Can you help a former NASCAR fan become an ASA or ARCA fan? (sprint car, drivers)

[Exitus Acta Probat]

I'm no longer interested in NASCAR, at least not Cup cars, because:

1. I became tired of the same wealthiest teams winning 98% of the races.

2. I did not like the "young guns" thing that started after Earnhardt died. Now half the drivers don't look like they're old enough to shave.

3. The races are too long -- I just don't want to spend 3-3.5 hours in front of a television at one time.

So then, I'm considering watching ARCA or ASA, but I don't know which would better suit me. Suggestions anybody?

[slim04]

I don't know about ARCA. Only about 10-15 teams are really professional and maybe 5 or so are funded properly. I've seen a lot of very talentless racers do well in ARCA because they had NASCAR type funding (i.e. Paul Menard, Shawna Robinson, Kerry Earnhardt).

In Sprint Cup, I think 20 racers have shot at winning, while the top 6-7 gets most of the wins. In ARCA, its more like only 6-7 have a chance at winning and the top 3 or so win the most.

I remember going to the pits and taking to some of the crews, they didn't even have specialized tire changers that lifted the car in a few pumps (they were using the kind you buy at Autozone), didn't wear firesuits or helmets, etc. They were just local guys showing filling out the field with the 15 or so teams that travel to all of the races.

Paul Menard lapped the field and he was terrible when he went up the rungs in NASCAR. It's obvious his daddy's money could make him a winner at that level.

[supertrucker212]

ARCA is even more lop-sided than NASCAR when it comes to team funding. ARCA is actually older than NASCAR, but obviously NASCAR did a better job at promoting itself. ARCA races a variety of tracks, Daytona, Talladega, short tracks, Pocono, one mile ovals, they used to race a dirt track too. I don't even watch racing, but Speed used to carry ARCA races.

I don't know much about ASA, other than Rusty Wallace is a product of it. Don't even know about how equal the funding is amongst the teams or not, or even if the races are televised. You might have to do some reasearch, I'm sure some ASA races are on youtube.

Your reasons for loosing interest in NASCAR are valid

[bluescreen73]

The ASA of today is nothing like the ASA of 20 years ago. The series went into bankruptcy in 2004 and went from being a national touring series like ARCA and NASCAR to a set of regional series.

ARCA is alright if you want to watch lower-tier drivers in second-hand NASCAR chassis racing at smaller tracks.

If you're looking for a new thrill, why not branch out a bit and check out either USAC Sprint Cars or the World of Outlaws?

[NCproud]

Unfortunately a good bit of ARCA these days are backed and fielded by cup teams through other sources. It works for getting seat time for young and up and coming drivers and also serves as as test bed as well.
I thought the ASA series was defunct. Nothing better than your local short tracks, and especially dirt as far as I'm concerned.
Before you give up on the cup series, there are some major changes coming for next year. Cars will look more like factory rides, aero will not be as much an advantage as before, and I'm hearing drafting nose to tail is a lot harder than before.
Nascar has been paying attention as of late, and you may just see a favorable turn around. I think this up coming year will be a great change.