The View from Here: The Business of NASCAR

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)

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 (0)

The NASCAR diversity disparity would make anyone wonder why there isn't a larger percentage of drivers that aren't Caucasian or male.
Could it be that James Brown's song "This Is a Man's World" is the breathing image of NASCAR?" According to About.com, "In 2009 there are no women competing in the Sprint Cup or Nationwide series. The Craftsman Truck Series has had a few female competitors in 2009 including Gabi Dicarlo, Michelle Theriault, Caitlin Shaw and Jennifer Jo Cobb. However none of these women have full-time ride in the series."
I believe that if there were more women drivers more women fans would be attracted. I know women will come out in droves for "girl power". However, my only question is, if there were more women drivers, could a man handle them winning? In the case of more ethnic drivers, I believe that an increase in ethnic drivers will also increase a more ethnic fan base. At some point these disparities will need to be addressed because I believe that if people are going to enjoy a sport they would like to see themselves reflected in some sort of way.
And that's the view from here.
RW

Posted by at 9:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Many people just don't like driving in the rain, and they come up with several reasons. First of all, it is hard to see when the rain is coming down on the windshield. Second, the wet conditions of the road affect stopping and turning ability of the car. In other words, it's just not the right time to drive while it rains.
When it comes to safety, one should imagine how much worse it would be if people don't have any windshield wipers at all, or the tires had¬ no tread on them. Thus, there is no doubt why NASCAR drivers aren't reckless enough to race in the rain. Although it's true that other motor sports race in rainy and wet conditions, there are a few aspects of NASCAR racing that make it especially difficult to race in the rain. In order to fully understand why NASCAR doesn't race in the rain, we need to learn about the safety aspect when racing in the rain. Just take a look at how the tires handle in the rain and what happens to the tracks when they're wet; one can see very clearly that racing in the rain is not a good idea. Not only NASCAR tires but also any other type of tire does not respond well when driving on a wet road. Tract condition is slippery and makes it even harder when driving one or two hundred miles per hour. For NASCAR, days of planning go into just one race, the track is tested and the cars are ready.
However, when the rain comes, all of that planning is canceled. Aside from the danger involved, bad weather conditions hurt the overall competitiveness of the sport. In conclusion, NASCAR should not race in the rain for the reasons that it is too dangerous especially put NASCAR drivers' lives in danger.
And that's the view from here.
ST

Posted by at 3:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

With attendance numbers steadily declining at the tracks, are corporate sponsors becoming more concerned with where their investment dollars are going or is there more than what we see at the track? This is a question that top-level executives of companies such as Sprint, Aflac, UPS, Best Western, DuPont, and other major corporate sponsors continue to reassess. Over the years NASCAR has become an intriguing place to invest for major corporations not only because of fan loyalty but also because of the potential profitable relationships that can be developed via NASCAR's B2B Model.

NASCAR's B2B Council sets up events quarterly where official sponsors can get together and come up with ways to make their partnerships profitable. This forum for B2B partnerships makes NASCAR even more attractive for investment and keeps its sponsors happy with the valuable relationships they're able to develop. A recent example of NASCAR's B2B model is "NASCAR's Fuel for Business Driving Business Award" winner Aflac. Aflac used NASCAR's B2B event to establish profitable partnerships with companies who can use their services, such as Office Depot, Ford, and Cintas.

As attendance continues to decline, it will be interesting to see how NASCAR is able to continue to provide new avenues of value for its sponsors.

And that's the view from here.

DO

Posted by at 9:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With sponsors like Lowes, DuPont, Budweiser, The Home Depot, Miller Lite, Jack Daniel's, and Red Bull, NASCAR sponsors are more appeasing to the male audience versus the female audience. For the month of October some sponsors chose to put a twist on things and appeal to the female audience.
The month of October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness month. To raise breast cancer awareness and to honor and remember those affected by breast cancer, four NASCAR teams took at least one car and tricked it out in pink. In an effort to contribute to the cause, at Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, North Carolina, the number 96 car driven by, Bobby Labonte, raced to raise breast cancer awareness to millions of Americans.
The sponsor Ask.com launched a full campaign for the month of October to raise breast cancer awareness among female Americans and all NASCAR fans. Many fans that already have their favorite drivers who they support temporarily chose to root for the "pretty in pink" race car to honor breast cancer awareness also. Among those drivers whose sponsors also tricked their cars out in pick colors to support the cause were Elliott Sadler, Kyle Busch and Bill Elliott.
I think that this promotion was an excellent way to appeal to the female fan base of NASCAR. It shows support for those fighting the battle with cancer and respect for those who lost their lives to the battle of cancer. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women. One in eight women will get breast cancer. I feel that NASCAR's efforts to educate and recognize its female fan base and millions of female Americans were very effective and efficient. I have three breast cancer survivors in my family and as a female I am statistically at risk also, so I truly can appreciate and respect the efforts that NASCAR took to support the cause in raising Breast Cancer Awareness not only to race fans but also to millions of Americans.
Outside of the support NASCAR gave in raising breast cancer awareness, I still feel that there is a lack of female targeting sponsors within the business. I feel that NASCAR should touch bases with this matter and gain more sponsors to reach and appeal to its female fan base. Although the breast cancer campaigns that some sponsors ran during the short thirty one day month of October were successful in the attempt to connect with the female fan base, I still feel that just that alone isn't enough and that there should be more.
And that's the view from here.
CD

Posted by at 1:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

NASCAR has undoubtedly become one of the biggest and most popular sports in the U.S. As NASCAR has grown in popularity in this country, the growth of its popularity has also expanded internationally. This growth raises the question of why NASCAR is not expanding further into the international community. Currently, NASCAR races in the Nationwide Series in Canada, and previously in Mexico as well. But NASCAR has not had a points paying race in the premier Sprint Cup series in the modern era outside of the United States. Although there have been experiments with the premier series outside the U.S., specifically Japan in the nineties, it never caught enough attention for NASCAR's liking.

Another question is raised from this issue of NASCAR being international: why does NASCAR need to expand internationally when there are markets currently in the U.S. that are underserved, such as the Pacific Northwest to the Mecca of sports in the U.S, New York City? Opponents of NASCAR going international feel that the faithful American fans in underserved markets deserve to have a chance of having a track in their market. This belief makes sense to me given the economic situation is so negative at this time; new tracks could create jobs and revenue for Americans in those underserved areas.

As a result, I feel that NASCAR should focus its efforts on serving its loyal fans in their own country first, especially those underserved by the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule.

And that's the view from here.

WV

Posted by at 9:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Diversity has been on e of the biggest issues in NASCAR over the years. As in the past with people trying to be equal depending on race or gender, in NASCAR too there is a big gap of diversityl. Other sports such as basketball, football, and baseball have been making lots of changes to make the environment more diverse and the results of these efforts are outstanding because they have brought more fans to the sports.

NASCAR is usually seen as a predominately white American sport, while most other sports are trying to become more diverse. Juan Pablo Montoya, a Colombian, who is currently a NASCAR driver, has made a difference in NASCAR. He has performed well in many races and he has done a great job overall. Due to his performance in NASCAR, Juan has attracted many Spanish fans to follow and watch NASCAR. The Indy Racing League has Danica Patrick, who has broken the male dominance of the sport and has given women the opportunity to see anything is possible.

