Phelps said NASCAR being one of the first sports back will be a good test for the organizationGETTY IMAGES
NASCAR President Steve Phelps said that he "believed that 'millions' of new potential viewers would tune into its upcoming races because there are few other sports happening," according to Nick Bromberg of YAHOO SPORTS. NASCAR is scheduled to restart May 17 at Darlington Raceway, and appearing yesterday on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s podcast "The Dale Jr. Download," Phelps said, "This is going to be a really good test for us and a real opportunity for us to have our core fans consume the sport like they never have because we haven't been racing for so long but also an opportunity for other people to see our sport, sample our sport." He added, "I think we're going to have millions of fans that will tune in who otherwise wouldn't who will see how great our sport is. And so I think we'll have potential lifetime fans that will come out of this really difficult situation that we're experiencing." Bromberg noted it is "entirely fair to debate the appropriateness of talking about potential audience sizes in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic." By restarting ahead of all other major professional sporting organizations, NASCAR "has the chance to seize mainstream attention on a barren sports landscape." Bromberg: "We all knew that. Phelps is simply confirming that" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/5).
ALL EYES ON YOU: In Greensboro, Ed Hardin writes everyone "will be watching" NASCAR because this is going to be the "greatest risk anyone has dared dream about." NASCAR "has to get this right." Hardin: "The long-misunderstood sport is preparing for its debut of sorts. Any misstep of COVID-19 related crisis would be a blow to the sport and to every other sport watching as NASCAR goes first." But NASCAR "couldn't resist that opportunity." Now it bears the responsibility to make it work, "not just for itself but for sports across the country" (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 5/6).
