Is NASCAR dead?

Declining attendance and ratings have been the norm for nearly ten years how.

It's really stark at IMS where there are so many non-removable stands. And also because last year's Indy 500 had 350K in attendance - this year's running not just two months ago had a crowd just north of 300K. But IndyCar attendance, and much more importantly, TV ratings, are far worse than NASCAR's (dwindling) numbers. Motorsport everywhere is taking a big hit the past decade. F1 viewership numbers are significantly down, though they still draw huge.

W need the next Ricky Bobby to come forward.

Shocking I can't believe people don't want to watch people turn left for 4 hours

it was over 6 hours yesterday

all the old stars are retiring
stands have been empty at every race
the new "iroc" car format has killed a lot of interest
new rules/format every year

I tuned in just in time for the overtime. I thought they must have had a LONG rain delay, based on the empty seats. Official estimate is only 35,000 stayed until the end of the race.

The three sessions thing lost me for good.

(07-24-2017 12:47 PM)Claw Wrote:  The three sessions thing lost me for good.

I agree. And except for the grill, all the cars look alike. They are no longer "Stock" cars.

I liked it when a Plymouth look like a Plymouth and a Ford looked like a Ford. God took out his fiery wrath on them when NASCAR let a Toyota into the mix.

NASCAR has not been a stock series virtually my entire life.

This isn't new.

NASCAR would be in a world of hurt without TRD's money and sponsorship.

Toyota actually provides American jobs, too.

Go Toyota.

(07-24-2017 04:31 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  NASCAR has not been a stock series virtually my entire life.

This isn't new.

They were in my early years.

(07-24-2017 04:32 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  NASCAR would be in a world of hurt without TRD's money and sponsorship.

Toyota actually provides American jobs, too.

Go Toyota.

I drive Nissans now.

(07-24-2017 05:05 PM)TG4 Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 04:31 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  NASCAR has not been a stock series virtually my entire life.

This isn't new.

They were in my early years.

I'm with you, though. I would probably feel the way you do if I came up knowing it to be a stock series.

However, I think if today's NASCAR were a stock series, the complaints of boring on-track racing would be further amplified.

I wish they'd bring back the convertibles.

Back in late 80s and 90s NASCAR saw a large growth spurt. It was the "in" thing to do. Like country line dancing was the "in" thing for a period of time. All the tracks over built.

EVERYONE wanted to be seen at the races or associated with the sport. Soon the next "in" thing came along and all those temporary fans moved on to the next thing. Then with the tracks over building you began to see large sections of empty seats. Even though you still saw crowds well in excess of 100,000.

Brian France had taken over the operation of the family series and could not understand that the core of the fan base was still showing up. The drop off was among the bandwagon riders. So he began changing things around in an attempt to get back those temporary fans while isolating the core fan base.

The Original Nextell title sponsorship deal was for $75 million a year. When it was renewed and changed to Sprint the deal was only worth $50 million per year. Today the Monster energy deal is around $12 million a years

He has created so many gimmicks that it turned off a large portion of the core.

As far as Indy the track is such that it does not make very good racing. All of the races there have been on the boring side. Single lane racing for the most part. Cars are too wind sensitive. Get out front and you pull away but get back in the pack and the wind effect make it hard to pass.

What would be good is if they took away the spoilers and raise the ride height and make the wheel narrower and make teh cars harder to drive.

(07-24-2017 05:11 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 05:05 PM)TG4 Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 04:31 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  NASCAR has not been a stock series virtually my entire life.

This isn't new.

They were in my early years.

I'm with you, though. I would probably feel the way you do if I came up knowing it to be a stock series.

However, I think if today's NASCAR were a stock series, the complaints of boring on-track racing would be further amplified.

Wind tunnel car designs have killed the series. Too reliant on how a car goes through the wind. Causing the cars not to handle well in dirty air.

it's gonna go the way of NWA Wrestling

(07-24-2017 04:32 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  NASCAR would be in a world of hurt without TRD's money and sponsorship.

Toyota actually provides American jobs, too.

Go Toyota.

Maybe, but all the profits sit in Japanese banks.

Starting pay at Toyota plant in MS pays $16.50/hr.

Just saying...lets not crown them.

(07-24-2017 07:30 PM)k2tigers Wrote:  it's gonna go the way of NWA Wrestling

And roller derby.

Mine wouldn't; but Slaw's Subaru would kick e'rrbody's ass. lol

#fact