The View from Here: The Business of NASCAR

"Epic" is defined as "extending beyond the usual or ordinary, especially in size or scope; undertaken on a grand scale" (Webster's Third New International Dictionary). Did we witness an "epic" NASCAR season this past year? Opinions certainly vary on the answer to that question. However, we saw an "epic" first-time "four-peat" Sprint Cup champion; an "epic" old-timer finish second in the championship batter for the fourth time in his career; two "epic" crashes at Talledaga; and an "epic" drop in race track attendance and TV viewership across the board throughout the season.

"Epic" indeed! Length of races epic in scale; TV preview shows epic in length; a bouncing bobblehead gopher held in epic distaste by viewers yet a popular concession item; "start and park" drivers epic in number--and the "epics" continue. And "epic" disappointment for drivers and fans: no wins by last year's race win leader; the most popular driver finishing behind a rookie-of-the-year in points; legal battles in courts that tarnish the respectability of the sport; and continued grumbling by fans about, you name it--COT, lack of competition, boring races, and so on and so on.

Well, now we'll close the season with an "epic" banquet in Sin City, including a drive down the Las Vegas strip with casinos turning night into day with their glittering lights while black jack players and one-armed bandit aficionados stand by looking distracted!

Well, maybe next year won't be so "epic"--we can only hope.

And that's the view from here.
Jon

Posted by at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Tags: NASCAR

Today I wanted to talk about a great opportunity that NASCAR and the United States are facing today. Recently, NASCAR got another chance to expand internationally. Saudi Arabian Prince Faisal bin Abdulla al-Saud (member of the royal family) approached Mr. George Gillett (majority owner of Richard Petty Motorsports) with a proposition to form a stock car league in Saudi Arabia. The partnership is still in the talking stage; however, Gillett feels that expansion in the Middle East will definitely take place. Gillett said that he was surprised to learn how enthusiastic the Saudis are about NASCAR and racing in general. "They have a tremendous interest in speed and love automobiles. I don't think any of us had any idea about the respect they have for this kind of racing." (ESPN)
By expanding into the world of Middle East, there would be many benefits for NASCAR and the United States. One of the benefits would be expanding the fan base of NASCAR and promoting the sport. Addition of new sponsors to the game would benefit the sport, teams, tracks, cities, government and so on. Additionally, all of the current sponsors would benefit by getting international exposure and recognition. Companies that manufacture cars and parts for them would also benefit, because the need for these would definitely increase. People of the United States would also benefit by the addition of new jobs required to feed the racing industry. Government would benefit by collecting a nice chunk of taxes from all goods produced, sold and exported (tariffs). Additionally such a partnership would be a great step in improving the image of the Unites States and relationships with the Arab world. By engaging in such an American sport, the Saudis definitely take a step ahead toward opening its doors to the rest of the world. Lastly, I believe the sport would benefit a lot by creating additional challenges for American drivers. They have gotten used to doing it here and competing against the same drivers. However, when you go to a new track, race against unfamiliar drivers and get to battle new climate conditions, that would definitely spice up the sport.
And that's the view from here.
SK

Posted by at 2:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)
Tags: George Gillett, Prince Faisal bin Abdulla al-Saud

The Johnson City Press takes a look at the importance of the Bristol track and the races it hosts to the area's economy. Jon Ackley is quoted, noting that it was natural for fans to curtail spending on some items this year.

Posted by at 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)
Tags: Bristol Motor Speedway

This blog will be what I wished the season had been - short and sweet. Of course I do not wish to say "Bah,Humbug" or take anything away from the accomplishments of the season, but for me it was "the season of blandness."

Maybe the economy has some of us singing the blues, but I found most of the racing uninspired and, well, just full of what I call "Yak." At least we will have standardized times next year but, please, we are not the NFL so do not give us hours of pre-race filler and hype -- we "get it," but we do not need it to excess (this is my "Leave me alone" sentence).

Let's just race.

So 2010 can not be worse. Scratch that -- let's be positive: 2010 will be better.

And that is the last 2009 view from here.

Michael

Posted by at 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With declining numbers of attendance and TV viewership, NASCAR is making some very needed changes. The controversial COT, or better known as car of tomorrow, had been a cause of decline. Fans did not like the fact that all the cars looked almost identical except for a few stickers. This situation posed a problem for new fans since it was not easy to differentiate between drivers.
NASCAR has now addressed this by revealing four new COT's for the Nationwide Series. Fans are very excited with the new designs, and the fact that the cars are a lot more realistic looking. With the new look of the COT cars for Nationwide, NASCAR has announced that the Sprint Cup COT cars will also get a facial uplift to give a resemblence to the newer Nationwide cars.
It seems like a good idea, which is getting a lot of positive feedback for NASCAR. This change is the closest to production looking cars since the late 80's/early 90's. In a bad economy, NASCAR is taking big risks by introducing new cars. Hopefully this time, NASCAR executives listened more to fan feedback rather than worry about cost saving measures.
And that's the view from here.
WA

Posted by at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
Tags: Car of Tomorrow, NASCAR, Nationwide Series

Many NASCAR fans are unhappy with the current format of the Chase for a variety of reasons. Some say it favors one driver in particular, Jimmie Johnson, while others argue that there needs to be a road course included in the Chase. Regardless of the reasoning, it is clear that there is a large percentage of NASCAR fans who are disgruntled by the way NASCAR crowns its champion, and it is becoming apparent in both the television ratings and race attendance.

It can't hurt for NASCAR to listen to the outcries of its core fans. There are a number of remedies suggested to curb the angst fans feel toward the Chase, such as adding more drivers, diversifying the final ten races to include a road course, or changing the points system. Since the inception of the current Chase format in 2005, both television ratings and race attendance have plummeted. One has to ask, "Can NASCAR afford not to listen to its fans for much longer?"

And that's the view from here.

LC

Posted by at 9:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)
Tags: Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR