France Discusses Sluggish Economy's Impact On NASCAR
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France Says NASCAR Not Immune
To Sluggish U.S. Economy |
NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France Friday met with reporters at Daytona Int’l Speedway (DIS), and said that NASCAR is “not immune to economic difficulties and rising energy costs and will try to work with its teams and its fans to deal with the challenges that presents,” according to David Poole of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. France: “We are working hard to make sure our fans get as much value as they can when they come to our events.” France also said that NASCAR “will work aggressively to bring new owners into the sport.” France: “Part of the goal with our new car was to bring down the barriers to entry. I know the jury is still out on that, but that’s our goal. We will do what [we can] do to attract new owners who will field competitive teams. That’s what makes us work.” France also said that he led a day-long meeting two weeks ago at Infineon Raceway “regarding a ‘comprehensive’ approach toward a ‘green’ initiative in stock-car racing” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/5). France also said that he “doesn’t see franchising as a way to help NASCAR teams that are struggling financially.” France: “If we thought franchising would add more owners than subtract or make the competition better … we would, of course, look at it, but it doesn’t necessarily do any of the above. It’s just something that at this point that we don’t think is in our best interest” (ROANOKE TIMES, 7/6). Meanwhile, France said that NASCAR continues to "study the issue" of potential alterations to its substance-abuse policy. France: “I would think within a month to six weeks, we should be ready to (talk about the changes)” (SCENEDAILY.com, 7/5).
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Coke Zero 400 Fails To Sell Out
At Daytona Int'l Speedway |
EMPTY SEATS: Attendance for Saturday's Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 was estimated at 110,000 (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL,7/6). However, in Jacksonville, Gene Frenette wrote at the start of the race, the back stretch that holds about 60,000 people was “easily two-thirds to three-quarters empty.” And there were “significant stretches of green grass on the infield which, under normal circumstances, would be filled with motor homes.” The main grandstand with a capacity of 100,000 looked "pretty full, but the significant dropoff in turnout was pretty much expected from the pre-race estimates that were privately offered by NASCAR officials” (JACKSONVILLE.com, 7/5). DIS President Robin Braig said that ticket sales “were slow for the 400, but picked up in the days leading up” to the race (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 7/6). In Seattle, Holly Cain wrote, "Other sports also many experience attendance problems as people have less discretionary income in challenging economic times. But NASCAR’s very essence is related to the economy, and it was the dominant topic of the weekend at Daytona” (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 7/5). SI.com’s Lars Anderson wrote, “If you want to know how this depressed economy is affecting NASCAR, all you have to do is look around at the stands each week,” where there have been “sizable swaths of empty seats.” It also “seems only a matter of time before there isn’t a full field at a Cup race. Yes, NASCAR is hurting right now” (SI.com, 7/6). In Winston-Salem, Mike Mulhern noted only 45 teams attempted to qualify for Saturday’s Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400, and “that has some here worried about how many teams might be lining up to run for next February’s Daytona 500” (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 7/6).
LAWSUIT UPDATE: France during his press conference discussed the sexual and racial lawsuit recently filed by former NASCAR technical inspector Mauricia Grant, and he said the sport would be "vigorously defending ourselves." France: "Naturally we'd rather not have to be dealing with that, but we will. ... From my own experience with lawsuits over the years, by the time the facts catch up to the [actual] lawsuit they're a lot different than the claims made on the front end" (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 7/5). ESPN's Angelique Chengelis noted NASCAR's internal investigation into the lawsuit "is almost concluded, they've talked to 25 to 30 individuals who have some interest in this case. They feel like they've done a very thorough job discussing this with these people" ("NASCAR Now," ESPN, 7/5) In Orlando, Mike Bianchi wrote NASCAR is “still viewed by some as a haven for racists and sexists. But in wake of the Duke lacrosse case, we must be careful in using stereotypes to prejudge who’s a racist and who’s not.” Sybil Scott, the daughter of the late Wendell Scott, the first and only black driver to win a major NASCAR race, said, “Believe me, NASCAR has come a long way and is trying to do the right thing when it comes to diversity.” Scott added of Grant, “My heart goes out to her for anything negative that happened to her, I just wish she had reached out to the president and CEO of NASCAR, because I know they would have done the right thing” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/4).
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