So my concern is why is NASCAR is not so diverse? Why there are no African Americans or women involved as drivers in NASCAR at the upper levels? Why can't there be a Tiger Woods in NASCAR? Why can't there be more women like Danica Patrick in NASCAR? All of these are concerns that are very important because I think that by bringing women and other races to the sport a more diverse environment can exist. The biggest result of this diversity would be a more diverse fan base in NASCAR.

And that's the view from here.

EK

Posted by at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

As a brand new NASCAR fan, I am enjoying the array of sponsors and recognizing their specific products in stores. I can see now where the brand loyalty statistics come from because just today I saw Coke Zero in a grocery store and remembered getting a sample of it at the concessions at RIR. However, it has been reported recently that many big brand sponsors are pulling out of the Sprint Cup Series. Jim Beam and Jack Daniels both announced recently that they are not including NASCAR in their marketing plans in the near future. In addition, Lowe's has announced that it will not hold the naming rights for the Lowe's Motor Speedway after an 11-year relationship with Speedway Motorsports Inc. Is the declining economy to blame? Are companies struggling with the high costs of marketing and advertising their products within the Sprint Cup Series? It is really interesting and coincidental that two liquor companies pulled out, one after the other. Are NASCAR fans more likely to buy beer than liquor? What is the future for alcoholic beverages and sponsorship?

I am not sure exactly what is going on with these particular companies but I am assuming it is a combination of issues. It will be interesting to see what happens with the naming rights of the Charlotte Motor Speedway and if any other alcoholic beverage company announces an ending sponsorship.

And that's the view from here.

SM

Posted by at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For those of us who are and have been dedicated NASCAR fans for years (or even decades) the question we sometimes ask is: Why is attendance declining in NASCAR? I have been wondering the same and and as a result of my curiosity I searched for possible reasons as to why attendance continues to decline in NASCAR.

According to an article on Forbes.com, a few reasons are: high price of gas cutting back travel, cost of hotel rooms and food, bored by lack of drama, and ticket prices at the track. Joe Baumann of Erie, PA "thought that races with boxier and safer cars were not as exciting as they used to be." In response, NASCAR is looking to make improvements to regain interest from those fans who lost interest in the sport.

The Washington Post stated that NASCAR Chief Executive Brian France is looking for ways to make NASCAR's car more "racey after NASCAR mandated a single body shape for all of its cars in 2007." In addition, France recently decided on making the races start earlier and on at a more consistent start time.

NASCAR is aware of the declining attendance and is working on making changes to address the issue. We will not find out whether these changes will be successful until racing starts next year. However, for those who have decided to attend fewer races or not to attend any races at all, it may be difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons as to why each person has made that decision. On the other hand, for those of us who remain NASCAR fans, we can only hope that these changes will bring about a positive effect for the future and for the betterment of the sport.

And that's the view from here.

LK

Posted by at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

As drivers continue to qualify for the upcoming races, many teams are scrambling to secure sponsors to even finish out the season. With the economic downturn, many of the sponsors are rethinking contracts and wondering if NASCAR is still a good investment.

Jimmie Johnson told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in May, "The economy has changed the way a lot of companies do business, but most of our sponsors are confident that NASCAR is a solid investment."

Although the bigger companies still think NASCAR is a great investment, anxious shareholders are simply seeing stock values decline.

Andrew Glangola mentions that race fans are consciously loyal to the sponsors on the cars. Some sponsors are becoming part-time, but even this is better than nothing. About 400 sponsors are involved with NASCAR in some level because they know it works. Being affiliated with this sport brings in revenue.

Though some of the sponsors are backing out, most know that NASCAR still is a solid investment and that is enough to at least be somewhat involved with the sport.

And that's the view from here.

CC

Posted by at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The much-anticipated NASCAR Hall of Fame is set to open in May 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to bestowing honor upon those featured in the Hall of Fame, the 130,000 square foot hall will house a museum and entertainment attractions. It will serve as a tribute to the drivers, crew members, team owners, and other contributors to the sport.

The complex will also include a new ballroom and the NASCAR Plaza Office Tower.
Perhaps most exciting for the fans, however, are the multitude of attractions being considered for inclusion in the Hall of Fame. Among those are a racing simulator and "A Week in the Life" (a behind the scenes look at a NASCAR team and race day preparation), and about ten other interactive activities! For more on those, visit www.nascarhall.com.

So what kind of impact will a facility of this magnitude have on the city of Charlotte?

According to John Connaughton, University of North Carolina--Charlotte economist, the economic impact will be roughly $62 million annually! In light of the recent economic downturn, the NASCAR Hall of Fame also may be just the thing to boost revenues for NASCAR in terms of admissions sales and souvenirs. Regardless, it will surely boost Charlotte's economy, bringing jobs and tourists alike to the city.

I, for one, look forward to learning the exciting new plans still in the making for NASCAR's first Hall of Fame and Charlotte's own "Crown Jewel", as coined by Charlotte's mayor Pat McRory.

And that's the view from here.

AR

Posted by at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASCAR is one of the most famous sports besides the NFL that people like to watch on television whenever they have spare time. Surprisingly, the number of people who watch car racing on television has decreased in the past few years. If the viewership keeps decreasing, car racing may soon cease to be one of the most popular sports.

We are said to be the generation of technology. Younger people can watch sports on their Mac book or little net book while they do other things such as write an essay, play games, or search the web at the same time. There are also too many unnecessary commercials during the race telecast, and this advertising could make some viewers lose interest and change to another channel very quickly. Sometimes the quality of the racing on television is not exciting enough to keep the fans tuned in.

Overall, most people just want to save money since the economy is currently in a slow state; and attending an actual NASCAR race could cost at least $45. If the cost of the tickets is too high, it will be hard for the fans to go to the race track. However, what is the point of wasting time to watch a race on television if you could go to the actual race? Unless ticket costs become more affordable, fans won't show up for the races and may be turned off to watching on television.

And that's the view from here.

PL

Posted by at 9:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASCAR has instituted random drug testing for the drivers and crew members to reduce accidents. Recently there have been headlines linking drivers to drug use including Brian Rose, Aaron Fike, Sammy Potashnick and Kevin Grubb. NASCAR has done a good job of keeping its drivers and crew members drug free. This is a result of an effective drug policy. On the first offense NASCAR will pull the driver off the track, offer rehabilitation, and give the driver a second chance; however, a third chance will not be given. Shane Hmiel was suspended permanently from NASCAR in February 2006 due to failed drug tests. The policy and stance that NASCAR takes are very different from what is happening in Major League Baseball (MLB).
MLB has been plagued with allegations, scandals, and embarrassment as a result of an insufficient drug policy. The fans of MLB have been continuously disappointed over the past ten years as the players continually use steroids and cheat the game of its integrity. Not only are the players using drugs, but the league seems to be powerless to do anything to stop it. Obviously the organizational structure of the MLB is very different from NASCAR, but the MLB could learn a lot from the hard stance that NASCAR takes on drug use. NASCAR does a great job of avoiding embarrassment by dealing with drug issues up front and issuing punishments that are designed to stop drug use. As a result NASCAR is able to maintain its integrity to the sport and the fans. This hard stance on drugs can only help the sustainability of the organization and the image of the business.

And that's the view from here.

