Have you heard that Nascar may be up for sale?

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Well, there has a lot been said about Nascar and what it has become today.   Cars that have decals that are different and that's about it......  Toyota was a surprise when it came in but has proven itself.  Back in the day............when Dodges, Fords and Chevys won,  then that is what was supposed to sell on Monday.  Now.........who really cares.?  The original tracks, a lot have been deserted.......Rockingham to name one........5 miles from me and growing weeds now.  I think that having 2 races at most tracks also has hurt the attendance.  Now Dega is one that actually holds interest........when is the big one going to happen.?  Most others, just  go round and round. I am from Stuart, Va originally. The Wood Brothers #21.....last year with Blaney, they had a very good year.  This year with Menard....don't know how that will turn out.  I still puil for them though.  Went to school with Eddie. 
I too have noticed the fall off in attendance in the stands..........too expensive.......Lets see how the 2 weeks coming up at Charlotte turns out. Anyway.......its for sale like the Carolina Panthers........waiting on results for that too......!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Timbbuc2]

Well, there has a lot been said about Nascar and what it has become today.   Cars that have decals that are different and that's about it......  Toyota was a surprise when it came in but has proven itself.  Back in the day............when Dodges, Fords and Chevys won,  then that is what was supposed to sell on Monday.  Now.........who really cares.?  The original tracks, a lot have been deserted.......Rockingham to name one........5 miles from me and growing weeds now.  I think that having 2 races at most tracks also has hurt the attendance.  Now Dega is one that actually holds interest........when is the big one going to happen.?  Most others, just  go round and round. I am from Stuart, Va originally. The Wood Brothers #21.....last year with Blaney, they had a very good year.  This year with Menard....don't know how that will turn out.  I still puil for them though.  Went to school with Eddie. 
I too have noticed the fall off in attendance in the stands..........too expensive.......Lets see how the 2 weeks coming up at Charlotte turns out. Anyway.......its for sale like the Carolina Panthers........waiting on results for that too......!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am glad you brought up the tracks, Yes Rockingham was one of them, I went one time. North Wilksboro was another (short track) And then there is Bristol, One time you would have to inherit tickets in order to go, but they changed the track and also changed the racing. Martinsville, just a short 20 miles from Stuart Va. sold half interest to the France family, thats the reason it is still open.  2 dates at some of the cookie-cutter tracks is too much. Look at the attendance at Talladega,( just 45 minutes from my house) still a good turn out, and Daytona. I am originally from Stuart Va, as well went to school with Len Wood, use to go by the shop all the time. Great bunch of guys!

[HP_Cuda]

Whats Nascar?

[Timbbuc2]

 

[GY3R/T]

Whats Nascar?

I think it's southern slang for  "Nice car."    

[6bblgt]

you know there are issues when you can't find attendance or ticket sales numbers for a race

what spectator "SPORT" hides attendance numbers 

[Chryco Psycho]

C'mon now, NASCAR is the best IROC racing series ever.

Too close to the truth  except for the champions part
IRO spoiled brats maybe

[RUNCHARGER]

Business wise, I believe fixing NASCAR would be something that us old guys would not like. The changes made would have to be something that would appeal to potential fans in the 10 (future fans) yo to probably 40 yo bracket.

[HP2]

Business wise, I believe fixing NASCAR would be something that us old guys would not like. The changes made would have to be something that would appeal to potential fans in the 10 (future fans) yo to probably 40 yo bracket.

True. if you look at the demographics numbers to drive business success, why would you go after a fan base that is shrinking, even if they control more money? Baby Boomers are dying at a rate of a million a year. Pew Research estimates by next year, Millenials will surpass Boomers in sheer numbers and as the Boomers pass, that money will be passing to Gen X and Millenials.

Basic macro economics  show that getting more people to spend a little money on your product typically yields better results than trying to convince a few to spend a bundle, and when a % of that few don't have the money to spend, your barking up the wrong tree.

IMO, the USA car culture that was so dominate from 1950-1970 has passed. It has shrunk significantly over the years and I think if you look at how NASCAR attendance has declined, you will see it correlates with Baby Boomer retirement plans.

[303 Mopar]

Business wise, I believe fixing NASCAR would be something that us old guys would not like. The changes made would have to be something that would appeal to potential fans in the 10 (future fans) yo to probably 40 yo bracket.

True. if you look at the demographics numbers to drive business success, why would you go after a fan base that is shrinking, even if they control more money? Baby Boomers are dying at a rate of a million a year. Pew Research estimates by next year, Millenials will surpass Boomers in sheer numbers and as the Boomers pass, that money will be passing to Gen X and Millenials.

Basic macro economics  show that getting more people to spend a little money on your product typically yields better results than trying to convince a few to spend a bundle, and when a % of that few don't have the money to spend, your barking up the wrong tree.

IMO, the USA car culture that was so dominate from 1950-1970 has passed. It has shrunk significantly over the years and I think if you look at how NASCAR attendance has declined, you will see it correlates with Baby Boomer retirement plans.

