NASCAR, We Have a Problem! - How to Get Fans Back

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NASCAR has a problem and it's not just NASCAR. That problem is low attendance at races. The NFL is facing it and certain MLB teams are also. Rating are also down but that is something that has been an issue for many many years and I have a few ways we could fix each and every issue NASCAR is facing today and it's something that needs to be done. Some of these things are coming into the eye sight of NASCAR while others need to enter their sights real quick. NASCAR isn't dying it's just wounded and needs some bandages and I feel these suggestions would be the perfect way to heal the wounds that are slowly killing the sport we love.

Shorter Races Make for Wild Finishes 

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One issue facing NASCAR right now is that we aren't appealing to the younger generation and really our audience is dying away. If you go to a race you won't see many fans under the age of 35. If you are heading to a race this season give that saying a look and you'll find the same results I found when I went to Talladega last month. One thing that hurts is the fact that no one wants to dedicate their time to watching a three to four hour race. Thats why I say shorten the 500 mile races to 300 miles, 400 mile races to 200 mile races, etc. If you shorten the races it'll in the long run save teams money on tires and fuel and will also give the fans a little more of strategy style races. The Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series races are these lengths and make for some very exciting races. This isn't the first move I would make but is one of the most needed things that needs to be addressed and changed. 

More Condensed Race Weekends 

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It's not the ticket prices that are killing the fans, it's the hotel prices and with this idea of More Condensed race weekends, you wouldn't need a hotel for more than a max of three nights and if hotels noticed quantity of people will come with a larger sum of money made for race weekend and the economy around the race track. My idea race weekend would consist of this. On Friday you would have Xfinity and Truck Series practice and a single qualifying sessions and afterwards you would have a mandatory Autograph Sessions where a driver can only miss if he has an illness. If applicable add K&N Pro Series or ARCA Racing Series on Friday. $5.00 would get you in the gate because in most cases if you are at the track on Friday you are camping in the infield or outside the track. Also camping is free with the purchase of a ticket to Sunday's race. On Saturday you would have a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice and following that the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series would take to the track, then following that race you would have the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. On Sunday you would start out with a new thing to NASCAR Called Hot Laps. Where the track is open for one hour and rather you want one lap or 100 laps you can do so. Fastest wins the pole for the race that starts following Hot Laps unless it's a Sunday Night race. If a Saturday Night race, move the schedule back. Add an autograph session for one hour before Hot Laps where a fan can meet Dale Jr. or Carl Edwards and get up close to their favorite drivers car before it hits the track for Hot Laps. Let's connect with the fans again. This could save fans money in the long run not only on hotel stay but also fans would feel like they are getting what they paid for. Trust me that $93 dollar ticket to Bristol a few years ago wasn't a big deal then so why is it such a big issue today?

Eliminate the Tents

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If NASCAR doesn't hear fans complaining about the new Fanatics Tent, they aren't listening because in my opinion this is the biggest thing that NASCAR has changed in the history of NASCAR that has irritated the fans to the breaking point. 

There isn't very much room, Prices are just so unreasonable, and you stick those Fanatics haulers outside the tent to just taunt the fans. I personally like the tents for one reason only and that is because they can cover the Underfunded teams in NASCAR. But when the items are so generic and everything is the same just with a different driver and number theme to it, you wonder why fans don't wanna pay close to $30.00 on a hat or T-Shirt. I vote you bring back the haulers and you do it rather fast because the fans aren't happy with tents. 

Return NASCAR Race-Day to Midway 

This was one of my favorites during race weekend and I always loved being in attendance for a taping of Trackside or being there live for NASCAR Raceday. It's the connection NASCAR and it's networks need to get back and it's an easy fix that NBC is trying with Countdown to Green. It was always fun to see Kenny Wallace and Jimmy Spencer giving their predictions for the race and I feel that if a network would pick it up it'd get viewed. Take it out of Charlotte and put it back in the connection stage with the fans, the ones who make Raceday great! "Make Raceday Great Again!"