GM

Posted by at 2:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We all know that NASCAR fans are 75% more likely to purchase items that are endorsed by NASCAR or a favorite driver, and 40% of all fans are females with the majority of the purchasing power. So, with numbers as high as these, I don't see why more sponsors aren't focusing more on women. A discussion today made me think about what makes a "loyal" fan. A loyal fan is someone who will not substitute another brand based on price or availability. That means that I am not a loyal fan. I don't feel compelled to always buy something simply because it is endorsed by NASCAR if there is a cheaper substitute. I don't think NASCAR has any female-only products. I could care less which home improvement store or energy drink is advertised. But I would purchase something that was specifically geared towards women. And not just the stereotypical sponsors like Tide or Target; women aren't the only people who have laundry needs. I'm talking about brands such as Tampax, Maybelline, Herbal Essences, or Victoria's Secret.

I think the entry of Danica Patrick would be a great opportunity for sponsors to jump in and target the female fans. I don't think the men in the sport would jump at the idea of driving the Tampax car, but Mark Martin drove the Viagra car with no shame. I would become a "loyal" fan if a driver, male or female, would seek out a sponsor that supported the primary needs of women.

And that's the view from here.

JS

Posted by at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Many of NASCAR's race weekends usually last two or three days depending on which race it happens to be. NASCAR has been looking into making more two-day weekends for the 2010 racing season. One of the main reasons NASCAR would like this to happen in 2010 is because of the hard economic times we are facing today.

By making more two-day weekends NASCAR believes it will help save a tremendous amount of money for many of the organizations in the NASCAR circuit. Even though this approach has been considered for years, many people believe this would be the perfect time for NASCAR to go through with this idea. Many fans, including me, do not realize how much money each team could actually save from cutting down from a three- to two-day weekend. It is estimated that it costs a team $300,000 to $600,000 per car for an average three-day weekend.

So by having only a two-day weekend a small portion of that amount could be saved. Also knowing that they have to run a 36-race season, organizations would eventually save millions of dollars within a season. By seeing how much money could be saved, I believe this would be a great change for NASCAR to make most of the races a two-day weekend event.
CS

Posted by at 9:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Car of Tomorrow is causing several different waves through the world of NASCAR. The Car of Tomorrow or CoT has been a working prototype for the last seven years, after Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s crash in 2001. Many believe that new regulations and perfection is needed to help make these mandated vehicles to a level of working performance for the drivers. First the intent of this car was very genuine and well thought. Wikipedia explains, via NASCAR.com, "[t]he primary design considerations were 'safety innovations, performance and competition, and cost efficiency for teams.'" These are all important factors for a team to be able to race safely, efficiently and for less money. However there are many concerns that these are not enough considerations and cause larger problems.

Just a few of the complaints are the dimensions of the vehicle itself. The bigger, boxier, and less aerodynamic body shapes are creditable causes for less speed and moving agility on the track. These are valid concerns with drivers. The speed and performance of the vehicles is more labored and harder to control for a long amount of time going at speeds we can not fathom, though we would like too. However, there are people who will praise the vehicle for different features such as safety, but will criticize for size and lack of maneuverability.

As a spectator I want to see the effort that a team can put into a car within the guidelines. Each team has mechanical geniuses willing to work hard and promote originality within the cars. This is a sign of the times, everything is standardized and boring. Though it does depend on the driver and how they handle the car, it is also about the team and how far they can get the driver.

No room for design ability, just rules.
That's the unfortunate view from here.

H.F.

Posted by at 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASCAR is said to be one of the most viewed professional sports on television. The only sport that beats it is the NFL. NASCAR is broadcast to over 150 countries around the world. It is a multimillion dollar business with millions of fans attending and watching around the world. If all this holds true, then why is NASCAR facing struggles with attendance at events and a drop in TV?
The cause of this drop-off in viewership and attendance is unknown to many. It can be a variety of things. The sport's best drivers are not competing at the same level and some may think they're running low on the tank. The new drivers that NASCAR brings in, or will bring in, may not have the same racing vibe as the previous drivers. I can somewhat compare this situation with WWE Wrestling.

At first it grew at a ridiculous rate because it was fairly new and everyone wanted to watch their favorite old school wrestlers duke it out. After a couple years, the attitude of the show, the story lines and the wrestlers themselves were getting old. With new wrestlers coming into the business, fans of the old generation were left hanging and not attracted to something they watched growing up and loved. It just wasn't the same anymore.

I believe that NASCAR is somewhat going the same way. I may be wrong or I may be right. It is just an idea to provide. Something new may have to be provided in order to remain the big business that NASCAR is. I think something needs to happen to spice things up a bit to give it an edge of entertainment and drama. As some may say, Danica Patrick may be coming to NASCAR. That can tip NASCAR fans good or bad; it all depends on how the fans take it. We may just have to see what the business of NASCAR can provide to its loyal viewers and see if a renewed interest in the sport can begin again.

And that's the view from here.

AM

Posted by at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There has been a lot of talk about the possible addition of Danica Patrick to the NASCAR circuit next year, but one has to ask does NASCAR need her?
Women make up to 35% of the viewer audience of NASCAR, higher than both the NFL and MLB. With the power of the marketing of NASCAR, would the addition of Danica help to open up some market that seems closed because it is a male-dominated sport?
Now may be the best time for Danica to move to NASCAR and help them open up to new marketing partners. With women controlling more than half of the private wealth in the US by 2010, and women being involved in over 60% of new vehicle purchases, women's purchasing power continues to grow.
With track attendance down, perhaps NASCAR needs to consider expanding its base? But can the men of NASCAR really market products that they cannot use or have no practical experience in? Revlon may not fit the model of the typical NASCAR product, but one can only imagine a potential tie-in or sponsorship with Danica. This partnership would provide a true women's only product that the women who already attend the track could get behind, but this would only work if Danica comes to NASCAR and becomes a true contender; otherwise she runs the risk of being the Anna Kournikova of motorsports.
And that's the view from here.
DS

Posted by at 9:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

Posted by at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

In NASCAR, there seems to be two winners in the race. There is the logical winner, who is the driver that can make it across the finish line first and then there is the driver that can make the most money during a race.
The logical winner, which is the driver that comes in first, does a lot of work to make sure that he is first. These winners have to make sure their crew can work cohesively to ensure efficiency and effectiveness during all practices and races. Then they have make sure the engineers operating on their cars have done everything they can to create a lean, mean racing machine that adheres to all codes and qualifications that NASCAR officials have put into place. Along with the car and the crew, the driver himself has to make sure that he has the stamina to endure the race that he is in. When all of these things come into play, there's potential that the driver will be in 1st place at the end of the race.
Then you have the other winner of the race, who is the driver that makes the most money. This driver has to have the crew, car, and the stamina like any other driver that strives to get that 1st place slot, but there is a little bit more that occurs during the race. How this driver becomes a winner is based on different sponsorships that can be accumulated. The car and driver are essentially turned into fast-paced, moving, and sometimes breathing billboards for many companies and/or products that are available for consumer use. Each racing team and driver accumulates money from the sponsors that are on the cars and how much is received from these sponsors is relative to the location of advertisement on the car itself. The main sponsor has its advertisement in the main locations such as the hood of the car and the suit of the driver. Then you have the sponsors that are located on the front quarter panel of the car. Although the driver pays to have them placed on the car, if that particular company or product is endorsed during the race then the driver gets compensated. So essentially, the team and/or driver is making an investment to increase their wealth based on advertisements during the race.
Now the final question is this, "Which winner would you like to be?" Would you like the pleasure of personal achievement or do you want financial wealth. Now the best part of it is no one said you couldn't be BOTH winners!
And that's the view from here.
NG

