The following lists '97-98 major auto racing attendance comparison estimates which are compiled annually by Goodyear. The final comparison is of total attendance:
| 1998
| 1997 | |
| RACES | TOTAL | AVG. | RACES | TOTAL | AVG. | TOTAL
+/- |
| WINSTON CUP | 33 | 6,301,027 | 190,940 | 32 | 6,091,356 | 190,355 | 3.4% |
| CART | 19 | 2,529,995 | 133,157 | 17 | 2,491,050 | 146,532 | 1.6% |
| NHRA DRAG | 22 | 2,204,194 | 100,191 | 22 | 2,168,481 | 98,567 | 1.6% |
| NASCAR BGN SERIES | 31 | 2,102,000 | 67,807 | 30 | 1,942,750 | 64,758 | 8.2% |
| WOO SPRINT | 65 | 1,575,200 | 24,233 | 73 | 1,602,300 | 21,949 | -1.7% |
| IRL^^^^ | 11 | 1,291,653 | 117,423 | 8 | 1,347,000 | 168,375 | -4.1% |
| SCCA TRANS AM | 13 | 1,136,834 | 87,449 | 13 | 924,417 | 71,109 | 23.0% |
| NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCKS | 27 | 938,775 | 34,769 | 26 | 920,367 | 35,399 | 2.0% |
| ASA | 20 | 597,062 | 29,853 | 20 | 580,800 | 29,040 | 2.8% |
| IROC | 4 | 401,802 | 100,451 | 4 | 327,000 | 81,750 | 22.9% |
| SPORTS CAR | 8 | 293,969 | 36,746 | 11 | 517,251 | 47,022 | -43.1% |
| IHRA DRG^^^ | 10 | 227,873 | 22,787 | 9 | 387,164 | 43,018 | -41.1% |
|
| TOTALS^^ | 235 | 17,079,004 | 70,825 | 230 | 16,861,291 | 73,310 | 1.3% |
NOTES: Goodyear's figures compiled from race reports, event promoters, sanctioning body stats and other sources. Total event attendance includes practice/qualifying days. ^^ = Attendance and dates for multi-race events counted only once in grand totals. ^^^ = IHRA's new ownership revised its attendance tabulation in '98. ^^^^ = Indy 500 was reduced from three to two weeks in '98. WoO = World of Outlaws series had seven races canceled due to rain. -30-
