By Lou Modestino
Ryan Blaney won the Cup race at Nashville. Joey Logano of Middletown, CT ended his day in fourth and Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT came in 28th position.
Justin Allgaier won the Nashville Xfinity race. Anthony Alfredo of Ridgefield, CT came in 29th. Kris Wright came in 31st. Wright steers a for Cape Cod’s Chris and Mary Our entry. Both owners reside in Chatham, MA.
At the Indy Car race Detroit, MI was taken by Kirkwood beating second place driver Santino Ferrucci of Woodbury, CT, his best show in that sanction.
Early Exit on Race Day
Heading into Sunday’s Funny Car eliminations at New England Dragway in Epping, NH , Bob Tasca III of Hope, RI was confident in the team’s setup and potential. But any hopes of a deep run at his home track were dashed in Round 1. Facing Phil Burkart, Tasca lost traction just past 60 feet and smoked the tires, coasting to a 7.569 at 94.02 mph and a first-round loss.
“Too much,” Tasca said. “Lost traction around 60 feet.”
Eyes on Bristol
Despite the early exit, the team leaves New England with key positives—most notably, top-tier speed and valuable data from their No. 2 qualifying effort.
“We’ve set speed records. We’ve been 340 mph,” Tasca said Friday. “But we have got to go down the racetrack consistently.”
The Tasca Racing crew will look to bounce back quickly as the NHRA tour rolls on to Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee, for next weekend’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. With the car showing serious horsepower and the crew focused on consistency, Tasca will arrive in Tennessee ready to contend.
Are the NASCAR fans unhappy about having to pay to see five Cup races in the middle of the season Here’s a more detailed look at the different perspectives:
Negative Reactions:
- Disappointment and Frustration: Many fans express feeling “slapped in the face” by the exclusivity of these races, especially if they prefer watching on traditional TV.
- “Unfair” to Regular Viewers: Some fans, like the one on Facebook who mentioned Jimmie Johnson fans, feel that NASCAR is prioritizing a new audience and leaving regular viewers behind.
- Increased Cost and Complexity: The shift to streaming and pay-per-view adds to the cost of watching NASCAR, potentially making it less accessible for fans on fixed incomes or those who prefer free options.
More Positive or Accepting Views:
- NASCAR’s Growth Strategy: Some fans understand that NASCAR needs to adapt to the changing TV landscape and see streaming as a way to reach new audiences and expand the sport’s reach.
- The Future of Sports Broadcasting: Others view streaming as the future of live sports and are open to exploring new platforms like Amazon Prime for watching races.
- Benefits of Streaming: Some fans see potential benefits to streaming, such as less commercial interruption and a more streamlined viewing experience.
Other Considerations:
- The Internet Makes It Easier to Find Information: While the shift to streaming might seem confusing to some, fans can still use the internet to find out where and when races are being broadcast.
- NASCAR’s Financial Position: Some fans acknowledge that NASCAR needs to generate revenue and that streaming may be a way to achieve that.
- Boycotts and Alternative Strategies: Some fans are actively boycotting the streaming races or finding alternative ways to watch.
Our own view is that NASCAR will lose more fans than ever!
