in about 90 minutes. Obviously if you have to wait outside the hauler, those can be extended. But the more volatile the situation, the quicker they want it once all the interviews are done.
For a night race, they are a little tighter. Newspapers likely have deadlines of 11:30 and then probably 12 or 12:15, and possibly earlier on Saturday nights. For websites, they hope to have everything within 2 hours after the race, if possible."

Now hopefully some of you understand why the reporters try to get the driver as soon as possible. It's not that they are hoping to "stir the pot", it's that they, just like all of us, have bosses to answer to. Most of us have done things for our jobs that we don't like. Now some of you will say "but Mike they all believe controversy sells", I would agree with that statement, because it for the most part is true. That dose not erase the fact that Kurt failed to follow the golden rule, "treat others as you want to be treated." Kurt had many other options, he could have said no comment, he could have said "I have already answered that question" or simply just walked away. Yes he would have gotten grief from a certain segment of fans, but that's better than the suspension. Feel free to leave comments, I don't mind passion but no cussing and attack the topic not the person.

NASCAR must do more to earn trust

  I have been thinking about this for a long time. NASCAR has a credibility problem, both with its fans and the mainstream sports media. I, my friends, am not a typical NASCAR fan. I LOVE NASCAR, the NFL and the NHL all equally. I know the history of all 3 sports pretty well. I am by no means an expert but knowledgeable in all three. That being said I see a glaring problem with NASCAR's credibility. Let me explain.
  I know many of you are familiar with the shows Around the Horn (ATH) and Pardon the Interruption (PTI) on ESPN. These shows talk about ALL sports except... you guessed it NASCAR. Even Tony Kornheiser of PTI made a comment about NASCAR being rigged so Dale Jr could win the pole for the 2011 Daytona 500. ATH features prominent sports writers in major markets like Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe, Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas News and a few others in major markets. These folks will go to great lengths to avoid discussing NASCAR. Heck Tony Reali, the host of ATH, will mute anyone that tries to talk NASCAR unless they win that episode. Why? Because he said "we don't discuss WWE on this show".
   Another example of the lack of trust of NASCAR is evident on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. I am a subscriber and listen to NASCAR radio, NHL radio, and NFL radio. The NASCAR radio channel has at least 1 conspiracy call a day. It is rare I hear a conspiracy call on the other 2 channels from fans of those sports. 
   My theory is that the France family who has controlled NASCAR from its inception, are not keeping up with the times. They run it like a huge family business. While I agree that is part of NASCAR's charm, the times they are a changing. NASCAR's belief that it is their show and they can do what they want has somewhat outlived its usefulness. They run the sport with an iron fist and say "do it our way or go home". We the fans have to rise up against this attitude.
   How many of you knew that NASCAR is the only major sport to not make its rule-book available to the fans? The NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB all have their respective rule-books posted on their official sites. NASCAR continues to give the impression that we the NASCAR fan have no right to see the rule-book.They have started with these secret fines against the drivers for speaking out in social media. While I have no issue with the fines, I do have issue that they are secret. NASCAR will have meetings with drivers in their hauler after a race, that the press or we the fans have no knowledge of the happenings in said meeting.
   Some of you may ask why I want NASCAR to be 100% transparent. Well it's their own secrecy that is killing their credibility. Along with that it makes the general sports media(not the media that follows/reports on the sport every week), who are the opinion makers in sports like Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe etc etc... not want to even learn about NASCAR because they feel it is beneath them to follow a "fixed" sport.
   Some of you die hard fans may say "who needs them?" I say we do. They can help grow the sport and convince some new fans to at least give NASCAR a shot. However why would those potential new fans give NASCAR a chance if respected sports journalists believe NASCAR is at least guided if not outright fixed? NASCAR is missing the boat on millions of potential new fans. This would lead to new and fresh sponsors getting into the sport. If there is a time when our sport needs that it is NOW!
   I know if very many fans read this I will receive backlash from the old school fans that don't want their sport to change. To those I ask you this: Do you want your sport to never change and die, or adapt and keep cars on the track with the colorful drivers we know and love to cheer for?
   Please feel free to leave comments below also I hope you follow me on twitter @SubmarineMike88