Cooperhawk, I don't have sour grapes at all. It's just not interesting any more. They have put too many rules in place to where it's almost like Indy racing vs, the true roots of Nascar. You know, bumping, banging & rubbing all over the track. You have to go to old timey styled dirt tracks anymore to see that.
I'm not saying Dale got his way all the time, nor did he tell them what to do. I live in Nascar country, and know a LOT of folks involved in it. (Heck, My Miss Penny used to date a crew member from Hut Stricklands team.) We have been in the pits, down with the teams, eaten many meals with many of them etc. The France family knew where the money was at & that Dale was the biggest draw. I know a lot of "behind the scenes" info & such to know that they hated to lose Dale. Yet, he was the main reason a lot of rules didn't get changed until after his death.
A little note about Bill Elliott. About the time he was so "awesome" I happened to be in a shop where one of his cars was getting some work done on it. I personally saw a highly illegal item in it. The shop mgr. saw it, knew what it was, & we went to his office where he called the crew chief. Well, it was on speaker the whole time. I personally heard him say; "oh, that, uh,,,, it's uh,,, a test item. Just remove it, put it all in a box & give it to me personally when I come up." The car in question had already won 3 races,,,,,,,,,,!
I don't knock anybody who enjoys it now as it is. But it's not the Nascar that I grew up with.
