Underdog Josh
Wise won the annual Fan Vote, prevailing over presumed favorite Danica Patrick
to earn the final spot in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The reaction
from NASCAR Nation was both swift and ugly.
“They’re not real
NASCAR fans,” sneered some observers, labeling Wise’s backers “internet geeks” and
worse. The online reddit.com community – largely responsible for Wise’s selection
– faced accusations of online election fraud, accusations that quickly proved
to be baseless.
Others dismissed
the vote on the grounds that Wise had little chance to actually win the
All-Star Race, conveniently ignoring the fact that in the 30-year history of
the event, only one Fan Vote winner has ever gone on to win the million-dollar
top prize. Patrick herself finished a distant seventh in the preliminary Sprint
Showdown, and would certainly have failed to contend for All-Star Victory Lane,
as well.
One member of
the NASCAR media corps even went so far as to label Wise’s selection “a farce," claiming that Patrick was “bumped from the all-star race by a
little-known driver who was barely noticed until his small fan base stuffed the
ballot box.”
Wise, he wrote, “had no
business being in Saturday night’s race,” claiming he was voted in by “a savvy
online community that figured out how to manipulate the fan vote.”
That assertion is both insulting
to Wise’s fans and totally devoid of fact.
Reddit.com is the
largest online community on the planet, and hardly qualifies as a “small fan base." Reddit and Dogecoin members did not
engage in “manipulation,” they simply worked harder – and smarter – than any
other group. They mobilized their fan base in a way that was both impressive
and 100-percent legal. No rules were broken – in spirit or otherwise -- any
more than they were broken when Bill Elliott was voted NASCAR’s Most Popular
Driver 16 times (10 times consecutively) in the 1980s and `90s.
While most fans were
content to cast an online vote or two for their favorite driver, Wise’s backers
went the extra mile, devoting hours of personal time to the voting process and
prevailing in a contest where the odds were heavily stacked against them.
Many of them also backed
that effort with their own paychecks, contributing to Dogecoin’s
dollars-and-cents sponsorship of Wise and the No. 98 Phil Parsons Racing
entry. Most NASCAR fans have never opened their wallets to sponsor their
favorite driver, short of buying a new Dale Junior T-shirt. Based on that fact
alone, Wise’s fans deserve your respect.
The reaction to
Saturday night’s fan vote can best be described in two simple words.
Sour grapes.
After
three decades of All-Star competition, we should understand by now that the annual All-Star Fan Vote is a popularity contest. Popularity can be measured in many ways;
through race day applause, souvenir sales, sponsor endorsements and NASCAR’s
annual All-Star and Most Popular Driver fan votes. None of those yardsticks are
more (or less) valid than the others.
In
2005, Martin Truex, Jr. won the All-Star Fan Vote, despite having competed in
only two Sprint Cup Series races that season. His popularity had as much to do
with his team owner – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – than it did Truex himself, but there
was no public outcry over the decision. The fans had spoken, and Truex competed in
the All Star Race.
It
didn’t matter why Truex was popular. All that mattered is that
he was.
It’s
the same today.
Josh Wise’s fans
do not deserve your disdain. They deserve your applause, and even your envy. They are
as legitimate as any of us – whether or not they ever attend a
NASCAR race -- and have displayed a level of loyalty and determination that most fans can only dream of emulating.
They are not a lesser version of NASCAR fandom. They are, in fact, what all NASCAR fans should aspire to be.
They are not a lesser version of NASCAR fandom. They are, in fact, what all NASCAR fans should aspire to be.
Thank you for this. I also had a part in donating money to #98's sponsorship as well as over 100 votes through a particularly dreadful captcha system. As a community Dogecoin is woefully misunderstood, and all we are doing is helping the best way we can -through crowdfunding.
ReplyDeleteYou sir are a shibe and don't even know it. Come on down to /r/dogecoin where the fun never stops and the tips are flying.
