Prices for tickets go up, attendance goes down … especial in an ify economy.
Maybe they saw the news and thought Obama meant he was going to the race today. Heck, he talks about the economy and it tanks, he talks about oil prices and they skyrocket, he mentions going to Nascar races and their attendance plummets.
Obama — Change you can count on, whether you want it or not.
And what ever you do Florida don’t let those nasty oil companies set up those unsightly oil rigs 50 miles off shore (over the horizon from the beaches mind you) so gas might be cheap enough for families to afford the drive south to visit Grandma and Grandpa at El Boca Vista Condominiums - Phase III.
That's 250 gallons of gas. Even if you are driving a huge truck that gets 10 mpg, that would be 2500 miles of driving.
Do 30% of the race fans come from over a thousand miles away?
I don’t believe this race has ever really been a sell-out. The Daytona 500 is almost certainly a sell-out but not the Pepsi 400.
But the larger problem is that NASCAR needs to look seriously at over exposure and the sameness of the vehicles. They have the same car with a different name on the front. Probably the only thing that differs is the engine but they are strictly limited in size. There is only so much you can do with a 358 cubic inch pushrod engine and they have long ago figured that out. The carburetors are metered out by NASCAR and with the restrictor plates they are naturally going to be bunched up which causes all of these accidents when one of the drivers makes a mistake.
My own personal opinion is that NASCAR is a victim of its own success and have over exposed the sport to weekly televised events. What is the point of going to the race and being uncomfortable and paying outrageous prices for tickets and waiting to get in the rest rooms when there is a wreck on the track? I’ve attended four or five races and have pretty much seen it all. It’s become boring. That’s the bottom line.
It isn’t the economy, it’s fuel prices.
Hello, Florida...you’re part of the problem. But, at least drilling off your shores isn’t having a negative effect on tourism.
ping
"I've been talking to people already and some of them come this year -- some friends who normally come -- they didn't come because of the money," a race fan said.
Typical local TV news story -- the only people quoted are the reporter and "a race fan."
I think I'd need some more authoritative sources before I drew my conclusions.
But, then, I'm not a local TV reporter.
I just don’t see Obama as a Chevy man.
Uh, the race is tomorrow night.
75% drop-off will be a lot more fun. up yers disney.
Speed Channel cut away from LeMans to show Sprint Cup PRACTICE. That's just silly.
the reason is toyota
i can't help think gas prices prolly hurt too
Most have finally figured out watching a NASCAR race is about as exciting as parking by an interstate interchange for a couple of hours.
I used to go to a handful of races every year, and catch a race on TV now and then. But the last few years the commercials have seemed to increase exponentially and they have a new found RAP tone to many of them and a RAP tone to the incessant commercialism done during the broadcast. A driver mentions 8 different sponsors every time they mug for the camera, it is transparent and bothersome. I figured the marketplace was changing just like it did for the NBA in the 80’s. Stopped watching that crap too as it became thug fest.
Gas prices my butt. I stopped supporting NASCAR a couple of years ago, after being an avid fan for as long as I can remember. It’s gotten bland. What happened to all the fun personalities? Car of Tomorrow? Bah. They may as well use go-karts.
My gripes....
Car of Tomorrow. They need the Car of Yesterday. When you look at old videos of, Earnhardt, Waltrip, Martin, Awesome Bill driving a semblance of the mfgr they represent you see how much the sport has changed.
It’s cookie cutter cars now.
Dumping some of the old tracks for ‘new blood’. The Rock, Darlington.
Reminds me of the repub party forgetting their base.
The sport grew up in the Carolinas, many of the drivers live here. NASCAR told the ‘good ol’ boys’ to shove it.
Cup drivers driving in the Nationwide Series.. That series should be for young drivers, for gaining experience.
Ban Cup drivers from the Series. IMHO at least.
Oh Yes, Obama, come to a race this year and pander to fans who pay thru the nose. and bring your eco buddies, yaknow, the ones who would rather have racing banned because it uses fossil fuels.
Oh Please Yes, Obama, come to a race. tell us all about change and hope. and why dems refuse to allow us to drill offshore , in anwr, Oh yes please come.