The NASCAR television rights deal has had a 4 percent increase in television dollars, which has more than offset the drop in admissions revenue. ISC earned $117 million in broadcast revenue through May, while all of its tickets sold combined to $56.2 million. SMI took in approximately $62.2 million through June, while its overall admissions revenue was $36.275 million.
Lemonis said that NASCAR, like all companies, must listen to the people consuming the product.
'We can never take our eye off the single ball, which is our customers and our fans are the reason that we exist. And so if we're not curating something for them, at the price points that work for them, with the experience that works for them, they'll vote us out by not showing up,' Lemonis said.
'And so I think we need to be very careful that, whether it's in our stores or at our tracks or in our sponsorships, that we're remembering who our boss is, and that's our customer. And I think the minute we forget that, we're out of business.'
Kevin Harvick won the TicketGuardian 500 on Sunday, his third consecutive win, but there are other implications from the race as well. Here are the three biggest takeaways from Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 race at ISM Speedway:
1. Will Harvick ever lose again?
Of course the answer is yes, but at this point it doesn’t seem like it. One of the oldest drivers in the sport is performing at the highest level of his career right now – and that includes his championship-winning season in 2014. Harvick is consistently one of NASCAR’s best drivers, and last season he was one of the last four drivers competing for a championship. But this .. this is a whole ’nother level. If he’s able to keep this up all season, it’ll be tough for anyone to stand in the way of his second championship trophy.
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2. The Fords aren’t going anywhere
At first, maybe it was just a waiting game with the new Chevy that was allowing Ford to dominate. Or some championship rust from the Toyotas. Neither is the case. As long as Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney are running with Ford, it should compete for a manufacturer’s championship – and race wins every week. The other manufacturers will catch up and start winning more races in short order, but even then, the Fords aren’t going away any time soon.
3. This is the balance of young and old we need
All the buzz coming into the 2018 was about young drivers: Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, William Byron and so many others. Then .. those guys didn’t perform consistently. Until this week, it has been mostly veterans, all season long. But this Sunday, really for the first time on an even track (aka not Daytona), we had a solid blend of old and new drivers. Yes, Harvick (who is 42) won, but Elliott, nearly 20 years younger, came in third. Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones also finished in the Top 10, but a stable of veterans were there, too. Eventually the time will come when those young’uns will have to surpass their elder teammates, but finishes like this are at least a step in the right direction.
Brendan Marks: 704-358-5889, @brendanrmarks
TicketGuardian 500 results
NASCAR Monster Energy Cup
At ISM Raceway
Lap length: 1.00 miles
1. (10) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 312 laps, 53 points.
2. (7) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 312, 52.
3. (3) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 312, 39.
4. (6) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 312, 40.
5. (1) Martin Truex Jr, Toyota, 312, 41.
6. (19) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 312, 32.
7. (22) Aric Almirola, Ford, 312, 30.
8. (15) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 312, 29.
9. (9) Erik Jones, Toyota, 312, 29.
10. (23) Kurt Busch, Ford, 312, 40.
11. (13) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 312, 26.
12. (11) William Byron, Chevrolet, 312, 25.
13. (4) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 312, 24.
14. (17) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 312, 23.
15. (25) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 312, 35.
16. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 311, 21.
17. (18) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 311, 20.
18. (2) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 311, 27.
19. (5) Joey Logano, Ford, 311, 20.
20. (21) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 311, 17.
21. (20) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 311, 16.
22. (16) David Ragan, Ford, 311, 15.
23. (29) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Ford, 311, 22.
24. (26) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 311, 15.
25. (30) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 311, 12.
26. (8) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 310, 11.
27. (36) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 310, 0.
28. (27) Darrell Wallace Jr, Chevrolet, 309, 9.
29. (24) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 309, 8.
Forza horizon 3 download demo free pc. 30. (28) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 309, 12.
31. (34) D.J. Kennington, Toyota, 309, 6.
Nascar Driver Ratings Charlotte
32. (31) Michael McDowell, Ford, 308, 11.
33. (35) Timmy Hill, Chevrolet, 306, 0.
34. (32) Gray Gaulding, Toyota, 304, 3.
35. (37) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 292, 2.
36. (14) Paul Menard, Ford, accident, 189, 1.
37. (33) Corey Lajoie, Chevrolet, engine, 23, 1.
