Mark Martin slams NASCAR TV partners over playoff obsession

Mark Martin, the antheral who near a immense people connected NASCAR, erstwhile again made it wide that the bulk of fans of the athletics are inactive down the aged scoring strategy passim the season. The 66-year-old Hall of Famer has openly called retired tv partners and squad owners for their propulsion for the existent play-off format.

The experienced operator does not fell his complaints. He says of the owners that they are "addicted to money", portion helium accuses the TV companies of not knowing racing, but seeing everything arsenic "stick and ball" sports.

"For the archetypal clip I spot that immoderate progressive drivers are acceptable to hint that the aged scoring format would not fuss them. But don't expect them to admit it publicly, their livelihood depends connected this," said Martin. 

"Most of the nationalist speaking is tied to the TV money. The fans often blasted NASCAR — which makes consciousness — but I besides blasted the owners. They privation what the TV partners want."

Play-offs and nonaccomplishment of luster of idiosyncratic races

Martin believes that tv stations similar the play-offs due to the fact that it is easier for them to travel and remark on. "They don't recognize racing. All they cognize is instrumentality and shot sports. Every contention is simply a 'win and you spell to the play-off' communicative for them. But the victor of the lawsuit itself is lost, the absorption is lone connected that placement successful the play-off."

The long-time operator has been claiming for years that NASCAR does not request this benignant of last format. 

"Every contention should beryllium a large deal. Now it's downplayed due to the fact that everyone's talking astir who went further. To triumph a contention is simply a immense event, period."

Martin emphasizes that helium knows that astir of the assemblage wants 36 races and a season's worthy of points. 

"Maybe it won't beryllium much tense than the eliminations, possibly idiosyncratic escapes and wins the rubric earlier — but that should beryllium appreciated too. The 1 who dominates deserves respect. I talk for the fans, adjacent though I cognize we won't get the aged system."

Jeff Gluck of The Athletic, who participates successful the play-off committee, confirmed that broadcasters are inactive looking for eliminations. With media rights worthy $7.7 billion, it's wide who has the last say.