NASCAR's latest trick to pull in more viewers is a bit crazy


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If NASCAR's television viewership numbers were somehow linked to your retirement plan, you'd be working until age 95.  Since 2005, ratings have dropped a whopping 45% and there are no signs of it rebounding as of yet.

This doesn't mean the people at NASCAR and their broadcasting network haven't been trying. Their new plan of letting current NASCAR drivers call the races just might be the catalyst to get these ratings back.

On June 10th, Fox sports is having some of the sport's top racers call the Xfinity Series at Pocono Raceway. This won't just be a guest appearance, literally everyone involved in the broadcast will be a NASCAR racer. Taking the lead is Kevin Harvick, the 2014 top-series Champion. He will be joined by Joey Logano and Clint Bowyer.  Covering the pits will be Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse and Erik Jones. On studio duties will be Denny Hamlin and Danica Patrick.

What is nice about this, is that it really can't get much worse. If this experiment doesn't work, they can at least say they tried it and move on to the next crazy idea. If it does work, ratings go up and they are first in history to pull it off. Could you imagine Aaron Rodgers, Lebron James or Kris Bryant as announcers on their off days during the season? It's going to be very interesting to see what they have to say about their direct competition.

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Fox is apparently very confident in its new announcer platform as they really don't seem to care what happens. Check out what John Entz the Fox Sports president had to say.
"Several of these competitors already have joined us in the NASCAR Xfinity Series booth and done a heck of a job, and we see a lot of promise in the newcomers.  Regardless of their TV experience, we have one goal for all -- go out and have a blast. As long as no one sets fire to the Fox Sports booth or pulls the plug that knocks us off the air, the drivers have free rein."