There are several ways I could have presented this blog; 10 things that sent me away from NASCAR; 10 Things NASCAR has done to hurt their fan base; or this way which is presented strictly as my opinion of what they need to do to fix a series in turmoil. 

1. Scrap the "Chase".  Don't alter the current format, add or subtract more drivers, or try to fix something that is so broken it just needs to be dropped!  Poll the team owners and drivers and see if there is anyone that thinks this system is better than points for a whole season determining the championship.  Yes BRIAN FRANCE...let the teams have a voice in their fates!  Don't Dictate anymore!

2.  Figure the points based on how the top half of the field finishes for each race.  In other words, if you finished 23rd or worse, you get no points unless you lead a lap!  This would end the race for those limping cars that are always causing wrecks and ruining races for others.

3.  Get rid of the lucky dog, PERIOD!  If you get a lap down you have to find your own way to gain back 1/2 mile or more, via strategy or gambles or hard work making your car faster!  How many people have spun just when they get passed by the leader, so they can regain an entire lap and get their new tires, and adjustments before it gets worse?  It has happened a lot!

4.  No more Green-white-checker finishes.  No finishes under caution at all.  Make caution laps not count toward the total laps run.  If you want to be so much like other sports, call it a "timeout"!

5.  Restarts by actual place in the field, not by some jumbled mess that puts back markers in front of the leaders!  How ridiculous is that?

6.  Allow teams to practice and do R & D with some restrictions so that it doesn't become about the super teams only getting better.  How else will teams improve without a chance to experiment with their setups?  It is a safety issue in my view!

7.  Drivers/owners form a union to gain a voice in what goes on in their sport like every other sport has.

8.  Separate the Nationwide series from Cup.  Allow the part-time drivers (Cup) to participate, but only allow full-time drivers in one series or the other!   Isn't NWS supposed to be developmental?  Why are Bowyer, Edwards and others spoiling it for the rest?  Are Keslowski and Logano ready for cup?  My guess is absolutely not!

9.  Lower the Prices at EVERY venue so a family of 4 can afford to be there without losing their house payment

10.  Fire Brian France and Robin Pemberton

Okay, now I feel better.  I have alluded to these things all season in separate Blogs, and been chastised and criticized and ignored, but I am sure I am not alone in losing my fanhood for NASCAR in the past few seasons, and if I don't get it out there to be seen, I will have to be content with where it is going, and I am not.  So some say, if you don't like it, leave...and I did...but the point I hope comes across here is that one man should not have power over a sport, to its ruination, when it is fans who keep the sport alive.  I have voted by not going to Sonoma and Vegas this year, and I will continue to avoid going to races in person.  I still like to see the racing, or whatever it is called with the COT cars, but I cannot end every race with a bad taste in my mouth...and this year I did for half of it.  DVR saved my health!