Gluckometer: Crowd Noise Rankings During Driver Introductions

Which makes more noise: Loud cheers or loud boos?

The tidal wave of cheers each week for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the avalanche of boos for Kyle Busch can both sound incredibly loud, but more often than not, Earnhardt Jr.’s noise was greater this season.

Booming bass music from DJ Irie and gusty winds prevented an accurate reading from my decibel meter for the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, forcing me to rely on the old-fashioned method: Ears.

One thing was for certain, though: Tony Stewart had the most noise in pre-race introductions, even more than Dale Earnhardt Jr.

You knew this was going to happen: When Kyle Busch was introduced during the pre-race ceremonies at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, the fans greeted him with a throaty, angry reception.

Following Busch’s actions at Texas one week earlier, that was to be expected.

In one month, the NMPA/Wheaties Fuel Most Popular Driver Award will be presented at a ceremony in Las Vegas.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won the last eight MPD awards and is going for his ninth straight (the record is 10 in a row). So does his recent success in the Gluckometer Ratings bode well for another MPD award?

It’s Talladega. It’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. Of course NASCAR’s most popular driver was on top of the crowd noise rankings yet again at the Alabama superspeedway where his family has seen so much success.

But according to our decibel meter, Kyle Busch gave Earnhardt Jr. a challenge. The boos for Busch nearly earned him the top spot in overal noise, but he came up just short.

Typically, the “Gluckometer Ratings” are a measure of how NASCAR’s biggest names are received by the fans during pre-race driver introductions.

But Charlotte Motor Speedway added a unique twist: The drivers were introduced by family members (if they chose to do so).

All eyes were on Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi during Saturday’s pre-race driver introductions at Richmond International Raceway. After all, how could they not be?

The Jersey Shore star showed up wearing a most unusual outfit – which was apparently meant to accentuate her cleavage – and sported checkered flag boots.

As you’ve probably heard, driver introductions at Bristol Motor Speedway are unique. Each driver chooses a song to be played as they walk out, and then the driver gets on the microphone to greet the fans.

The result is some unusual names in the top 10 of the Gluckometer this week. Brad Keselowski, AJ Allmendinger and Joey Logano all made the top 10 after their comments to the fans sparked a reaction (you can see why below).

The reception for Kyle Busch is always loud, but it was particularly noisy at New Hampshire’s pre-race driver introductions on Sunday.

Tony Stewart was the only driver to challenge Busch for the top spot this week. The fans had plenty of love as the public address announcer introduced an all-Stewart-Haas Racing front row for the first time in history.

Tony Stewart’s anti-blocking actions and comments at Infineon Raceway did nothing to detract from his image with NASCAR fans. In fact, it may have enhanced it.

Stewart received the second-most crowd noise in this week’s Gluckometer, the highest rating since he topped the ratings at Texas. The ratings are based on decibel readings from a handheld decibel meter used when drivers are introduced to the crowd before the race.

University of Michigan fans nearly let their love for former football coach Lloyd Carr beat out their passion for Dale Earnhardt Jr. during Michigan International Speedway’s pre-race driver introductions on Sunday.

But Earnhardt Jr. ultimately got enough noise – as measured by our handheld decibel meter – to win by the equivalent of a last-second field goal.

As you know, many of the celebrities who attend NASCAR events aren’t actually NASCAR fans. Nor do some of them know a thing about racing.

Accordingly, when those celebs are introduced to the crowd, the fans often don’t give much of a reaction.

With the way NASCAR fans react to Kyle Busch, this was somewhat predictable.

Busch received the most noise during driver introductions at Dover International Speedway, as measured by our handheld decibel meter – but only boos could be heard. Many fans apparently sided with Kevin Harvick in the drivers’ incident at Darlington Raceway, which ended with both on probation.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s recent run atop the Gluckometer may come to an end this weekend at Dover.

With Kyle Busch having stayed out of controversy for most of the season, his noise level hasn’t quite been enough to challenge Earnhardt Jr. for the top spot. But after the post-race incident with Kevin Harvick at Darlington, Busch may hear the most noise at Dover.

When the number popped up on the screen, I thought, “Oh no!”

As I stared at my handheld decibel meter to get Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s noise level during Richmond International Raceway’s pre-race introductions, the sport’s most popular driver peaked at – wait for it – exactly 88.0.

There’s plenty of passion in Alabama for both football and NASCAR – but which was king at Talladega Superspeedway?

The two sports went head-to-head in driver introductions when Auburn head coach Gene Chizik was introduced to the crowd as the grand marshal for the Aaron’s 499.

After last week’s Gluckometer ratings, which had Kyle Busch ranked No. 1 – with all boos – Busch’s lovely bride, Samantha, questioned the Gluckometer’s accuracy.

She tweeted:

Martinsville fans must not have gotten the message that Kyle Busch is making a conscious effort to be a better sport this year – either that, or they don’t care.

Busch, who has increased his likability this season through his poise and maturity, was showered with the most noise at Martinsville – and it sounded like all boos.

When it comes down to it, we all just want to be entertained.

A few of the drivers who understand the entertainment value of NASCAR were rewarded with cheers from the approximately 80,000 fans at Bristol when putting the microphone in their hand to good use during driver introductions.