NASCAR wants a smaller piece of the Rock

Yahoo! Sports ^ | 2/20/03 | Jenna Fryer - AP

[NormsRevenge]

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (AP) -- What was long a whisper in NASCAR circles is now a shout: North Carolina Speedway is in danger of losing one of its Winston Cup races.

Since NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr. said last month that the sanctioning body wants to change its schedule in 2004, the tiny 1.017-mile high-banked oval known as ``The Rock'' has been on the endangered species list.

Unable to sell out a race since expanding to 60,113 seats in 1999, the track is a prime target for France to swipe a date and move a Winston Cup race into a larger market.

Speedway general manager Chris Browning won't think about that possibility as the track prepares to host Sunday's Subway 400. But once the racing weekend is over, Browning knows Rockingham's fate could be decided.

The track's other event is in November.

``I'd expect that after the weekend, (realignment) will start to become more of an issue,'' he said.

NASCAR normally begins the sanctioning process in early summer.

But Browning expects talks to begin within the next month or so as International Speedway Corp., a France-family owned company that controls Rockingham, decides what to do.

North Carolina Speedway is right in the middle of a crowded racing market, and NASCAR wants to reach other parts of the country. Darlington Raceway in South Carolina and Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte are short drives from Rockingham and combine to host five Winston Cup races.

So even though there's nothing really wrong with Rockingham, NASCAR knows it could do better by filling seats in a larger market. Those likely to benefit if Rockingham loses a race: new ISC-owned tracks in Fontana, Calif., Kansas City and suburban Chicago.

With sagging ticket sales and a limited hotel and restaurant base, Browning knows Rockingham is in trouble.

``From a facility standpoint, we're right up there with anyone except those brand new tracks,'' Browning said. ``The things that are really impacting us in this decision are things that are beyond our control.

``We're not in a major market, and you can't pick the track up and take it to one. We're in a saturated market, which is frustrating for both us and our competition. And then there's our dates.''

Weather is always a factor for Rockingham's races. It's never really warm, and rain can be a problem (some is expected this weekend).

Still, competitors generally like Rockingham because of the emphasis it puts on a driver's skill. A gritty surface chews up tires, putting handling at a premium.

As the second race on the schedule, after the Daytona 500, Rockingham is generally considered a key test for teams.

``What you do at Rockingham is solely based on what you and your team can do with your race car, not what drafting line you're in or how the car behind you is going to affect your next move,'' Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart said.

``That's a track where you don't really worry about what everybody else's car is doing. You worry about what your car is doing. You're racing the race track.''

Updated at Thu, Feb 20 2003, 6:02pm ET

[NormsRevenge]

This week-end at the Rock

Saturday, Feb 22 - NASCAR Busch Series Rockingham 200

Sunday, Feb 23 - NASCAR Winston Cup Subway 400

[NormsRevenge]

Rockingham hasn't sold out in five years. (AP)

[NormsRevenge]

Race Capsule
What:	Race 2 of 36 on Winston Cup circuit
Where:	North Carolina Speedway, Rockingham, NC
When:	February 23, 2003
Laps:	393
Track Length:	1.017 miles
Race Length:	400.00 miles
Purse:	$4,058,278

[Mo1]

Is it just the March race that has this problem??

If so .. it might be because it's cold .. I think it even snowed one year

[tubebender]

Doesn't look like Burton Smith is going to benefit form this. He is suing France for another date for Texas. Thanks for all the posting you do. I try to read as many as possible.

[NormsRevenge]

It sounds like over-saturation with all the other major speedways near by.

I do know it gets cold in North Carolina and snows and such.

I hope we dont have another rain shortened event this week-end.

[NormsRevenge]

I hope they add another event at Las Vegas or in SoCal. They will get real good crowds.

[Mo1]

I guess it all comes down to money

This is when I miss the old days of NASCAR ..

[umgud]

I thought we weren't supposed to post racist threads?

[tubebender]

I have been to Sears Point and Las Vegas but between old age and the "drugs" I take plus the hurry up and wait at the airports I'm about through flying.

[NormsRevenge]

Event Capsule .. oops ;-)

[umgud]

Please put me on your NASCAR ping list, but don't laugh at me for being a #6 fan.

[WSGilcrest]

Thanks, Norm.
I was just racing there a few minutes ago and was gonna check the threads before bed. One tough track!

[WSGilcrest]

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

Great! So they're going to possibly do away with one of the races at "The Rock". What are they going to do? Switch the venue for another cookie cutter D-Shaped track?
What they need to do is fix up North Wilksboro and bring NASCAR back there.
I had season tix here at the California Speedway until this season and didn't renew because the race here is a yawn fest!
They need more short track racing IMHO.

BTW- if anyone here plays NASCAR Racing 2003 Season by Papyrus let me know if you have a good setup for The Rock. I've been working on one all night and am having a terrible time with tire wear on the RF. :)
I have a league race this Tuesday and I'm starting to panic. LOL

[WSGilcrest]

Never could get 2003 to run smooth on my old PIII 500. If you're ever around N3 give me a call. (A lot of people I race with have come back to N3 after trying 2003)

Say, is that you in the 001? Don't those things blow up?

[WSGilcrest]

http://www.oteracing.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=getit&lid=2188

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

LOL, yes that's me and no, I never blew up :) I had a racing tank in it.
Anyway, the physics in 2003 are amazing! Very close to realistic. Look into it if you upgrade your puter, you'll enjoy it :)
I am a partner in an online league called National Sim Racing Organization. NSRO.net
Let me know if and when you do, I'd love to have a fellow FReeper to turn some laps with.

[Pete'sWife]

Thanks for putting me on your list.

If NASCAR is looking to bail out of Rockingham, I guess there's absolutely no chance they'd go for a yearly race on a dirt track.

These new NASCAR weenies (with some notable exceptions) wouldn't know how to negotiate tight turns sideways.

[billbears]

I have to agree with you. I miss North Wilkesboro as well. Every once in a while ESPN Classic will show a race from the past up there. They just don't race like they used to