ReplyDeleteMaybe just Maybe Nascar gained some fans.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this article. I am surprised that NASCAR hasn't embraced Dogecoin and Reddit more, or at least Josh. They have been trying to court a young and international market for some time, and now that they have the attention of both, NASCAR appears content to just let it die down. What they should be doing is offering special prices on tickets for new members to nascar.com or through a link on reddit. Unless I missed it, they haven't done jack to try to keep these new fans, for the long haul.
ReplyDeleteJosh Wise is doing an amazing job with interacting with reddit, he now is a regular over at /r/dogecoin and /r/nascar and is contributing part of the prize money from All-Stars to a charity of dogecoin and the /r/nascar community's choice.
DeleteThis is what NASCAR needs. a small single car owner and driver with a slew of fans. I have always hated the multiple car teams. Hats off to reddit and dogecoin and their followings. Was awesome to see the sparkle pony not race. Now to knock a mediocre driver - Dale Jr. from his throne.
DeleteAs usual Dave, you hit the nail right on the head. Thanks for stating the facts correctly.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I thought it was great that an underdog finally got voted in, we watched the whole time to see where his position was almost happy when another car dropped out just so some more money went into the teams bank account. I hope this really helps their team compete in the future.
ReplyDeleteGreat article. The other article you reference is laughable, and as you said childish sour grapes and the site should be embarrassed that article exists. This article, however is a nice explanation of what is going on. I agree with you completely. Josh and Reddit have brought thousands of new fans to the sport. What more could you want? Danica fans should pay more attention to the actions of her sponsor than anything Josh and Reddit are doing.
ReplyDeleteVery well said! I even got into an argument with my fiance' over this. I had voted for both Larson and Wise multiple times. I just became a NASCAR fan again (stopped after Dale Sr. died) and 4 years ago I came back because of my fiance'. I didn't really know about the newer drivers, I saw a video clip of B.K. saying Kyle Busch is an asshole, so I said I'm going to root for the "asshole" and now I have Kyle and Josh to root for. I bought my shirt supporting the next Dogecoin car at Talladega. Here is a link for those interested in helping.... https://represent.com/dogecrew
ReplyDeleteAs another Shibe that spent less time than many others, but still cast in the region of 200 votes for Josh Wise, thank you for an even handed response to such a surprisingly bitter outcome.
ReplyDeleteI had never watched Nascar previous to contributing to Josh Wise sponsorship, I had a great deal of fun watching both races and having someone to support, I'll certainly keep an eye on Josh's career and races in the future.
Only thing I miss from the end of the article is a Dogecoin donation address.
ReplyDeletehttp://dogewidget.bitmindo.com/
DeleteThis article is a refreshing change from the scores of negative comments which you alluded to. I contributed to the original fundraising campaign and repeatedly ( legally ) voted for Josh in the fan vote. I agree that Nascar should be bending over backwards to court as many diverse types of new fans as possible, and I also agree that they are missing the boat big-time in this case. BTW, I know what I'm talking about...I never had any interest in Nascar or watched a race before getting involved in the Talladega sponsorship.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dave. I think we should be opening our arms to the Reddit NASCAR community. They are part of that next generation of fans that NASCAR always says they're trying to target, and this was, to me, the first move in what will hopefully be a long road to improving interest in the sport.
ReplyDeleteAs a European I only knew about NASCAR through that Tom Cruise movie. Josh Wise and Dogecoin had me hooked right away. I finally get it NASCAR isn't just about driving in circles, it's the narrative of the racers and the fanbases. The drama that happens on the lap and outside it.
ReplyDeleteI hope for NASCAR that these things start to happen more often. The only thing that I, and I'm sure many other Dogecoiners were missing was a real rival community to compete against. Maybe a Bitcoin car or a 9Gag car or something to race against next time would be awesome.
We have the Cat car Doge hate Cat...Doge Chase Cat...such fast, many lefts..
Delete4chan...Please, Lord, let it be 4chan.
DeleteThank you, sir! Josh Wise captured the hearts and minds of the dogecoiners by being engaging and an all-around nice guy! Our fellow redditors in /r/NASCAR welcomed us and started our education in the sport and here we are! It's sad there was such a negative reaction as NASCAR gained many new international fans through all this.
