Section Spouts Off

I've been reading a few opinion articles on the All-Star race, and there are quite a few writers who have issues with it. There are problems with it. So I will list the Good and the Bad stuff here.

The Good Stuff

This is racing as it is meant to be. Not settling for a top 5 finish because it is a good points day. There are no points, so everyone goes balls to the wall to win.

The Bad Stuff

Too many drivers. I'm not talking about the drivers who have won races, those guys deserve to be there. JPM is in this because he won. I think they should eliminate, or at least reduce the time for the past winners and past champions. If you haven't won a championship in the last 5 years, and haven't won a race for the last year and a third, well you probably aren't an All-Star anymore. No offense to Jarrett fans, but he hasn't been very good the last 3-4 years.

A fan vote? Are you kidding me? C'mon, if you want to get into the race there should only be two ways, win a freakin race, or win the Open.

Hmm, the Open, that brings up some other issues I have. I can understand the winner of the Open getting in, you have to be a winner to be in the All-Star race, and well you just won a race so you transfer in. Why in the name of pete does the guy that finishes 2nd get in? You might as well let anyone who has came in 2nd in the last year and a third in the race as well. I don't know why they made that change.

Another issue with the Open. Some of the drivers in the Open haven't even made a race this year. Chad McCumbee, Carl Long, Stanton Barrett? None of these drivers has been in a race in 2008, and only McCumbee was in a race in 07. Two of them. So between the 3, they have 2 starts in 07 and 08, a 25th place finish, and a 41st place finish. Do they really deserve the chance to be in the All-Star race? Not in my opinion, why doesn't the top 35 rule apply here? Maybe anyone in the top 35 in the current and previous year should be eligible.

It's at the same track every friggin year. Why can't it rotate to some other tracks? Can you imagine what the race would be like at a short track?

Hmm, looks like I really like the fact that drivers go all out for the win, but can't think of many other good things about it. Maybe someone can give me some things I missed. I must have missed something.

Oh, and one last bad thing. Why did they change the name of the first race from the "Open" to the "Showdown"? I will still call it the open.

thefarnz Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Jun 28, 2007	Posted on: May 16, 2008 1:46 pm Score: 95 What do you think of the All-Star race Section, I'm not claiming to be anywhere near as into NASCAR as you are. But I totally agree. An All-Star race should consist of the best. If you are not good now, or atleast recently, then you don't belong. If some schmuch that rarely races, accidently (pun intended) wins the open, that doesn't make him an All-Star. Like Ricky Bobby said, "If you're not first, you're last." [ Reply to Comment ]
buckeye22 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 11, 2006	Posted on: May 16, 2008 1:55 pm Score: 94 What do you think of the All-Star race I'd like to see the past winners of the All-Star not get in automatically. Why should they benefit from winning this race 5 years ago? That would be like giving the MLB All Star MVP an automatic spot on the team every year for 10 years. It doesn't make sense. I really have no problem with past champions, but maybe it should go down to 5 years. For the Showdown, how about only including teams who attempted at least 25 races the year before or all of this years? That would cut out the Stanton Barretts and Carl Longs. McCumbee is in the 49, so that was really the choice of that team. I'd rather see Schrader in the car, but I have no real complaint. [ Reply to Comment ]
Frank The Tank Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Aug 21, 2006	Posted on: May 16, 2008 1:58 pm Score: 94 What do you think of the All-Star race . I don't know why they made that change. I only have 3 words to answer that question, sponsors, sponsors,sponsors. Just like anything else it comes down to money, and who brings the most money to the table? Sponsors. Gotta keep the big boys happy. [ Reply to Comment ]
Section_725 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 16, 2006	Posted on: May 16, 2008 2:17 pm Score: 94 What do you think of the All-Star race Frank - I am sure were somehow involved in that change, but it still doesn't make sense. Why include a driver who finished 2nd. I am sure there are drivers who finished 2nd in 07 or 08 who didn't win a race, but they aren't in the All-Star lineup, so why let the "First Loser" of the Open, err Showdown, into the All-Star race. Same goes for the fan vote. Sorry, but if a guy doesn't win a race or the Open, he doesn't belong in the All-Star race either. Gotta agree with the sentiment of the previous winners expressed earlier as well. If you make the Pro-Bowl one year in football, you aren't then guaranteed for 10 years, although there are players who get in on their previous reputation and not what they have done in the current year. [ Reply to Comment ]
so-calbullz Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 28, 2007	Posted on: May 16, 2008 4:15 pm Score: 92 What do you think of the All-Star race i would not mind wathcing an all-star race, as long as i can see another race wtih the top racers and teams in the field, but i would like to see it with only a a dozen or so drivers and that way only the real best drivers are on the track. and i agree with you on the way they have to qualify to get in to the race. [ Reply to Comment ]
DDriver80 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 9, 2007	Posted on: May 16, 2008 4:33 pm Score: 97 What do you think of the All-Star race The race has become a joke ever since Winston left as the series sponsor. [ Reply to Comment ]
Duke Fan Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 23, 2006	Posted on: May 17, 2008 12:11 am Score: 95 What do you think of the All-Star race Correct DDriver80, the all-star isn't the same as when it was called The Winston. There was something special about that race. The format was much better as there was no fan vote and the 2nd place finisher in the Open didn't get in. That's how it should be. Remember when Mark Martin beat Jeff Gordon after Gordon ran out of gas in 1998 or when Gordon rallied to win the 2001 race in his backup car after his original car was wrecked because of wet track conditions. Those were great races. I've always liked the all-star race, but it's not what it used to be. [ Reply to Comment ]
DDriver80 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 9, 2007	Posted on: May 17, 2008 1:45 am Score: 96 What do you think of the All-Star race I thought someone may agree with me, I liked the big wheel they brought out for inverting the field. on a side note, not having to do with the all-star race, I miss drivers trying to get the winston million... [ Reply to Comment ]
RoushFenwayGuy Reputation: 87 Level: All-Star Since: May 12, 2008	Posted on: May 20, 2008 4:33 pm Score: 22 What do you think of the All-Star race Yes, these are validable point that NASCAR has also been talking about, as for Jarrett, I do agree, but they should have given him one last race. As for the voting, I also agree, the top 3 drivers should be in, so that Junior Nation doesn't ruin anything. [ Reply to Comment ]

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What do you think of the All-Star race

What do you think of the All-Star race

What do you think of the All-Star race

What do you think of the All-Star race

What do you think of the All-Star race

What do you think of the All-Star race

What do you think of the All-Star race

What do you think of the All-Star race

What do you think of the All-Star race

What do you think of the All-Star race