Humpy's Hot Topic: What's Wrong With NASCAR Racing

[@YourHuckleberryHD]

I never left Nascar. Nascar left me. Humpy gets it. Put the old rule book back in place and tweak it towards rewarding winners and leading laps. DUMP THE CHASE! The dump recruiting the PC drivers. Recruit the drivers that can drive! Give us back the Nascar of the 80s and early 90s.

[@randyhutchinson9910]

Jimmy Megginson THANKYOU, WELL SAID!!!!

[@noneofyourbusiness7594]

god no nascar sucked in the 90s

[@johnanderson60]

Jimmy Megginson you got it right... NASCAR left me... went from beer to wine of the west coast and champagne of the north east...

[@kp6173]

I hate the chase in a way I can't describe,it's not pure racing,a 10 race shootout.

[@H.Nenningger]

Amen

[@poohbear1647]

You want to know what's wrong with NASCAR- 1. what wins on Sunday doesn't sell on Monday- THE CARS ARE SO FAR FROM STOCK THAT IT MIGHT AS WELL BE IRL. 2. Way overpriced merchandise- $30-$40 for a T-shirt is outrageous. $25 for a hat is crazy. Give fans a break on price that attend the event- the trailers should be CHEAPER than what could be bought on line. 3. The camping prices are unreal 4. The race weekends are boring. Bring back truck on fri, Nationwide on Sat,& Cup on Sun at the same track.

[@snappy452]

The COT was an understandable necessity, but it also screwed up that most fundamental part of NASCAR - We are driving the car you can buy or already own. That breeds a crucial relationship and connection.

[@tylerbryant182]

No it wasn't. Nascar had corrected all the problems in the car that caused the death of Dale Earnhardt, Adam Petty, etc... Now they could have made some changes to the chassis without changing the car and been fine. The COT just made Nascar way too damn aero sensitive.

[@49videofreak]

You forgot about hotel prices I think my sister and her husband spent like a $1,000 for 3 nights for a Daytona July race back in 2007 or so. She was a big Rusty Wallace fan and he was a Mark Martin fan two of the best in my mind. 6 that's my number! lol

[@Eric-yn6ur]

You can't race stock cars because they are death traps. That old argument is the most ridiculous thing ever. He just said NASCAR took off in the 90s. And they weren't stock cars in the 90s. They were race cars.

[@donnlowe9129]

That's what happens when people get greedy vendors all wanna make a killing.

[@Jelsick]

Cookie cutter tracks, cars, robot drivers who pretend to drink whatever drink they are supposed to, too much emphasis on aero, very little passing on most tracks, blocking on plate tracks (No passing), too many erectile dysfunction commercials, etc.

[@rondye9398]

You hit it. Take away the aerodynamics of these cookie cutter race cars. Make them have to slow and accelerate out of the corners, not just keep their foot on the floor and get sucked to the track by aero. Went to Vegas last month and boring! 1 car could win and did. Make them race versions of street cars.

[@WildhareXXX]

Jelsick If the racing was good, they wouldn't need erectile dysfunction ads ! Lol

[@drock9083]

oh yeah i forgot about the viagra car lol like they needed to advertise hahaha

[@falcon63191]

EXACTLY! It was on at the sports bar one day... I really don't watch it anymore... and one of the cookie cutter cars sponsor was "The Delaware Highway Safety Association" car. I remember thinking... "Oh man, it's gotten even worse".

[@themoffman1824]

Yea that car of tomorrow ruined the sport and their bullshit chase

[@chrisiglehart]

Humpy, thank you for keeping it real. NASCAR just isn't the same.

[@randytomlinson6440]

this year, i don't care much if i watch a race on television or not. i missed most of daytona, caught the last 30 laps, 'cause, i sat down to eat my supper in front of the tv. didn't even bother to watch this past weekends race, (who won???). i have no passion for it like i used to. before, i would get upset if i missed a race, wanting to know who won and what happened. now, it's like "uh, who cares". too, i am dirt poor. the only race i was ever able to go to was when my step son bought some cheap seats for my wife and i to see the daytona 500 at the last race of the old track, when the seats were still from turn two to turn three on the back stretch. we loved being there, that was cool, but, the cars just were not like the local tracks or the race cars of the 70's and 80's, when they were still real race cars, not the hyped up hollywood crap it is today. heck, as humpy said, they priced nascar right out of the real fans hands and desires. i couldn't afford to go to a race unless somebody else pays for it and the cost of travel. luckily, when i did see the only nascar race i probably will ever see, my step son gave us money for gas and food ,but i lived across the state, so i could drive it both ways on the day of the race without issues or stopping to spend the night. most of those that still attend the races are the well to do and celebrities. that's about all of the people left that can afford it. i was a darrell waltrip fan for a long time. i watched him race at the nashville speedway way back before the wide world of sports, speaking of which, is where i first saw a nascar race on wide world of sports, my dad and i sat and watched. then, i changed over to junior when darrell retired. now, there just ain't no one that catches my attention, the closest might be the young kid joey logano. gordon and jimmie just never struck my fancy, too much pretty boy hollywood types, afraid to get a scratch or something. bring back the good ol' boys, let 'em fight, if need be, rub some fenders, run what ya brung, but, run real cars. todays drivers would crap their pants if they tried to drive yesterdays cars at 200 mph, bill elliot and richard petty and darrell waltrip and dale sr. and coo coo marlin and all of the rest drove in real cars that fast, without crapping themselves, actually, sometimes faster, than they are today. yeah, nascar sucks nowadays.

[@adamtereska8734]

randy tomlinson when Bill Elliott said he needed to adjust loose condition out of his Thunderbird at Talladega and he could have hit 215, but the cars are still more stable at 210 than at 190, that said they should have let the speeds be. It brought out the common sense of the drivers and to handle a loose car at 212 showed he had the gonads. Some of today's driver's could make a bathtub competitive, but most are corporate superstars.