ReplyDeleteI don't think many people realize how many NASCAR fans all this wise/dogecoin stuff has created! People who would never have dreamed of watching NASCAR were glued to their tv sets!!!! There was a dude on the other half of the world who woke up in the middle of the night to watch his first NASCAR race...... This is good for everyone, Josh, NASCAR, Dogecoin..... Not good for the grapes though. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteNailed it. Sour Grapes is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI went from not watching NASCAR at all to convincing my local pub to put on the race, AND even sat there and explained (baseline) tactics and commentary about what was going on.
ReplyDeleteI think this was overall good for NASCAR, it's unfortunate that the existing community had such a poor reaction, but it's to be expected. The Cryptocurrency crowd didn't take too kindly to Dogecoin when it was first introduced but we get along rather well now.
Thanks for your story and thanks for Mr Owens for his.We are committed and dedicated young and intelligent and the sky is not our only limit..we are shooting for the moon...and an all star vote is just a step along the way. Josh Wise drove the wheels off that car and with enough money behind him could do as well anyone on any given raceday. We are Dogecoin and we are the future DStyQaLSRjG5fZa89ako4yKqcujcoEN5ea
ReplyDeleteThank you sir for the kind words. Josh's victory may have been the best that happened for NASCAR in a long time. People who knew nothing about it were turned into fans and now watch it frequently.
ReplyDeleteI saw several die-hard F1 fans admitting that NASCAR was a lot more fun to watch and that they had no idea.
Well spoken my friend. NASCAR and fans should embrace the attention and new fans out is bringing.
ReplyDeleteWell put. I don't think is was QUITE that bad - the reaction seemed mixed to good from my end. But we voted not because we thought Wise would win, but to make a statement that we will NOT back down, and we ARE a threat. I have been a fan of Bowyer for 8 years but this added a new spark to my time as a NASCAR fan - and I do not regret spending hours voting for Wise.
ReplyDeleteThank you for keeping an open mind in an often closed-minded fanbase.
Dave, you are now a Shibe. I have been a NASCAR fan for a long time. The last few years I've been getting bored with it. Since I became a Shibe, I am excited about racing again. Go Josh. 800 more t-shirts to sell and we're at Talladega in October.
ReplyDeleteOnly need 568 more shirts to go to sponsor the next race.... We will do this! https://represent.com/dogecrew
DeleteI've been a NASCAR for a long time and have voted for my favorite drivers over the years. Although I didn't vote for Josh, I was very pleased he won over everyone else. Phil Parsons has done a great job with his underfunded team. I just went online and purchased a shirt. I know it's only a drop in the bucket, but maybe it can buy the lug nuts he'll need. I'm calling on all NASCAR fans, let's help get this team to 'Dega - buy a shirt.
DeleteWhen Josh said that it is bringing new people to the sport, that was not an exaggeration. Many of us had no interest in NASCAR before this, and a lot of us were in online chats together as it was going on, and we were all talking about it. And now I respect NASCAR a lot more now as a sport than I did before, now that I have a hint about how much skill those people have to have.
ReplyDeleteSo this was good for NASCAR in general, it exposed a LOT of people to it that never would have watched a race otherwise, and many of them might hang around and become fans.
That and the fact that LOTS of people (even many NASCAR fans) simply don't "get" the complexities involved in NASCAR, I mean it's come a LONG way from the guys emulating moonshine runners. There's as much strategy as there is horsepower, and I think if a lot more people knew that, NASCAR would expand it's crowd base even more.
DeleteI know I went from thinking of it as "The easy kind of racing", to "Holy shit there's a million variables here, these guys have to be SHARP!!" kind of racing.
Very true, I learned a lot... Josh's qualifying was slow... Turns out not only do they rent the engine, the amount of tires to replace during a race is expensive... They also used their regular crew which isn't a crew that is paid top dollar.... I am happy and proud of our underdog. NASCAR wasn't in my vocabulary until a few weeks ago.
