Latest on 2011 schedule

[MattSRD28]

You know, if they did cut California a date, I wouldn't miss it. Part of SoCal would agree with me.

The economy around here is bad, but nowhere as bad as...say, Atlanta and Martinsville.

Part of SoCal would agree with you, if it weren't for the fact that the vast majority of SoCal has ZERO idea that Nascar even races there. That's what happens when a track gives absolutely zero reason to go to the track besides "See Ze RaCe CarZ go ZoOm NAO!" and then gives them even less when/if they actually get to the track. The place, while looking nice when it first opened, has become such a comedy of errors that it needs to just go the way of Ontario and Riverside before it. Instead of building a football stadium, AEG, owners of Staples Center & L.A. Live, ought to build a premier racing showplace that's actually within the Los Angeles city limits. Bring Bristol-like atmosphere to LA, and there won't be any problems attracting fans.

That being said, if in 2011 ACS has 2 races and Martinsville has 1, I will laugh, and laugh hard.

 

[pennst24]

Part of SoCal would agree with you, if it weren't for the fact that the vast majority of SoCal has ZERO idea that Nascar even races there. That's what happens when a track gives absolutely zero reason to go to the track besides "See Ze RaCe CarZ go ZoOm NAO!" and then gives them even less when/if they actually get to the track. The place, while looking nice when it first opened, has become such a comedy of errors that it needs to just go the way of Ontario and Riverside before it. Instead of building a football stadium, AEG, owners of Staples Center & L.A. Live, ought to build a premier racing showplace that's actually within the Los Angeles city limits. Bring Bristol-like atmosphere to LA, and there won't be any problems attracting fans.

My point exactly. i have no problem going out west, but if you do, build a track that produces racing that represents the true colors of stock car racing, like a beatin'-and-bangin' track like Bristol.

 

[The Captain]

Well lets see here. They are having problems trying to get a sellout race so they think just cause a tracks building extra useless crap it will make more money. No Nascar fans come to a race so they can watch there favorite drivers complete and buy items not gamble and stay at a hotel if you want to do that then go to Las Vegas and on another note tose tracks are boringanyway (Las Vegas and Kansas).

You're serious aren't you? They don't race 24 hours a day on race weekends, dude. Where do you think those fans will be when there are no cars on the track? That's right. They will either be laying up in their nice hotel room or pulling the arm on a slot machine. The resort/casino idea is great. Imagine the money that place will bring in for the local economy as well on race weekends and non race weekends. The racing will still suck, but to say NASCAR fans don't want to go to a resort/casino by the track on race weekend is just flat out dumb.

I'd do anything to mix Talladega and Homestead. The shape of Homestead with the pack racing like Dega.

Kinda like Coca-Cola Superspeedway in NR2003? That would be awesome.

Why not try to install lights at some of these tracks? I don't know which ones are having trouble, but how about lights @ Dover & Pocono?? That would be interesting. Heck, even lights at Tally & Martinsville.

Talladega and Martinsville maybe. Lights don't automatically make for better racing. Look at Chicagoland and Auto Club.

• At least one of Texas's two races would be run at night. Texas will make its announcement Aug. 17 at the House of Blues in Dallas. A media release issued Thursday said the track would "reveal dramatic changes," and that France would be in attendance for the event.

I don't understand why the night race part is a big announcement. The dramatic changes part yes, but they have run night races at Texas before, the announcement of that isn't that big.

First race attendance for M'Ville. Track seats 65,000 in Grandstand.
2010 - 40,000
2009 - 63,000
2008 - 63,000
2007 - 66,500
2006 - 65,000
2005 - 67,000
2004 - 91,000
2003 - 86,000

Total - 541,500 out of a possible 520,000


First race attendance for Cali. Track seats 92,000 in Grandstand.
2010 - 72,000
2009 - 78,000
2008 - 70,000
2007 - 87,000
2006 - 85,000
2005 - 90,000
2004 - 120,000
2003 - 120,000

Total - 722,000 out of a possible 736,000

So while Cali may have less then full attendance over 8 years, their attendance was still 180,500 (about 2 or 3 M'ville races worth) higher.


Now lets say $50 a ticket that means that Cali is bringing in an extra $9,025,000 in gross revenue over those 8 years.




Auto Club hands down. If you call caution-fest that M'ville produces racing then you obviously have the definition of racing backwards. I don't have the numbers in front of me and I gotta get to work so I can't get them now, but I'm certain that overall Cali provides more Racing under green then M'ville does.... And as a race fan I wanna see actual racing conditions (ie; under green) then I want to see people driving around at 40mph not passing, heck if I wanted to see that I'd look out my window at the road.

I think we are basing attendance on ticket sales, because Auto Club has looked plenty empty more than once since having two dates. Tickets sold and butts in seats are not the same number. Take it from a Tennessee football fan who over the past two years has heard attendances announced at close to or above 100,000 people while staring at around 75,000.

As for the racing? Martinsville hands down. You say you wouldn't want to see guys not passing at 40 mph under caution. What makes not passing at 200 any more exciting? If guys are going that quick, I would rather see them a little closer than two seconds apart.

 

[Fisha695]

I've been thinking about the schedule, more specifically the Chase part and here is some changes I'd like to see.

There are 5 Track groups that support NASCAR, ISC, SMI, Pocono, Dover & Indy.

