I want to see a top level series where the cars have to be showroom stock, only modifications allowed are the removal of the interior / sound deadening material, installation of safety cage, fire suppression system, racing seat and harness. Engine, transmission, brakes, cooling system, suspension, body, etc must all remain identical to cars with a minimum production of 1,500 units.

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Also, carbs are much easier to police against illegal mods than FI. Rubbin' ain't the only thing that's racin'. Cheatin' is far more prevalent.

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I had to laugh when you mentioned irrelevance, WRC, FIA trucks and V8 supercars in one comment.

Please explain to me the relevance of the three forms of racing you mentioned to US racing fans, incorporating the FACT that none of those series compete in North America, the vehicles used are not sold in the US except a couple models, and US spectators have no idea who the drivers are.

I will argue that nothing is more irrelevant than a competitive series that fans know nothing about.

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I just don't know about that truck racing though. Is that the NASCAR where they have fake pickups instead of fake Luminas?

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I am sure you are right, when GM closes down (which I seriously doubt) then no more Cobalts will be produced. I think Subaru sells about 30,000 WRX's in the US annually; not very many but the 20-something kids seem to like them.

How all this translates to professional auto racing in the US is confusing. There are no FIA-sanctioned WRC events held in the US. The only big rig racing I recall were drag racing events and a very short-lived series ran on superspeedways in the late 1970s. Australian V8 Supercars have zero relevance outside Oz and NZ.

By comparison, the NASCAR event held in Texas last Sunday attracted 150,000 spectators and almost 9 million TV viewers.

Even if the automakers completely disappear from the landscape, I see no tangible reason or proof that NASCAR will cease operations or become irrelevant. If someone has a well thought out argument to the contrary, I am all ears.

I'd love a WRC event on US soil. However, I think once the WRX-driving d00dz and their d00dettez get an opportunity to experience a live WRC event, it's appeal will die quickly unless the events are held inside stadiums as a series of special stages targeted to a TV audience. Until then NASCAR rules all and will continue to rule.

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Now, there were commercial radio stations (KROQ in LA for instance) that did play that "wierd" music, and they pulled numbers and ad dollars. Lot's of it too. But the consultants and the GM didn't listen, failing to recognize the demographic shift that was happening right in front of them. And then Nirvana happened, and their tune changed.

Today, NASCAR still pulls big numbers. But their audience is getting older and, thanks to the net and video games, the WRC and other funny "ferrin" racing series are on the radar screen of a lot of folks that could care less about NASCAR. Overseas TV outlets have figured out how to make it translate to TV already. It just needs exposure.

Sooner or later, some Cable TV exec is going piece the puzzle together as I just did. And the France family business, like those broadcast consultants of yore, may find there's a new sheriff in town....and he turns in both directions.

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Thanks for your post. No question that demographics are changing. You are exactly right, the NASCAR fan base is aging and they are not being replaced 1-for-1 with a younger fan. I believe this trend will continue but NASCAR will not be irrelevant, no more so than Fleetwood Mac or Cream became irrelevant between your PD days and now. NASCAR's appeal is wider today than ever so their market is changing, thinning out a little, too, but not going away.

The comparison to WRC is murky. WRC has a strong appeal in Europe as the racing was created there, the cars they drive are sold there and the drivers are national heroes in their home countries. Overseas TV has found a way to package the sport into something more fan-friendly while still maintaining its personality and nationalism. The FIA has shown they are more than willing to tweak the rules to keep WRC fresh and interesting.

Sadly, none of that translates to the North America racing fan. For WRC to take hold in NA, it will need to hold local events using NA drivers and cars the average fan can buy. It's that identifiability that will be key to the sport's success, much like Nirvana's and Pearl Jam's connection to a new generation of music lovers who didn't get Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath.

WRC has been packaged and broadcasted in the US on Speedvision and Speed Channel. It didn't work, maybe because its core audience wasn't ready for it, I don't know. Will another exec try again, with the same unknown drivers, teams, cars and locales? I'd like to see it work.

Until then NASCAR will remain as the most relevant auto racing series in NA. And don't forget, they've adapted to changes many times in their past.

As for new sheriffs going both ways.....ummmm..... I don't really need to know about it....... not that's its wrong......or anything.....

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Well, they sold a lot of albums, I think. And weren't all the band members having sex with each other, then writing hit songs about the relationship issues? I think people bought their albums just to get the latest on who was doing whom.

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@SoK: Can you name a sportier Toyota currently in production than a V6 Camry/Solara?

I suppose you could make the argument for the Corolla or Yaris but, really, are those any better?

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Oh, you said "Toyota-branded".

Okay, Tundra with the five-seven or the big-six Tacoma 2wd. Yeah, their only reasonably sporty vehicles are trucks. I know.

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The Avalon is "sporty" in that it has a high-power six and is fast in a straight line and cornering is absolutely frightful. It's kind of exciting, in the way that corners in any '60s muscle car or being stabbed in the leg is exciting!

And the Matrix XRS is decent.

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How the hell do they still get off calling it "Stock Car"... not even the f*cking lugnuts are stock.

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[www.toyota.com]

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Even race cars switched to fuel injected motors back in the 60s and 70s.

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