Race Statistics
Average Speed of Race Winner: 108.078 mph.
Time of Race: 2 hours, 53 minutes, 13 seconds.
Margin of Victory: 0.774 seconds.
Caution Flags: 6 for 36 laps.
Lead Changes: 15 among 9 drivers.
Lap Leaders: M.Truex 0; K.Larson 1-30; M.Truex 31-33; K.Larson 34-57; Ky.Busch 58-123; B.Keselowski 124-128; Ky.Busch 129-147; Ku.Busch 148-153; Ky.Busch 154-178; K.Harvick 179-194; W.Byron 195-209; D.Hamlin 210-242; Ky.Busch 243-260; B.Keselowski 261-267; R.Newman 268-290; K.Harvick 291-312
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Led, Laps Led): Ky.Busch, 4 times for 124 laps; K.Larson, 2 times for 52 laps; K.Harvick, 2 times for 36 laps; D.Hamlin, 1 time for 32 laps; R.Newman, 1 time for 22 laps; W.Byron, 1 time for 14 laps; B.Keselowski, 2 times for 10 laps; Ku.Busch, 1 time for 5 laps; M.Truex, 2 times for 2 laps.
Wins: K.Harvick, 3; A.Dillon, 1.
Top 16 in Points: 1. K.Harvick, 168; 2. Ky.Busch, 156; 3. M.Truex, 156; 4. R.Blaney, 152; 5. J.Logano, 152; 6. D.Hamlin, 137; 7. B.Keselowski, 134; 8. K.Larson, 131; 9. C.Bowyer, 125; 10. A.Almirola, 123; 11. Ku.Busch, 117; 12. A.Dillon, 114; 13. R.Newman, 101; 14. P.Menard, 97; 15. E.Jones, 93; 16. A.Bowman, 91.
NASCAR Driver Rating Formula
A maximum of 150 points can be attained in a race.
The formula combines the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish.
Comments
NASCAR TV viewership down in 2018: NASCAR's top series had another record low for TV viewership this season. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series averaged 3.3 million viewers across 33 races on NBC, Fox, NBCSN and FS1 this season (excluding rainouts at Martinsville, Bristol and Indianapolis). That figure is down from 4.1 million viewers last year, and down from 4.5 million viewers in '16.[More](11-28-2018)
Homestead TV ratings UPDATE: NBC earned a 2.5 overnight rating for the season finale.(11-19-2018)
UPDATE: Last Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series finale from Homestead earned a 2.5 rating and 4.15 million viewers on NBC, down 11% in ratings and viewership from last year (2.8, 4.66M) and down 29% and 32% respectively from 2016 (3.5, 6.08M).[More](11-23-2018)
Phoenix TV ratings UPDATE: NBC earned a 2.1 overnight rating for Sunday's Cup race at ISM Raceway.(11-12-2018)
UPDATE: The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs from Phoenix earned a 2.0 rating and 3.31 million viewers on NBCSN, down 9% in ratings and viewership from last year (2.2, 3.64M) and down 17% and 18% respectively from 2016 (2.4, 4.03M).[More](11-15-2018)
Texas TV ratings UPDATE: NBCSN earned a 1.5 overnight rating for Sunday's race from Texas Motor Speedway.(11-5-2018)
UPDATE: The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs from Texas earned a 1.4 rating and 2.27 million viewers on NBCSN last Sunday, down 13% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year (1.6, 2.70M). The 2016 race was postponed due to rain, with rainout coverage earning a 1.1 and 1.86 million.[More](11-10-2018)
Martinsville TV ratings: NBCSN earned a 1.3 overnight rating for Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway.(10-29-2018)
UPDATE: The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs from Martinsville (Va.) earned a 1.3 rating and 2.15 million viewers on NBCSN, down 24% in ratings and 22% in viewership from last year (1.7, 2.78M) and down 19% in both measures from 2016 (1.6, 2.67M).[More](11-3-2018)
Kansas TV ratings UPDATE: NBC earned a 1.8 overnight rating for Sunday's race from Kansas Speedway.(10-23-2018)
UPDATE: The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs from Kansas earned a 1.7 rating and 2.75 million viewers on NBC last Sunday, flat in ratings and down a fraction of a percent in viewership from last year on NBCSN (1.7, 2.76M), and down 19% and 20% respectively from 2016 on NBC (2.1, 3.45M).[More](10-28-2018)
