QuestionQUESTION: Sick of "NASCAR fan" being used as perjorative. Please tell me how to find annual attendance figs by year for NASCAR events. Breakdown by series helpful. The more detail and references the better, as I am attempting to counter the negative images promulgated by local and national media with facts. Even figures for just 2007 would be great. I am an avid fan since 1951.
ANSWER: Hi Mr. Rich,
I don't really know about the decrease in attendance and what to attribute it to. It could be that gas prices are discouraging fans to not make the journey to the track. It also could be attributed to the wearing off of the glory of the "Race to the Chase" advertisement, the final 10-race playoff series. But i would reference http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2006-11-14-nascar-cover_x.htm to get real stats and info.
Hope i helped!
Coy Jordan
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QUESTION: Mr. Jordon, your answer was very helpful. Still desire to have more on the demographics of NASCAR fans. Image promoted by media is that we are a bunch of beer-swilling rednecks. One guest on a local talk show claimed that wrecks were the only reason fans went to races, and that "any jerk can drive a car in a circle for 300 miles". That is the imagery I wish to counter with factual data. Any references you can give me would be greatly appreciated. There are surely sources of financial data showing the amounts of money involved, the technology and safety spinoffs, advertising value, etc.
ANSWER: Well, your quote about "any jerk can drive a car in a circle for 300 miles" is certainly not true, as you well know. Most think that nascar cars are built like passenger cars (comfort and ease.) The cars are built for speed and nothing else. It can be over 130 degrees in a car, and the seats with the HANS device are really uncomfortable. Plus the drivers have to turn that car against severval G forces and when you add centrifugal force, that equals a lot of strength. The pit guys are also athletes, every jack, tire, and gas tank weighs a ton, and those guys throw those around like 5 pound weights! As far as your demographics are concerned, "http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=476206" has a pretty good list of them. I dont know the date that data was taken. But to answer your question about the money in a quick fashion, a sprint cup car cost $600,000. Additionally, one team, say the number 88 team, will cost the owner $20 million to run one full year in the circuit. So Rick Hendrick, with the 24, 48, 5, and 88 cars in the series costs him well over $80-$100 million dollars each year. He has some of the best in the buisness, so it probably cost him a lot more to keep those guys in his garage.
If you have another question, or would like clarification, please send another follow-up!
Coy Jordan
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QUESTION: Thanks again, Mr. Jordon. The info is OK, but I am already familiar with those things. The figures I'm referring to are the dollars involved in advertising, TV rights, ticket sales, hats/shirts/models,etc. In short, the economic contributions of NASCAR racing to our GNP. I'm a retired engineer and part-time college prof, with businesss and economics as favorite areas. Sources of such data could help in my personal quest to dispel the images held by know-nothing elitists.
My background: Grew up in Charlotte & High Point. Began going to dirt track races at Charlotte fairgrounds as a kid with my dad. Lived across the street from Jim & Dotty Petty, Lee stayed there when racing in Charlotte, tuned up in the driveway. Knew Fred Harb & Jim Paschal in Hi Point, married a Randleman girl in Linda Petty's HS class. Was in infield at World 600 May 24 1964, near turn 3--a few yards from Fireball's wreck, watched as Jarret pulled him out and helped with getting the burning suit off. That explains why I do not EVER wish to see wrecks on any track.
Still an avid fan, will be at our local dirt track this weekend with stopwatch & lap sheet.
Thanks again, Bill Rich
AnswerWell, the teams and NASCAR are choosey about what information they release to the press, but i did find some websites dealing with that kind of economic policy.
General
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?series=wc&id=2251049
$ amount of ABC, FOX
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6289818.html
Website Contract
http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/headlines/official/01/22/turner.sports.extension
Subway failed negotiations
http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/bg/08/28/busch.subway.series.sponsor/i
I hope these helped somewhat!
Coy Jordan
(Sorry for the delay, i took a weekend on vacation!)
