Is NASCAR in trouble?

NASCARs big mistake was thinking that an abnormal bubble in popularity from1995-2005 would last forever, and they built a business model around that unsustainable popularity.

I think as a business they're back to where they were pre-1995 in terms of revenue/ratings but with cost structures and profit expectations from the early 2000's.

they need to reign in content and costs IMO.

 

yes.

need to eliminate the truck series.

cut Xfinity and Cup series down to 25-30 races each.

don't go to any track twice.

get the product off Sunday afternoons, try weekday races especially in fall when college and NFL football and baseball playoffs are going on.

 

Yes it is.

It simply took longer to get to them. Continued "contrived parity" and gimmicks will not help the cause.Many of the opinions expressed here have validity.But getting those behind the fake wood paneled walls are the ones that you need to convince.

 

Recover to what? The IRL was never a major draw whatsoever. Thank you very much TG. Whatever iteration it is now ('don't have a clue; lost interest when TG made the split) is better (not much) than the IRL dream. At least now I watch; as long as I don't need a haircut or a nap or something....

The only reason Indy sold out this year was people wanted to be there for the 100th.

Things change. All of racing is hurting. Methinks the old love affair with the automobile that existed is fizzling in general.

 

NASCAR got carried away with themselves at the height of their popularity. Then, the
continual marketing and "official this" or "official that" of NASCAR licensed products started
to be over the top. In short, shoving NASCAR down the throats of everyone in the country
hasn't generated more viewership, in fact its likely had the opposite effect.

The number one rule of marketing, "Overexposure cheapens the product", seems to have been
ignored deep in the fake wood paneled walls in Daytonner and they just kept on with the 24/7
hype machine.

Then came this insipid "Car of Tomorrow and "Chase" stuff and things have gone off the rails
ever since.

The interesting thing to watch during this decline is how NASCAR reacts. Rather than going
back to their roots, they continue the nonsense with segmented races, points that really don't
mean anything, throwing absurd notions/gimmicks against the wall and seeing what sticks week
in, week out, etc.

And, my guess is now that like in all the other various forms of racing, there are people in
positions of authority in NASCAR that know absolutely nothing about racing which is the
number one problem in racing.

While NASCAR is still the 900lb gorilla on the block even with reduced viewership and revenues
coming in, they're still performing at a very high level outside stick and balls sports. If they
put something relevant on the track rather than these spec cars, that would be one positive
step but there is no magic wand it seems.

BHW

 

I think NASCAR's biggest issue was becoming a spec series. The cars (which were almost as big as the human stars) were identifiable....now...not so much.

Look at this video from 1985. You can actually tell what the cars are:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzCZKZcd4YE

 

Not to mention the endless, unnecessary yellows every time someone brushes a wall or spins into the infield without hitting anything, or that Goodyear can't seem to design a tire that doesn't get cut down 5 lap from the finish. For me, I'm tired of watching a race where a guy has a lead with 4 to go, be it 3 or 30 second, and ends up in 5th because of someone else's tire problem. I'd rather see the race end under yellow and the rightful winner take his place in VL. The GWC really ruins the race as far as I'm concerned. I never got why they think the GWC make the race more exciting. Don't see it anywhere else in racing. NASCAR should take the hint.

Plus, they are desperate for a new star/ Current crop of kids are too stiff. when was the last time the rookie if the year fulfilled his promise.

 

fair point...

look at the list from the late 90's/early 2000's vs the last 5-6 years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASCAR_Rookie_of_the_Year