Nascar is teetering on the brink

[JDHoss]

I've worked for years with several hardcore NASCAR fans.

Listening to these guys who grew up loving the sport, there are 3 things that have led to the fall in popularity, IMO.

1. The death of Dale Earnhardt. This can't be overstated. Earnhardt fans rank right up there with BBN as far as devotion to
their guy. When he died, many hardcore fans lost interest.

2. Taking races out of the South and away from traditional tracks like Rockingham and Darlington.

3. Toyota entering NASCAR and the demise of Pontiac. Right or wrong, the Toyota thing was a huge deal to the hardcore
fans. They absolutely hated it.

I remember years ago, you could always tell there was a race at Bristol. There would be miles of RVs and campers coming through Bell County on their way to Bristol.

Nowadays, nothing.

I agree with the OP, NASCAR is dying.

I live near Bristol. While the August race is still fairly popular, it's nothing like it used to be and they may as well do away with the spring race. In past years when it was race week, you didn't bother to go out to eat because the restaurants would be packed. Now, you wouldn't even know the race was here if it weren't for the local news coverage.

With sponsorships (Monster's sponsorship is reportedly about half of what Sprint was), ratings and attendance dropping, it will be interesting to see what happens when the lucrative television contract expires in 2024. At the rate it's going, NASCAR may find itself loading up in the garage area and hoping they can make the next race.

 

[vhcat70]

Really need to go back to Figure 8 racing.

More short tracks, more road courses, shorter season, more car diversity, scrap the Chase

^^^ Would help quite a bit.

Agree. Bristol/Darlington/Delaware/Sonoma/Watkins are best.

 

[JDHoss]

Basketball is just guys trying to throw a ball in a hoop, golf is just guys trying hit a ball in a hole. You can break every sport down like that.

I grew up on racing. My dad raced dirt tracks back in the day. I've made a few laps before. I love fast cars. I watched every race possible from birth until about 5 or so years ago. It sucks now. The guys driving have no personality and couldn't tell you the difference in a camshaft and crankshaft.

Still like going out and watching dirt track racing. We have a couple of good facilities within a short drive of us.

 

[JDHoss]

Would be interesting to see a race where drivers were required to drink a six pack at the driver's meeting, then do 2 tequila shots at every pit stop.

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

At this point they should just change it to 20 laps but every driver gets an assault rifle.

 

[Rebelfreedomeagle]

Two words can save it:

Figure damn 8.

 

[KingOfBBN]

I'm very surprised NASCAR and WWE have lasted as long as they have to be honest, just don't get the appeal.

WWE is a huge global media conglomerate and has its own network and can get 100k people to show up to WrestleMania where as NASCAR is honestly just a regional based bore fest. They're pretty opposite in terms of success.

 

[KingOfBBN]

I'm one who loves Formula 1 and Indy car racing, but it's clearly not for America. NASCAR is. I hope your wrong. Whether they race around on left handed courses doesn't diminish their talent. I've driven a car on a track for 25-30 minutes of competition. It left me sweated and exhausted. To do that for 500 miles is amazing to me.

That's pretty wild. I've been around NHRA before and did a two-person dragster. The gear you have to wear is shocking and trying to breath can be difficult.

I respect the sport but I don't find it entertaining to watch.

 

[pitinoshairplugs]

WWE is a huge global media conglomerate and has its own network and can get 100k people to show up to WrestleMania where as NASCAR is honestly just a regional based bore fest. They're pretty opposite in terms of success.

I dont watch wrestling anymore but it's still a money making machine. It has worldwide presence, has big draws every week and has good core viewership. And it's pay per view events make tons of money.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

That's pretty wild. I've been around NHRA before and did a two-person dragster. The gear you have to wear is shocking and trying to breath can be difficult.

I respect the sport but I don't find it entertaining to watch.

Id like to see the NHRA stuff once.

 

[mktmaker]

I don't know if any of you read or remember the sports comic strip, Tank McNamara.

Way back in the day they had a story arc in which they hired a marketing firm to boost attendance and TV viewership of the Indy 500.

Among their findings and conclusions were:

Change the name to the Indianapolis 499.95

They asked a focus group, "How long would you watch a bunch of very fast cars go around an oval track?"

The response was, "Less than 5 minutes."

"How long would you watch a bunch of very fast cars go around an oval track -- if it was likely there would be a crash?"

The response: "As long as it takes."

 

[DSmith21]

It was never the same once they outlawed the "Malachi Crunch."

 

[WildcatFan1982]

Two words can save it:

Figure damn 8.

 

[Glenn's Take]

 

[ukalumni00]

Would taking off the restricter plates help at all?

