The View from Here: The Business of NASCAR

When you consider the number of races and the limited amount of time to run them, you begin to realize how cramped the Nextel Cup schedule is. Consider the consequences if NASCAR had had to move Michigan to the end of the schedule AFTER Homestead.

First, Richmond wouldn’t be the final Race to the Chase, which diminishes some of its luster.

Second, Ford, the sponsor of the “Ford 400” at Homestead, would find itself sponsoring not the last race but the next to last race. Don’t you think that Ford chose to sponsor Homestead simply because is was the deciding race in the championship — and all the publicity that brings to Ford?

Third, brrrrr!! — Michigan over Thanksgiving? You would need extra antifreeze (in all forms) for that to happen.

Dustin Long, who writes for the Virginian-Pilot and other regional newspapers, had an interesting blog on Monday in which he talks about some of the above issues. He also stated that a PR person from one of the race teams had suggested that NASCAR consider running on Monday nights —ala NFL— in early spring to mid summer. Thought that would increase TV viewership. I’m not certain of that but I am certain that track attendance would ultimately suffer. If you run a race on Monday night, you’d get the Busch race (or truck race or ARCA) on Sunday but most people will miss two days of work — Monday and Tuesday, since no one will attempt to drive home after a race that finishes at 10:30 with 2-3 hours of sitting in line to exit the track. I just don’t see Monday Night Racing as feasible.

Final note: It doesn’t look very good for Jr.!

Jon