DeleteThe NASCAR fan, dinosaurs who don't know yet they've stepped in the tar pits.
ReplyDeleteNow, now. None of that. Room for everyone means just that. They're no less valid a fan for being fuddy-duddies.
DeleteJoseph you are right and there are going to be extremists. But we must realize that they rarely speak for the majority. As a Shibe and new NASCAR fan I appreciate your view that both sides are very passionate and there is room for all. BTW come on over to /r/dogecoin and let us show you how passionate we are about giving! --ummShibe out :)
DeleteExcellent post. All sports and hobbies suffer from this kind of elitism, and it is nice to see others who are able to remain above petty "sour grapes" and see the positives from every situation.
ReplyDeleteCombining a largely non-NASCAR group of hundreds of millions of users with a reason to be interested in the sport? Beautiful!
Thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave! Feel free to check out www.reddit.com/r/dogecoin/ if you'd like to learn more about our projects and fundraisers. :) I'm sure our community would love to meet you.
ReplyDeleteNASCAR needs fan participation, if it means voting or sponsorship for #98 so be it! and more eyeballs watching the races. I've never seen any other sport with so much fan interaction! This is a trend setter for all sports and something reddit/r/dogecoin and NASCAR should take notice of.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
I couldn't have said it better myself. Organized fan bases voting their hearts out for their driver is a NASCAR tradition!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, like you said, many of us put money towards the sponsorship(myself included). And I don't think we could have found a nicer team or team to sponsor.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking a fresh look at what r/dogecoin's support of Josh is all about. Your write up is fair and honest and captures a good portion of the essence of the doge spirit. As far as I'm concerned, you are now the Dogefather. I hope you feel the shibe embrace. To the moon!
ReplyDeleteI hope that "real NASCAR fans" can feel the way we new fans did after putting our money and our efforts behind PPR and Josh Wise at Taladega and the All-Star Race - joy, elation, pride in our sponsored driver and team, a huge rush when #98 made a move or avoided a wreck, and a real sense of community. It made us feel a part of the sport, and no amount of sour grapes can take that away.
ReplyDeleteYeah, how many die hard NASCAR fans can say,.. "That driver,.. I helped make sure he was in this race today!" It keeps you from being being a fair weather fan for sure... because no matter where he/she places,.. it feels AWESOME.
DeleteI may or may not have been a part of the Elliott stuffing. No one seems to recognize the fact that the underfunded team saw one of its biggest paydays of the year.
ReplyDeleteA lot of the NASCAR community won't see this, but damn well should. Nicely written Dave!
ReplyDeleteNice article. Im a Newman fan and I think this does nothing but good for the sport. They were able to provide a driver with sponsorship for a race that is in desperate need of some funds. Getting Wise into the race will help fund that team for another race or two as well. The money Wise got from gaining entry into the race will be better put to use than if it went to Patrick and Stewart/Haas racing. Hopefully, winning the fan vote will help Wise in obtaining a regular sponsorship which will hopefully provide NASCAR with another competitive team.
ReplyDeleteThe NASCAR fanbase should welcome these newcomers with open arms. Even if they arent "real" NASCAR fans even random viewership helps the sport. If NASCAR is lucky hopefully some of the new Wise fans will become regulars and watch week in and week out like all of us.
We're real fans, and we enjoy and support NASCAR with our own time and money. I don't know that any fan could be more "real" than we are.
DeleteI did not even know I had Fox Sports 1 until Fridays race. It seems a boom for all involved.
DeleteThank you for the kind and true words. I donated to the cause early (a few bucks) and voted probably 50 times. The dogecoin community is driven, intelligent and generous. We welcome everyone with open arms and never take ourselves to seriously. If you have any doubt find us on reddit and they will be washed away in a wave of tips and positive energy.
ReplyDeleteExcellent article. I have been a NASCAR fan for years, have been to several races, blessed with hot passes and a Hendrick fan (48)....well I was...until I discovered dogecoin, r/dogecoin & Josh Wise! Now I root for, promote and donate to help a small team and a great guy compete. I hope sponsor comes along and slaps their logo on his car and cash in their coffers!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words. The Dogecar brought me back to NASCAR, this shit makes me want to leave again.
ReplyDeleteAgree there were no laws broken...Agree geeks and online voting scamming works..
ReplyDeleteJust ask OBAMA..NO SOUR GRAPES..40 year NASCAR LICENCE..Going the wrong direction
....its a Fad...Geeks have a short attention span...
Oh I see wont be published if not politicaly correct..
ReplyDeleteThank you for this article. I've been involved in this since it was suggested on /r/dogecoin. I've donated for the Talladega race, voted my butt off for Josh, and will wear the #98 Dogecar tee shirt proudly. And this has brought me back to NASCAR (lost interest after Dale. Sr died). Josh is one of the best people I've never met. He is as inspiring to me as Dogecoin is. He's also "my" driver now and I'll support him by watching him race and buying his merchandise ... and I intend on supporting his future sponsors.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for writing this. It means a lot after so many accusations of unworthiness.
BTW, dogecar is racegod spelled backwards.
ReplyDeleteTo the moon.
Great article.
ReplyDeleteHey Mr. Moody,
ReplyDeleteWanted to say that I really liked the article and appreciate how you're able to look at the big picture. I also like your pacing and writing style, so I expect I'll be reading more of your articles.
You touched on it and I'll reiterate it: when someone gets down on Wise and the Dogecoin community, ask them when was the last time *they* got together with a few thousand friends to sponsor a car out of pocket? A community of "geeks" *sponsored* a car. For *fun*. It's really hard to imagine the folks who are yelling "they're not *real* fans" doing anything remotely similar - the only skin they seem willing to put in the game are their egos.
ReplyDeleteMost nascar fans I have tweeted with have been very positive. A few sour grapes are expected in anything. Apprecite the well thought article.
ReplyDeleteThe rush of actually sponsoring a car that raced is something I never expected, I hope some more of the nascar fans can experience it and appreciate it.
Thank you Dave. The people at the Dogecoin and the NASCAR Reddit groups would be happy to welcome and talk with you and anyone else that would be interested in learning more about the community supporting PPR and Josh Wise.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.reddit.com/r/dogecoin
http://www.reddit.com/r/NASCAR/
Technical geek here. And, as long as I can remember, I have loved automobile racing - a combination engineering (engines, cars, crew chiefs) and athletic (driver and pit crew) contest. I think we have brought some more tech geeks on board. Love it.
ReplyDeleteThis article is spot on. Josh Wise has gotten thousands of new people to watch NASCAR. I was at a hotel bar the other night for an event, and got the chance to change the channel on one of the TV's to the All-Star race. By the end of the race there was a huge crowd watching, which otherwise would have not been watching if a Josh Wise fan (me) didn't tune into it to watch.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this article... I also read the article from that site that said it was a farce... Funny how you can't post comments there, but I emailed him politely about it. We didn't cheat, everything we did Danica fans could also have done. I didn't fund the car, but I did vote like crazy, I also bought a shirt to get him into the next race... None of this hurts NASCAR, only helps it... Again thank you for your article.
ReplyDeleteWell said Dave....
ReplyDeleteWell said David. Love the Doge community, enjoyed my very first NASCAR race the other day... I have NASCAR buddies that talked all kinds of trash on my FB...but we shibes are easy going and let that stuff roll right off our backs! #dogecar
ReplyDeleteVery apt, very great post. I used to be a pretty big NASCAR fan, then I faded away for awhile. Now Josh Wise and the Dogecoin car are bringing me back into the fold.
ReplyDeleteNASCAR needs some new, younger fans and Josh Wise and Dogecoin are perfect for bringing them in.
Thanks for such a great article! having been a long time NASCAR fan, and redditor, I was severely dissapointed in other fans reactions. So thank you for the kind words, I hope they convince these new fans to stick around!!!
