In Charlotte, Jacob Feldman notes NASCAR yesterday "set out 11 goals mainly dealing with rules and penalties" that the organization says will "focus on technology and transparency." NASCAR "promised to remove antiquated regulations from its rulebook and clarify what is left primarily with math and drawings rather than text." It also "plans to objectively categorize potential offenses and their corresponding penalties" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/16).
TEAM BUILDING: In Pittsburgh, Jerry DiPaola reports the number of AFL teams has "fallen from 18 teams in 2011 to 17 to 14 this year." However, AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz said expansion next year is "more probable than not." He added that he "expects to have a franchise next year in Chicago, the AFL's base of operations." Kurz said that the league "must deal with what he calls 'issues and challenges'" and added that "chief among those issues are a lack of sufficient visibility in some cities" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 7/16).
EURO TRIP: In N.Y., Karen Crouse writes a "cold economic wind has sent chills through the European Tour," as its '13 schedule features one event in England, down from five in '06, and "one event in Spain, six fewer than two years ago." The Tour is "at a crossroads." Its pool of skilled players is "deeper than would-be sponsors’ pockets, leading to a drain of talent to the PGA Tour, where the purses are bigger." The exporting of the European Tour’s higher-profile players is "making room for the importing of promising young Americans like Peter Uihlein and Brooks Koepka, who have turned to Europe to expand their horizons and their games after failing to earn their PGA Tour playing privileges" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/15).
DOUBLE THE FUN? In Toronto, Mike Zeisberger reports organizers and sponsors of the Izod IndyCar Series Honda Indy Toronto "loved the format" of the event, and fans "ate it up en masse." But drivers and crews generally "weren't thrilled by it" because the "dangers of fatigue and mechanical failure escalate by running two events in a 28-hour span" (TORONTO SUN, 7/16).
