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NASCAR research and development usually focuses on minute technical details such as gear ratios and air displacement. Last winter, one topic was fan displacement.
The racing giant took note of increasing numbers of empty seats and declining television ratings during the 2006 and '07 Cup seasons. It determined its most ardent supporters were watching six fewer minutes of the races. Research also showed those fans were attending half as many races as they used to – an average of three to five as opposed to six to 10.
NASCAR has addressed what it considers erosion to its foundation, the core fans who have followed the sport for years – long before there was a Chase, a Texas Motor Speedway, a Car of Tomorrow or a Toyota parked in Victory Lane.



NASCAR taking steps to keep its core fans happy | Sports News | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas

[Lefty Noob]

Good article. Of course, one of the things it points out right quick:
"NASCAR has addressed what it considers erosion to its foundation, the core fans who have followed the sport for years... [but] that doesn't mean going back to abandoned tracks such as Rockingham or North Wilkesboro"