ReplyDeleteDave as a shibe and an F1 follower in Australia, this was a "BUZZ" watching someone that I had a very miniscule part in voting to watch Josh race as an "Underdog" and under the "Doge" logo. We are used to being heralded a joke by some and disdain by others. That's what makes Doge Rock.
ReplyDeleteThey can't work us out because we like to tip good causes. Josh as an underdog was worthy of our support. I hope Nascar will seize an opportunity.
Would also love to see Josh Wise with a sponsor who is prepared to give the team a boost. To the moon. Cheers Mark
Some people are in a twist because the media hyped Sparkle Pony was denied the attention that so few think she deserves. Actually saw a bunch of websites mad and wanted to know who Josh Wise was, and they actually try to pass themselves off as race fans and not a fan of the "cult of celebrity", sadly.
ReplyDeleteGreat article, and a much needed one. I didn't take part in the fundraiser but I voted a couple times for Josh because he's a genuinely nice guy and a great driver considering the equipment he has. I've watched Nascar a bit in the 90's (it's not broadcasted where I live) but after this dogecoin storm I've watched every race from the web since then.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the negativity from some people nearly made me want to stop watching again, but this article gave me hope to keep following the sport.
Thanks so much. Wise is an accomplished USAC sprint car driver who is with an underfunded Nascar team. ANYBODY than Nascar's entitled darling who has been stuffed down our throats by most of the Nascar media.
ReplyDeleteSir, thank you for your words, there´s now a place reserved for you onboard the Shibe-Rocket, to the moon!
ReplyDeleteThe net outcome is that thousands of people from all over the world who had previously never been interested in car racing are watching your sport.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea how fast the cars even went, but i love an underdoge :)
Thank you for this. And let's not forget the fans, myself included, who went out and bought advertising on reddit, just so the vote could get attention. When's the last time you saw fans of other drivers buy advertising for their favorite driver?
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Not sure if you know Dave, but this post was posted up on the NASCAR subreddit. You can check out the discussion going about your article here: http://www.reddit.com/r/NASCAR/comments/25ywko/and_for_the_other_side_of_the_dogecoin_dave_moody/
ReplyDeleteGreat article. As you stated, in a time of dwindling fan base and TV ratings shouldn't they embrace all new fans. I actually watched a NASCAR race because of the dogecoin community. Still not really a fan but I will continue to support Josh and the underdog. Everyone loves an underdog. I agree with other posts, come to the reddit.com/r/dogecoin and see all the good that is being done and join in. Be part of the solution!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the well written and accurate article.
ReplyDeleteI've been a NASCAR fan for roughly 18 years now, over the last 5 or so I just flat out got bored and couldn't stand watching the races anymore. This whole involvement with the Dogecar and that fact that Wise frequently interacts with his fans on the site has brought me back. If the "true" NASCAR fans don't want us, fine. I'll go elsewhere, enjoy watching your ratings and attendance continue to plummet.
ReplyDeleteTwo columns in a row, Dave. Funny, sour grapes from some in the media, but not from Danica. She wins by losing. This would not be a big story if it wasn't her. Congrats to Josh, though.
ReplyDeleteI am a computer geek and I have never really enjoyed any sport. I've never understood how people could get so worked up (shouting at the TV, jumping up and down) about them. That said, I watched Josh race at both Taladega and in the All-Star race and I shouted at my TV and jumped up and down! I've never felt more connected to any sporting event ever, even including those I participated in as a kid!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I was feeling mighty unwelcome yesterday. I called into the Morning Drive on Sirus XM and expressed that NASCAR fans worship crew chiefs who are able to manipulate the rules and not break them. The hosts didn't agree and were a little bit snide about it. The reddit community worked hard, broke no rules, and won. If you believe that it is unfair, then that is NASCAR where better funded and harder working teams can put their driver in a great position to win.
ReplyDeleteWe are only hearing about how "bad" this was because 1 driver didn't get in.