[@PaulChristianJenkinsJD]

I don't really understand the limiting of speed. That's where the rub is. You eventually have cookie cutter cars, drivers hired by corporations, and cookie cutter racetracks. THAT'S what IROC was about. Observing racing skills, as opposed to all out speed. Build bigger tracks with greater banking if necessary, but enough with the restricter plates, and spoiler checks, etc.

[@HOTWHEELSCOTT]

This was made five years ago.....Nothing since has changed and nascar has fallen farther down the crap hole....

[@randytomlinson6440]

southernfried, the 70's and 80's were even better. find some cd's with that era on it, you'll be surprised.

[@bradlindeman7417]

tv money is and has been the reason it has not changed yet! Empty seats just look bad but do not hurt nascar financially.

[@mikep4823]

So true i was just thinking the same thing.

[@floydfan5993]

1985 - 2000 era is when i attended all my nascar races , never been back since sr died. those were good times. like humpy said, rivalry's and passing and real racing. today's races are unwatchable.

[@SouthernSkeptic]

Almost 6 years now.

[@scottshirley8506]

Humpy Wheeler needs to be president of NASCAR!

[@jeffcollins9995]

That is what Dale Earnhardt, and Bobby Allison, and Cale Yarborough, and Leroy Yarborough, and Tim Richmond, and David Pearson, and Richard Petty, and Harry Gant, and Jimmy Means, and JD McDuffie, and Booby Isaac, and Buddy Baker, and Rockingham, and North Wilkesboro, and Darlington were all about.

[@MustangGuru]

NASCAR has gotten away from the spectator entertainment to one big commercial. The stock car and run what you brung was the hart and sole of racing, so what if someone beat you the week before with his 455ci engine. Just means you have build something better.🤧. For me big business has killed NASCAR.

[@daveallen4194]

Mustang Guru... you are spot on sir. I hate that racing has become so generic, that there is little to no room left for true owner, mechanic, and tuner innovation. The cars likely have zero stock parts, and are v6 front wheel drives in the show room. Stock cars! HA!!!!!!

[@dariusfloyd312]

Right n NASCRAP has too much influence as in what every manufacturer should have on it from tires to shocks cubic engines deck lids spoilers hoods which totally take the original cars stock looks away......todays cars are nothing but glorified go-karts along with the drivers younger and younger and younger and not one of them ever been under a hood or under a car in all their rich SPOIL lives....😠😡😠😡

[@KennethMixson]

They drove away their main fan base trying to get a few fans from other areas. It was a southern sport and southerners loved it. Not so much any more.

[@scott27288]

Kenneth Mixson VERY well said.

[@jonathanbunch5443]

not just southerners loved nascar and left

[@AlonsoRules]

NASCAR taking the Southern 500 from Darlington and running it at the boring Auto Club for a few years was one of the worst things they've ever done

[@ThatSB]

southerners werent going to races. they still dont

[@4wheelliving132]

In the 90's if you were a northerner like me, you had to listen real close to what the drivers were saying to understand them, (remember Sterling Marlin?) and THAT was the charm of NASCAR. Today the only way you can get to this level is having a rich daddy.

[@crash14me2]

Thank you for this Mr. Wheeler! I am a 16 year old up and coming racer and I have been raised old school. I work hard and NEVER try to be someone I am not! The things you say in this video make perfect sense to what my Family have taught me! I hope all my fans notice me for the all American hard working man I am, heck maybe I will gain some of those Sr. Fans ! ;) Thank you for your wisdom , I am listening wide open!

[@kevinblack1414]

Get rid of the restrictor plates. Stand the windshield up some to make slingshot passes important. Make the radiator opening smaller, so you can't draft for long without overheating. Put harder tires on so a driver has to lift on the throttle to make it around a corner. Heck you could use stock cars under $30,00.00 with just safety equipment added. Man, I'd rather watch guys racing stock minivans (hey more room for advertising!) than what they run today! Get rid of the chase!

[@cypressrage8823]

Corporations is what happened

[@acmechris]

Exactly. Here, out west on the Pacific Coast in the (mid 90's) we had a heat wave and the track (which I generally sat on the starting line) had a temp of 134. A local water company, "Calistoga" pulled up behind the stands in a delivery truck opened the roll-up door and started handing out bottled water and ice. That lasted a short ten minutes. The new corporate NHRA shut them down. 10 minutes later a golf cart of dockers (young corporate's) pulled up (on the starting line) with a "case" of said bottled water then punched holes in the bottoms and held therm over their heads. I remember the temp 'cause John Force took the starting line mike and told us and thanked us the "fans" for staying for the show. Before my very eyes. Around the water incident "track sodas"went from $2 to $3. That was the beginning of the end my yearly pilgrimage to the "Track's". My first Drag Race was as a kid in 1958. I stopped going 15 years ago. What's missing, to me, is the "we are all family and treat one another as such". Unless you and yours have a habit of screwing you out of it.

[@03waggs]

Exactly, this is what happens when the wrong people get a hold of something.

[@cypressrage8823]

03waggs The sad truth is it's not only NASCAR it's the whole United States.

[@dariusfloyd312]

And Toyota

[@jerryfoots5842]

Damn, that Humpy clown could either use some diction lessons or a much better microphone to speak into, unintelligible hick-ism.

[@backtosleep]

Cookie cutter tracks phoney yellows cars all the same stupid chase system.

[@raymond3803]

What's wrong with NASCAR? Assholes like Humpy Wheeler, who had to repave Charlotte, Kansas, and Darlington just when they were getting good. Drivers told you not too......................But you did it anyway, right Humpy? I'll NEVER attend another ASSCAR race.

