Nascar, Once a Cultural Icon, Hits the Skids

[Dashinka 25,885]

Never been a big racing fan, seemed kind of pointless watching cars go around in circles, but it is interesting how the major sports are taking a hit.

 

Nascar threw a bash at Kansas Speedway in October to thank Sprint Corp. for being stock-car racing’s top sponsor for 13 years. More than 800 Sprint employees received hot dogs, burgers and seats to a nail-biting race.

One thing was missing: a new sponsor. Despite knowing for two years that Sprint was leaving, Nascar didn’t announce a replacement until December, when it said energy-drink maker Monster Beverage Corp. had won naming rights to the top-tier racing circuit.

Monster paid about $20 million, below Nascar’s asking price of $35 million and nowhere close to the original goal of $100 million, according to television and racing-industry executives familiar with the new contract. A Nascar spokesman wouldn’t comment.

 

With the first big race of the new season set for Sunday, Nascar’s problems seem to have spun out of control.

About a decade ago, the sport was a cultural icon and inspired the hit car-racing comedy movie “Talladega Nights,” starring Will Ferrell. Since 2005, Nascar’s television viewership is down 45%, according to an analysis of Nielsen ratings by SportsBusiness Daily, a trade publication. That is twice as large as the National Basketball Association’s decline from its peak. National Football League viewership has fallen 8%, Nielsen data show.

Tracks have torn out about a fourth of their seats to look fuller but still have wide stretches of empty bleachers on race days. Nascar’s fan base, largely working-class and white, is getting older overall and was hit harder by the recession than the more-affluent fan bases in other major sports.

 

“There’s no magic pill for this one,” says Ed Rensi, a former Nascar racing-team owner who was a longtime head of U.S. operations for McDonald’s Corp. “It’s about economics and demographics.”

Many people in the sport blame the France family, which runs Nascar and controls racetrack company International Speedway Corp.

Long adored for turning fender-crunching races between moonshiners into the nation’s richest and most popular form of motor sports, the founding family is now being criticized by drivers and team owners, who fear the Frances are incapable of reversing the fade in fan interest and retreat by sponsors.

 

Nascar’s chief executive is Brian France, and his older sister, Lesa France Kennedy, is CEO of International Speedway.

One of the most daunting problems is how the siblings’ power is divided, which causes tensions and makes it harder to implement far-reaching changes, according to people throughout the industry.

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/long-in-victory-lane-nascar-hits-the-skids-1487686349?mod=trending_now_3

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Put one dirt track race on the circuit. Bring it back to its roots. Ask Nature Boy, he's a redneck and a long time NASCAR aficionado. 

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

2 hours ago, spookyturtle said:

Put one dirt track race on the circuit. Bring it back to its roots. Ask Nature Boy, he's a redneck and a long time NASCAR aficionado. 

That is the most racist, prejudicial thing I have ever read on Chest. 

[Teddy B 17,252]

42 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

That is the most racist, prejudicial thing I have ever read on Chest. 

Yes, but is it true?

[Dakine10 5,452]

43 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

That is the most racist, prejudicial thing I have ever read on Chest. 

 

   Are rednecks a race?

[Teddy B 17,252]

1 minute ago, Dakine10 said:

 

   Are rednecks a race?

In states south of the Mason Dixon Line, yes they are.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

16 minutes ago, Teddy B said:

In states south of the Mason Dixon Line, yes they are.

Go away 

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

18 minutes ago, Dakine10 said:

 

   Are rednecks a race?

are Thugs ?

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

21 minutes ago, Teddy B said:

Yes, but is it true?

Am I a redneck. Maybe to some High brow Harvard brie eater, If compared to the Gen POP of Caucasians in GA, big time no.

 

As for Nascar. I don't follow it, I find it boring. Nothing against it. It just never turned me on. About the only sport I enjoy and will watch is College Football and Womens beach volleyball 

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

22 minutes ago, Dakine10 said:

 

   Are rednecks a race?

Are they a large clearly definable group and is it a derog term to many .. Ask yourself that 

[Jacque67 7,328]

College football turns you on? Interesting bro;)!!!!!!

[yuna628 9,873]

Out of the numerous things my dad has done in his lifetime, he used to race cars back in his very young years, his basement is a shrine to car racing. But in recent years he says nascar doesn't have the same spark for him like it used to. It may be because nascar isn't modernizing with the times, or to some degree is also seemingly less exciting. He was never a fan of the new points system that was put in a while back. Instead of the sport seeming competitive it always seems to be the same drivers winning. Team owners can also have multiple cars/drivers in the game to a silly amount. As you know it's not a very diverse sport either and they have made mistakes in the past (just like football) when it came to safety vs profit.

 

How popular is nascar today vs F1? Husband likes F1, but even he doesn't watch it anymore.

Edited February 23, 2017 by yuna628

[Dashinka 25,885]

14 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

Am I a redneck. Maybe to some High brow Harvard brie eater, If compared to the Gen POP of Caucasians in GA, big time no.

 

As for Nascar. I don't follow it, I find it boring. Nothing against it. It just never turned me on. About the only sport I enjoy and will watch is College Football and Womens beach volleyball 

Gotta love some women's beach volleyball!  I used to follow College football as well, but for some reason I am drifting away from sports.

[Dakine10 5,452]

5 hours ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

Are they a large clearly definable group and is it a derog term to many .. Ask yourself that 

 

  I don't need to ask that, I know the answer.

 

  What I would like to know is why you said racism?

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

27 minutes ago, Dakine10 said:

 

  I don't need to ask that, I know the answer.

 

  What I would like to know is why you said racism?

I really have no good answer for that