 

[Zakk Wyldcat]

EIGHT races amongst Phoenix, Kansas, Texas, Chicagoland, Las Vegas is ******* ridiculous. And only ONE between Darlington and Rockingham is even more ridiculous.

Also, bring back Brewster Baker and his Six-Pack.

 

[funKYcat75]

Would taking off the restricter plates help at all?

It would help with driver/crew/fan deaths.

 

[-Mav-]

It would help with driver/crew/fan deaths.

Cool, so what are the "cons"?

 

[larry the cable guy]

I don't understand why people want to blame the decline of NASCAR on Jimmie Johnson for either winning too much or for being "boring". To me the 2 issues that have lead to the decline of NASCAR are the fact that it can cost $500-$1,000 for a family of 4 to go to a race weekend just for tickets alone and also that they have tried to make racing so equal that they have created an environment where nobody can pass. It's like watching the old IROC series where all the cars were built in the same shop. Add in that they have tried to expand into all parts of the country, Canada and Mexico and they got away from the ones who made them big...the southerners.

 

[larry the cable guy]

Just saying the last 10 years of Indy, the final laps are furious and exciting. Hang your *** on a piece of metal and no bumper at 220, pretty damn exciting.

I can't tell you a good race I remember in NASCAR, maybe Jeff Burton and Gordon in Atl, Jeff going for Million Darlington against Burton, Earnhardt pushing Terry Labonte out of way at night race, rattle his cage moment, Rusty wrecking DW at Charlotte, choking on Million, Allisons and Cale fighting, Richard and David Pearson in 76 Daytona.

Not many good races in the last 10 years for sure. Too many cookie cutter tracks, Kansas, Chicago, Texas, Not enough Darlington which is always a great race, Atl is usually a good race. Jimmy Johnson has mastered the mile and half race, Phoenix, Vegas. All look the same. Go to Darlington or more road courses or short tracks.

I agree less 1 1/2 mile cookie cutter tracks and more tracks like Darlington or even North Wilkesboro and Rockingham.

 

[vhcat70]

I agree less 1 1/2 mile cookie cutter tracks and more tracks like Darlington or even North Wilkesboro and Rockingham.

I thought 1.5 mile KY Speedway was a mistake. 1.3333 or 1.25 better for uniqueness & lots of traffic for passing/banging. At least its layout is somewhat different than the other 1.5's.

 

[larry the cable guy]

Most drivers say Kentucky is a hard track to drive due to the bumps and such.

 

[wildcatwelder_rivals]

Just never got into NASCAR, far too boring, like golf, but to each their own.

I do like to watch a drag race from time to time but that's about it.

 

[maysvilleky]

Nascar being replaced by Drones racing!

 

[Real Deal 2]

Fox was down 12% from last years ratings and 14-15% down from 2015. That is millions and millions of dollars lost. Fox buys that advertising to offset what they paid in buying the rights. That is a kick in the groin and a beat down financially. The fact people are not going to races has to be concerning too.

These races are getting about 2.1 or 1.9. rating. I mean a 30 for 30 on ESPN might get a 1/

Just terrible. This sport is teetering. They know it too. Sponsors are bailing.

 

[Wall Knight Teague]

It would help with driver/crew/fan deaths.

So, yes.

 

[fuzz77]

HDTV has also led to the demise of Nascar. Why spend lots of money and time to go to the track when you can stay home and see it all on TV (and take a nap during the middle of it). I really loved it 2004-09 (and went to several races) but my interest has gone really down.

I know a lot of people don't like Dale Jr., but when he retires at the end of this season, those already low ratings and attendance are going to plummet even further. Nascar needs Chase Elliott to continue to improve and be a star and bring back his father's fan base.

HDTV the reason? If that were the case then TV ratings would be up. People aren't watching on TV...or going to the track either.

IMHO NASCAR to the masses was a fad that has come and gone. They did a good job of marketing it, got people to watch but slowly if faded away as fads do. I got sucked in for a while at one time...even went to a Daytona 400 once but no longer pay much attention. Might watch the last few laps if I happen to be channel surfing and come upon a race.

Funny but a friend of mine who is a big NASCAR fan and I were talking this weekend about this very thing. We both agreed that they need to get back to "stock" cars and away from the cookie-cutter cars with graphics. It would allow the resurgence of the people that watched and cheered out of brand loyalty.

To a lesser extent the same thing is happening with football...and basketball. Ask 100 people why that watch less and you'll get 105 answers why. I think the truth is that they are all just reverting to the mean. There was a reason that people didn't watch before it got popular.