[@lewisfrazier3506]

Restrictor plates was when I quit watching nascar. That was the end of racing

[@lewisfrazier3506]

Now it's a soap opera who's got in a fight this week. Who lost a sponsor bring back real racing. I miss Richard and Buddy trading paint going down the stretch at 160 mph. Now they spin each other out or bump em into the wall. Hell, why not quit nascar and go back to round tracks. NASCAR is supposed to stand for racing, not like bumper cars at the county fair

[@ShreddyLee]

Mr. Wheeler, I spent a lot of money for years at your facility, because you understood what the fans wanted. Sadly, I am not going to Bristol this year for the first time since 1977 and I haven't been to Charlotte in over 5 years. Everything you said is 100% correct. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and all of the memories you helped us create with family and friends throughout the years at CMS. I hope you are doing well.

[@46Rain2]

You're the fan base that came to NASCAR and wanted change. Everything Humpy said was dead on. People Like Bruton Smith are turning it into a corporate circus.

[@wallyrauvala4473]

Humpy is is mostly spot on. As a big NASCAR fan myself, also a big problem is all the mile and half cookie cutter tracks along with closing the small tracks. Short track racing is what MADE NASCAR!!! That where you get the personalities and the rivalries that get the attention.

[@wehadkeekid]

You know what I think turned people off of NASCAR, they quit racing real cars, Go to Talladega Hall of Fame and look at Red Farmers car, a 73-74 Ford Torino I think, still has the factory carpet in it, Back then you got behind the car, then the driver, now a days you got a set of clones with different stickers on them. Not worth a damn

[@arthurmchugh5184]

Dave Hurst and one more thing! Everyone refers to the cars by # not drivers name .formula one NEVER mention the car # .I know most all F1 drivers but none of the car # oh oh Alonso is #14😎🏎🏎

[@Aaron199s]

Do you have any idea how unsafe it would be to run old cars like that? The reason the racecars look the way they do today is to ensure the drivers safety. Go watch some demo derby if you just wanna see people get hurt and killed.

[@jstrawser]

you can't race a stupid front wheel drive car anyway

[@johnj.baranski6553]

No. The 90s were the best and none of those were stock cars.

[@pizzafrenzyman]

When they start penalizing drivers for rubbing, then it transformed from blue collar to white collar. Corporations didn't want their pretty cars getting scratched.

[@ThatSB]

pizzafrenzyman They dont do that anymore and haven't in What, a decade nearly? And it certainly wasnt about corporations

[@poppyneese1811]

6 bucks for a coke, 10 bucks for a cold hamburger, a bunch of drunk Yankees cussing a blue streak behind my family and me, rude people bumping into you walking into and away from the race, drivers that treat the fans like they are nothing, bad racing, no thanks, haven’t gone to a race in years, don’t even watch NACAR on TV,?the biggest reason is greed, I feel like the tracks are there to do one thing ring every red cent out of your pocket for nearly nothing in return.

[@Desertduleler_88]

Exactly, I gave up on sports years ago for the same reasons.

[@carlosmontano6791]

What professional sport doesn't flees you?

[@drock9083]

but every sport that allows fan to attend are like that

[@ScottXC91]

And how is that different from any other professional sporting event? It's NASCAR's fault that tracks charge a lot for food? NASCAR doesn't own the tracks they have no say in the matter. It's called supply and demand. You're just the same as every other "fan" who has nothing but negative things to say about the sport. But one must beg the question...if you're so disappointed and let down by NASCAR then why are you on a KZbin video about NASCAR leaving comments? Puzzling.

[@donstanley4512]

Poppy Neese i

[@jondavis2206]

I saw Richard Petty recently at an autograph sighing, He is such a great guy.

[@Alacarte0421]

They got away from their roots and went to places where no one really cares, AKA Califronia. Look at how many seats have been removed from tracks like Charlotte. There used to be a lottery to get Bristol tickets. Not they can't fill it half way up. All the tracks are the same. They are no longer stock cars. They are identical cars with a different nose based on manufacture. Brian France is killing it as well.

[@randyhutchinson9910]

end stage racing, or it will end nascar

[@curtcollins6659]

I wouldn't mind the stage racing if they didn't throw a yellow at the end of it. Awarding points after a set amount of laps is interesting, but the extra cautions ruin it.

[@tnitron9750]

Young generation don't care about racing and cars. Older race fans are tired of the entertainment faze. Let the best team and the best drivers win, Period. Fantom yellow flags. Competition yellows. Petty said it best. It ain't racing anymore it's entertainment. Listen to Richard Petty Nascar. He's the King! Your looking for excuses why its gone down. You are way off base.

[@keithjrisk]

NASCAR died (for me) on Feb 18 2001. Things could never be the same after the heart and soul was gone. RIP #3

[@rcracer8872]

Keith Risk I was a big Dale Sr fan too and I miss him but I moved on to root for Dale Jr

[@barry7413]

I said the same thing when Joe Weatherly died, then again when Fireball Roberts died. The race goes on.

[@donellclemons2195]

Nascar died when they changed the car after 2005 and the point system changed.

[@toddrobbins392]

NASCAR should bring back the old tried and true tested points system that the late Bob Latford founded and perfected then everything should fall right back into place!!!!!!!!!!! NASCAR would be far better off than right now!!!!!!!!!

[@drv6531]

Spot on! The best explanation on the issues NASCAR is experiencing! This recording is 6 years old and still very relavant!! I do miss the old days! Of course, part of that will never come back... RIP Dale Earnhardt

[@scottshirley8506]

Hell yeah Humpy! Thanks for saying what all us old fan's have been thinking for years. You are right on the money with this. God bless you man.

[@TheMrmmkkpro]

Cookie cutter cars and tracks don't help matters either.

[@markmerrell4655]

I miss your promotion ideas and follow through. You truly made a difference in racing for NASCAR, the drivers, and especially for the fans!

[@SunsetSheen]

It's simple, all these series started getting way too commercialized & started chasing sponsors instead of fans. The ironic thing is that if they all listened to/took care of their fans then the sponsors would come in droves b/c customer satisfaction would be so high. It's all just gotten way too convoluted, too expensive, too mundane. NASCAR have done everything to neuter the drivers, and in the process, they rob themselves of their most valuable asset, the character/personality of the drivers

[@fposmith]

Humpy, you addressed everything except the big Japanese Elephant in the room. People were still coming to the tracks after Earnhardt's death until NASCAR sold their souls to Toyota ! As someone who lost two Uncles and three Cousins in the Pacific during WWII, The Japanese showing up in the Great American Sport was the final straw ! Nascar will never come back ! I guaranty in 40 years no kid or adult for that matter will be restoring or customizing damn Camry.

