Not so "Funny"

NASCAR chairman Brian France has had a lot of face time recently, speaking about a variety of topics that influence the racing circuit including everything from the economy, the auto industry, and "America's Funniest Home Videos". Apparently, Mr. France is not a fan of the show; especially after ABC decided to bump the last few laps of a primetime Sprint Cup race this past weekend in order to show and episode of AFV.

While this is embarrassing in itself, it is a sign of - among other things - that NASCAR is a bit on the down side. For one thing, NASCAR's assertion that it is becoming a major "sport" is now a bit suspect. If it were a major money maker, ABC would not move the race to another network in order to show a program like AFV. No knock on the show, anything that can stay on the air nearly 20 years has to be doing something right, but AFV still clings to the cheap, crude comedy of stupid people doing stupid things on tape which, if we're lucky, includes someone getting kicked in the groin. And as we all know how painful (and funny) that is, the idea that a NASCAR race was moved to another network in order to deliver a steady half-hour of America's best and brightest showcasing their finest moments is incredibly more painful (and fantastically more hilarious).

Along with this incident, the struggling economy will have a more drastic effect on NASCAR that it will on the NFL, NBA, or MLB. The biggest part of that will be the three major US auto makers are so very down that the level of their participation in NASCAR has been questioned and will be amended in order for NASCAR to stay afloat.

While it is a little disturbing to see something like NASCAR struggling, it only proves the point that auto racing is a niche attraction in America and not the ratings giant they claim to be. Despite all the flaws in any of the three major sports, no network would ever dream of bumping the last few minutes or innings of a playoff game for anything. What's worse is that the NASCAR bump wasn't that big of a news item. On the other hand, TBS's ALCS Game 6 incident caused quite a stir and undoubtedly a few people their jobs.

An incident like this only furthers the argument that NASCAR is not only outside the realm of the major sports but that it lacks the substance to be considered a "sport" at all. There is no doubt that what the drivers have to endure is difficult and that it takes someone especially skilled to manage all that goes on during a race, but just because it is difficult doesn't mean that it can be classified as a "sport". NASCAR fans can argue until they are blue in the face in defense of their favorite attraction, but what they can not dispute is the fact that day in and day out the biggest determining factor between victory or defeat is not human, but a machine. All of the three major sports are true tests of athletic prowess; NASCAR lacks that aspect which makes it difficult for it to be considered legitimate in the eyes of sports fans. Perhaps if NASCAR was able to incorporate that facet into what they are, then they would not have to endure incidents like the one this past weekend.

NASCAR has a giant cloud of embarrassment hanging over them right how. And while it's not as embarrassing as getting kicked in the crotch on national television, it is equally funny. Something Mr. France probably doesn't agree with.