Posted by at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In recent news, NASCAR reported suspending three members for substance abuse violations. This wasn't a huge shock to the public since NASCAR has adopted a random drug testing policy new for this racing season. The three employees, who were crew members, were suspended at Bristol Motor Speedway two weeks ago. These suspensions come after driver Jeremy Mayfield's suspension, which was a result of Mayfield testing positive for methamphetamines during his random drug screening at the beginning of the season. Currently, a total of ten crew members and one driver (Mayfield) have been suspended since the beginning of the testing at the start of the season.
So what does this mean for the business of NASCAR? Mayfield's suspension has been the topic of heated debate presently. NASCAR has been receiving strong opposition to its decision since this is the first time a driver has ever been submitted to random drug testing, failed, and subsequently suspended. Critics from USA Today claim "overriding suspensions would make the program not credible." Not only would the program be a failure, but NASCAR itself would be viewed as less credible as well.
In addition to a lack of credibility, Fanhouse.com reported NASCAR has been receiving enormous amounts of bad publicity from the situation just as the race season had begun. This is a huge concern with the recent decline in attendance and viewership that the business is already facing. With costs on the rise for NASCAR, buying "good" publicity will be even more costly to fix the damage these suspensions have caused.
So where do the fans come in? Will we see a shift in fan loyalty? Since we view NASCAR as a tightly knit community, it seems only right to assume that NASCAR fans want their favorite drivers to be good role models for their community and for their children, the younger fans. Will there be another decrease in attendance and viewership due to a loss of interest? Will loyal NASCAR fans not want to deal with the politics and consequences of this new drug testing policy? Or will they stand by their sport as the season progresses? It seems only time will tell, but with the race season well underway and eleven people already suspended, the future does not seem promising.

And that's the view from here.

LH

Posted by at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

With the economy slumping, it's becoming harder for NASCAR fans to get to a track to enjoy live racing. Even with tracks lowering ticket prices, most races aren't selling out. You would think that because of this attendance issue television viewership would be just as good as last season, if not better but the truth is ratings are lower now than the same time last year.
True, ratings for the last couple of races (Michigan and Bristol) were up from last year's averages but the reality is football season is about to start and history has shown that once football games begin being aired NASCAR viewership drops.
Now, back to the decline in ratings of this year's earlier races. There hasn't been a clear change in the way NASCAR has presented its races in the past two weeks, so what was wrong with the previous races that led to a drop in viewership? Could it be the much disliked COT that drivers claim isn't competitive enough? Or is it that stock car racing just isn't what it used to be? I'm not old enough to have seen Richard Petty's first win or Bobby Allison's wreck at what is now Talladega Superspeedway, forcing NASCAR to mandate restrictor plates there and Daytona, but I've seen video and TV footage of the beginning of NASCAR's modern age and I know today's racing isn't as exciting. While I love racing and always have, I miss what it used to be just 10-15 years ago. The sport has lost some integrity and I almost prefer local short track racing to sitting at home and watching a Cup Series race on tv.
So the solution to NASCAR's television rating problems is yet to be resolved, even with the recent increase in viewership. Is the economy to blame or is it because of the COT and lack of excitement? Of course there's always the argument that NASCAR just isn't like the old days. And that's the view from here.

HG

Posted by at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I am somewhat of NASCAR novice, but I feel that the scoring system in NASCAR does not produce an overall or dominant winner. I will liken this to other professional sports, which I know a little bit more about. In the other major professional sports such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB, teams win based on beating the other team outright. A team does not receive credit for leading the most quarters or having the most tackles. Success is based on playing hard night in and night out and coming out victorious over the opponent.
NASCAR’s scoring system awards consistency more than winning. In other sports, the only consistency that is rewarded is consistently WINNING the most games. I was brought up in competitive sports and winning was always the main objective, and nothing less was accepted by anyone. In my opinion, the same should be reflected in NASCAR’s points system.
Drivers receive 5 bonus points for leading a lap, 5 more points to the driver who leads the most laps. I understand that races are long and NASCAR is trying to award the drivers that do well, but I do not feel that bonuses should be awarded for leading laps during the race. I agree with our instructor Dr. Pitts' suggestion on the points system in which first place is awarded 43 points and last place is awarded 1 point. This system is simple, clean cut, and would produce a champion who consistently WINS throughout the season.
Had the points system been different would Jimmie Johnson have three-peated? You tell me. And that’s the view from here.
LB

Posted by at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

With the changing times, consider the following: declined fan attendance at NASCAR race tracks, the recent downturn in today’s economy, and downsizing of corporate firms like Circuit City and DHL (current or former NASCAR sponsors), and General Motors begging for bailout, which incidentally forced an end to its relationships at Bristol and New Hampshire tracks. NASCAR should take a closer look into exposure in foreign markets and, even yes, going public. NASCAR is money mad and a money guzzler and why not gain more fans, exposure, and increased revenues in other tracks outside U.S. borders. The Nationwide Series has made appearances in cities like Mexico City (over 100,000 fan attendance) and Montreal in the past; NASCAR should take part in the opportunity to grow further.

Although there has been criticism to considering going outside the U.S. boundaries because it might be difficult for American sponsors due to trade barriers, there is the opportunity to also pick up new sponsors and increased airtime abroad. Existing sponsors like FedEx, UPS, and Coca Cola also increase their benefits by gaining additional international exposure; these companies already have benefited by providing services thus for both NASCAR and its global sponsors.

At the same time, NASCAR can easily promote its “drive for diversity” program, because of exposure to foreign spectators and publicity. Thus, it comes down to the question of whether NASCAR should go abroad. With the opportunities for international expansion, NASCAR’s image of once a Southern red neck sport on dirt will fade into a global empire in international racing on different tracks and maybe surpassing F1 in popularity. Aside from its grassroots of fans and history, arguably there should be no limits to the future direction of NASCAR.

We have the World Cup of soccer and the Summer and Winter Olympics, why not have an international NASCAR?

And that’s the view from here.
JLY

Posted by at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I am no expert on NASCAR that is for sure. But, I have learned a lot about the organization throughout this semester. Recently in our business of NASCAR class we had a discussion about whether it is NASCAR’s responsibility to make the sport more diverse. So far we’ve seen just one non-white American male in the sport since its start. But does NASCAR need to establish rules or requirements for teams in order to get minorities and women into the sport?

My opinion may be a little old school, and a little surprising being that I am female, but I think no. If you start trying to make too many rules or establish quotas, you’re taking the realness away. People who shouldn’t be racing and people that are only interested in getting a paycheck will be out there on the track taking the place of someone who should be there. It won’t matter who is best, whether they’re a better racer, or if they’re more dedicated to the sport. This is not to say that there aren’t a few drivers out there that don’t belong there already, but that’s another thing.

I have always been a strong believer in the idea that people will become what they want to be. Everyone makes choices and decisions, works hard at a young age or doesn’t, gets involved with certain activities or subjects in school and as a result excels or doesn’t, becomes dedicated or lets their interest wane. I think people and industries should be left alone with little toying to direct what they become. That approach is the only way you can surely know that it’s pure.

Especially with the results of this year’s election, we can see now more than ever that things are changing. And it’s not because the government imposed a new amendment to the Constitution saying that one out of every 44 presidents must be a minority. Our country elected a non-white American president all on its own. The United States, a country that half of a century ago was in the midst of a civil rights movement where women and minorities were fighting for their rights, is changing. Who’s to say that NASCAR, a sport tagged as the redneck’s entertainment of choice, won’t one day be just for the South.