Talladega TV ratings UPDATE: NBC earned a 2.2 overnight rating for racing at Talladega on Sunday.(10-15-2018)
UPDATE: The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs from Talladega (Ala.) earned a 2.2 rating and 3.51 million viewers on NBC last Sunday, down 21% in ratings and 26% in viewership from last year (2.8, 4.73M) and flat and down 2% respectively from 2016 on NBCSN (2.2, 3.58M).[More](10-20-2018)
Dover TV ratings UPDATE: NBCSN earned a 1.3 overnight rating for Sunday's race.(10-8-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Dover had a 1.2 rating and 2.01 million viewers on NBCSN, down a tick in ratings and 2% in viewership from last year (1.3, 2.05M) and down 20% and 21% respectively from 2016 (1.5, 2.56M).[More](10-12-2018)
Charlotte TV ratings UPDATE: NBC earned a 1.99 overnight rating for Sunday afternoon's race on Charlotte Motor Speedway's inaugural ROVAL race.(10-4-2018)
UPDATE: The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Charlotte earned a 1.95 rating and 3.218 million viewers on NBC, up 6% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (1.8, 2.86M) and just the fourth Cup Series race all season to post an increase, joining Michigan, Chicagoland and Watkins Glen.[More](10-4-2018)
Richmond TV ratings UPDATE: NBCSN earned a 1.1 overnight rating for Saturday night's race.(9-24-2018)
UPDATE: Last Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Richmond (Va.) earned a 1.0 rating and 1.77 million viewers on NBCSN, down 17% in ratings and viewership from last year (1.2, 2.14M) and down 38% and 34% respectively from 2016 (1.6, 2.71M). Kyle Busch's win ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched NASCAR Cup Series race since at least 2000. [More](9-24-2018)
Las Vegas TV ratings UPDATE: NBCSN earned a 1.3 overnight rating for Sunday's race from Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(9-17-2018)
UPDATE: Last Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Las Vegas earned a 1.3 rating and 2.14 million viewers on NBCSN - down a tick in ratings and 7% in viewership from last year's playoff opener on the same weekend (Chicagoland: 1.4, 2.31M).[More](9-21-2018)
Indianapolis TV ratingsUPDATE: NBCSN earned 1.24 million viewers for Monday's postponed Brickyard 400.(9-13-2018)
UPDATE: Last year's race, which ran as scheduled in July, had 5.63 million on the NBC broadcast network. Earlier in the day, the delayed Xfinity Series race from the same track had 474,000.[More](9-16-2018)
Darlington TV ratings: NBCSN earned a 1.5 overnight rating for Sunday night's Cup race at Darlington.(9-4-2018)
UPDATE: Last Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Southern 500 from Darlington earned a 1.5 rating and 2.66 million viewers on NBCSN, down 17% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (1.8, 3.10M) and down 46% and 43% respectively from 2016 on the NBC broadcast network (2.8, 4.64M).[More](9-6-2018)
Bristol TV ratings UPDATE: NBCSN earned a 1.4 overnight rating for Saturday night's Bass Pro NRA Night Race.(8-20-2018)
UPDATE: Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Night Race earned a 1.4 rating and 2.33 million viewers on NBCSN, down 39% in ratings and viewership from last year on the NBC broadcast network (2.3. 3.82M) and down a third and 36% respectively from 2015, the last time it aired as scheduled on NBCSN (2.1, 3.61M).[More](8-23-2018)
Michigan TV ratings: NBCSN earned a 1.62 overnight rating for the Consumers Energy 400. The race faced big competition from the PGA Championship, which earned a 6.1[More](8-13-2018) Jason derulo mp3 free download.
