Did the Winston Cup ever exist???

tdrumm · March 18, 2004

This has probably been beaten to death, so forgive me but I can't take it anymore....

I've hated the fact that Winston was forced to drop their sponsorship of the Cup Series. As a non-smoker being a fan of the Winston Cup Series did not make yearn for nicotine, and it wasn't until I was in my early teens that I realized that Winston sold cigarettes. I did not approve of their peddling of cigarettes to any one who looked over 18, and their offers to smokers to exchange their brand of smokes for Winstons at the tracks, but hey, smoking isn't illegal, it's your choice.

I gave it four races to try to settle in, but I hate the name "Nextel Cup", it doesn't have the ring that the Winston Cup had. I really hate how on the TV broadcasts (Fox, don't get me started on them either, I miss ESPN coverage) make it seem like the Winston Cup Series never existed. A driver is not in his sixth year of Nextel Cup Series competition. He has five years of Winston Cup and four races of Nextel Cup Series experience. Winston did so much to build up this sport into what it is today, and they deserve more respect than what they are being given. Remember when NASCAR used to be beer, cigarettes, car parts, country music, and guys who where rough around the edges? Back then cell phones and Nextel weren't even some MBA's wet dream yet, so don't act like you've always been here.

NASCAR has sold it's soul to the highest bidder and turned it's back on it's heritage. I hope that things get better, otherwise the ads will be - NASCAR. Nextel. Done.

SilveradoWV · March 19, 2004

Not to be smart or anything, but its just like smoking, Nascar or Nextel isnt forcing you to watch them, its your choice.

That being said, I myself used to go to 7 races a year, now I could care less if I even watch it on TV. It has changed alot over the past few years, you either change with it or leave it like I did, because what you think about it or say about it wont change anything unless you have as much money as Nextel. I have since found way better things to get interested in than Nascar. Two of which are NHRA and Late Model Dirt Track racing such as Xtreme, Boundless, MACS, and on down to the local guys running every Friday night. May be hard to believe but I would turn down Nascar tickets to watch an NHRA even or a Dirt Late Model Event. I actually do it every year, the only permanent Nascar Reservastions I have left are Bristol Night Races, I have sold those tickets every year for the last 5 or 6 years because it just doesnt interest me anymore. I have no problems selling the tickets so therefore I leave my name on the list! There is my $.02 rant!

99GoldSilverado · March 22, 2004

I gave it four races to try to settle in, but I hate the name "Nextel Cup", it doesn't have the ring that the Winston Cup had. I really hate how on the TV broadcasts (Fox, don't get me started on them either, I miss ESPN coverage) make it seem like the Winston Cup Series never existed. A driver is not in his sixth year of Nextel Cup Series competition. He has five years of Winston Cup and four races of Nextel Cup Series experience. Winston did so much to build up this sport into what it is today, and they deserve more respect than what they are being given. Remember when NASCAR used to be beer, cigarettes, car parts, country music, and guys who where rough around the edges? Back then cell phones and Nextel weren't even some MBA's wet dream yet, so don't act like you've always been here.

I agree whole-heartedly with that paragraph

Worktruck · March 22, 2004

QUOTE
I gave it four races to try to settle in, but I hate the name "Nextel Cup", it doesn't have the ring that the Winston Cup had. I really hate how on the TV broadcasts (Fox, don't get me started on them either, I miss ESPN coverage) make it seem like the Winston Cup Series never existed. A driver is not in his sixth year of Nextel Cup Series competition. He has five years of Winston Cup and four races of Nextel Cup Series experience. Winston did so much to build up this sport into what it is today, and they deserve more respect than what they are being given. Remember when NASCAR used to be beer, cigarettes, car parts, country music, and guys who where rough around the edges? Back then cell phones and Nextel weren't even some MBA's wet dream yet, so don't act like you've always been here.

Ditto. I think the reason they are refferring to all of Cup racing as Nextel Cup is because Winston had to remove themselves completely from the sport. Oh yeah, gotta love the goverment saving us from ourselves again. Bulls**t.

antig24 · March 22, 2004

Did winston actually get forced out of the sport? I thought it was their decision since it was so hard to advertise, but I could be wrong. I thought they had to choose between NHRA and NA$CAR a few years ago, and they choose to drop NHRA.

Worktruck · March 22, 2004

I'm not an authority but I believe they had to remove themselves because of cigarette advertising on TV. I believe they had a deadline that they had to be out by but I'm not sure what it was. The sport has changed and will never be the same. I gave up my seats at N.H.I.S. this year too.

tmf6902 · March 23, 2004

Look at the bright side...atleast it's not the McDonalds Cup, or the Exxon Cup....Budweiser should have bought it and called it the Budweiser Mug.

Wingnut · March 23, 2004

Look at the bright side...atleast it's not the McDonalds Cup, or the Exxon Cup....Budweiser should have bought it and called it the Budweiser Mug.

Elwood · March 23, 2004

I'm not an authority but I believe they had to remove themselves because of cigarette advertising on TV. I believe they had a deadline that they had to be out by but I'm not sure what it was. The sport has changed and will never be the same. I gave up my seats at N.H.I.S. this year too.

I'm pretty sure they CHOSE to leave. But they did so because of the cigarette ad laws, making it harder for them to reap the benefits of the money they put into the sport. They set their own deadline that they would leave when their contract was up, but told NASCAR that if they could find someone else to sponsor the series they would go ahead and leave before that.

As for FOX not saying Winston, that's probably not FOX, it's probably in the contract with Nextel, so blame Nextel's lawyers.

Personally I like FOX's coverage, especially as opposed to NBC. Of course I would be happy with any coverage with audio at this point, because my cheap cable (which I can't really complain about b/c it is included in my rent) doesn't have audio on FOX and is a little snowy. So I watch the races while listening to them on the radio at the same time. Then watch the replay on Thursday on SPEED b/c FOX is the only channel that is screwed up.

antig24 · March 23, 2004

I'm not really happy with either of the TV companies coverage right now, hopefully ESPN will get back in like the rumors say. It's not quite so much the announcers themselves, I just wish they would show more guys outside of the top 5 throughout the race.

Truckman031 · March 30, 2004

I gave it four races to try to settle in, but I hate the name "Nextel Cup", it doesn't have the ring that the Winston Cup had. I really hate how on the TV broadcasts (Fox, don't get me started on them either, I miss ESPN coverage) make it seem like the Winston Cup Series never existed. A driver is not in his sixth year of Nextel Cup Series competition. He has five years of Winston Cup and four races of Nextel Cup Series experience. Winston did so much to build up this sport into what it is today, and they deserve more respect than what they are being given. Remember when NASCAR used to be beer, cigarettes, car parts, country music, and guys who where rough around the edges? Back then cell phones and Nextel weren't even some MBA's wet dream yet, so don't act like you've always been here.

I agree whole-heartedly with that paragraph