Truth & Rumors > Auto Racing

Will Martinsville lose second race?

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08:14 AM ET 03.25 | This weekend, the Sprint Cup Series heads to Martinsville, the shortest track on the circuit. Of the tracks that have two races, Martinsville has the fewest seats (62,000) and is part of the Greensboro television market, which ranks 46th in the country. So when there's talk of which tracks should be cut to one race, Martinsville will almost always have a spot in that discussion. Martinsville needs to sell out its races. As of Sunday, there were still good seats available for this weekend. The race last October was nearly a sellout but not a complete one. Part of the blame has to go to the economy, with gas prices and everything. Teams aren't going to bring as many sponsors to Martinsville when they can bring them to races in bigger markets such as Texas and Phoenix coming up or in Charlotte, Atlanta or Texas in October.

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NASCAR, AP NASCAR, AP
March 25, 2008  08:36 AM ET

Would be yet another travesty to disenfranchise the fan base and by erasing racing history. Heard there is 2k tickets left. Also heard that Humpy is thinking of converting NH into a short track....and around the corner is potentially a new track in Denver. Connect the dots....and you will get a dollar sign kicking the rest of us in the ass.

March 25, 2008  10:44 AM ET

Get rid of Pocono.

March 25, 2008  11:11 AM ET

And New Hampshire.

March 25, 2008  11:15 AM ET

NO WAY THIS WOULD HAPPEN.PEOPLE LOVE SHORT TRACK RACING.BUMPING AND RUBBING IS RACING.ESP AT THE END OF CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP,COMING TO MARTINSVILLE LEADING IN THE POINTS,GET CAUGHT UP IN A WRECK,YOU COULD LEAVE MARTISVILLE-4 OR 5 IN POINTS.BUT THATS RACING.

March 25, 2008  12:25 PM ET

Great photo rusty - hilarious

March 25, 2008  12:35 PM ET

Sorry Rusty but it will happen. Why because NASCAR has forgotten it's roots. The small track loving people who started watching NASCAR long ago. All NASCAR seems to pander to is the west coast and corporate people now. I say get rid of Phoenix and don't build in Denver and here's a CRAZY idea let's bring back North Wilksboro instead......

March 25, 2008  12:36 PM ET

THANKS. LOL

March 25, 2008  12:44 PM ET

YEAH I AGREE TO RACER X .THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO THE ROOTS OF RACING.

March 25, 2008  01:55 PM ET

I also agree with Racer X. Dump Phoenix (and California for that matter) and alternate a race each year between North Wilkesboro and Rockingham.

March 25, 2008  05:33 PM ET

1) The history of NASCAR is rich with traditions, excitement, and even tragedies. But, the one underlying factor in the promulgation of this glorious sport is this: MONEY. Because of the money factor, tracks that were there in the beginning and that do not bring in the MONEY (regardless of what the money is needed for)... they will be shunted to the wayside for tracks that can bring in MONEY.
2) There is a good article on NASCAR.com, in the Opinion section written by Joe Menzer, that addresses the topic of a shorter schedule, more breaks for the drivers, AND to a small degree... tracks that underperform (it does include new & old tracks).

March 25, 2008  05:37 PM ET

Turning left is a sport?

March 25, 2008  06:08 PM ET

For the record, I am all for the old tracks coming back onto the schedule. I appreciate and enjoy NASCAR history and the older tracks hold that history.

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March 25, 2008  07:58 PM ET

Get rid of Pocono.

nascarzorin | 03/25/08, 10:44 AM
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I half agree. Get rid of one Pocono race. More emphasis on the good shorter tracks. Maybe even take about one Talladega for another road race. Let's bring some more twisting, turning skill back.

March 25, 2008  08:01 PM ET

Ah crap, let's do a dirt track, Friday night once a year. "Let's go mud racing boys!" I remember Speedway in Albuquerque, NM on Friday nights and sprints on Saturday nights. Saw Al Unser, Jr. race there. Fast kid. We used to sit above folks in the stands and, when the cars came by, throw mud into their beers. They thought it was the cars.

March 25, 2008  08:39 PM ET

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

1) Sport (noun) - a source of diversion/recreation; physical activity engaged in for pleasure.
2) Activity (noun) - a form of organized, supervised, often extracurricular recreation.
3) Recreation (noun) - a means of refreshment or diversion.
4) Diversion (noun) - something that diverts or amuses.
5) Divert (verb) - to give pleasure to especially by distracting the attention from what burdens or distresses.

Now what could possibly be more pleasurable or distracting than watching a NASCAR race?

March 25, 2008  09:10 PM ET

1) STP, apparently I touched a nerve. I, too, think the money thing is nuts, but it is reality. Unfortunately, NASCAR big-wigs do not have the urge to find a proper balance in regard to the many factors out there that impact/affect the sport (including money). Until they do, money, in my humble opinion, is the biggest factor that drives the sport (pun intended).
2) I also see what others see: bigger market areas do not always translate into more people (which bring in more money). But, as I mentioned in bullet #1, all that is seen is money, and we all know that most people cannot think straight when money is involved, especially NASCAR bigwigs.
3) I agree that a long schedule can be handled by the drivers: It is what they signed up for. But, again, there are many factors in the decision-making process (to include the human factor i.e. crew personnel, their family members, and so on). If the factors could be balanced, then maybe there would not be as much talk about needing to shorten the schedule.

March 25, 2008  09:12 PM ET

Hooah, the dirt track idea would be rather keen. Maybe they could turn that Tony Stewart charity race thing into an official points race and still benefit charity???

 
March 25, 2008  11:53 PM ET

Bring back Rockingham, and ditch a boring cookie cutter.

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