[Robertdjr]

NASCAR has revealed that it would consider hosting exhibition races in Europe to boost the profile of stock-car racing in the region.

European racing is dominated by single-seaters such as Formula One, as well as touring cars, while some of the most popular stock-car series there take place on dirt tracks. George Silbermann, NASCAR's vice president of regional and touring series, says that the purpose of hosting races in Europe would be to build up interest in the market.

“NASCAR's philosophy has evolved over the years, from the NASCAR exhibition race model of the 1990s -- when we ran several races in Japan -- to the more recent model we implemented beginning with Mexico,” said Silbermann.

Hosting international NASCAR races is not a new idea. Long before the exhibition races of the 1990s, NASCAR raced in Europe under the stewardship of its co-founder, Bill France Sr. In 1955, seven years after the first NASCAR race, France arranged for several stock cars, known as the “White Ghosts,” to be transported to Europe where they raced in existing events to help promote interest in the sport. It may not be long before history repeats itself.

NASCAR considering European races - Autoweek


Love that last paragraph. Did not know about the "White Ghosts".

[kkfan91]

Be interesting but probably wouldn't catch on.

[R.Lee]

Like the article said, not allot different than what they did for a couple of years, in Japan and for a short time, in Australia as well. Also, like it says, this is not the first time they've done this in Europe. They have a superspeedway in Rockingham, England, that I think, would be good, as well as one in Germany. Like the article says, NASCAR has a touring series, patterned after the K&N Series established in Europe, you can read about it at NASCAR Home Tracks. This year will be their second season in operation. Several short tracks have sprung up over there, one of them is a dead ringer for Bowman-Gray, in North Carolina. Go back a few years, drop Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly onto that track and they would feel right at home! My guess is that they will probably run exibition races there for a year or two, to promote the NASCAR Europe Series, try to build interest in stock car racing. Time will tell if is does catch on or not.

[Bassdogs]

Think this is a dumb idea. Europeans are, well they just are. What does Nascar hope to achieve? Would never be financially possible to actual race there. Maybe a TV audience. Maybe they just ought to focus on the domestic product.

[Lee Roy]

"Be interesting but probably wouldn't catch on."

NASCAR has a European Series:

Euro-Racecar NASCAR


As well as a Mexican and a Canadian series:

Nascar Toyota Series : Mega Foto

NASCAR Home Tracks | The Soul of NASCAR

[bob101]

NASCAR should probably worry about getting stuff here at home in order before they branch out any further. NASCAR has some serious issues that if they don't get a handle on they will hemorrage viewers and fans due to the natural aging of their current fan base.

[kkfan91]

Originally Posted by Lee Roy

NASCAR has a European Series:

Euro-Racecar NASCAR


As well as a Mexican and a Canadian series:

Nascar Toyota Series : Mega Foto

NASCAR Home Tracks | The Soul of NASCAR

I know that I'm saying though it isn't like it jumped to the top of popularity there.

[Lee Roy]

Originally Posted by kkfan91

I know that I'm saying though it isn't like it jumped to the top of popularity there.

I don't think anyone ever expects it to "jump to the top of popularity". I think that the "powers that be" in Daytona are just happy that a NASCAR European series exists, and is apparenty moderately successful, at least enough to plan another season.

[nascaraddict]

I think that it would go over about as well as flatulance in a diving helmet.