If NASCAR wants to get more involvement from minority groups and women, then I think the thing to do would be start children’s programs that make racing available to young kids of all backgrounds. Many minority groups may not think about a sport like racing as something to get their child involved in. Not to mention the price. If NASCAR decides it wants to become an equal opportunity racing league, then all it needs to do is make racing available by sponsoring children’s events and developing carting leagues.
And that’s the view from here.
SK

Posted by at 9:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With recent difficult economic times for the big three automakers, they should consider scaling back their marketing support invested in NASCAR. With the automakers, particularly General Motors, struggling to survive, some might question their longtime relationship with NASCAR. The overall objective for General Motors and others to invest the bundles of money they do into the racing giant is to sell vehicles. There was a time when a race took place on Sunday and fans would walk into the dealership Monday to purchase the same vehicle they saw speeding around the track. Four-door sedans that you can find at the airport rental counter have replaced all the days of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Ford Thunderbird, and even the Plymouth Superbird. The only thing that is common between the NASCAR Impala and the one you find on the showroom floor is the nameplate. The vehicles for purchase are far from your 700 hp NASCAR mandated Car of Tomorrow common template you see circling the track. Those days are long over.

So if NASCAR is supported by corporate dollars, then what happens when the corporations are running out of dollars to spend? General Motors and others will be sure to scale back their investment in NASCAR, but I would not suspect a full pullout because in my eyes that would be the end of NASCAR. To remain competitive, the big three automakers would have to remain supportive. There are still many fans who are brand loyal versus following a particular driver. Therefore, it is important for the big three manufacturers to be represented and to dedicate the engineering dollars that support the teams so they can remain competitive on the track.
And that’s the view from here.
AS

Posted by at 5:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I am too young to remember the good old days where NASCAR was filled with bright drivers who had even brighter personalities such as Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty. These drivers’ personalities, loud voices, and rivalries brought so many fans into the sport and helped build NASCAR into what it is today. Today Richard Petty is still ever present in the sport and Darrell Waltrip is in the broadcast booth running his mouth just as fast as he ever ran his car on the track. Instead of growing up during this past era, I grew up watching today’s NASCAR, where listening to the drivers speak is about as much fun as listening to nails scratching across a chalkboard. Today’s drivers are discouraged from publicly discussing their opinions, engaging in heated rivalries, or saying or doing anything that might not appease NASCAR or a corporate sponsor. Do any of us really think that drivers such as Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin are boring people with no color or flair? I certainly don’t. I believe that NASCAR, the France family, and the influence of corporate sponsors have turned the drivers into talking bobble heads.

After this past Sunday’s race, I had to listen to Carl Edwards thank “all of the good people” at Office Depot and Ford before he gave an honest, yet very brief response towards his feelings about his second place chase standing. I understand that sponsorship dollars are what drive the business of NASCAR; however, when the drivers are forced to plug the sponsor in every interview to the point of ad nauseam, it simply becomes too much for me. This brief interview with Carl Edwards lasted about thirty seconds. The first fifteen seconds were solely devoted to Edwards plugging his sponsors, leaving the other half to actually talking racing. I believe that the great power that corporate sponsors have in the sport will prevent interviews like this one from ceasing anytime soon. I find this unfortunate and believe that interviews like these tend to dehumanize the driver. Instead of being viewed as opinionated human beings, they are viewed as corporate figureheads.

However, NASCAR can and should relax its policies to let drivers speak their minds regardless of whether they are being critical of NASCAR. When an opinionated driver like Tony Stewart complains about the quality of Goodyear tires, or when Kyle Busch has a gripe about the car of tomorrow (car of today), I believe NASCAR should not punish them. Instead the France family and the other powers that be in NASCAR should listen to them. NASCAR is not a perfectly run organization, and the fans know this. However, the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL are also not perfectly run organizations. The difference is that these other professional sports leagues, especially the NBA, listen to their athletes in an order to improve their league and sport. As a fan of all of these sports, I am accepting that nothing is perfect. NASCAR needs to stop unsuccessfully trying to portray an image of perfection to their fans and start viewing their drivers as valuable resources who can help improve the organization and the sport of auto racing. The powers that be need to understand that when a driver like Tony Stewart voices a controversial opinion, he does so because he cares about the sport and is trying to improve it. And that’s the view from here. SP

Last but certainly not least, NASCAR needs to embrace the rivalries between their drivers. The fierce competition between Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch that was displayed both on and off the track this season has been highly entertaining. Instead of telling drivers to work out their issues, NASCAR should take a page from the NBA. The NBA capitalized on the Shaq and Kobe feud and turned it into a soap opera. I know that I’m not the only person who remembers the high drama of the Bad Boys of the Detroit Pistons roughing up Michael Jordan during the late 80’s and early 90’s. If NASCAR would let rivalries like the one between Edwards and Busch mature, I believe they could capitalize on them to and draw greater television ratings. I beg of you NASCAR, to please let the drivers show their personalities.
And that’s the view from here.

SWP

Posted by at 4:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As the realities of an economic recession begin to become apparent to NASCAR, and traditional sponsors start to leave, the loss of Kodak and Craftsman are prime examples, NASCAR team owners are going to be forced to find not only new sponsors, but sponsors from industries that previously had no affiliation with NASCAR. One possible sponsorship could be a church. I am not talking about a neighborhood parish, but instead a mega church that has upwards of 10,000 members.
There are several reasons why one of these churches would be interested in sponsoring a car. For starters these kinds of churches have the money. They could, through member donation, easily raise the money necessary to become a primary sponsor. Another reason is that some of these churches are beginning to see a stall in new member recruitment.
According to a September 9 USA Today article, these mega churches are not making as much as progress as they would like in increasing membership. A NASCAR sponsorship is a fantastic advertisement that could draw on potential new members, as well as fans that already identify themselves as Christians.
Faith-based promotions have worked in other sports. An organization called Third Coast Sports has been promoting “faith nights” at minor league and major league baseball parks all over the country with a great deal of success. At NASCAR events, Motor Racing Outreach holds worship services in the parking lot.
Is it really that far of a stretch to imagine a faith-based organization moving that ministry to the asphalt of the track inside? Finally there are so many drivers and team owners, Michael Waltrip and Joe Gibbs being the most prominent, who wear their faith on their sleeves. I would imagine that Gibbs or Waltrip would be very enthusiastic about gaining a church-based sponsor.
Certainly there are arguments against a church getting involved in NASCAR. NASCAR wants to appeal to as many people as possible, and the introduction of a religious based car could turn some people off or cause some people to stop being fans.
My arguments against this backlash are that NASCAR needs to retain its base, and companies that produce controversial products are already sponsors in NASCAR. NASCAR’s core fan base is still Southern.
There is a disproportionate number of these mega churches in the South, and I am guessing that quite a few of the members of these congregations are NASCAR fans. Remember the South is called the Bible Belt for a reason. As hard economic times loom for all United States citizens, decisions about whether to purchase race tickets are being made by all fans. Ticket sales and television revenue will probably drop significantly over the next couple of seasons. If NASCAR is to survive these trying economic times, it must retain its core fans, and the majority of these core fans are Southerners. The race car sporting a church sponsor might actually help in retaining Bible Belt fans.
There are controversial products being sold consistently in NASCAR. Jack Daniels has sponsored a car, which probably infuriates organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the implication being get liquored up on Jack Daniels and then get behind the wheel. Despite the possible backlash, NASCAR let Jack Daniels be a sponsor. It’s also important to remember that NASCAR was sponsored for years by tobacco companies and thrived under that sponsorship.
I have no inside information to tell me that a mega church is going to get involved with a team, but I think ostensibly it is a reasonable proposition.
And that’s the view from here.
RW

Posted by at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There is a topic that every NASCAR fan has an opinion about: the old point system or the new point system. For whatever reason this topic always seems to add heat to any conversation.

