Watched some NECKCAR back about 20 years ago and almost every year I think I might start watching it again. Football season wraps up and provided the Hawks ain't playing basketball on Sunday afternoon, I'll flip on the race as that becomes my nap material until baseball starts. The cars look decent again, but they've done nothing to fill the void left by Earnhardt's alleged passing. Back in the day you could pull for Kulwicki bince he brought his own ride out and I liked Bill Elliott, Harry Gant and Rusty. Nowadays there just ain't anybody likeable and Hendrick outspends everyone like 10:1 or something outlandish so his crew of corporate blow dried drivers is always at the front. And the placement of the commercials is very questionable and the quantity has skyrocketed. Plus, they did away with some short track races and now a bunch of races are on cookie cutter 1.5 mile tracks that are the racing equivalent of the McMansion out in Aurora, Illinois or something - they are just boring. BRING BACK WILKESBORO.
The business got handed down from the founder to his kid and then to his kid. Now I'm white trash at heart, which is why almost every year I give it NECKCAR that second chance, but I just think it has moved too far from its white trash roots. The reason, IMHO, is that the fella running it now prolly never really grew up as serious white trash and he is so far removed from being white trash right now that he can't relate. People want to see bumping and some wrecks and guys spinning each other. People want to see some fights. People want to see dudes who speak their mind and aren't toeing the line of some corporate agenda. People don't want to see Hendrick's cars win almost every championship because they want to pull for the underdog. NECKCAR is failing miserably on most of those fronts and that is a big reason why (coupled with outlandish ticket prices) you see venues with tons of empty seats (though part of that is overbuilding, too).
And then don't even get me started on my experience going to Joliet for the race.
