Daytona 500 Pace car and empty seats!
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jan 2002
Location: Close to DC
Posts: 14,534
Received 2,126 Likes
on
1,465 Posts
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Daytona 500 Pace car and empty seats!
I'm sure many of us will be watching the big race today, but I see that the pace car will not be a Vette...oh well! Of other interest is the fact that the race track has painted all the seats various colors in random positions. From a distance it will fool you to think that the stands are packed. Look again! It's another indicator of the dropping attendance at NASCAR events. Check it out. Dennis
#2
Team Owner
Member Since: Feb 2003
Location: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
Posts: 48,980
Received 6,926 Likes
on
4,774 Posts
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Dennis welcome to 15 years ago. tracks are removing grand stands now to skew the attendance numbers
#3
They can come and take my sofa because I won't be sitting on to watch manufactured excitement.
There must be a dirt sprint car race on from somewhere.
There must be a dirt sprint car race on from somewhere.
#7
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Greenville, Indiana
Posts: 26,118
Received 1,843 Likes
on
1,398 Posts
I've been listening to nascar on the radio since 1955 and TV since it started being broad cast.
I remember when the grandstands were one third or less the size they are now and they were packed. If you had stands the size they had 30-40 years ago, you'd have a bunch of outraged fans that couldn't get in.
If I'm not mistaken (and I could be) in recent years, the TV networks paid nascar extra for every empty seat that wasn't sold. So, what did the tracks do? Obvious, ain't? They built more seats and didn't care if they sold them or not. But it is true, at one time, they sold out.
If you'd prefer to watch the NFL instead, go for it. It's pretty popular now.
Yes, sprints are pretty cool too.
I remember when the grandstands were one third or less the size they are now and they were packed. If you had stands the size they had 30-40 years ago, you'd have a bunch of outraged fans that couldn't get in.
If I'm not mistaken (and I could be) in recent years, the TV networks paid nascar extra for every empty seat that wasn't sold. So, what did the tracks do? Obvious, ain't? They built more seats and didn't care if they sold them or not. But it is true, at one time, they sold out.
If you'd prefer to watch the NFL instead, go for it. It's pretty popular now.
Yes, sprints are pretty cool too.
#8
Race Director
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jan 2002
Location: Close to DC
Posts: 14,534
Received 2,126 Likes
on
1,465 Posts
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Keith, I don't need to be told of the past. I WAS part of the past. I pit crewed/mechanic on a Late Model Sportsman car in the mid seventies in the mid Atlantic tracks. NASCAR turned the page way back. Dennis
#9
Team Owner
Member Since: Feb 2003
Location: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
Posts: 48,980
Received 6,926 Likes
on
4,774 Posts
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Dennis when I was younger and use to go to NASCAR races it was years out to buy tickets to most tracks. Now those same tracks can’t give tickets away
#10
Race Director
Member Since: Nov 2003
Location: Cottonwood AZ
Posts: 10,698
Received 3,048 Likes
on
1,934 Posts
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I have never been a fan of any oval track type race and especially of NASCAR. They lost me when all of the cars became pill shaped look a likes that you can't tell a Chevy from a Dodge. It is boring to see them running around like bees and not being able to determine who is in what place without an announcer. Give my a drag or road race any day.
#11
Race Director
My GF calls it motorized roller derby. Its not like it was in the 1960s and early 1970s.
I was watching some old clips and in 1965 or 1966 one guy was running a 1965/6 convertible Caprice or Impala BB with the top down,and i don't recall seeing a roll bar.
Doug
I was watching some old clips and in 1965 or 1966 one guy was running a 1965/6 convertible Caprice or Impala BB with the top down,and i don't recall seeing a roll bar.
Doug
#12
Burning Brakes
For "real" racing go to your local bullring. Anything from 1/4 to 1/2 mile either asphalt or dirt. Not a lot of money involved but pride is a great motivator. i am a weekly fan at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester NH. Most competitive class is ministock ! (And most cars are recognizable).
#14
Melting Slicks
Interesting and I doubt he was lying. I think "our generation" referring to "us all" who are over 50....we are disappointed in the way NASCAR has evolved...they must make some money or they wouldn't be doing it. I like many different racing/car sport venues and I can recognize that NASCAR is a commercial deal that may have outlived its era...Its disappointing. I have this idea that they should bring in a sort of restomod logic, where they rule that only sedan body styles and dimensions from '64-'72 should be allowed, no outer factory body mods, but can have chin spoiler and wing...then modern frame and motors....It would be cool for folks my age or ...maybe just me.....I would watch...me, my dogs and maybe....some others....
#15
Race Director
Seems like most forms of outdoor entertainment are taking a hit. Golf courses are shutting down left and right, NFL has lost a percentage of their viewers and for various reasons, etc. It seems like actually going and doing something is losing to texting and sitting in the basement on the computer.
#16
Le Mans Master
My perception (without research) is that over the past ten years Petit Le Mans gets bigger and better albeit more overcrowded. Daytona 24 was a hoot this year.
I hope IMSA keeps doing its thing. I couldn't care less about NASCAR.
I hope IMSA keeps doing its thing. I couldn't care less about NASCAR.
#17
Safety Car
Member Since: Jan 2000
Location: Poway CA
Posts: 4,844
Received 1,295 Likes
on
560 Posts
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C1 of Year Finalist (stock)
2016 C1 of Year Finalist
In bed with the flu today was the only reason I watched..
Seriously, it's laughable they call that auto racing....
IMSA is gaining popularity.. Go Corvette!
Seriously, it's laughable they call that auto racing....
IMSA is gaining popularity.. Go Corvette!
#18
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Apr 2002
Location: Ellicott City Maryland
Posts: 2,880
Received 1,962 Likes
on
664 Posts
Dale Jr wasn't lying - it was sold out! Now . . . check out the rest of the story as they used to say!
https://jalopnik.com/the-daytona-500...k-r-1823115572
https://jalopnik.com/the-daytona-500...k-r-1823115572
#20
Le Mans Master
I'm sure many of us will be watching the big race today, but I see that the pace car will not be a Vette...oh well! Of other interest is the fact that the race track has painted all the seats various colors in random positions. From a distance it will fool you to think that the stands are packed. Look again! It's another indicator of the dropping attendance at NASCAR events. Check it out. Dennis