I tend to favor the old point system. This system built the sport to what it is today. If a driver dominants, let him dominant; a good season should not be wiped out 10 races before the season is over (regardless of who that driver is!). Or what about the other side, if a driver who has had a bad season, no matter how good they are the last 10 races, it does not matter. I am by no means a Kyle Bush fan, but you have to feel sorry for the guy. He was having an amazing season and not only has it gone downhill by a landslide, his points were wiped out 10 races before the end of the season.

I also do not agree with the bonus point system. Who cares if you lead a lap during a caution because you did not pit? That is not racing and should not be rewarded. And do not even get me started on the “Lucky Dog.” Two weeks ago in Atlanta, Jimmy Johnson finished 2nd. The only reason he finished 2nd was because he was given his lap back after going a lap down. Jimmy was given his lap back. Without this rule, how much closer would Carl Edwards be to closing the gap in the Chase?

I can argue my point all day, but my main concern is the sponsors. NASCAR teams are fighting for sponsors, with many teams not knowing who will be on the side of their cars in February. This is already an issue and I feel like the Chase only makes this harder. What sponsor wants to put out millions each year to not have any television time for 10 races? Basically, if your car is not a sure bet to get into the Chase, sponsors will find somewhere else to take their money. Who knows, maybe without the millions each year NASCAR will remember the fans that made the sport what it is today.
And that’s the view from here.
AL

Posted by at 3:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Is our current economic recession situation problem affecting the business of NASCAR as far as the fan base is concerned? There are many speculators who believe the current economic conditions are affecting attendance at races. Is this true and what is really going on?
I believe that the current economic conditions are not affecting the fan base too greatly. First of all let’s not forget, as mentioned in our class, that many NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races draw larger crowds than one NFL Super Bowl, one NBA Finals game and one Major League World Series game combined.
NASCAR has the largest turnout compared to any sport so what is there to worry about? The fan base is also moving from one crowd to another, so even if NASCAR is losing its traditional fan base, it is gaining a new crowd and the numbers pretty much will even out. NASCAR is moving toward a more corporate fan base due to business deals. These are wealthier people who are willing and able to actually buy more merchandise as well, which will increase profits.
In conclusion, the ‘die-hard’ fans of NASCAR will still make it out to a race even if the economy is bad. Money might be tight, but I believe that even if it’s their only vacation of the year, true NASCAR fans will somehow make it work and go out to races near their homes. I don’t think NASCAR has much to worry about in these economic times. (The economy is constantly fluctuating anyways.) NASCAR could, however, make it a priority to market to the new wealthy crowd to keep NASCAR appealing and also still make it accessible for the traditional crowd as well!
And that’s the view from here.
SV

Posted by at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In an October 1 Jeremy Dunn article titled Red Bull Racing releases A.J. Allmendinger, NASCAR proves once again how brutal and short lived the life of a Sprint Cup driver really is. It was announced that Scott Speed and Mike Skinner would replace Allmendinger for the rest of the season. Unfortunately for Allmendinger he was just starting to show progress in his sophomore year in the stock car series although he had barely any previous experience. Just a rookie last year he missed 19 of the 36 races. But can Red Bull and NASCAR really be so hard on him. What can really be expected of a rookie driver climbing into a brand new car with a rookie team in support of a new manufacturer? Is he supposed to be making a run for the Cup in his first season? After being replaced by Mike Skinner at the beginning of the season, Allmendinger returned to the seat of the Red Bull Toyota and began to show a great deal of progress. Red Bull, making another glorious move, decided to put Formula One Star Scott Speed in the 84 Toyota in 2009. Allmendinger, a young driver showing a great deal of promise in only his second year, now has his future up in the air and Red Bull is banking on an untested Formula One Star.

NASCAR Sprint Cup owners rush drivers into the biggest stock car series in the world. With the lights, the cameras, millions of fans, and most of all pressure, is it really fair to say new drivers might take a few years to get the hang of this thing. Drivers are released and left out to dry when they don’t become instant super stars or something more appealing comes along. This is not the first time this scenario has happened and most certainly won’t be the last. In 2001, Ray Evernham’s young star, Casey Atwood, struggled through most of his rookies season and just like Allmendinger began to show a great deal of improvement towards the end of the season. Atwood won a pole and led laps at Phoenix and a week later almost won at Homestead. Unfortunately it was again not enough and Evernham replaced him with veteran Jeremy Mayfield.

We will see what the future holds for Allmendinger as well as Scott Speed. And that’s the view from here.
TEH

Posted by at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Scary times are ahead as the US dollar declines and the economy goes with it. Almost all businesses are feeling the pain of the economy going into arrest, and NASCAR is a business that is no different. Retail markets are drying up, and in response, big businesses that double as race sponsors are starting to tighten their belts to insulate their assets. On the NASCAR circuit, the drivers and their teams are the ones feeling the impact as sponsors cut back heavily on their usual spending and advertising.
NASCAR may be in trouble as its main source of income, seventy-five percent of its budget, comes from sponsorship dollars. Compared to even this time last year, large companies that are regulars in the NASCAR world have considered cut backs if not already cutting their spending. Current NASCAR stakeholders worry that the near future may bring widespread layoffs throughout its business structure, and even fielding all 43 cars may become an issue. Drivers are implementing split sponsorships to cope with the changing times and to pay their incurred expenses. “Tip to tail” sponsorship is becoming a thing of the past as most cars that race now are littered with logos from several sponsors, and almost all space on the cars are prime sales for advertisers. Even popular drivers such as Tony Stewart are having trouble finding funding, not just for themselves, but for their teammates.
Drivers are also acquiring sponsors for only a certain number of races per season, instead of the entire season, and are now becoming pressured to constantly find cash investors. The hardest hit are those who are independent car owners that solely depend on sponsorship.
Smaller sponsors are now starting to join NASCAR, and are creating a new stream of revenue that is helping relieve financial plight. But if most of the original larger investors pull out, will these new investors be enough to support the NASCAR business? Outside of NASCAR, how are other motorsports being affected by weakening economies?
Recently the Canadian Grand Prix has been dropped from the 2009 schedule, cancelling all races in North America, and the French Grand Prix has been cancelled as well. It is not only the US that is struggling at this current time; rather, declining economies, increased operating cost and reduced sponsorship are hurting NASCAR and even greater, motorsports as a whole.
And that’s the view from here.
CJ

Posted by at 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There has been discussion about what the future holds for NASCAR. Will it expand into more markets in the United States? Will it go into Mexico or Canada or perhaps overseas? First and foremost, NASCAR is a business and there is no question that it wants to increase its market size. I don’t think, however, that NASCAR can expand while hanging onto the Southern image.

When people who aren’t fans hear about NASCAR, an image of drunken, redneck, good ol’ boys pops into their heads. People don’t want to associate themselves with that type of lifestyle, especially the wealthier ones, if that is the image conveyed to them. If people don’t want to associate themselves, there is no fan base in that area and thus no expansion into that market.

What NASCAR needs to do is figure out a way to portray the American values, which are found in the South, to these potential new fan bases. These values include hard work, dedication, and passion, to name a few. In reality, however, many people worldwide possess these core values. They are able to relate to the sport thus increasing NASCAR’s fan base. These values are just as easily virtues that everyone wants to strive for.

