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For some people, going to a NASCAR race is akin to a pilgrimage. They eagerly look forward to going to places like Talladega, Daytona, Texas, even Martinsville, for days, weeks, months – sometimes, even years.

And then, when it’s finally time to hop in the car or board a plane, they embark upon their journey with anticipation and excitement of their final destination.

It’s at their place of arrival, the Mecca they’ve come to worship at, that they’ll experience one of the most awesome assaults upon the senses, where everything they see, hear, smell, taste and touch is linked to NASCAR and stock car racing.

For many fans, three days of nothing but racing, eating and souvenir shopping gives them a feeling that life just doesn’t get any better than this. Typically, that means watching practice and qualifying on Friday, final practice and either a Nationwide Series or Camping World Truck Series race on Saturday, and then the main event on Sunday.

It’s been a tradition that’s been around for roughly the last two decades, one that fans have grown accustomed to and comfortable with. If they only go to one race a year, they want to get every possible second, minute and hour they can out of the hard-earned money they’ve spent to get there.

Unfortunately, that tradition is likely going to be shaved by one-third. According to various reports, NASCAR is examining the possibility of adding more two-day “shows” to the racing schedule in 2010. That means either just Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday action at the track.

But rather than criticize NASCAR, I’m commending the likes of Brian France, Mike Helton and other top brass. In an era of slipping attendance, TV ratings and sponsorships going away, more two-day events may be just the thing the sport needs to revitalize itself somewhat.

I’m not saying it’s the end-all and be-all answer to NASCAR’s ills, but it’s an idea that makes lots of sense.

First, NASCAR teams can save roughly one-third of their budget on race weekends. What typically costs between $300,000 and $600,000 per team, per weekend, has the potential to be cut to $200,000 to $400,000 per team if we go to two-day events.

Trust me, that’s a good-sized chunk of change. And add up the savings over the course of much of the 36-race regular season and teams could potentially save as much as $3 million per year.

Now, I can hear many of you loyal race fans starting to seethe and scream. Taking away one day for teams also means taking one day away from the whole weekend race experience. I understand that.

But at the same time, let’s look at what the cost savings could potentially mean to you. Sure, you’ll lose out on some time at the track. But look at the financial savings you’ll reap yourself. If you’re like many NASCAR fans, you typically go to more than one race per year.

Let’s say you go to four races now. Well, if you save one day of travel and lodging expenses with more two-day shows, voila, you just saved yourself enough money to do what?

Go to ANOTHER, extra race – if you so desire.

See how this all works? The more you save, even if it means less time at the track, the more you have left over to spend potentially at another race that you may not originally have attended.

Yes, going to a NASCAR race is an experience unlike most others. But really, think about it, how long did races last from say 1950 until the mid-1980s? For the most part, they were one, maybe two-day affairs at the most.

And, frankly, what other sport – other than NHRA drag racing (which is reportedly also exploring the idea of cutting down its own three- and four-day shows) – has three- or four-day stints?

Sure, you can say Major League Baseball, but really now, how many of us go to every game in a three- or four-game series? And then there’s the NFL, NBA and NHL, where their “shows” typically last about three hours. That’s it (unless the game goes into overtime).

There’s some events that I wouldn’t like to see cut to two days, places like Speedweeks at Daytona (although I’m hearing there may be some clipping of days under some consideration), or the Brickyard 400 and both events at Texas Motor Speedway or the lone event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

But seriously, do we REALLY need three days at Martinsville or New Hampshire or Atlanta (which, by the way, recently had its own two-day show that drew rave reviews).

Granted, the souvenir and food concession stands may suffer with one less day of on-track action. But then again, if you’re saving money on the front end by having one less day at the track, you’ll also have more money on the back end to buy more souvenirs or go out to a nicer restaurant than you normally would after an exhilarating day at the track.

I like the two-day show idea a lot. You might not, but at least give it a chance. And like I said earlier, if it means it allows you the opportunity to afford to go to maybe another one or two more races per year, doesn’t that make all of us – tracks, teams, owners, drivers, sponsors and fans – winners in the long run?

Posted by Jerry Bonkowski on 09/28 at 09:55 PM

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