Backstreet Boys, Hulk Hogan visit NASCAR. Here’s why it’s a paint scheme problem

Sometimes they arrive here and there, sometimes in waves. 

This time it’s a wave.

Frankie Muniz has a new sponsorship deal with Morgan & Morgan for his Truck Series car. Close-quarters racing seems like a target-rich environment for the Morgans, who have been dabbling in NASCAR deals for a while now when they’re not, you know, looking out for us.

Noah Gragson’s team announced a five-race deal with Beef-a-Roo, which is a … wait … I have it right here … here it is: Beef-a-Roo is a “beloved midwestern fast casual restaurant brand (that) has garnered a loyal fanbase for its commitment to quality food and community engagement.” There seems to be a fine line between beloved and iconic in the marketing game these days.

NASCAR ROUNDUP Denny Hamlin latest to not beat Christopher Bell. And a CW fumble

John Hunter Nemechek will carry promotional artwork for the Backstreet Boys in Las Vegas, where the Boys recently announced an upcoming gig at the Sphere. The “boys,” by the way, date back to Jeff Gordon’s rookie year, and yep, they’re defined as iconic in promo material.

And finally, Hulk Hogan is showing up at Vegas this weekend to promote the “Real American Beer” brand he co-founded. Actually, he’s promoting the beer’s promotion, courtesy of slapping its colors and logo on the No. 47 car driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The logo and colors look a little too close to that of Pabst Blue Ribbon, but I’m no lawyer.

All of the above deals come with new color schemes and well-paced logos during the handful of race weekends (unless it’s a one-off) these teams and companies unite. And, for the umpteenth time, I say all that to say this: MAKE IT STOP!

Listen, I’m all for free enterprise and the promotion thereof. If the Morgans and Backstreeters are involved, I’m all for Dan Newlin and Hanson joining them in the future.

But quit changing the looks of the cars to meet the marketing moment.

You can ask 10 different insiders why NASCAR, like many other sports-entertainment vehicles, doesn’t have the TV numbers it had at its peak 20-some years ago. You just might get 10 different answers.

And while this wouldn’t necessarily be my first answer, this is near the top of my little list: If Grandma or Uncle Ed can’t turn on the race and find Chase Elliott or Denny Hamlin, that’s a problem.

Sometimes, Chase isn’t wearing the blue and white of NAPA. And with the departure of regular benefactor FedEx, Lord only knows what Denny and his car will be wearing from week to week. Not saying Denny’s team needs their services yet, but he’s getting National Debt Relief for a four-race gig this year.

Sure, broadly speaking, if a company spends big money to market its product, it should be able to choose the branding. But can’t we carve out a narrow exception? How much easier it would be for viewers if teams picked a color pattern for each car in its stable and stuck with it all year.

If this means McDonald’s would have blue arches on Bubba Wallace’s Toyota, or Red Bull gets a green bovine on SVG’s Chevy, so be it. Everyone knows the rules coming in, and trust me, it’s for the overall good, and not just for Grandma and Uncle Ed, but many, many others — more than you might imagine.

OK, I’m done. For now.

Oh, except for this: Just kidding about bringing back Hanson.

To the (e)mail bag

HEY, WILLIE!

I’ve been reading your articles in the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. I enjoy them and your insight on NASCAR racing.

But your idea (March 5) for a new playoff system left me puzzled as to how the last three races would determine the champion. 

I used to be a Matt Kenseth fan but now I’m a Christopher Bell fan. Nice to see him win three in a row.

CHARLIE

HEY, CHARLIE!

Ever heard of an “idea guy,” Charlie? I’m big on the broad strokes and prefer to let others fill in the nasty little details.

These are the basics of a plan hatched without the help of focus groups, townhalls or even circling back to touch base: 15 playoff racers, nine playoff races. Five lopped off after two sets of three races. Final five determine a champ over the final three races, either using the existing point system or something deemed better (deemed by ME, of course!).

Added bonus: NASCAR can trademark and/or copyright “Final Five,” which they obviously can’t do with the current four-car final.

A former Mild Matt Kenseth fan who now leans toward Christopher Bell? I bet your favorite color is plaid.

HEY, WILLIE!

How about keeping the same amount of playoff races but include all drivers. Reset according to final regular-season standings, get it down to 30 cars after the first round and 20 after the second round, and 10 in the final race.

That might cut down on the whining that someone “got in my way” or drivers sandbagging. That’s more exciting than just four cars racing and everyone else moving over. 

RICKY

HEY, RICK!

If you make it 32 playoff drivers, we could then make an actual bracket and make it head-to-head matchups over five weeks to determine a champ. Too bad we already settled on the new playoff system above.

— Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR paint schemes: Backstreet Boys, Hulk Hogan join fun. That good?