I think NASCAR should have less races and more classes to appeal to as many generations as possible while making a race more of a significant event, instead of just another weekend race.
- Entry level class similar to now, but do not allow your "professional" drivers to participate
- 60-70's class that is stock and runs the engines from that era, including wing cars (NHRA should add this class too)
- Imports class, including turbos/superchargers and supercars if you want
- Throw in a road course race for those type of cars
- Finally would be the fastest 43 drivers in stock appearing cars that are modified for safety, but the car must be factory produced.
- No restrictor plates, and let the engineers have at it

[1 Wild R/T]

I use to watch, then I went to a couple races.... The way Nascar treats fans pretty much ended my watching them.....

You go to an NHRA event & you can walk through the pits & visit with the drivers & team members, you can stand five feet away from the car with the engine torn apart.... No problem...

I've been to Indy Car & later Cart races, same deal pit access is very good, hell when I had media access I've been in the hot pits as the cars are coming screaming off the track & onto pit lane....

At the same event where I had hot pit access from Cart the same weekend Nascar was running their truck series.... With full media credentials I couldn't get into their pits at all, not the service garages, not the hot pits nothing....

Same deal when attending a Winston Cup race, zero access.... For all their talk about hoe much they appreciate their fans they have a funny way of showing it...

So now they are selling Nascar?  Are you familiar with the term DILLIGAF....

[HP2]

I think NASCAR should have less races and more classes to appeal to as many generations as possible while making a race more of a significant event, instead of just another weekend race.
- Entry level class similar to now, but do not allow your "professional" drivers to participate
- 60-70's class that is stock and runs the engines from that era, including wing cars (NHRA should add this class too)
- Imports class, including turbos/superchargers and supercars if you want
- Throw in a road course race for those type of cars
- Finally would be the fastest 43 drivers in stock appearing cars that are modified for safety, but the car must be factory produced.
- No restrictor plates, and let the engineers have at it

Actually, as a sanctioning body, they already do most of this. NASCAR is not just the Cup races. Those are simply the pinnacle of the sport.  Much like NHRA, they sanction 100s of tracks across the nation and underwrite the competition of numerous classes. The Cup races are simply the top dog of a broad set of classes where they charge the most money for the biggest names at the top venues. IMO, that is what most the fans, who attend, want. If they want diversity of classes, they go to local track. NHRA knows this too, but refuses to change up their big show, but if you have attended an NHRA national event, you will see a distinct draining of the stands when sportsman classes race. So I'd have to say for big ticket prices, fans want to see big ticket names.

I use to watch, then I went to a couple races.... The way Nascar treats fans pretty much ended my watching them.....

You go to an NHRA event & you can walk through the pits & visit with the drivers & team members, you can stand five feet away from the car with the engine torn apart.... No problem...

I've been to Indy Car & later Cart races, same deal pit access is very good, hell when I had media access I've been in the hot pits as the cars are coming screaming off the track & onto pit lane....

At the same event where I had hot pit access from Cart the same weekend Nascar was running their truck series.... With full media credentials I couldn't get into their pits at all, not the service garages, not the hot pits nothing....

Same deal when attending a Winston Cup race, zero access.... For all their talk about hoe much they appreciate their fans they have a funny way of showing it...

So now they are selling Nascar?  Are you familiar with the term DILLIGAF....

I agree. I've worked at the biggest local NASCAR sanctioned event in our area, which was a Busch Series race, and the rules and limitations placed on fans around pit access are rather limiting to a fan base that was there for recreation. No shorts, no sandels, no sleeveless shirts, even if you DO hold a pit pass.  This is a summertime event where temp are usually 90*+. fans aren't coming to the races to dress liek participants. They are there to relax. Talk about being met with hostility when you tell someone that don't get access to something they paid a a lot of money for. I only did that for a season before I resigned the position.

[Timbbuc2]

SO, after the All Star race, what are your thoughts of the new format? For me I thought it was a better race, at least the cars were closer.

[torredcuda]

I used to watch a lot and been to a number of races, the reasons why I haven`t watched a race in years - Dodge no longer in, Toyota in, cookie cutter cars, cookie cutter sponsor spokespersons - whoops I think they still call them drivers, every second of the show there is a sponsor plug, either spoken by he announcers or in the picture - Dale jrs spit sponsored by xxxx, multi car teams really the only ones having a shot at winning, no more independent guys like Alan Kulwicki having a chance. Sad thing is the NHRA isn`t far behind this scenario.

[Brads70]

I used to watch a lot and been to a number of races, the reasons why I haven`t watched a race in years - Dodge no longer in, Toyota in, cookie cutter cars, cookie cutter sponsor spokespersons - whoops I think they still call them drivers, every second of the show there is a sponsor plug, either spoken by he announcers or in the picture - Dale jrs spit sponsored by xxxx, multi car teams really the only ones having a shot at winning, no more independent guys like Alan Kulwicki having a chance. Sad thing is the NHRA isn`t far behind this scenario.

same here....