NASCAR Races: Rigged?
3/28/2014
Robyn Vandenberg
Are NASCAR races “rigged”?
I’d like you to check out this video, and please be patient and allow me to share my opinion.
Now, don't hit me up with those comments just yet. Admit it, you thought for maybe a second that this could happen and it would not take a lot of people to make this happen. Look at the big players we are talking about and how many drivers they cover, not to mention the “Almighty Oz” that is the France Family and Crew. What leads me to believe that this could actually happen is due to Michael Waltrip Racing's big dilemma last year. They got caught, not by NASCAR, by stupidity. They forgot to put their radios on private, which should leave all of us to wonder what does happen behind closed doors.
Unlike the Narrator of this video, I am not stating I believe every race in NASCAR is rigged. I am stating that sometimes I have raised an eyebrow or two and wondered “Hmm, that’s just too perfect of a story.” The miracle wins always made me wonder. I love some of these drivers that are talked about in this video, however...the story book endings are suspect. Remember, sports are a business and I am saddened to say that that sentence alone really sucks! You can no longer buy a football jersey of your favorite player anymore as the possibility of such player still being on your favorite team “X” amount of years later is improbable. Why waste big time money? Yet we do it anyway. The same goes for NASCAR drivers. I have had to replace so many tee-shirts of my favorite drivers that I just gave up. It became too expensive as these drivers go play ring around the NASCAR swag trailers. Many do it any way and the money keeps flowing. The term “Throwback” is now an adjective. I have many throwbacks that I basically wear to bed. I’m not going to wear my Kasey Kahne No.9 Budweiser to a race or my No.83 Wes Welker New England Patriots Jersey to a game.
Let’s be real here. NASCAR is a sponsor driven sport and anytime big business is allowed to have a say, they tend to scream rather than sit by the way side and allow what will be done shall be done. One could only hope. Not going to happen. We are just gullible at times and get caught up in the emotion. A dream come true for everyone! Look at the video where the driver of the sponsor of the race won that exact same race. I never put two and two together until now and it really seemed crazy that we as fans never noticed it. I know I don’t have to go into the “Mystery Debris” discussion as most fans AND DRIVERS have caught on to those shenanigans. Yet, NASCAR still gets away with it. Although, maybe not. The stands are no longer filled. Fans are enjoying their NASCAR experience at home on their big screens while their computer is hooked up to you guessed it…nascar.com's Raceview. You got us again, NASCAR! I am guilty as charged.
So what can NASCAR do now that will fill the stands? They have attempted with all their changes this year, but what else could they possibly do to make us sit up on that Lazy Boy and pique our interest? Maybe have JimmieJohnson win another Championship? No..NASCAR suicide, right now. Danica Patrick wins a race? Probable. How about a very, very popular driver being in place to win his first ever championship? Are we as fans willing to go there? If it were a driver you absolutely did not like you may believe it more easily. It’s all in who you are rooting for. As I have asked, don’t go crazy and get all “Raged NASCAR Fan” on me. Think about the story, the entertainment value, and the money that is rolling in faster than a juiced up Hendrick motor. Do you really believe that the race in Fontana was sold out yet Bristol had numerous empty stands? Seriously? I never believed it for a second and thought a lot of people were treated to a great race free of charge w/bus ride included. NASCAR has to save face right now. They have no choice. So they will allow the “Good Guy vs Bad Guy” scenarios play out as well as what could be a few surprise story book endings magically appear. It might come from a certain driver/owner who is well versed in accusing NASCAR of some of things that are highlighted in this video. NASCAR can't be rigged if Tony Stewart wins a race, can it? Brickyard anyone? How apropos it would be to have Smoke win his first race after coming off an injury at home in Indy. Also, one of the most watched races of the season. He who doth protest too much is usually in on the hustle.
I have said my piece and will allow you to watch the video a
few times more and of course come to your own conclusion. All I know is that if
any of this is true, who do I have to pay to get a Kasey
Kahne a championship?
It will be our secret.