Is it time to change NASCAR’s traditional
race day?
For the second Chase for the Sprint Cup in
the past three seasons, NASCAR is seeing a significant ratings decline during
the 10-race playoff.
In the 2010 season, every Chase race except
for the season finale at Homestead, Fla., saw a ratings decline over the
previous season.
So far in 2012, in the six races run on the same
day as the year before – one was rained out in 2011 – TV ratings have been
equal or in most cases significantly down from 2011. The worst was this past
Sunday’s race at Martinsville, Va., which was off 22 percent from a year ago.
Small ratings increases and decreases happen
all the time for a variety of reasons, but anytime a sport loses one-fifth of
its audience, it should be a cause for concern.
In the last several years, NASCAR has tried
a variety of methods to recapture some of the TV audience lost in the past five
to eight years.
There have been numerous “tweaks” to the
Chase format and its rules.
Common race start times were tried, and then
abandoned.
NASCAR even loosened its authoritative grip
by allowing drivers to settle more of their issues between themselves on the
track.
While certainly the economy has seen
significant problems in the past four years, the NFL – NASCAR’s competition on
Sunday – has seen no similar significant declines.
So, the question arises, is it time to yield
to the NFL juggernaut rather than continue to compete against it side-by-side?
The NFL isn’t going anywhere, folks. In
fact, even during the time NASCAR grew dramatically in appeal and ratings, it
wasn’t because the NFL went south. The NFL grew, too, just not as much.
And there are no signs America’s fascination
with the gridiron will change.
Hence an idea: Why not make Saturday
afternoon the traditional race day for the Cup series?
Yes, there are lots of college football games
in the fall, but only the biggest games – a relatively small number – even come
close to bringing in the number of national viewers that NASCAR Cup races do.
While this change may be inconvenient for
ESPN/ABC as they broadcast dozens of college games on Saturdays, the network
would still benefit if, in fact, the audience for NASCAR grows because some
fans are no longer torn away by the NFL.
One other thing to consider: Fans and
particularly those who work in NASCAR generally enjoy Saturday day or night
races because it frees up a weekend day. It would be difficult to imagine at
least those in the industry not enjoying many Sundays off.
It would be a bold step. It would also step
on tradition.
But if the long-term success and vitality of
NASCAR itself would be better off, would it really be so bad?