Since the folks at reddit detailed how they did it, NASCAR can make the changes it wants. This is a technical problem for NASCAR and a social opportunity. I hope NASCAR does not blow it.
Support for Josh Wise is based on our community wanting exposure to crypto currency. Increased use of Cryptocurrency guarantees an increased value. I donated a small amount to the funding of the car. I've been a NASCAR fan since it was only partially covered on Wide World of Sports in the 70's. I'm a short track photographer in the Midwest. Be careful when you doubt the capability of the IT crowd. We are a powerful group in the world.
ReplyDeleteJust get rid of the fan vote. It's total BS and undermines the credibility of an already questionable event. Neither Danica nor Wise deserved to be in the event. They both equally suck.
ReplyDeleteHow does it undermine the event? First of all it's an All-Star Race, sure there's $1 million dollars, but the main reason is for fun. It's not for a championship, it's not for points, and most, if not all the drivers are already millionaires. The event is supposed to be a fun event, that's what it was made to be, and the fan involvement through a vote is fun as well. It doesn't matter where they finish as long as there was fun to be had.
DeleteAll these new fans brought in and yet, the ratings were 15% lower. How'd that happen?
ReplyDeleteTrue race fans do not like manipulation. Be it the rules, or the vote. Ask Michael Waltrip about that one. When they know the vote (one person voted more than 82,000 times) and the rules can be manipulated, they loose interest and don't watch. If Nascar does nothing about this BS. their viewership will continue to decline until it go's off the cliff. Maybe they could use the tracks for a few concert's and restripe them for go-kart rentals. The only upside to the whole thing is "that" will be good news for the hometown short track owners. Perhaps, we can get back to real racing instead of this manipulated dog and pony circus.
DeleteI'm not a Nascar Fan and I voted for Josh whilst I'm from the Middle East! We are shibes and we have a will that no one has. I didn't have the chance even to watch the Race at the time. I saw the news the next day and I'm very content to see such results. Warmth filed my heart to see our fellow reddiators whom contributed and donated for a cause that now one expect to see it coming especially from a cryptocurency! We are united we have the will. Nascar now knows about us and our capabilities. We brought Dogecar and we will take it to the Moo00Oon ('',)
ReplyDeleteWell said Mr. Shibe. :)
ReplyDeleteSo brave.
ReplyDeleteUpset are ye? Well I guess he was just doing what Jr. did a couple of races ago....
ReplyDeleteCaps lock is cruise control for cool.
ReplyDeleteMr. Moody, you are the man! I agree 100% with you; I had read that "farce" comment by the "journalist" in question, and I was incredibly upset; Wise has as much of a right, if not much more, to be in an All-Star race; he was a master in the USAC series, and he deserves respect. Perhaps if Josh Wise had access to the great Cup equipment with which Danica struggles, he'd surely be an All-Star. She certainly can't seem to handle it too well!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. It's insulting when us fans and crowdfunders of Josh Wise aren't called real fans. I was watching the entire Talladega and All-Star race more keenly then I would if it were any other race, because I had a stake in it. Most races are just background noise for me until there's a wreck or the last 20 laps. Not so with either of these races. I have been a NASCAR fan for years, but I haven't been this passionate about the sport until I started actively helping crowdfund a driver. I am a true fan, and I will not tolerate disrespect.
ReplyDeleteAnd when the greatest female race car driver ever was elected last year, that was all on the up and up wasn't it? Neither NASCAR nor Godaddy did nothing to insure that their golden goose got in, did they? Ifind it revealing that the "writer" who said Wise's fans cheated doesn't accept comments on his column. Bothheand the other "writers" for his rag have beenshilling for the princess since she appeared.
ReplyDeleteYou should pull that foot out of the tarpit before it's too late.
DeleteAMEN!
DeleteIf I remember correctly, the greatest female race car driver ever did almost the same thing last year, ie, ride around at the back of the field
ReplyDeleteWell said Dave....Yea...The nascar press wasn't saying anything about last years farce vote.....Congrats to Josh....
