[oncea3fan]

Kansas will get a 2nd date in 2011.

so where will it come from , or will they extend the season.
will they pull one from cali, atlanta , or martinsville

[Lefturn]

I would love for NASCAR to take a Fontana race but it will likely be Martinsville

[HendrickMoto]

Kansas is not getting a date until the lawsuit problems end, and I don't see that coming to a close any time soon.
EDIT: Sorry, I was thinking of Kentucky. Man, I need some sleep lol. Anyways, I would take the date from Cali.

[Robertdjr]

My guess would be the Spring race at Atlanta since they just got the Labor Day weekend, and the Spring race attendance is way down.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by oncea3fan

Kansas will get a 2nd date in 2011.

so where will it come from , or will they extend the season.
will they pull one from cali, atlanta , or martinsville

You can probably scratch Atlanta because it's an SMI track.

California is a huge market area so it's probably safe.

The only thing Martinsville has going for it is some of the best racing NA__AR currently has. It's the last of NA__AR original track locations and has a long tradition. But, we know how NA__AR feels about tradition. Ask the folks at North Wilksboro, Rockingham and Darlington about that one!

Isolated track, very small market area, small track, it only has 65,000 seats, compared to California's 95,000.

No race fans wants to hear this but my guess is that the Spring race at Martinsville will be one of history's footnotes UNLESS NA__AR really give SMI something big, big enough for SMI to let one of Atlanta's races go.

[Jeffrey4396]

I disagree that Martinsville is the best racing Nascar has. If you ask me the track is just too small for the size of the field that they put out there.

Right now I'd say California. It doesn't matter if it is in the biggest market. If the track is not making any money it will lose a race.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4396

I disagree that Martinsville is the best racing Nascar has. If you ask me the track is just too small for the size of the field that they put out there.

Right now I'd say California. It doesn't matter if it is in the biggest market. If the track is not making any money it will lose a race.

No argument from me on that one, Jeffery. I've been complaining since 1997 that forty-three cars on a half-mile track is ridiculous. When they started a max of 34 or so it made for better racing.

However, compare Martinsville to California, Michigan, Pocono, or the Brickyard and some of the worst racing at Martinsville wins hands down 90% of the time, IMNSVHO.

I'm not sure that the "Suits" in Daytona Beach are as concerned about Fontana losing money as they are enamoured with the idea that NA__AR actually has a presence in SoCal. It's the same type of dead horse they were beating when they did everything to try and get a track in the NYC area. They bought property for $150 million and the last I heard they couldn't find a buyer for the land at $80 million!!?? Compared to that, the money California loses is chickenfeed.

[Stewart Fan]

Kansas can have a second race if they take it from Cali or Pocono!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Stewart Fan

Kansas can have a second race if they take it from Cali or Pocono!

Pocono? Possible but Dr. Joe Mattioli will fight the loss as hard as he can and the date will have toenail and fingernail marks all over it where he held on to ut as long as he could.

All Pocono needs is a 300 mile race, vice the current 500 miler.

Forget California losing a date. It needs to (I'd go for losing both of it's alleged racing dates) but it'll never happen. It's a major market. NA__AR'd pull the Firecracker 400 out of Daytona before they give up California.

[loco4pablo]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

No argument from me on that one, Jeffery. I've been complaining since 1997 that forty-three cars on a half-mile track is ridiculous. When they started a max of 34 or so it made for better racing.

However, compare Martinsville to California, Michigan, Pocono, or the Brickyard and some of the worst racing at Martinsville wins hands down 90% of the time, IMNSVHO.

I'm not sure that the "Suits" in Daytona Beach are as concerned about Fontana losing money as they are enamoured with the idea that NA__AR actually has a presence in SoCal. It's the same type of dead horse they were beating when they did everything to try and get a track in the NYC area. They bought property for $150 million and the last I heard they couldn't find a buyer for the land at $80 million!!?? Compared to that, the money California loses is chickenfeed.

IMO The reason NASCAR came to Southern Cali (twice) and will continue to be there is because the corporations want to be there. The Corporations are pouring millions and millions into the sport and they want to market their products in the South Cali market. Sure Martinsville is fine and dandy at a traditional point of view and the NASCAR purist want races there (as do I) But the reality of todays world is the Corporations which run this sport don't!
They want luxury boxes and suites, Hyatt hotels and private airports to Jet into. Martinsville doesn't provide any of that and Martinsville Va. isn't a market sponsors target.
It's just the reality and NASCAR is making more money on a half filled Fontana then a sold out Martinsville because of the sponsor money coming in.

My problem is I don't care if they leave the town of Martinsville or Wilksboro or Rockingham for places like Fontana, Vegas and Kansas...I DON'T CARE!! My problem is the types of race tracks they are racing on. The cookie cutter track turned NASCAR into a snooze fest and makes the season too long. Now had they built another Martinsville in Fontana (but modernized it) I wouldn't have an issue or if they had made Kansas into another new and improved Rockingham I wouldn't have a problem with it either.
I think what caused this cookie cutter invasion was the track owners were building tracks that could support all forms of racing such as the IRL.... But we know what happened to the IRL.

[nascaraddict]

Originally Posted by oncea3fan

Kansas will get a 2nd date in 2011.

so where will it come from , or will they extend the season.
will they pull one from cali, atlanta , or martinsville

Oh boy. A boring track gets a second date.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by nascaraddict

Oh boy. A boring track gets a second date.

Didn't you mean to say "Another boring track...?"

I guess you didn't get the memo? It's not longer about racing. In today's NA__AR, image (a race date in a major market or at a "destination" site) trumps substance (good racing and tradition) every time the cards are dealt.

[nascaraddict]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Didn't you mean to say "Another boring track...?"

I guess you didn't get the memo? It's not longer about racing. In today's NA__AR, image (a race date in a major market or at a "destination" site) trumps substance (good racing and tradition) every time the cards are dealt.

My many appoligies. You're right.


__________________________________________________ ___________


Give blood. It's about life. Pass it on.

[Stewart Fan]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Forget California losing a date. It needs to (I'd go for losing both of it's alleged racing dates) but it'll never happen. It's a major market. NA__AR'd pull the Firecracker 400 out of Daytona before they give up California.

I just don't see how they can keep going there when the stands are half empty. I mean it would be different if they were selling out the place but....

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Stewart Fan

I just don't see how they can keep going there when the stands are half empty. I mean it would be different if they were selling out the place but....

At the great risk of drawing the ire of loco4pablo, I'm going to answer you with his quote froma recent post. He said it better than I ever could:
"IMO The reason NASCAR came to Southern Cali (twice) and will continue to be there is because the corporations want to be there. The Corporations are pouring millions and millions into the sport and they want to market their products in the South Cali market. Sure Martinsville is fine and dandy at a traditional point of view and the NASCAR purist want races there (as do I) But the reality of todays world is the Corporations which run this sport don't!"

They simply don't care about the empty seat, EXCEPT for the negative image and the similar press it gets. Just BEING in SoCal is enough.

I know that's a hard concept for the fan to get their head around but just look at all the effort and money NA__AR put out to attempt to get a track in the NYC area. For what?... Maybe 1500 more or less loyal NYC fans?

Loco nailed it in his last sentence when he stated that the corporations want the races in the major markets. The tickets will be sold in blocks and so what if the people don't show up? The corporations and NA__AR are happy even if the fans are frustrated.

Believe me, IF NA__AR were to take a race from Calif., there would be some behind-the-scenes action and paybacks which would boggle our minds.