[kidracer24]

I have a question about NASCAR history, What is the Ferko lawsuit? I knew It happened around the time I was getting into NASCAR but wasnt to involved with NASCAR like I am now, What is it and can someone explain to me because Wikipedia makes it confusing, I think It has to do with Darlington and Rockingham.

 

[mre1480]

Bascally, it was the lawsuit that got Texas a second race: [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferko_lawsuit"]Ferko lawsuit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

 

[kidracer24]

Bascally, it was the lawsuit that got Texas a second race: Ferko lawsuit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Really, Man that was a stupid move by NASCAR.

 

[mre1480]

Should have read the rest of your question, sorry.
Basically, as a settlement, NASCAR sold Rockingham to Bruton Smith, who took the one remaining race from there and gave it to Texas. The schedule was then shuffled, and Darlington, which was also down to one race, lost it's traditional Southern 500 race date and got moved to the spring/early summer. I forget how exactly the dates were assigned, but Texas and California got new races, while Rockingham was cut completely.

 

[kidracer24]

Should have read the rest of your question, sorry.
Basically, as a settlement, NASCAR sold Rockingham to Bruton Smith, who took the one remaining race from there and gave it to Texas. The schedule was then shuffled, and Darlington, which was also down to one race, lost it's traditional Southern 500 race date and got moved to the spring/early summer. I forget how exactly the dates were assigned, but Texas and California got new races, while Rockingham was cut completely.

Oh, ok. Gosh, never knew how greedy people are. Its never about the fans it seems like and less and less people go. Basiclly the start of the massive train wreck that NASCAR went through from I could say the late 90's to 2010.

 

[mre1480]

The sad thing is that we lost a lot of interesting and different tracks so that Bruton Smith could have 2 races at all of his cookie cutter tracks.

 

[kidracer24]

The sad thing is that we lost a lot of interesting and different tracks so that Bruton Smith could have 2 races at all of his cookie cutter tracks.

Makes me hate him more. Him and those SMI guys make fans mad. I like The guys at Pocono, they know how to have a good time. Cheap concessions, Mostly good sightlines. They didnt sell out the race names from 1997 to 2009. They may be boring but I hope they dont loose 2 dates.

 

[mre1480]

From everything I have read, Pocono's owning family has some prett close ties to the Frances, so they are pretty safe. That being said, my first race was at Pocono, and it almost killed my interest in the sport. It was a bad experience in just about every way.

 

[kidracer24]

From everything I have read, Pocono's owning family has some prett close ties to the Frances, so they are pretty safe. That being said, my first race was at Pocono, and it almost killed my interest in the sport. It was a bad experience in just about every way.

I went last year and had a blast. It may have changed over time but you never know. I can guess that it rained at Pocono and there was no wrecks/cautions.

 

[Hendrickfan54]

I hate Bruton Smith.. greedy as hell...

 

[racer48racer]

Oh, ok. Gosh, never knew how greedy people are. Its never about the fans it seems like and less and less people go. Basiclly the start of the massive train wreck that NASCAR went through from I could say the late 90's to 2010.

NASCAR is all about the money, trust me I know I have friends who are in the inside and they tell me that all the time when they tell me stuff. Welcome to the REAL world.

 

[Matt]

Oh, ok. Gosh, never knew how greedy people are. Its never about the fans it seems like and less and less people go. Basiclly the start of the massive train wreck that NASCAR went through from I could say the late 90's to 2010.

Oh god no dude.

NASCAR EXPLODED between mid '01 til about 2006, then it started to decline.

 

[Avi24]

NASCAR did not hit any problems until about 2005. The Ferko lawsuit was done simply because there was a promise of a second race at Texas for some reason. This promise of a second race basically put one of the current racetracks in danger and falling directly into the cross-hairs was Rockingham. Darlington got bumped too and then Atlanta soon after. Its weird to note that since the closing of Riverside, most of the tracks that lost races are in the Southeast (actually, all of them are in the Southeast).

 

[MouSe]

NASCAR did not hit any problems until about 2005. The Ferko lawsuit was done simply because there was a promise of a second race at Texas for some reason. This promise of a second race basically put one of the current racetracks in danger and falling directly into the cross-hairs was Rockingham. Darlington got bumped too and then Atlanta soon after. Its weird to note that since the closing of Riverside, most of the tracks that lost races are in the Southeast (actually, all of them are in the Southeast).

Southeast, the birthplace of NASCAR




Shut down all your tracks

 

[taterracing]

Look at the diversity of drivers we have. They're not all from North Carolina and Alabama any more. They're coast-to-coast and even global. Other cities and states have shown demand for NASCAR and tracks have sprouted up accordingly.

