NASCAR in the northwest.

[Markfan]

I'm just curious about other opinions about this. It has been a long time since any of the top 3 series have gone to Evergreen or Portland.

Why do you think that there is a lack of NASCAR interest in the northwest that warrants not going there over Canada, Mexico or the Midwest?

 

[David24]

I think a few years back the idea of having a track built near Seattle was shut down because of noise pollution.

But I don't see why they would need to build a new track. PIR would pass for a truck race (like they used to) maybe a Nationwide race but never a Cup race. In fact K&N West visits PIR.

 

[tipptruck]

There are a lot of NASCAR fans in the Northwest. But it comes down to many things. The Number one thing. Is how many butts are in the seats. Compared to the well populated Midwest and East cost. Yea I know Seattle and Portland are major city's. But compare that to Chicago, New york, Detroit, and Boston. You also have to think a good part of the population in the north west. Is so far spread out. Compared to the Mid west and East cost. A lot of people don't like to drive that far.

Compare that to were I live. I am within a days drive of over a dozen tracks. Most of these tracks have held NASCAR, Indy, CART, ALMS, Rolex, F1, NHRA and many other series. Most still hold NASCAR, INDY, ALMS, Rolex, NHRA, SCCA and NASA.

 

[David24]

Well I think plenty of people would travel down from Seattle. It's only a 2 1/2-3 hour drive from downtown Seattle to PIR. I'm sure more than enough folks would drive that far for a race and on top of that the locals.

But one drawback is that the race in question would have to be in the summer. No chance in getting a race in from January till the end of June at best. Then from about the end of September until December is crap. So that leaves 2 1/2 solid months of dry weather (not counting the random showers during the summer)

 

[tipptruck]

But one drawback is that the race in question would have to be in the summer. No chance in getting a race in from January till the end of June at best. Then from about the end of September until December is crap. So that leaves 2 1/2 solid months of dry weather (not counting the random showers during the summer)

That's also a thing. It rains a lot up that way. Like you said there is really only a few months to get in a race. While the tracks that are part of the NASCAR schedule. During that time as a more predictable weather pattern.

 

[Devin41]

If it were a Nationwide race though...no problem, they use rain tires.

 

[tipptruck]

If it were a Nationwide race though...no problem, they use rain tires.

Now they do. But they did not for points races. In till a few years ago.

 

[ChevyMan150]

But this all comes down to one thing, money. I live in far Northern California and I have one classmate and one teacher that watch NASCAR on a regular basis and that's it...the market here is just not big enough.

 

[Mo Neenja31]

That would be amazing if NASCAR went back to the Portland road course

 

[Jonny683]

"If you build it, they will come...."

 

[MattSRD28]

That would be amazing if NASCAR went back to the Portland road course

Portland road course basically needs to be rebuilt from the ground up if it wants to be recognized as a modern major racing facility.

The layout needs to be reworked. The drag strip needs to not also be the main straightaway (see: Sonoma). The grandstands and track facilities need major upgrading. There can't be 6 miles of grass runoff space alongside the narrow paved course, etc etc etc...

You probably wouldn't recognize the finished product if all the work that needs to be done there to make it suitable for Nascar or IndyCar to return is done.