Good, bad and ugly from NASCAR in 2011

NASCAR got the game-seven playoff it wanted from the Chase for the Sprint Cup with one of the most stirring championship finishes ever. Television ratings spiked this season. Attendance was better than expected at most tracks, considering the economy.

So by most measures, 2011 was a success for NASCAR. Competition on the track was as close as it’s been in years as 18 different drivers won Sprint Cup races, one short of the modern record of 19 set in 2000. There were five first-time winners, the most since 2002.

Certainly there are issues in the sport. The drivers are still unsure where NASCAR has drawn the line in its “Have at it, boys,” philosophy on the track. Some fans and drivers still don’t like the racing produced by the Car of Tomorrow. The soon-to-be implemented and expensive electronic fuel injection for engines has been controversial.

And the economy has had a chilling effect, causing some race teams to shut down and sponsors to pull out or pull back funding, and forcing fans to reduce the number of races they can afford to attend, especially out of town.



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