ReplyDeletehow many drivers truly had a shot to win it? I can tell you after the 1st segment maybe 4. Does that mean that the others should've just quit after that segment? No, that's way you race. As far as Wise blocking Jr at Talladega, A) That's plate racing, Jr even said it himself, and B) There was no guarantee that Jr would've finished up there even if Wise didn't block him. Talladega is a crap shoot, one wrong move by any driver could send them to the back, or make them involved in a crash. So Wise's move didn't end Dale Jr's chances, he ended his own chance by riding out back.
ReplyDelete3edgy5me. Caps attack, better stand back. Come over to r/dogecoin and we'll shower you with tips because that's just how we doge.
ReplyDeleteJust think of the /r/dogecoin and /r/reddit communities voting efffort as the T-Rex car of the sprint fan vote. It was legal but the rules can change.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't sit back and rest on our previous laurels, we voted and voted and then voted some more because that's just who we are.
Funny that no one has commented on the possibility that the publicity surrounding the Josh Wise Dogecoin sponsorship and fan vote may also may also be gaining more fans for reddit.com. I am a long time NASCAR fan and a tech geek, but I don't spend much time on social media sites. Prior to the 'Dega sponsorship I had been on reddit once or twice, but now with the reddit community support of Josh Wise I find myself spending more time there.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has always watched NASCAR although he's never been particularly passionate about one driver. I've always kidded him heavily about those silly cars driving in circles...that is, until this amazing community stepped in to sponsor Josh Wise. They drew me in with their friendly, generous spirit, and Josh embodies the same. He has been a tremendous representative of dogecoin, and his personality has brought so many new fans to NASCAR. I count myself happily among them, and our whole family now has a fave car to look for. #98 and his future sponsors will always have our support.
ReplyDeleteIf NASCAR doesn't embrace these "CHEATERS" then NASCAR will be gone before the decade is over. How sad a few think they can exclude so many because their idea of the future is still back in the day.
ReplyDeleteWhere's the Bitcoin or Litecoin cars/Sponsorship too. Get all the crypto currency racing..Maybe like other product's on the internet being crowdfunded.This could ADD to the business model for race team's, to get more money to race with.With less dependence on Big Corp money...
ReplyDeleteOn the otherside of the coin(Dogecoin).If so many NEW fans watched the Talladega and All-Star race..Then why are the TV viewership numbers so low/lower/down % wise??? Numbers seem not to add up? ..
ReplyDeleteNice job by Dogecoin/Reddit geeks/fan's.. There is Power in Number's..
Good Article Dave.
NASCAR needs to put a stop to this. These people are not NASCAR fans. These people are not even Josh Wise fans. These people are fans of manipulation. They are no better than internet hackers who take great pride in the fact that they are able to succeed in the task of screwing with the vote of a sport they actually have no interest in. Using some half assed attempt at sponsorship as an excuse to mitigate the fact that they made fools out of every real Nascar fan is reprehensible. Nascar is having a hard enough time keeping the few fans it has left without these trolls skewing the vote. If the people at Godfather Motorsports thinks that allowing one fan to vote 82,000 times is fair play, then they have no credibility as sports writers.
ReplyDeleteGo away Anonymous child troll. How many times did you vote for your favorite driver, or rally your friends to vote for him/her? Yeah... that's what I thought. Go suck a sour grape.
ReplyDeleteWas I surprised that Josh Wise got the fan vote? Yes. But I was really happy for him and it was very touching when I heard how he got the vote and the sponsorship. Besides, does anyone really think Danica would have won that race?
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! Thanks
ReplyDeleteThe bottom line is Danica Patrick didn't deserve to be voted into the All-Star Race and doesn't even deserve to be involved in NASCAR because her gender is her entitlement to race and she has been given quality racecars from the start and done nothing with them. Josh Wise is working with what he has and fans see through the sham that is Danica Patrick's career.
ReplyDeleteMy train of thought is if NA$CAR wants to save
ReplyDeleteface next year is one vote per email address or
phone # and any extra votes from the same party
get tossed and that is that.