[@randytomlinson6440]

that's so true. has anyone ever seen a 1969 toyota corolla restored or have they ever bothered to restore one? not in this country.

[@Newcattybrownale]

lol Camrys are made in USA LOL

[@Newcattybrownale]

jeff Young I know i was commenting to douglas saying they are built in america i like toyota racing ass face fuck. Its built in america. Calm the fuck down fuck tard So jokes on you........ASSWIPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@garycrumrine9538]

Heck, most of the other manufactuers are made in Canada and Mexico as well. Are we saying that FORD isn't AMERICAN anymore too.

[@mikeflaherty9220]

Douglas Smith I actually feel sorry for you. Ignorance due to no fault of your own.

[@CuzznRickH14]

Some very good points Humpy. A couple of things on my mind is the fact that ticket prices are way too high. Charging for camping? Hotel room prices jacked up on race weekends. Back in the day a dad could take his whole family to an event and not break the bank. Those days are gone. As far as people staying home watching on tv, well, do it like the NFL, NBA, and Baseball do it. Sell season tickets. Those big screen tvs are pretty special to watch a race on, and ya, cut about 2/3's of the advertisement. There's just way too much. Lot's of ideas floating around out there. Let's put some of them in play.

[@Howard.Stern.]

You cannot have season tickets when the show moves to a new city every weekend. And season tickets are almost entirely purchased and owned by scalpers and resellers for the popular NFL and MLB teams. They just need to lower prices until they reach the point where they are selling out every single show. Lower the prices of entry and prices of food and drinks.

[@1man1epictv]

What's wrong with NASCAR? Just having fun, the passion, soul, creativity, simply competing to win, the thrill of victory, doing what they love and not worrying about being politicly correct, being THEMSELVES, settling fights THEMSELVES, racing aginst one another and not being afraid to beat and bang a little. Todays drivers are too ''famous'', and not relatable to the average fan, too many restrictions and not enough freedom. Todays drivers are too afraid to scratch them million dollar supercars they drive, what ever really happened to the phrase ''STOCKCAR'', like these other things it too gave way to this generic Hollywood politicly correct reality show.

[@stevecoates3799]

Thank you Mr. Humpy Wheeler, you are a brilliant race promoter and generally a great human being. Why don’t the NASCAR executives listen to you anymore? May God bless you sir.

[@thomaspayton436]

BRAIN FRANCE & NASCAR SOLD OUT NO ROCKINGHAM NASHVILLE dale Jr & carl edwards GONE BEST SEASONS 1955 - 1964 2000-2016 RIP NASCAR

[@uncletoy774]

best seasons 2000-2016 huh? that's when all this shit started as well as Dale died in 2001 bone head

[@jasonanderson8528]

Nascars best years is from 1988 to 2002 for me

[@terrya.walters7500]

too many 1.5 mile tracks, need more short tracks like North Wilkesboro . . .

[@arthurmchugh5184]

Terry A. Walters and road course racing! Don't know if you saw it years back, but xfinity? Race in Montreal in the rain on rain tires was awesome!! Imagine how it would be if cup cars ran at road Atlanta in the rain!!!!

[@bradbeining3341]

That was one of my favorite tracks. I can't believe the shape it's in now. Sad.

[@RW84JR]

Humpy , Nascar has NO Clue What Fans Want! MORE EXCITEMENT!! Keep Daytona 500 , Dega , Coke 600 .....( Get Rid of most of the 1.5 mile tracks -BORING) Shorten all other Races to 300 - 400 Milers ( keep them drivers up on the wheel !) MORE SHORT tracks and " DIRT " TRACKS ( RUN DIRT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS! Keep It COUNTRY , Keep it SIMPLE!! NASCAR has to QUIT trying to PLEASE Every Type of CROWD! Keep the Car Cost Down so ANY SHORT TRACK WHEEL MAN can COMPETE! Keep it SImple , Keep it Simple !!!!!

[@randytomlinson6440]

no, keep the 500 and 600. just get rid of the gas and breather breaks they get now in this stupid phase racing. keep points simple will keep the fans. no extras for leading laps or passing or the most laps, etc... if you finish first of 40 cars, you get 40 points, last and you get 1 point, even if you crash out. simple, tighter points if that's the way it has to be. the guy in the back and the middle has a chance of winning or finishing better that way. too many extra points puts some to far ahead for others to catch up. the original point of 500 and 600 miles or laps was to see how well the manufactured cars could hold out, can they go that extra bit on a stock engine, but, the problem today is, not a single car, truck or whatever connected to nascar has or uses a manufactured part of it's supposed maker. there is no toyota part, ford part, chevy part, dodge part. drop toyota, it's not american, bring back pontiac and buick and oldsmobile and mercury and the rest of american cars. nascar is supposed to be an american sport, not an international sport like indy and f- series. the way it is now, you might as well put some english, italian and french cars on the track. kill american automobile manufacturing some more. soon, there won't be a ford or a chevy made, ever.

[@70xlt]

Mr Wheeler, I'd just like to say you were by far the best track promoter by far hands down. I know Nascar has to miss you.. Eddie does a decent job out in Texas but you sir were 100% correct you called it and they put their twist on it so it was their idea. With that said I really hope even everyday business owners listened to what you had to say in this video simply because it's wisdom across the board... Thank you

[@srwilliamz]

I hope somebody in NASCAR listens to you Humpy !! I had been a fan since the early 80s and sadly the sport is just horrible. Way to many mile and a half tracks.. you don't need a big track to drawn a audience, small tracks have a large audience, Bristol , Richmond.. To many of the same thing at the same kinda tracks.. Listen to this man NASCAR !!