Watkins Glen TV ratings UPDATE:NBC earned a 2.3 overnight rating for the Go Bowling at the Glen, up from a 1.9 for last year's race which was on NBCSN.(8-6-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Watkins Glen 355 had a 2.3 rating and 3.67 million viewers on the NBC broadcast network, up 15% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year on NBCSN (2.0, 3.25M) and flat and down 4% from 2016, when the race aired on USA Network opposite the Olympic Games (2.3, 3.83M).[More](8-8-2018)
Pocono TV ratings UPDATE: NBCSN earned a 1.8 overnight rating for Sunday's race at Pocono Raceway.(7-30-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 400 earned a 1.7 rating and 2.75 million viewers on NBCSN, down 23% in ratings and 25% in viewership from last year and down 35% and 36% respectively from 2015 (2.6, 4.3M). The 2016 race was postponed due to rain.[More](8-3-2018)
New Hampshire TV ratings UPDATE: NBCSN earned a 1.6 overnight rating for Sunday's rain-delayed race.(7-23-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR New Hampshire 301 earned a 1.5 rating and 2.5 million viewers on NBCSN, down 23% in ratings and 22% in viewership from last year (2.0, 3.2M) and down 28% and 24% respectively from 2016 (2.1, 3.3M).[More](7-26-2018)
Kentucky TV ratings UPDATE: NBCSN earned an overnight 1.33 rating for Saturday night's race.(7-16-2018)
UPDATE: Last Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series Kentucky 400 earned a 1.3 rating and 2.3 million viewers on NBCSN, down 19% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year (1.6, 2.7M) and down 32% and 29% respectively from 2016 (1.9, 3.2M).[More](7-20-2018)
Daytona TV ratings UPDATE: NBC earned a 2.72 overnight rating for the Cup Series race from Daytona International Speedway Saturday night.(7-9-2018)
Saturday's NASCAR Daytona 400 earned a 2.7 rating and 4.4 million viewers on NBC, down 16% in ratings and 18% in viewership from last year (3.2, 5.4M) and down 21% and 22% respectively from 2016 (3.4, 5.7M).[More](7-11-2018)
Chicago TV ratings: NBCSN earned a 1.6 overnight rating, up 14% from last year's race at Chicagoland.[More](7-2-2018)
Sonoma TV ratings UPDATE: Fox Sports 1 earned a 1.6 overnight rating for the Cup race from Sonoma.(6-25-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Sonoma 350 earned a 1.4 rating and 2.3 million viewers on FS1, down 30% in ratings and 28% in viewership from last year (2.0, 3.2M) and down 42% and 40% respectively from 2016 (2.4, 3.9M).[More](6-28-2018)
Michigan TV ratings: Fox earned a 2.2 overnight rating for Sunday's race at Michigan, up from a 2.0 for last year's race that aired on FS1.[More](6-10-2018)
Pocono TV ratings Fox Sports 1 earned a 1.6 overnight for yesterday's Pocono 400, off from a 1.9 for last year's race.(6-2-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 400 earned a 1.6 rating and 2.7 million viewers on FS1, down 27% in ratings and 25% in viewership from last year (2.2, 3.6M) and down 30% and 26% respectively from 2015 (2.3, 3.6M). [More](6-7-2018)
Charlotte TV Ratings UPDATE: Fox earned a 2.4 overnight rating for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(5-28-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Charlotte 600 earned a 2.3 rating and 4.1 million viewers on FOX, down 18% in ratings and 12% in viewership from last year.[More](5-31-2018)
All-Star Race TV ratings: UPDATE Fox Sports 1 earned a 1.5 overnight rating for the Monster Energy All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(5-20-2018)
UPDATE: Last Saturday's NASCAR All-Star Race had a 1.5 rating and 2.5 million viewers on FS1, down a tick in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (1.6, 2.9M) and down 25% in both measures from 2016 (2.0, 3.3M).[More](5-26-2018) Fast and furious 7 full movie in english.