The key for NASCAR is to separate the American/Southern values from the Southern image. That is the only way for new domestic and international markets to embrace this sport. People may not be able to relate to corporate sponsorships or the business of the sport but NASCAR can hook them with an image of being a dedicated hard worker just as cigarette ads got teenagers hooked by sending a message it was cool.

Internationally, NASCAR needs to make the sport seem so universal that it is easy for people to accept it. Not many Europeans would want to associate themselves with a sport whose American fans’ lifestyle they dislike. Everyone can relate to the values, not everyone can or wants to relate to the image.

In closing, the southern image cannot survive in NASCAR if NASCAR wants to expand. NASCAR can’t expand if it wants to keep the Southern image. Emphasize the American/Southern values if NASCAR wants to grow and eradicate the image. NASCAR management needs to decide which way it wants to go because it can’t do both.
And that’s the view from here.
MA

Posted by at 4:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So these NASCAR drivers are supposed to be some of the best drivers in the world? Why don’t we throw a few more road races into the Sprint Cup Series season to see who really is the “best driver?”
I know one problem as to why some people resist watching NASCAR is because all they think the drivers do is go left. If you follow the sport closely, you know that there is a lot more to it than that. So I pose the question, why not add more road races to show a different aspect of NASCAR? Adding more of these races could capture more fans because road races show these impressive machines going in and out of both right and left hand turns instead of just going in circles.
Fans love the road stuff and even the drivers like a challenge every once in a while. It would be a change of scenery for drivers, instead of going left every weekend. The oval tracks seem to have fewer close finishes than the road courses, unless of course there is a late yellow flag artificially stacking the field. NASCAR is missing a huge opportunity in expanding its fan base by not having more of these exciting road races. Heck, maybe more road races will attract fans of similar racing styles like Formula I and IndyCar.
And that’s the view from here.
JS

Posted by at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The other day in class, we had a guest speaker and the topic of sponsorships came up. I never really thought about local sponsors until this discussion. Nowadays, NASCAR is such a big promotional campaign that a lot of people forget about the “little man.” I understand that NASCAR sponsorships are very expensive and not many local companies can afford to put their logo on a car. Lately, NASCAR has grown to be a huge sport and now the fans can’t really relate to their favorite drivers anymore.
When I was growing up, NASCAR was all about “good ol’ boys” trying to make a dollar and many fans could relate to their drivers. Now, drivers are making millions upon millions and the fans are separating from the relationship with their drivers. I think one way that NASCAR can bring back that relationship between the drivers and fans is by offering a discount to local companies wanting to put their logo on a car or even at the track. One way I think this could be done is by having sponsors for certain races. For instance, when the drivers come to Richmond International Raceway, RIR should try to promote the race name to local companies. (i.e., Ukrop’s 400—a large, local supermarket). Even some teams could offer one race sponsors for local companies at the certain track they are racing at. I also think that this would increase the fan base because people that don’t know too much about racing would see local companies on cars and would be able to relate to the drivers. This, I think, would bring more fans to NASCAR.
It just disappoints me sometimes to see that NASCAR is turning to that outlook of “it’s all about the money.” I think that NASCAR, race teams, and race tracks could afford to allow local small companies to become a sponsor at a race. I just hope that NASCAR won’t grow so much that it loses its fan base that started it all.
And that’s my view from here.
EB

Posted by at 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASCAR officials introduced a new drug test policy that will begin on January 1, 2009. Drug testing will be conducted by AEIGIS Sciences Corporation beginning with all drivers at races in January. Random testing will include drivers, crewmembers, and NASCAR officials. NASCAR is declaring the right to test for any drug, from prescription medicines to steroids.

Overall, the policy is more in line with those of other sports. However, the new policy does not include a specific list of banned substances. Is this new policy going to be too broad? Some feel as though this policy opens the door for legal problems and that it can give somebody a pass to something.

Steve O’Donnell stated that he wants to keep the policy broad because it allows NASCAR to test for abuse of all substances. Most sports have lists of banned drugs because they focus on preventing illegal and performance enhancing drugs. NASCAR wants to leave it more open-ended because it knows that NASCAR has large safety issues. Something that may be legal in other sports could be harmful when racing. As Kyle Petty stated, “Look, a drug is a drug is a drug. This is not shooting hoops; this is not hitting a fastball. This is life and death. In a sport like this, everything should be off limits unless there is a medical reason.”

Three failed tests will result in an automatic lifetime ban from the sport and the governing body also reserves judgment to impose a lifetime ban after one failed test. Drivers must notify NASCAR when they are taking a prescribed medicine before they are tested. The drivers agree with NASCAR and feel as though there should be a tougher testing program and are happy to know that it will be applied throughout the entire sport. NASCAR has always been perceived as a clean sport, and this is its way of backing it up.

I feel that it is important that NASCAR is introducing a new policy. This is one step closer for NASCAR to be like the other major sports that have strict drug policies. Even though NASCAR is already perceived as a clean sport, it is important that the organization is able to back it up with results to prove it. Also, it is probably a good thing that the list isn’t specific because it would probably have to be constantly changed. This way will know that all drugs are banned because no drug is safe. Drivers shouldn’t have to worry about if the other drivers or crewmembers are on a drug or not. This is NASCAR’s way of making sure that the drivers are always safe. If you don’t play by NASCAR’s rules, then you don’t play at all.

And that’s the view from here.

MG

Posted by at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

When I think of diversity in NASCAR, three primary topics come to mind: age, race, and gender (in that order). Since the fundamental idea behind the business of NASCAR is to make money, team owners are looking to recruit younger drivers each day. The older drivers are beginning to phase out, while the owners are looking for long-term investments.

Joe Gibbs Racing is the easiest target right now; they just signed 18-year-old Joey Lagano to a long-term contract reportedly up to 5 years, an added bonus to the normal 3-year contract. An 18-year-old signs a very lucrative sports contract, sounds like I have heard of this before. NASCAR seems to be more like other sports than many people give them credit.

Do we really know how much this kid has to offer? There is the question of experience: is he ready to move up the ranks of racing? Well, Joe Gibbs answered that question by replacing Tony Stewart. Being a Hall of Fame NFL Football coach and accomplished “investor”, what does he have left to do but find ways to make more money? Many people think Lagano has the talent, and we will soon find out whether that holds true.

Age, then what? Ah, Joe Gibbs Racing is also working with 18-year-old African-American Marc Davis as a developmental driver. He already made his truck debut with Randy Moss Racing this past month and will be making his Nationwide Series debut on October 25 in Memphis, TN. This situation embodies the diversity of age and race, implying that Gibbs is looking for all young talent.

As far as gender goes, female drivers date back to 1949 with Sara Christian, the year after NASCAR was formed. Most recently the names Patty Moise, Shawna Robinson, and Danica Patrick have been in the mix. It is obvious that female drivers have made appearances on the circuit, but were not able to make a successful run in the NASCAR world. The looming question is whether women can compete with men in this business.

What will be the next minority group to take a shot at NASCAR?

And that’s my view from here.

PM

Posted by at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Can the business of NASCAR be compared to that of Wal-Mart? Perhaps I am going to the extreme here, but the two enterprises have a great deal in common.

I am a business student and confess that I do not have a lot of knowledge about NASCAR, having only been to one race and almost a second (but a hurricane changed that opportunity). As we discuss the different aspects of NASCAR in our “Business of NASCAR” class, I hear so many Wal-Mart similarities woven into our class discussions.

