The state of NASCAR was examined by Mark Armijo of the
ARIZONA REPUBLIC under the header, "Circuit Feels Some
Growing Pains." With "success, popularity and growth come
problems," and there are "some who wonder whether the sport
is becoming too popular. Could it eventually drown in its
own pool of financial success?" Armijo: "[S]ome say yes.
Some say NASCAR is paying a dear price for its corporate
growth. ... They say it is losing its intimacy." NASCAR
President Bill France Jr: "Too popular? No, I don't think
so. There's an awful lot of potential customers out there
that still don't follow motorsports." Armijo: "But at what
price can new fans be added? If the series indeed can ill
afford to expand much beyond 35 races, will some of the
traditional racetracks on the circuit lose one of their two
yearly dates to make room for the California and Las Vegas
speedways, and other future sites?" Car Owner Felix
Sabates: "My problem with the schedule is: Why go to all
these same tracks twice that are in the same market?"
France: "We haven't even gotten to that point of whether
we'll be taking away races to add races. We're very
selective in what we're doing" (AZ REPUBLIC, 10/28).