Kansas TV ratings UPDATE: Fox Sports 1 earned a 1.23 overnight rating for Saturday night's race at Kansas.(5-14-2018)
UPDATE: Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series Kansas 400 earned a 1.2 rating and 2.04 million viewers on FS1, down 25% in ratings and 22% in viewership from last year (1.6, 2.6M) and down 36% and 35% respectively from 2016 (1.9, 3.1M).[More](5-17-2018)
Dover TV ratings UPDATE: Fox Sports 1 earned a 1.7 overnight rating for Sunday's race.(5-7-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Dover 400 earned a 1.7 rating and 2.8 million viewers on FS1, down 19% in ratings and 17% in viewersihp from last year (2.1, 3.4M) and down 32% and 30% respectively from 2016 (2.5, 4.0M).[More](5-10-2018)
Talladega TV ratings UPDATE: Fox earned a 2.8 overnight rating for the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.(4-30-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Talladega 500 earned a 2.9 rating and 4.7 million viewers on FOX, down 17% in ratings and 20% in viewership from last year (3.5, 5.9M) and down 28% and 29% respectively from 2016 (4.0, 6.7M).[More](5-4-2018)
Richmond TV ratings: Fox earned a 1.7 overnight rating for the Toyota Owners 400 Saturday night.[More](4-23-2018)
Bristol TV ratings UPDATE: Fox earned a 1.4 overnight rating for the Monday portion of the Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway.(4-17-2018)
UPDATE: Last Monday's rescheduled NASCAR Cup Series Bristol 500 earned 2.0 million viewers on FOX, down 12% from last year's race.[More](4-21-2018)
Texas overnight TV ratings: FoxSports1 earned a 1.7 overnight rating for Sunday's Cup race from Texas Motor Speedway.(4-9-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Texas 500 earned a 1.7 rating and 2.82 million viewers on FS1, down 37% in ratings and 38% in viewership from last year (2.7, 4.5M) and down 37% and 35% respectively from 2016 (2.7, 4.3M), both of which aired on FOX.[More](4-11-2018)
Martinsville TV ratings: Postponed a day due to rain, NASCAR Cup Series racing from Martinsville (Va.) earned 1.19 million viewers on FS1 Monday afternoon. Last year's race was run as scheduled on a Sunday and had 4.0 million. [More]4-2-2018)
Auto Club Speedway overnight TV ratings UPDATE: Fox earned a 2.4 overnight rating from Auto Club Speedway, down from last year.(3-19-2018)
UPDATE: The NASCAR Cup Series at Fontana (Ca.) earned a 2.4 rating and 4.0 million viewers on FOX last Sunday, down 25% in ratings and 22% in viewership from last year (3.2, 5.2M) and down 40% and 41% respectively from 2016 (4.0, 6.8M).[More](3-22-2018)
Phoenix overnight TV ratings UPDATE: Fox earned a 2.7 overnight rating for Sunday's race at ISM Raceway.(3-12-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix scored a 2.8 rating and 4.6 million viewers on FOX, down 15% in ratings and viewership from last year (3.3, 5.4M), down 30% and 31% respectively from 2016 (4.0, 6.6M), and the lowest rating and viewership in the history of the race (dates back to 2005).[More](3-16-2018)
Las Vegas overnight TV ratings UPDATE: Fox earned a 2.8 overnight rating for the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(3-5-2018)
UPDATE: Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series from Las Vegas earned a 2.9 rating and 4.7 million viewers on FOX, down 19% in ratings and 21% in viewership from last year (3.6, 6.0M) and down 34% and 35% respectively from 2016 (4.4, 7.2M).[More](3-8-2018)
NASCAR has seen the departure of superstars like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart in the past few years, while television ratings have seen a consistent decline week after week between NBC and Fox, regardless of the quality of racing.
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Sponsors are also pulling out of the sport. In late July, 5-hour Energy announced that it would not be returning to the reigning champion Martin Truex Jr.'s Furniture Row Racing team for 2018. In addition to that, Lowe's announced earlier this year that 2018 would be its final season with seven-time Cup champ Jimmie Johnson. Let's also not forget the reported interest in a sale of NASCAR from earlier in the year that has since been debunked.
Still, NASCAR Cup Series races continue to be one of the most-watched sporting events each week, and young drivers like Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones and Bubba Wallace are all on the rise. While the kids look to build their brand, a trio of champions -- Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch -- known as 'The Big 3' are carrying the sport on the track. In 2018, the three drivers have accounted for 16 wins in 21 races, including Busch's most recent trip to Victory Lane at Pocono.
So is it fair for those outside of NASCAR's walls to show concern with declining ratings, impending sponsorship departures and superstar transition? Not according to NASCAR chief operating officer Steve Phelps.
'I think this industry tends to focus on the negative,' Phelps said at Pocono Raceway while introducing Gander Outdoors as the new title sponsor of the NASCAR Truck Series. 'I'm not really sure why.'
'It's a lot sexier to talk about a Lowe's or a 5-hour Energy leaving,' Phelps continued. 'Somehow, the dozen companies that come into this sport are not talked about as much. It's kind of how this industry works. I would like to see the industry be positive because there are so many positive things going on.'