[@andrewforte]

My fondest memories growing up was going to The Glen with my father, watching the Winston Cup races. The King, The Intimidator, Geoff Bodine, Elliot, Gant, D Waltrip, sliding around the course. After general admission (i.e infield only, no seat) reached $50 we stopped going. Don't remember the last time I have even watched a NASCAR race, its been at least 15 years now. Watching it on TV was just not the same. Now that cable has gotten so expensive, we don't even have it in the house anymore. Dad and I still go to The Glen occasionally, but now it is for IMSA or SCCA.

[@Guest-at-the-Asylum]

5 years since Humpy's video and NASCAR has doubled down on everything that makes it suck.

[@riverrockproductions]

I wish Humpy could buy NASCAR.

[@philimac1278]

Love & miss you Humpy... You are one of the Greatest Showman ever....Busses, Motorcycles, Car eating machines or whatever...you filled the seats....That sold NASCAR in the 70:s & 80's. 90's broadcast media & Corporations took over... 2006-2018 NASCAR RIP... However: 5-19-2018 All Star Race KH Charlotte...Pre-liminary Rebound...A race you could watch...Hope NASCAR can keep up the momentum during the pre-sale...

[@johnstrauss8061]

He's partly right - the loss of Earnhardt was huge and I was in the 50% that hated him and then switched when he died. The "next Earnhardt" could have been Tony Stewart (and I don't like him, either) but the COT killed that idea. The cars are so aero-dependent now that it's all about the car and not about the driver. In Earnhardt's day, he could beat his car up and still win thru his superior skill as a driver. But now, the reason you don't have any bumping and banging is a driver cannot afford to have any of the aero on his car damaged or he has no shot, no matter how good he is. So Humpy and I disagree about why there is no bumping and chrome-horn anymore. On top of the cookie-cutter cars, we have the cookie-cutter tracks. No more N Wilkesboro, no more Rockingham, the last old-school track anymore is Darlington. This is demanded by the corporations who want luxury boxes and catered food and also the drivers who want the cars and the tracks to be easy. I can fix this right quick - take away all the aero and start running the bodies from the 70s. Call em throwbacks if you want. NASCAR actually tried this before COT - not with old bodies but with flaps and wings and such that made the cars less aerodynamic. The drivers all complained the cars were too hard to drive so NASCAR abandoned it. Tell em to shut up and drive and if they don't want the job there's plenty of ARCA drivers what will take their place. You do that and you won't need restrictor plates anymore.

[@sipanon9711]

John Strauss yep. Rubbing is racin

[@HiLineTree]

John Strauss Tony Stewart Blow Hole

[@seanlough30]

Earnhardt's death was massive for nascar's popularity, you're definitely right on that.

[@mtlnascarfan]

Humpy, my man...you should be the president of NASCAR. As Princess Leia once said in the original "Star Wars"... "Help us...you're our only hope."

[@patriciachaffee4159]

I'm a 55 year old NASCAR fan, I use to watch and suffer threw wide world of sports to see the start, the middle , and the last 10 minutes of the race or 10 laps with 2 cars on the lead lap.It was good,but as I got older it got boring. NASCAR has a good format now,but they have to get loose the new car and make it

[@patriciachaffee4159]

Sorry hit the wrong button stock again.

[@TheManWithThePlan360]

Almost five years later and this still rings true

[@FloridaManRacer]

I know you and Bruton Smith have had a long relationship so i wont go too crazy here, but I do blame bruton for part of this. for buying tracks left and right in what amounts to monopolistic control of the nascar schedule. A majority of tracks are his, and he has made the 1.5-2.5 mile track the standard of the sport. Now please, I get superspeedways are a signature of nascar, but make them special again. Make the roots the short track and make the 1.5-2.5 mile events special again. Im not a bring back Wilkesboro guy, but they could start by tearing up chicagoland or how bout VEGAS and make a truly state of the art Short Track.

[@jamesbraun9842]

Humpy and him parted ways along time ago.

[@FloridaManRacer]

James Braun that doesn't mean they dont respect each other. I was just trying to use some candor with a man who frankly has had a lot of power in the racing world for many years. you dont go spouting off to someone you've A. Never met and B.have respect for...

[@donnlowe9129]

300 mile and 500 mile races are just way way too long. Those cars are not racing all those laps and miles they are just following each other around until the last 50 miles and then they start worrying about how to wreck the guys in front of them and hopefully end up in the lead on the last lap. As far as I'm concerned they could cut all the races down To 50 or 75 laps. Then the guys wouldn't be able to sand bag they'd have to show exactly what they have for a power and handling and the driver would have to exhibit more skill.

[@michaelparks3033]

Thanks for putting your opinion out there Humpy! I really like hearing what you have to say. Do you have any thoughts on the end of SPEED/Fox Sports 1 taking over and how it will impact American motorsports?

[@waterbug85]

Humpy Wheeler, You sir are the premier promoter of NASCAR. With that said, I was hoping to hear more from you about all the changes NASCAR has made and how to fix it. Maybe you did, but it got to long & I missed it. But you are the MAN, no denying that. France, Helton, Smith & Humpy otto sit down in a locked room and don't come out until you all agree on a new game plan for NASCAR. I got a lot of ideas, but you four guys are the ones to come up with the plan. Do it now before it's to late.

[@Drivn2Insanity]

You really should be president of NASCAR. Great insight and someone that knows how's to bring exciting racing back now, not years from now.

[@cnrmoose]

How they allow one man to own multiple cars is unbelievable to me. Imagine watching the Super Bowl and Robert Kraft owns both teams, or the NBA Finals and MJ owned both teams??? It stops being a true competition when one guy can control both competitors. The pass in the grass would never happen today, cause the drivers would have to check with the owner to see which one was supposed to win this race. Damn joke.