In 1992 there were 29 races on the schedule. 30 in 1993, 31 in 1995, 32 in 1997, 33 in 1998, 34 in 1999, 36 in 2001. We're tapped out for race dates. Something had to give.

First it was North Wilkesboro, then Rockingham, then Darlington, then Atlanta. Even Fontana had its second date axed.

The demand was there from all over the country, something had to give. And because of the cluster of races in the southeast... it was only logical.

Now with the poor economy, everywhere is hurting. Did anyone else notice the fairly low headcount at Bristol on Sunday? Bristol, what was once the hardest ticket to get. Which had the longest sellout streak with Loudon a distant second.

 

[Avi24]

Look at the diversity of drivers we have. They're not all from North Carolina and Alabama any more. They're coast-to-coast and even global. Other cities and states have shown demand for NASCAR and tracks have sprouted up accordingly.

In 1992 there were 29 races on the schedule. 30 in 1993, 31 in 1995, 32 in 1997, 33 in 1998, 34 in 1999, 36 in 2001. We're tapped out for race dates. Something had to give.

First it was North Wilkesboro, then Rockingham, then Darlington, then Atlanta. Even Fontana had its second date axed.

The demand was there from all over the country, something had to give. And because of the cluster of races in the southeast... it was only logical.

Now with the poor economy, everywhere is hurting. Did anyone else notice the fairly low headcount at Bristol on Sunday? Bristol, what was once the hardest ticket to get. Which had the longest sellout streak with Loudon a distant second.

The problem is now that NASCAR has lost fans but there can't seem to be any explanation as to why:

Is it due to the economy? Most likely it is a main reason but attendance was down prior to the collapse as well so there is an underlying reason.

Is it due to the tracks on the circuit? Doubtful. The tracks are well spread out so even if people don't like track X there will be others who will go because they do like that track.

There are other reasons as well.

 

[taterracing]

The problem is now that NASCAR has lost fans but there can't seem to be any explanation as to why:

Is it due to the economy? Most likely it is a main reason but attendance was down prior to the collapse as well so there is an underlying reason.

Is it due to the tracks on the circuit? Doubtful. The tracks are well spread out so even if people don't like track X there will be others who will go because they do like that track.

There are other reasons as well.

There are absolutely other reasons. Care to mention any?

Fan apathy is a huge one. What's there to be excited about? Too many bland, colorless drivers (ofcourse, they're programmed that way and NASCAR disciplines them if they get out of hand).

Everything's so corporate now. It's hard for the average fan to relate to, not only the drivers, but everyone. Millionaire drivers, corporate executives who don't even see the halfway mark before they've already left the track.

And backlash from fans who feel that NASCAR has betrayed them by moving races and being so corporate. NASCAR gained many fans by doing just that, but many were bandwagon fans who will hop on the next 'hot thing.' Right now, that hot thing might be the UFC/MMA.

The economy can't be understated, however. But yes, there are hundreds of contributing factors.

 

[Texas3]

Do I think Texas MS needs 2 dates? No.
But, I go to both, I remember watching TNT the old tracks, and wish they were still on the sched.
After the poor attendence at Bristol last week, that crowd number could be a sell out at N. Wilksboro, the Rock, or Darlington.

As far as drivers being manufactured, bland, vanilla
compare Trevor Bayne to Tim Richmond ; )
Or a Matt Kenseth to Davey Allison ?
the mid-late 80's were great

 

[TJC]

Don't get me wrong, I love North Wilkesboro, Rockingham, and Darlington. Atlanta is an SMI cookie cutter track, but has had so many great moments. I wish all of those tracks still had two races each. I'm thrilled that the truck series is going to run the Rock. Thank you Andy Hillenburg for doing what it takes to get NASCAR back.

However, you have to go where the money is. Texas Motor Speedway is in the middle of one of NASCAR's biggest markets. That's why they now have two races.

The market in the southeast was/is dwindling. I hate that, but it's true. I never thought I'd see the day when Bristol has 60,000 empty seats.

I've been to races as SMI tracks, and I've been to ISC tracks, and a few 'independents,' and I've got to say Bruton and his track promoters do WAY more for the fans than anyone else. They listen to the fans and they do what they say they're going to. At every SMI track I've been to, it's evident that everyone who works there values the fans, from Bruton Smith, to the track promoters, to the people in the ticket office, to the ones selling hot dogs and cleaning up trash.

Greedy or not, I'm a big Bruton Smith fan.