NASCAR Daily News Headlines * October 30, 2008

Tough Times Ahead For NASCAR

With the company’s tracks controlling more than half of all Sprint Cup race dates, the forecast offers the latest evidence of how the national economic malaise impacts the stock-car circuit.

The problems are straightforward: Companies pinched by credit markets, higher costs and other worries have grown leery of spending millions on advertising — in NASCAR or elsewhere. Those that do elect to move ahead with hefty marketing investments take a lot longer to make a decision, sending ripple effects of uncertainty coursing through speedways, race teams and others in the industry. In recent months, the ISC tracks have begun to see corporations cutting back on the amount spent entertaining clients at NASCAR races.

Fans, now preoccupied by fears of job security, higher grocery bills and other financial pressures, may decide to skip races and watch on TV instead.

If they do attend in person, they are more likely to cut back on souvenirs and concessions, yet more bad news for track operators. NASCAR fans who attend races earn a median income of $46,700, less than the overall national median income of $50,200, according to Wachovia Capital Markets research.

“In a tough time, you’ve got to meet other needs,” says Tim Conder, an analyst at Wachovia Capital Markets who follows ISC and its publicly traded rival, Speedway Motorsports Inc..

This month, as International Speedway reported third-quarter results, analysts praised NASCAR for its continued popularity and for improving TV ratings after two seasons of declining interest. Despite those strengths, the track operators, race teams and others in the sport will be unable to avoid the same economic worries blanketing the nation.

After a dismal 2008, economists and other experts now believe the economy will show little improvement next year, either.(scenedaily.com)

Rear Housing Legal

NASCAR took the rear housing to its research and development center in Concord, N.C., to be measured electronically and found it to be in compliance with the rules, according to the spokesman, so the team will not face any penalties.(scenedaily.com)

Johnson Just Needs To Average Ninth

He’s out front, leading the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings by 183 points over second-place Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) and 185 over third-place Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford). And once again, Johnson heads to a track where he won during last year’s remarkable, late Chase run.

In 2007, Johnson won four of the final five races to clinch his second series title. He didn’t win last week at Atlanta, but he rallied from early trouble to finish second behind Edwards, the winner. Now, he approaches the fall event at Texas with similar confidence, thanks in part to excellent pre-race Loop Data statistics.

Johnson is tied with two-time series champion Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) for the top pre-race Driver Rating (107.9). His average finish of 9.2 is second-best.

Certainly, much racing remains. Johnson must average a ninth-place finish over the final three races — at Texas, Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway — to clinch a third consecutive series title.

“I’m living inside my own head,” Johnson said. “I feel very good about where we’re at and I’m trying hard not to pay attention to outside opinions and what’s really going on out there. So, I’m just keeping my head down and staying focused on the things I can control.”