Bob Barnard Track Engineering

Who watched the Daytona telecasts last weekend? Certainly no one at the track. I can recall in the mid 2000's and before when people would come and camp for Speedweeks starting at the Rolex and stay through the 500, and watch the races. Not any more. One week before the 500 and the camp grounds are nearly empty, and the grandstands are totally empty. Granted a few turned up for the "demolition derby" they now call the "Unlimited." It was limited, to 18 cars, and by the time the race ended there were a lot less. Qualifying had nobody watching.

NASCAR has become a "made for television" event. The fees Fox et al pay are the only thing keeping this alive, you certainly cannot make money from admission any more. Makes you wonder why they are building a new stand at Daytona? The back stretch is coming out and going to Phoenix to replace the old front stretch there. So gone are the days of 250,000 plus at the 500.

There is some hope though with the crop of rookies racing this year. As I said we are seeing a new era with nearly a quarter of the field being rookies, and good ones too. Good racing might just turn this around.