Finally, Good News About TV Ratings And Truck Series’ Future
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Over the years, I’ve been described by some people as being overly critical or “too negative” (according to one NASCAR official) about the sport of stock car racing and the sanctioning body that runs it.
Unfortunately, my critics – including said unnamed NASCAR official – just don’t get it. Or, should I say, they just don’t get me and my true intentions.
I absolutely love this sport, always have, always will. If I am critical, it’s because I want the sport to improve, to thrive and become even more popular; I’m typically only critical if I see things that I feel may be impeding that forward progress.
That being said, I’m going to be positive in today’s blog about things I have criticized in the past, because I see some of that forward progress.
First off, for the first time this season, TV ratings in a race were up from last year’s event. That’s right, ratings of Sunday’s TNT telecast of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway were up 2.5 percent (cable ratings, 4.1 from last year’s 4.0) and 1.1 percent in estimated TV viewers (5.55 million viewers, vs. 5.495 million that watched last year’s race).
Even though the increases are small, they’re still increases nonetheless. That’s great news as far as I’m concerned. Let’s hope Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona also sees higher TV ratings.
The other item is about the future of the Camping World Truck Series. Reports in recent weeks have had NASCAR, due to the struggling economy, considering ending what I consider one of the most exciting forms of motorsports in the world.
Fortunately, Tuesday, NASCAR VP of Corporate Communications, Jim Hunter, said the truck series is safe and that it will not close up shop now, at the end of the season or anytime in the foreseeable future.
Now, that doesn’t mean the truck series isn’t struggling. It is. One need look only at how defending champion Johnny Benson couldn’t find sponsorship for the season and lost his ride three weeks ago.
NASCAR is reportedly looking at a number of options to further contain costs, including one-day shows (which I think is a GREAT idea), reducing traveling crews, and even reducing the schedule from the current slate of 25 races to perhaps 20 (which I would hate to see, but it may be a financial reality and necessity for long-term survival).
Sure, the series may have to bite the bullet somewhat, but I’d much rather see it do that than be totally eliminated. Don’t you agree?