What are some examples of those positives? ESPN's Bob Pockrass spoke with Rick Hendrick before the Pocono race and learned that the team is hopeful that a sponsorship deal will be struck for Johnson by the near future. Team owner and former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs also said post-race that Craftsman will be joining next season as a primary sponsor for Erik Jones. Phelps also added that 28 percent of Fortune 500 companies have invested in the sport in 2018.
'People tend to focus on, 'Oh my gosh, Sponsor A has left and Sponsor B left,' Phelps said Sunday at Pocono Raceway. 'For us, it's OK, C, D, E and F also came on board as brand new sponsors.'
As far as the television ratings are concerned, Phelps also had an answer for those.
'Our digital and social numbers are very robust and growing,' Phelps said. 'We're going to put a lot of effort into seeing if we can get these ratings turned around and in a positive direction. We've seen a bunch of overnights in the last three or four weeks that are moving in the right direction. That said, we have a lot of work to do.'
Fans also might be wondering about Danica Patrick. Who will be the next woman to step up and take over the NASCAR market with her departure?
One potential driver that can fill that role is 17-year-old Hallie Deegan. She is the daughter of motorcross rider and former X Games athlete Brian Deegan and has made a name for herself in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Deegan is one of the youngest full-time drivers in her series and is the only female driver competing as well.
'NASCAR is the biggest for auto racing in America,' Deegan said in an interview with Forbes in July. 'Even if the ratings are down a bit, there's a whole new generation of kids taking in the sport, largely through being connected to social media.'
The sport was also given a gift with the legalization of sports gambling in states other than Nevada. NASCAR can learn a lesson from horse racing in that their are frequent opportunities to lay a wager down. Given the right planning and coordination, gamblers may soon be allowed to wager on events such as qualifying, mid-race stages and the race as a whole. On Monday, SportsBusiness Journal reported that NASCAR has assembled a focus group to study the sport's next move in gambling.
NASCAR is in a period of transition as new drivers are emerging onto the scene. The sport is attempting to engage a new audience not only on TV but digital as well. Sponsors are leaving, but at the same time new sponsors are arriving. Whether this impacts the overall health and future of the sport, only time may be able to truly answer that question.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Aric Almirola could have been speaking for his fellow drivers when it comes to the possibility of NASCAR being sold.
Have stock car, will race it.
“As long as there is a place for me to show up and race, I’ve got my helmet and I’m ready to go race,” Almirola said on Friday at Kansas Speedway, site of Saturday's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup KC Masterpiece 400.
“I just love to race cars and that’s kind of my take on it all. I’ve raced for a lot of different sanctioning bodies throughout my career, whether it was the World Karting Association, or the Florida Automobile Stock Car Racing Association or whatever the next series was or the NASCAR Late Model Series, and I just show up every single weekend excited to go race and that’s what I love.”
NASCAR, dealing with declining attendance and sagging television ratings, reportedly has explored options to sell a majority stake, according to published reports. According to Reuters, the France family, which founded and controls NASCAR, is working with Goldman Sachs Group to identify a purchaser.
Reigning Cup champion Martin Truex Jr., while acknowledging that the sale talk is in the preliminary stages, said some fresh ideas by ownership might be welcomed.
“There are a lot of things that are done because they’ve always been done that way that maybe we can look at and talk about away from the track,” Truex said. “There’s definitely some opportunity for things to change to help the sport, help the teams, help the drivers ….
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“The people thinking about the gloom and the doom and racing coming to an end is just nonsense. There is a real opportunity if it does happen, for some good things to happen. I’m not worried about it.”
Some of those changes could include adjustments to the schedule as well as rotating some races such as the All-Star Race and season-ending race among different tracks.
“If you look at sales of businesses, and NASCAR is a business, at some point there’s always going to be talk about sales and there’s always going to be talk about transition of ownership,” said Kevin Harvick, the 2014 Cup champion and one-time owner of trucks and Xfinity teams. “As you look at the opportunities that come about when you have those situations, people don’t buy companies to make them worse.
“I think that there’s always opportunity if there were a sale for something to get better.”
Or as Almirola put it: “As long as there’s a platform and a ride available for me to go race, I don’t really care who owns it. That’s just the truth.'