 

[Real Deal 2]

It is all different today. Demographics for NASCAR are the 60+ crowd, only demo group that is interested or stayed about the same, all the good groups, 18-48 are terrible, women are not watching. Baseball has a demo of the 60+ young demo does not watch. One thing about NASCAR and what I think they need to do. Take a page out of baseball, Baseball is a regional eye. Boston will pull a 13-14 for a Tuesday night game against the Rays, all local viewing is high in those markets, NY, Chicago, STL, LA. They make tons of money locally.
NASCAR may have to resort to this in some way. Lessen the season, shorten the races.

NCAA BB is a 1 month season, KY, INd, Kansas, NC are only states that watch all the time.
Still a good deal for CBS because of small window of 2-3 weeks, local viewership makes tons like Lexington Louisville, Indy, KC, Charlotte. Kids will bet on these games as well as grown ups, Vegas is hot. NASCAR and Vegas don't go hand in hand.

 

[JohnKBA]

I've been a fan of NASCAR for 30+ years, dating back to the days of Cale, DW, etc.

The sport has become bland. It's too hard to pass on the cookie cutter tracks and everyone is too damn "nice" on the track. The biggest cheer I heard from a crowd in the last several years was when Kenseth punted Logano in a clear retaliation move. The sport needs more of that. You **** someone over, you get paid back on the track.

Additionally, the core fan base is the South. You look at the most succesful guys over the last 20 years or so - none of them are Southern guys. I shudder to think what is going to happen next year when Junior is gone. It's going to get worse fast.

 

[vhcat70]

Jr. already gone.

 

[JohnKBA]

Jr. already gone.

In the sense that he isn't gonna make the Chase I agree. He will still be the betting favorite at Dega.

 

[TransyCat09]

even went to a Daytona 400 once

Funny but a friend of mine who is a big NASCAR fan and I were talking this weekend about this very thing. We both agreed that they need to get back to "stock" cars and away from the cookie-cutter cars with graphics. It would allow the resurgence of the people that watched and cheered out of brand loyalty.

Just who NASCAR needs to appeal to: a notorious welch who doesn't like or understand racing! That's the market they've so desperately needed to get back.

Surprised the "Daytona 400" and real stock cars (which haven't existed in NASCAR since at least 1981) didn't cement you as a lifelong fan

Is their any subject fuzzaronold doesn't have an (ill-informed) opinion on? It's amazing. Jack of no trades and master of even fewer

 

[LordEgg_rivals16573]

My neighbor watches religiously but has learned that no matter how much he likes it and thinks everyone else should too that getting anyone else in the neighborhood to watch ain't happening. I had just as soon paint a ceiling as watch it.

 

[larry the cable guy]

Just never got into NASCAR, far too boring, like golf, but to each their own.

I do like to watch a drag race from time to time but that's about it.

This statement says a lot about the demise of NASCAR. When someone who watches golf thinks racing is boring it is time to make changes.

 

[larry the cable guy]

Fox was down 12% from last years ratings and 14-15% down from 2015. That is millions and millions of dollars lost. Fox buys that advertising to offset what they paid in buying the rights. That is a kick in the groin and a beat down financially. The fact people are not going to races has to be concerning too.

These races are getting about 2.1 or 1.9. rating. I mean a 30 for 30 on ESPN might get a 1/

Just terrible. This sport is teetering. They know it too. Sponsors are bailing.

It doesn't help when they show the races on NBC's news channel that most people don't even get with a cable package.

 

[mashburned]

Thanks a lot Obama.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

Fox was down 12% from last years ratings and 14-15% down from 2015. That is millions and millions of dollars lost. Fox buys that advertising to offset what they paid in buying the rights. That is a kick in the groin and a beat down financially. The fact people are not going to races has to be concerning too.

These races are getting about 2.1 or 1.9. rating. I mean a 30 for 30 on ESPN might get a 1/

Just terrible. This sport is teetering. They know it too. Sponsors are bailing.

Instead of fixing the problem Nascar will continue to do what they have done in the past, come up with another gimmick.

 

[fuzz77]

Instead of fixing the problem Nascar will continue to do what they have done in the past, come up with another gimmick.

I think if they knew what "the problem" was, they would fix it. There is no one problem. Can't just create personalities... It's just like other fads that come and go and once you've lost a group it's very difficult to ever get them back. Like many others here have said...they attached to a particular driver and that driver retired.

 

[UKserialkiller]

I wonder who'd win the race to pay Brady his $1000, Fuzz or RQ?

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

I think if they knew what "the problem" was, they would fix it. There is no one problem. Can't just create personalities... It's just like other fads that come and go and once you've lost a group it's very difficult to ever get them back. Like many others here have said...they attached to a particular driver and that driver retired.

They can't fix too many tracks that are the damn same, so they just come up with another gimmick. It's about the only thing they can do.