[@bobmchugh5260]

cnrmoose I remember in the ‘50s a man named Carl Kiekhaefer owned three successful teams and back in the ‘80s a man named JD Stacy bought six or seven what was then Winston Cup teams but couldn’t make it work so it’s not anything new. The real problem is there is nothing exciting about NASCAR today. Be it drivers, teams, cars or tracks. Everything seems to have “gone corporate” and everyone fits the same mold. Drivers have no personality and if they try to show any emotion, it’s to the trailer you go. Teams all look alike except for the colors of their uniforms, the cars all look the same except for what headlight decals you paste on the front. And the tracks are slowly becoming cookie cutter, mile and a half ovals that turn out some of the most boring racing around. Bring back the individuality and variety and maybe it’ll bring back the excitement. But I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

[@ThatSB]

that has nothing to do with it. andthe pass in the grass wasnt a pass, you misremember

[@jstrawser]

never was a pass in the grass check the replay DA

[@seanlough30]

That really actually helps more than hurts, what you would you would actually be doing in some cases is limiting a dedicated person's willingness to lose money.

[@4wheelliving132]

there would only be about 15 cars in the field if you didn't allow multi car teams

[@peteneems]

"these cars got too expensive down at the grassroots level" that's true, even trying to do go kart racing back in 1998/1999 was too expensive for me personally

[@GradyWhite2007]

Back in the 90's...it was on fire! The racing was crazy, a lot of fun!...Then Dale Earnhardt was killed. That was it! Also the cost of going is too high. Younger people don't care about NASCAR. They want a computer with a car built around it. They don't care about horsepower...Dale Earnhardt's death was when I lost interest...

[@jasonbeckner418]

Mr Wheeler, Thank you for speaking out on this topic. As a race fan and Saturday night short track announcer it pains me to see stock car racing in the predicament its in today. I would hope that this video will not go unnoticed by nascar, but I'm pretty sure you have already been in there ear about it. Its time for a change. I hope and pray someone will step up to the plate and save our sport. Thank you.

[@wakeupamericaandresist2413]

Thank you my freind, I miss the good old days. I have always loved the local tracks and I’m still at local tracks. It’s sad to see great kids trying to get to NASCAR.

[@michaeldecare1949]

Dave Marsden I have not watched an entire NASCAR race in years. I only occasionally look at the race results. Here is my top 10 as to why I lost interest in NASCAR; 1. Dale Earnhardt died. NASCAR can't change that. But he was the last of the real drivers. 2. I can't identify with the cars. Every make of car must fit the same template? A 2 door Camry? 3. I don't know what day or night, which network or what time the races are on. 4. The rules do not matter because NASCAR will just change them as they go. 5. There are few, very few, talented drivers. The "drivers" today are salesmen that are very vanilla in flavor. 6. The races are tool long. Time trials are as boring as it gets. I would like to see heat races and a feature all in the same day. No provisional qualifiers. 7. The commentators.....Boogity Boogity Boogity. Seriuosly? 8. When was the last race that was battled out right to the end? The mysterious debris cautions, green white checkered finish or a big wreck determines the outcome not cars actually RACING. 9. The Lucky Dog. How can you get your lap back if you don't actually race past the leader. 10. Overall is NASCAR is a poor product. Boring. Made for TV. It doesn't appeal to me any more so I don't watch it. Unlike · Reply · 2 · 6 hrs Bob Andrews Bob Andrews Agree with everything you said. I just dictated a whole long response, but deleted it because nowadays very few people have the attention span to read it all anyway. Everything that Humpy said resonated with me. I'm trying to determine not only what's...See More Like · Reply · 1 · 38 mins Michael DeCare Michael DeCare I agree with everything Dave Marsden said and will add that I miss Jeff Hammond explaining how things work on the CUT AWAY CAR. Like · Reply · 1 · 33 mins

[@noneofyourbusiness7594]

he was a jack ass only way he ever won was to put someone out glad theres going to be no more earnhardt in nascar anymore

[@randytomlinson6440]

screw you mustang 2017, ford has always sucked. another reason why an earnhardt wouldn't drive one in their entire careers. better drivers drive better cars.

[@jamesbraun9842]

randy tomlinson Dale drove 2 seasons with a Ford.

[@garycrumrine9538]

Disagree. Mark Martin was

[@sipanon9711]

mustang 2017 you must be a Busch fan.

[@davcolli]

When NASCAR started, it was all about the racing. Now, none of the drivers or teams care about racing, they care about getting the biggest sponsors.

[@randallcounts9529]

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111q1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

[@davidtorres3621]

This video was done a few year's ago. And it's still apply right now. Too much cookie cutter drivers. Nascar prices are so high. Last race I saw. When Earnhardt died. Don't even watch it anymore. And Now NASCAR is for sale. Hopefully things will get better. Way better.

[@TigerTomPistone]

Listen to Humpy he knows what he's talking about.

[@jeffparris8387]

Tom Pistone Tom Pistone knows as well. He’s a helluva guy

[@coldstonestunners]

I think this season is very good...i also agree with everything you say. might i add the cars handle to easy with the front splitter down all the way. it takes the wheel out of wheelman

[@johnb.4351]

Stage racing, restrictor plate racing, over regulation in total. I watched NASCAR since the mid 1960s and was faithful for 30 years or so then it started becoming something unknown.

[@ericedison9654]

If I was ruler of NASCAR...... End the Chase and only have 26 races the entire season. This would build anticipation and excitement for the race. Only a 36 car field for the races except for Daytona and Talladega.The pressure to qualify would be immense and add excitement drama and intrigue. I would impose a salary cap and come up with a rule set that will reduce the amount of money needed to be spent in order to be competitive. Have race fans who go to the dirt tracks and other various tracks vote on their favorite driver to have owners take a look at that person and possibly give them a chance to move up. This would give fans more direct involvement with the sport. Rebuild N. Hillsboro speedway and build a completely new 3/4 mile track. Stop racing at Martinsville and only have one 1/2 mile race at Bristol at night. These are my thoughts and wishes if I ran things. Great video and thank you

[@dks13827]

What's with the time outs, Kings X, everyone is the same, etc ?