As many of us know, Wal-Mart leads a secretive life in business. There is not much known about how the company operates. Its employees’ and suppliers’ conversations are held in strictest confidence. If word gets out that a supplier has talked, whether good or bad, the business relationship could be severed. NASCAR runs the same way. Contracts with drivers are kept extremely confidential as are the terms of sponsorships. Perhaps not to the severity of relinquishing the contract but you rarely hear about the terms of a contract, unless a case goes to court and the contract is available to the public eyes.

Wal-Mart and NASCAR are similar in their clientele. You have Wal-Mart lovers and Wal-Mart haters, as you do with NASCAR. Wal-Mart and NASCAR are parallel in that their followers are very loyal to the company.

NASCAR and Wal-Mart hold a great deal of power in negotiating with their suppliers. They both hold the upper hand. If you do not do business their way, then others are waiting in line to take your place. With Wal-Mart if you cannot supply your merchandise in a timely manner following its shipping provisions, then Wal-Mart can easily pull its business and forward it to a company who can, often without warning. In the NASCAR world, if you are late with your entry form, NASCAR holds the option to accept or deny entry into the race.

While the companies are different in so many ways, their likenesses are uncanny. They both are a business that has the reputation of having the upper hand, and they know it. They call the terms, they call how they want things done, and you must adhere to their rules.

And that’s my view from here.

AV

Posted by at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The statement that NASCAR does not glean international attention may no longer be true. About ten years ago NASCAR tried exhibition races at Twin Ring Motegei and Suzuka Japan with little success. Fast forward ten years and NASCAR now has points-paying races for the Nationwide Series in Montreal, Canada and formerly Mexico City, Mexico. True, these sites are still in the Western Hemisphere and just north and south of the United States, but it is a start.
If you take a look at the drivers, many of their backgrounds are much different than the drivers of a few years ago. Sponsors have changed as well. The sport has moved from Winston and Goodwrench to M&M’s and Red Bull energy drinks. This is where the future of NASCAR lies.
Team Red Bull Racing is a new form of NASCAR team in the series. This team is not owned by a single owner or small group; it is owned by Red Bull. This is new to the sport because never before has a sponsor owned the whole team. From top to bottom, executives at Red Bull Racing make the personnel decisions, which brings us to the topic of Scott Speed.
Speed broke into the world of big-time racing when he got a ride with the Red Bull Formula One team after winning a driver-talent competition put on by Red Bull. After a couple of poor seasons in Formula One, Red Bull dropped Speed and put him in the stock car ranks. He came up through the ARCA ranks and is now poised to take the seat vacated by A.J. Allmendinger on the Sprint Cup Series team.
The interesting thing about this driver switch is that the decision was not made by the NASCAR team; it was made by Red Bull executives in Austria, the company’s home country. In my opinion, I believe this is what is on the horizon for NASCAR: powerful international companies owning teams from top to bottom and making driver changes in the board room far away from the race shops.
With Scott Speed on the scene, even though he is an American, Red Bull and companies like it may look to buy into NASCAR along with international drivers to make a statement in an American sport. The money is definitely there and the coverage is plentiful, enough to pull the likes of Jacques Villeneuve, Dario Franchitti and Juan Montoya over. Maybe in ten years the next Justin Wilson will be in a Vodafone Chevy and not a McLaren.
And that’s the view from here.
AT

Posted by at 3:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Luck! The word itself is not that impressive, but in NASCAR it can make or break a driver. Luck is defined by dictionary.com as a series of events which affect one’s interest or happiness regarded as occurring by chance. It is a mystical force that can bring about a winning streak or instantly throw you to the bottom of the elite twelve when it runs out (sorry, Kyle Busch.).
Every sport has its superstitions regarding luck. Basketball players dribble the ball before a free throw for good luck. Bowlers won’t change their clothes when they are on a winning streak. Bull riders always put their right foot in the stirrup first. That is probably the reason that sportscasters and sportswriters alike focus so much on a driver’s “luck”.
Please don’t get me wrong. NASCAR has many factors that contribute to a win each week. You have to have a good team, you have to have a good car, you have to have a good driver and you have to have an incredible pit crew. But, if all of those other factors are in place, and you are still not winning then it is time to break out the rabbit’s foot. Greg Biffle fans have certainly been rubbing theirs.
And for all those fans out there supporting drivers like Junior and Hard luck Hamlin, keep the faith, keep rubbing the rabbit’s foot, and start searching the fields for four leaf clovers. Their luck is bound to improve (at some point).
And that’s the view from here.
DH

Posted by at 9:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

While surfing around the internet for something to write about for this blog entry, I stumbled across an article entitled: “NASCAR needs to look into alternate fuels.”
Being a fan of NASCAR and the loud engines that go along with the sport, I had to read what it was all about. According to Mike Mulhern of the Winston-Salem Journal, NASCAR needs to jump on the “green” bandwagon. Mulhern believes that NASCAR could attract more fans by re-evaluating what runs these cars. He states that “NASCAR can do {more} to appear more in step with the real world.”
However, NASCAR is not the real world. Races are where fans go to watch people battle it out for the checkered flag. Races are where people can race legally at 200 MPH speeds and not get ticketed for going that fast. Mulhern believes that NASCAR could improve its PR and marketing by putting more fuel-efficient cars on the track. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel that NASCAR would lose its die-hard fans if this were to happen.
These cars could be engineered to have more power, but would there still be the glorious roar as the drivers start their engines, or when they pass; would it make the fans cheer for their favorite driver? I, personally, would be terribly bored if the track was quiet with all the hydrogen-cell cars going around the track for three to four hours.
Mulhern also states that maybe NASCAR should use a more fuel-efficient car as the pace car. Aren’t most of the cars now more fuel-efficient than they used to be anyway? Maybe for Dodge, Toyota, Ford or Chevrolet to introduce hydrogen-cell cars to the NASCAR nation, NASCAR should use the manufacturers’ new cars as pace cars, as long as the new car can keep pace with the line of 43 behind it.
I feel NASCAR could do more to keep its fans interested in the sport, like keeping the rules to a minimum or trying to incorporate fans more during races, other than putting more fuel-efficient cars on the track.
But that’s my view from here.
CB

Posted by at 2:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Now that the chase has “officially” begun, fans like me can’t take their eyes off of the battle between top drivers such as Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch (and quietly Jimmie Johnson). The competitive battle, all year long, between Edwards and Busch has given the Chase an added reason to watch the races. This competition is slowly becoming a great battle between the two, and hopefully will be for years to come. Although it’s not an “Ali versus Frazier” battle, who’s to say it isn’t as big as some NFL head-to-head battles?

And while the head-to-head battle adds fuel to the fire, let’s not forget Jimmie Johnson quietly making his way to another championship.
And that’s my view from here. AD

Posted by at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As some of you who read our blog know, my colleague Mike Pitts and I have been teaching a five-week Honors module on the Business of NASCAR for the past five years. This semester, we started a full-semester class for School of Business majors on this topic as well. As part of their course requirement, all students will write one blog entry to be posted here. We hope you enjoy their comments and insights into the greatest racing series in the U.S.

On another note, it will be interesting to see what fall-out, if any, will occur in NASCAR due to the troubles on Wall Street (and elsewhere). Attendance at New Hampshire looked good on TV yesterday. The race at RIR last week was pretty well attended, given the rain-out on Saturday. However, the Nationwide race attendance was dismal. At least, that’s the view from here. Jon

Posted by at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)