Could it be that the electronic age we live in has created a situation where long races are simply not what we want to see now? Are the safety advances which have come into effect in the last 10 years created boring races? Have the point system adjustments changed the way the drivers are racing now(points vs. wins)? Or is it simply the economy as many of the NASCAR officials and management have been claiming?
In this day of instant media and instant news it does not take long for one to see the feelings of those who are watching your programming. Watching a NASCAR race and running Race Buddy on your PC you can follow the comments from Facebook and Twitter in the scrolling comment feed and see the fan reaction immediately during a race. The fans have no reason to hold back their true feelings in the world of anonymous posting, and the fans really say how they feel. The words "Boring" and "Dull" are often floated through their posts. Long green flag runs cause a lot of sleepy fans on their couches to fall asleep during the long endurance style races that NASCAR has become synonymous with.
Track owners like Bruton Smith have taken notice of what the fans are saying and are trying new things to change the racing experience. Immediately following the spring race at Bristol, where for the first time in years, fuel mileage was discussed at a short track. There were no accidents at all, most of the race was under green flag conditions, and the fans were dismayed at the lack of on track action. To the casual fan who might now appreciate the subtleties of the mid field passing going on this may be so, even the hard core fans expressed their displeasure in the product NASCAR had delivered them. At a track known for on track action, big wrecks, and drivers tempers flaring, no one could have predicted that there would be almost 200 laps of green flag racing.
So Bruton smith announced that he would make changes to the track and remove the progressive banking to try and reduce the racing grooves and force the cars back to tighter racing conditions where there should be more "action" as the fans have asked for. Will this be the change that brings the action back to Bristol? Only time will tell.
NASCAR has also introduced a number of safety measures since the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr back in 2001. They have introduced S.A.F.E.R. (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) Barriers, made H.A.N.S. (Head and Neck Support) mandatory, introduced the COT (car of tomorrow) which has gone through a few chassis designs itself since being put on the track, and put foam inside the cars as well to help contain and reduce the energy, directing it away from the driver, during a wreck. While one might think this would give a driver more confidence to drive a little more aggressive since they are less likely to get hurt, it seems to have had the opposite effect. The drivers may feel safer but they are also driving safer, taking less chances, making less mistakes, and keeping their cars intact until the end of the race.
So if the safety advances are not to blame, is it the points system that NASCAR has put into place now? Drivers have always raced for points in NASCAR on their way to chasing down a championship. When they introduced the Chase system, a sort of play offs for the drivers, the fans immediately reacted in the negative, but as time has worn on they have come to accept the new points system. In 2010 NASCAR changed the system again making it easier for the fans to keep up with the points and made the math more simple. Giving just one point per on track position plus bonuses for winning, leading a lap, and leading the most laps. Making every point count seemed to have a dulling effect on the drivers. Since each and every point is harder to attain now, drivers are staying safe, taking less chances, and doing what they can to maintain position without hurting their car so they can make it to the end of the race. Less chances means less aggression, less aggression means less wrecks, less wrecks equates to less on track action to the fans.
Mention any of this to NASCAR management and they will dismiss it immediately and tell you that it is the economy that is killing the races. Fans will tell you that they simply can no longer afford to go to the races. NASCAR has responded by helping the track reduce ticket prices, concession prices, and giving more value for the dollar. At the same time however they did nothing about asking the hotels and service providers in teh area to stop hosing the fans during their visit to the races. Granted the hotels make more money on these weekends than any other time time of the year, they still are way out of control. An average hotel room near Daytona which would rent for $75 per night during the rest of the year will rent for $275 a night during race week. Vacation homes for rent in the Daytona area which you can rent for a weeks vacation for $800 a week normally, jump up to $2500 for a week stay during race week, putting the average fan out of contention for renting. No lodgings, no fans at the race. There's definitely a relationship there.
All in all NASCAR continues to be a fan favorite, even with their declining numbers of late, and continues to deliver their races week after week. However ignoring the wishes of their fans has proven to be a ratings killer for the largest Autosports conglomeration in North America. It seems that just a little bit of each of the above mentioned points plays a part in the declining ratings and seat/ticket sales. Hopefully someone will find the winning formula and start NASCAR on it's way to bringing a solid product to the fans again, bringing more fans back to the races, and bring the ratings and sponsors back. Only time will tell.
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