Dover has a Chase race, well I think that race should only be in the chase every 3 years, it should rotate between Dover, Indy & Pocono. This would be to show NASCAR's appreciation to the three remaining Independent track operators. Now obviously because all 3 tracks are in the Northern part of the country they would have to be one of the first 3 or maybe 4 (at the latest) races. This would add some variety to the Chase each year and also during the Summer stretch of the Cup season.

Now SMI & ISC have been NASCAR's biggest supporters and they both want the final race of the chase, but only one can have it...., per year. I say NASCAR should set a 10 year deal with 1 ISC track & 1 SMI track, those two tracks alternate the final date every year, this would let ISC (Homestead) have it one year & SMI (Vegas) have it the next. Maybe on the "Off-year" the Off-track would be the first race in the chase. Maybe they could even work with a Championship weekend sponsor to sponsor the final race no matter which track, or the tracks could do competing sponsors to add another layer of "rivalry" to the Chase (ie, do the fans like the 'Ford 400 @ homestead' or the 'Chevy 400 @ Vegas' better, etc)

This system would guarantee at a change in the order of at least 3 Chase races every year as well as two races during the Summer Stretch.

 

[Fisha695]

I think we are basing attendance on ticket sales, because Auto Club has looked plenty empty more than once since having two dates.

Remember those numbers include the infield as well.

 

[MattSRD28]

I say NASCAR should set a 10 year deal with 1 ISC track & 1 SMI track, those two tracks alternate the final date every year, this would let ISC (Homestead) have it one year & SMI (Vegas) have it the next.

That would screw over Homestead. Ford's sponsorship contract states that Ford will NOT sponsor Homestead's race unless it is the final race of the season.

 

[Fisha695]

That would screw over Homestead. Ford's sponsorship contract states that Ford will NOT sponsor Homestead's race unless it is the final race of the season.

The France family owns NASCAR, the France family owns ISC, Ford is an official sponsor for NASCAR & ISC.... I'm sure with the mafia style politics on both sides they'd be able to work something out.

Plus the Ford contract only runs till 2014 (unless something has changed between 2005 & now), and what I suggested would be able to start at the earliest 2012 (since it's not gonna happen for 2011). So to accommodate the contract that's written on what one could assume is toilet paper (like every contract seems to be in this sport anymore.. haha) they could do 2012, 2013, & 2014 at Homestead with 2015, 2016, & 2017 at Vegas, and then go into the yearly rotation for however many years they want after that.

 

[4WideRacing]

Upgrades planned for Kentucky Speedway: Yes, it's official. Kentucky Speedway will host its first Cup race on Saturday night, July 9, 2011. But Bruton Smith's just getting started. Before he could get the huge banner outside the front gate unrolled he was lobbying the governor to build an airport large enough to land 747s on these sprawling hills. "All you camera guys, are you looking at me?" Smith said as he began his rundown of planned improvements. "Look at me!" Smith then promised to spend between $90 million and $100 million expanding seating capacity from 66,000 to 116,000, building new restrooms, adding 200 more acres of campground space and putting in more elevators. When you see what he has accomplished already and what he promises, you almost believe one day he'll convince NASCAR to move the season finale from Homestead-Miami Speedway to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(ESPN.com)(8-11-2010)

 

[MattSRD28]

This doesn't have anything to do with anything, but Bruton Smith is actively selling motorhome spaces for $15,000 a year at Texas Motor Speedway. Just something that came to mind when I read the plan to expand campground space. Mr. Smith is a true capitalist, but his tracks also boast a claim to guest service & guest experience that no ISC track could ever hold a candle to.

I, for one, don't mind paying premium prices when I know I'll receive a premium experience for it. What will usually deep fry my Chilean Sea Bass is when I'm paying exorbitant prices and getting absolutely ZERO in return. For further reading/venting see Auto Club Speedway.

 

[Mike24]

Just read a quote from Bruton Smith...complimenting Brian France (something he never did of Bill Jr.)


"I like Brian," Smith says. "I enjoy doing business with him. It's a pleasure working with him. I find he listens."


The reasoning for this is simple, Brian France sold his soul the devil (who, ironically is a large overweight, bald man with dark sunglasses who owns a bunch of race tracks), and now feels no shame in doing anything an everything to frustrate fans.

Not to say that I don't like all of the schedule changes...but there is a reason that Brian and Bruton get along and Bill Jr. and Bruton didn't. Brian is a pandering pushover, while Bill always did what was in the best interest of the sport.

...just hoping Brian will leave well enough alone and not screw up the points system anymore by doing that b.s. elimination garbage he was raving about earlier this year.

 

[undedavenger]

On the schedule thing, I like some of what NASCAR is doing and hate a few other things. I LOVE that Kentucky finally got its date. But I HATE that it came at the expense of Atlanta. Atlanta almost always puts on an interesting race, is usually pretty full, and has had two dates for 50 years. This is a real slap in the face to NASCAR's history, even more than when they knocked out Rockingham and Wilkesboro. I'd say cut at least one date from auto club instead.

I personally think that if they are going to cut two-date tracks down to one, they should cut them all. Instead of a 2nd date for Daytona or Talladega, how about one for Nashville or Texas World? And how about some more road courses, like Road America? Cup guys are supposed to be the best in the world, we need to see them on more types of tracks.

 

[David24]

Like we need 2 races Atlanta. We have Atlanta, Texas and Charlotte all with 2 dates each. That's 6 races at 3 tracks that a verry similar. I say get rid of one date from all three and put 3 new tracks Cup has never been at or bring an older track back. Same goes for Auto Club and Michigan. They did good with Auto Club now strip a Michigan date.