IS IT DALE JR.'S FAULT - OR DIGGER'S?
A serious issue in NASCAR is the decline of ticket sales and television viewership. Everyone has their own theory, from the new cars to the economy to Digger. Digger, an animated gopher that pops up on Fox broadcasts, has taken the most flak. Digger only shows up on the turn camera; it pops up and screams when cars go by so it is not featured that often in a race. Still, many people despise it. In fact, in a USA Today article, Fox Sports Chairman David Hill stated that a NASCAR executive sent him an e-mail blaming Digger for the drop in viewers, that every time he shows up, people turn off their television sets. Hill had another reason, stating that "if Dale won, more people would watch". This statement actually makes a lot of sense.
People go to sporting events to cheer for their driver/team/ horse/player, etc. When their favorite starts doing badly, they gradually start to lose interest. Although there are always die-hard fans (such as Detroit Lions fans), there are those who will just stop watching, period. Dale Jr. has not won a race all season, and in the last race at New Hampshire on Sunday, he was doing very well and was looking at a top three finish when he hit the wall. The lackluster performance he's had the previous season, while not that bad as he did make the Chase, has really hurt his fan base. People are not going to show up if they know Jr. is going to place 12th and Kyle Busch is going to get another win. They go to see Jr. win and do well, much like how they go to see Tony Stewart be a jerk and Jeff Gordon (hopefully) hit the wall.
How can NASCAR get these viewers back? Really, there is not that much they can do unless Jr. (or whoever the driver is) starts winning or at least starts doing better. I, however, would like to think if they made Ward Burton a commentator, then ratings would skyrocket, but that's just me.
And that's the view from here.
AS
Comments
NASCAR could take the reins off the drivers and allow a little more drama. I watched a truck race this weekend, simply because of the drama they are having. The cup drivers are boring.
Posted by: Syd | September 23, 2009 10:31 AM
So glad to hear that someone from NASCAR called out Fox for their childish coverage. TNT is just as cartoonish. ESPN and ABC nail the coverage, from NASCAR's storied history, to all the engineering that goes into the cars. I learn so much from their coverage. There is really no comparison.
Night races have kept me from watching several events this year. How do ratings for night races compare with Sunday afternoon races?
Posted by: Trop | September 23, 2009 1:13 PM
With the economy the way it is today I understand why ticket sales are down. But with that being said changes must be made. Chicagoland is my home track and its cheaper for my husband and I to travel to Indy 3 1/2 hrs away, spend 2 nights in an upscale hotel(with the Tony Stewart foundation getting us a great deal)and 2 tickets to the cup race than it is to travel the 35 minutes to Chicagoland. We won't be going to Chicagoland anytime soon until they get rid of their track packs forcing us to buy IRL tickets along with Cup and truck tickets. It must be the JR effect of declining ratings or just maybe since there is no consistency in scheduling races viewers may not know when to turn on their tv's
In the fall when I turn on the tv I know that there is a football game starting at noon and another at 3. Last week the race started at 1:15 the week before a night race crazy I say but maybe it is JR.
Posted by: sue | September 23, 2009 2:53 PM
I agree with you Syd. I grew up near Old Dominion in Northern Virginia where it was mostly local people doing the racing. The races are usually more entertaining than Cup races. Fights would sometimes break out after a big wreck, drivers would have a little fun while driving (I remember one race where two drivers were doing synchronized drifting around the corners). The UCAR (1980's escorts/cavaliers that have been stripped down) races in particular are a blast to watch.
Posted by: AS | September 24, 2009 3:51 PM
I will have to agree the programming is much better on ABC or ESPN. FOX has got to get rid of digger. I also think that Dale Jr has got to start winning races, I mean a good finish does not go as for as a win.
Posted by: Wayne A | October 15, 2009 2:52 PM