[@MercuryStaniel]

we need you as the ceo of nascar

[@cecillyles2678]

Humpy Wheeler has hit the nail's on the head! when he talks about rivalries and my favorite is Rubbing is Racing, I miss a lot about the old Nascar! I believe the same thing is happening to Drag Racing the big differance there is now there is this new Outlaw street thing going and I have to admit I like it! I only hope they can get the courpate out and bring back the good ol boy Nascar!

[@tootall5559]

when they go back to racing actual stock cars, I may start watching again.

[@superiorfilmworks]

Mr. Wheeler, in this video you have identified with 110% accuracy everything that went wrong with our sport. I have so much respect for your wonderful insight into NASCAR. If I may offer my honest feelings, I don't think the sport stands a chance at "getting back" to where we were as long as Brian France is running it. Just watch this guys "twice a year" press conferences with the media. He has denial written all over his face anytime he is asked about attendance problems or boring races.

[@terrygarvin1980]

When Brian France kicked out Confederate flag and started franchise owners it lost some of the old base.

[@Fan2018smoke]

Curious on your thoughts : Teams... Use to be two car teams. Now you basically have 4,8 or 10 car teams. You can't wreck or put your teammate in jeopardy... To me this is a serious issue in NASCAR. I have always respected you Mr Wheeler. I really enjoyed Robosaurus... That was awesome!

[@effend446]

I look at the cars themselves.......especially when you go back to the late 80's when GM started running the W-body templates: while the racing version was still rear-drive and V8-powered, the actual production models were front-drive, V6 or 4-cylinder. That's when the racing cars truly became purpose-built instead of production-based.

[@sludge4125]

The late eighties and early nineties were an incredibly fun period in nascar.

[@pulsarstargrave256]

GOOD JOB! Many forget about the birth of WIDE SCREEN TELEVISIONS whenever they talk about the decline in attendance at sporting events--and MOVIES! Why attend a live event and only being able to see tiny cars or players when you can see them clearly in the privacy of your own home on DIGITAL television,and while munching on good home cooking, too!

[@505197]

I don't believe NASCAR is going to make a "come back". And frankly, at my age having been alive longer than NASCAR has existed, I don't care. Grass roots racing is where it's at for me, I'll take Sprints on the 1/4 mile.

[@intimmychase507]

NASCAR just was not the same after the legend died in 2001. I like Dale Jr. Very much. Have followed his career all the way. He had an impossible task of filling his dads shoes. EARNHARDT was NASCAR.

[@randyhutchinson9910]

the hay day of NASCAR was because of the characters driving the cars, we identified with them, so, we bought tickets to see them personally, now, not many individuals can identify with this generation of racers, and race cars, gone to far to politically correct, were not politically correct, and never will be, another point is fans that have chemical and emotional addictions, they need to be desperate from families, families come FIRST

[@netprowlerp]

You got that right, What sport would allow a guy named Dick Trickle to drive a car. Could you imagine the cooperation going nuts. The only sponsor he could get is big pharma.

[@Episcleritis]

I'm not a NASCAR fan but I found this to be an educational and insightful analysis. I enjoyed the discussion on sports bubbles and what drives fan attendance. I wonder if the expensive television productions simply make racing more enjoyable from home? Thanks for the video.

[@Howrider65]

Way to many rules... It used to be just get out there and floor it.. Buddy Baker rocked..

[@tp5776]

When I was in my late teens my cousin got a Chevy and raced the dirt tracks. Wreck and spend all our work money on the car to race again. But a win got us some sponsors. 66 was our number because I had a 66 ford truck we called the 66. All money won went into the car too. I cousin went on racing after I moved. Did very well in the quad cities. He wrecked and the car he hit fuel cell ruptured and fuel went up the hood of my cousin car and burnt him. He almost lost all his fingers and couldn’t even drive a reg car for years. Long come back. He open a bar called first & last lap. We now have drivers that were racing on carts we never could have afforded. Humpy is right. Too much money to play.

[@shadowspt]

with race attendance down as it is, tracks like North Wilkesboro and Rockingham with what used to be thought of as "limited seating" couldn't sell out. Sure would be nice to see them put to the test now though, wouldn't it?

[@pattyhays487]

I went to Talladega a few years ago. Besides the small uncomfortable seats, every ten minutes someone wants to get by to go to the bathroom or snackbar. It really got irritating. That alone is enough to keep me away fro any more races...

[@MannyMoto1]

Should they get rid of restrictor plates?

[@AlonsoRules]

Killing tracks like Rockingham, Wilkesboro. Memphis, Nashville Fairgrounds etc. and replacing them with boring 1.5 mile tracks didn't help.

[@scotcoon1186]

They lost me when I started watching a race and Benny Parsons told me the starting line-up brought to me by, top 40 starters brought to me by, top 30 starters brought to me by, and top 20, top 15, 10, 5,4, and the front row brought to me by hellman's, the official mayonnaise of Nascar.

[@lukethekanefan]

you know a man is very informed on motorsport and cars when he gets up in the morning and puts on a bmw m series shirt good man

[@jordanyoung2382]

off topic but what kind of banjo do you have there?

[@jakespoon5549]

Is that an Ome 5 string behind you?

[@meanmrmustang]

Mr Wheeler,I've always felt that you've had far greater insight into NASCAR than you've ever been credited with,and this is proof. looking forward to more, Thank you

[@milomanx6531]

In other words: NASCAR is meant to be a show. Like a Hollywood movie that stirs emotions and keeps you involved. Only problem is, real stock car racing is gone!

[@netprowlerp]

ARCA?

[@pettymike45]

One point missed I think is the fact that the cars are way too fast now, and glued to the track. It's too hard to pass because the cars are too aero sensitive, and with this new car, it's worse than its ever been. Take the splitters off, remove the shark fin, and raise the ride heights of the cars. Also, put the bigger tires on them that they had tested a few years ago. That will put the driving back into NASCAR. It's like watching a F1 race after 5 laps, the entire field is single file.

