NASCAR and the TV executives have a business decision to make and that may certainly mean a lot more Saturday night dates in the future. But what effect does that have on local attendance? Many short-track promoters say their attendance drops 20-35 percent on nights that TV broadcasts Cup races. Promoters could turn to Friday nights or Sunday nights, but there are drawbacks. Most drivers hold full-time jobs and can't get to the track on Friday night until after 5 p.m., leaving no time for travel, practice, and qualifying. Sunday night isn't any better. Racers couldn't race until midnight, and then travel home to be at work Monday morning.
Political ShenanigansA curious thing happened this past spring. South Carolina Republican Gov. Mark Sanford was grand marshal for the Coca-Cola 600. Say again? What's a South Carolinian-a politician no less-doing as grand marshal for a signature North Carolina event?
Well, Democrats aren't known to be die-hard race fans (but I bet there really are a lot of Dems who buy tickets), while Republicans buy tickets in droves. North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley, a Democrat, was left out in the cold. Lowes' Motor Speedway compromised and gave North Carolina's second banana second billing. Lt. Gov. Beverly Purdue, also a Democrat, served as the honorary starter for the sport's longest event.
By the way, Sanford is trying to keep his multi-million dollar race date at Darlington, South Carolina, away from the realignment vultures, and Lowe's is trying to keep from losing the Winston all-star race to the same. Think Sanford and Bruton Smith have a plan to al Qaeda NASCAR?