Trouble in Turn2

Let’s face it, NASCAR has had a rough 2008. They introduced a new car that no one really likes, are facing a lawsuit that apparently has legs, are facing shrinking attendance and now they see their second biggest race of the season become a debacle. They could use a positive turn. The easiest way to win fans back is to make the sport even more appealing to fans. With my unsolicited help, here are a few places where NASCAR could make up for some of the low points of 2008. [I realize not all of these ideas will be instant hits. In fact some of these ideas lack details, vision and may even seem half-baked and ridiculous. But this is NASCAR we’re talking about. Their pet project, the CoT, was rather poorly executed, but it’s on the track every week.]

• NASCAR grants Robby Gordon one free helmet toss per season without fear of penalty. Tell me you wouldn’t tune in on any Sunday and say, “Is this the week Robby loses it?”

• Hold a Throwback Race. Retro paint schemes, 1949 prices, and all of the drivers will assume cool nicknames like Fireball, Smokey, Ralph, Red and Crawfish.

• Kasey Kahne Kissing Booth. No explanation needed. Kasey’s sacrifice for the greater good would be repaid with the annual Kasey Kahne Blistex500400 at Pocono.

• Begin a dialog with other tire manufacturers. This is not to say that ditching Goodyear would solve the problems but listening to what other ideas and solutions are out there can’t hurt. Plus nothing counters complacency like competition or the threat of competition.

• With NASCAR’s financial backing, tracks can offer partial refunds or discounts on future races in the event of fiascoes like the Brickyard. It would be costly for NASCAR, but not as costly as having hundreds of thousands of dissatisfied fans.

• Build a football field in the Talladega infield. During the fall race NASCAR could partner with the SEC for a Racing and Running Weekend. Bruton Smith had the idea for Bristol a few years ago, but the Talladega race falls in the heart of college football season. The NHL has pulled off outdoor games with great success, this is NASCAR’s chance to capitalize on the perfect cross-promotion. What NASCAR fan isn’t a college football fan? Which leads to the next point…

• Have an IRL/NASCAR companion weekend. Now that open wheel racing is again consolidated in the US, NASCAR can no longer dismiss its status and second rate. The Truck Series already shares select dates with IRL, but it’s time for NASCAR and IRL to realize the benefit of their combined efforts. That kind of publicity would be good for motorsports as a whole (of course NASAR faces the risk of IRL putting on a better show).

• Continue to revamp the Nationwide Series. NASCAR’s second tier series needs a new identity. Nationwide entering as the new title sponsor has helped, but the governing body needs to continue to find more ways to create a distinct series that isn’t just a place for the Cup stars to run rampant. This is especially important during a recession when many families can’t afford to go to two races in a weekend.

• Impound one engineer from each multi-car team, sequester them at NASCAR’s research center in Charlotte and lock the door until they find a way to make the CoT drive like a real racecar.

I won’t go so far as saying that the Indianapolis disaster should serve as a wakeup call for NASCAR. Overall things are going well, but lots of fans are growing tired of the way things are headed. High prices amid a recession only increase that sentiment. The biggest key is to appeal directly to the fans and find fresh ways to do that.