[@kaaytie84]

thank you so much for posting this video. You are 100% correct. Nascar pushed out the old fans for a newer fan base. But guess what the new fans got bored of nascar and left . But since nascar told us die hard fans to change or leave we have no reason to come back. My 1st race I went to was in 1983 at MIS and I watched Cale win the race. The last race I went to was in 2002. keep up the videos.

[@bigdave46148]

Thank you for posting this video Mr. Wheeler. You are right, there are problems with Nascar racing but I don't feel the points is where the problem is. I think Nascar has been trying to make the cars to equal, call it Iroc if you would like. If Nascar wants to put racing back into racing, there are 3 things they could do...1 add 500 pounds to the cars, 2 put panel lines back on the cars and 3 go to a 11 1/2 inch tire.

[@Beckywild9]

Humpy, you are right about us Green Bay fans! lol 🤣 Bill Elliott IS my working man race driver! He was the poor guy with no dad or relative in NASCAR unlike DE who had Ralph help get him in the circuit. Bill was one the of the last owner / drivers which in itself should be respected. Bill was always one of the most respected, honest, genuine, and CLEAN racers in NASCAR. Bill will always be my champion! 🏆 I do TOTALLY agree with Humpy that NASCAR needs to focus more on racing vs. points standings, I also feel that a huge downfall of NASCAR came when they changed the restrictor plate rules bunching up the cars so much it became draft team racing. 😛 It was also fun to watch what the manufacturers could do with the cars too, but that's out the window as well... Again, they have the cars so equal that all you are watching is a mass of drafting cars and waiting for the big wreck. YUCK!

[@JHallin]

Wheeler for president.

[@ExcalibursEdge]

Wheeler talked a lot about increasing excitement to get fans out to the track, but not once did he say single word about dropping the unrealistically high ticket/parking/concessions prices. One of the MAIN reasons people don't go to the track is simply because they can't afford it. When you add up all that is involved in getting to the track, parking, tickets, food, motels (if out of town), and what you have is the need to take out a second mortgage just to see a race. Not going to happen.

[@gatorhunter1]

This is what happens when you leave the goat to guard the cabbage patch!

[@donniebeadles7842]

Humpy, love the vid man. Here is what I think would fix Nascar cup racing. The schedule is long and competes and overlaps with football and people are becoming more and more Attention deficit type people. The weather is a huge factor for a lot of races now too. So I tell you how to fix those things. Start season first Sunday in April and have it end in September. This eliminates all the cold weather races and tracks getting snow. Instead of stages , make every weekend twin 250 milers instead of one 500 mile race. 250 miles is short enough that people have to race hard entire time especially those qualifying outside top 8 or 10. Checkered flag falls at 250 miles have a victory lane for the winner and talk to top 3 guys. Invert the top 15 finishers and BOOM start a second 250 miler with everyone on fresh tires. Then you have the fast cars that finished 1,2,3 starting 13th , 14th and 15th with just 250 miles to get to front again and a guy like Daniel Suarez or today Jimmie Johnson who just finished 15th starting on pole and hungry to win the race. This would create lots of moving forward and backward in the rundown in race #2. Both races count for full points.

[@donniebeadles7842]

With every track doing it this way , you could still have your 36 race schedule but in a more exciting condensed form and all the weather would be good besides occasional rain. Bristol would still be 8th date on calendar for example but would be race #15 and #16. Since it's starting in April at Daytona this would give Bristol a June date and start it at 5 pm that way first race of the twin 250 is run in daytime ( just like Spring) and the 2nd twin is run under lights ( just like August. Martinsville moves to end of May ( no more snow and cold rain race days. Atlanta is in April ( no more freezing to death there). Season runs 36 races on a total of 18 weekends between beginning of April and mid September. Darlington could still keep there labor day date but this would now make throwback weekend pivotal in championship as it would be one of last 5 or 6 races.

[@donniebeadles7842]

There are 24 -25 weekends between beginning of April and mid September so the 18 race weekend schedule would give teams a weekend off for recovery and family time every 5 weeks roughly. Plus it allows 6 to 7 built in rain dates that are open on calendar. And when it ends in September..guess what , NASCAR doesn't have to compete with NFL for ratings or world series baseball. It has it's own schedule. And with 5 or 6 months off between September and end of March, then the itch to watch becomes stronger because fans will miss it more. Also having 18 race dates puts a premium on value of a ticket because fans will know that missing in the spring to go in Fall isn't an option. Puts asses back in seats because the ticket for an event will be at a premium to actually go.

[@EclecticHillbilly]

They used to run 50-60 races a year and sometimes run 3 races a week.

[@KennethMixson]

Another thing they need to do is start the races earlier on Sundays. They are moving the races farther and farther west and starting them so late their die-hard southern fans can't stay up and watch because they have to work on Mondays. It is tough to stay up until midnight watching a race when you have to be up before the crack of dawn the next morning. Same goes for the fans in the stands. They have to take off work on Monday to attend the race even if they pretty much live next to the track. I used to go to the races on Sundays and be at work on Monday morning. I used to go to both Darlington's, Rockingham's and Charlotte's races every year and could make it to work Monday. Can't do that now.

[@irrationalgeographic9953]

We are lucky in NZ as we get the races live and commercial free here not like you get in the states with breaks every couple of minutes which translates to you only getting half the race. Nascar has always been great for the rivalry's with drivers "getting even" on the track, and sometimes off it. Now it seems if a driver looks at someone the wrong way they get dished a fine. You are right Humpy they need to get back to the basics.

[@21daytona502]

I think one of the main problems is peoples lives are more busy now than ever before. Back in the early days most people had weekends off, not any more as the world is 24/7. Also I lost most interest when the chase started and now with stopping the race every 60 laps or so for playoff points is just dumb. Let the best team, driver and cars race and maybe at the end of the year win the championship like years ago.