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Wrapping up a long racing season
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Location: Blogs Running Wide Open |
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| Posted by: Joe VanHoose |
11/21/2007 3:23 PM |
The NASCAR season is over, and I am tired. So are a lot of you, according to the e-mails and calls I received about why you aren't watching the races anymore. Here are some reasons:
• "My main complaint is on the number of ads shown, particularly during green flag racing. NASCAR is getting so greedy even their own ads are being displayed while active racing is underway." Dick Wolfe, Ocala
• "It's just gotten a little boring, and the TV coverage is horrible. It's gotten to the point now that I listen on the radio if I listen at all." Anne Hamilton, Ocala
• "There's just too much talking on TV. Everything one person says, another one repeats. I don't care if I ever watch it on TV again." Harold Frederick, Ocala
It is clear that ESPN missed the mark on its return to NASCAR broadcasting this year. For Christmas, I wish that heads roll at the network so that when February comes around, Rusty Wallace and Jerry Punch are nowhere to be found.
But NASCAR has bigger problems than its TV coverage, regardless of what NASCAR Chairman Brian France may say. Ratings are down, grandstands aren't full, and the excitement is flat.
Next year brings with it the Car of Tomorrow, more Toyota teams, and a wealth of open-wheel drivers that know nothing of the clay bullrings of the South. Will these changes help? We'll see.
Bruton Smith called
When your phone rings at noon on an idle Wednesday, you don't expect the most powerful man in NASCAR to be on the other line. Nevertheless, I learned something about multibillionaire racetrack tycoon Bruton Smith Wednesday.
He returns phone calls.
Earlier this month, Smith acquired New Hampshire Speedway from Bob Bahre, and in doing so he also bought out Bahre's interest in North Wilkesboro Speedway. He still has no plans for the venerable North Carolina track.
"It's too much water over the dam," Smith said. "The place is returning to the earth so to speak. There's not a whole lot we could do with the place."
Except raise the sale price. The speedway went on sale earlier this year for $12 million. After no one stepped forward to buy the track, Smith has upped the asking price to $20 million. Since doing so, Smith says there's been interest in the facility.
"I don't know," Smith said, "but sometimes it works when you raise the value of something."
Fair enough. I still can't believe he called me. I'll never wash my ear again.
Cool the engines
Running Wide Open made it all the way through the 40-week racing season. Now that we're entering the holiday season, I'm going to take a little break.
Yes, it will be a little break. Speedweeks begins in 75 days. See you in February.
Heck, who am I kidding. Stay tuned to the blog page here for a few updates during the off season.
Ocala Speedway Division Champions
Late Models -- Dan Webster
Modifieds -- Robbie Cooper
Sportsman -- William Edwards
Street Stock -- Pete Close
V-8 Pure Stock -- Jessie Corbitt
4 Cylinder -- Justin Elwood
V-8 Rookies -- Guy Bucelo and Josh Brown
Figure 8 -- Larry Welter
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