AboutCoy Jordan Expertise I can answer any questions about drivers, cars, crews, teams, shops, championchips and any technical question about the rules and regulations of NASCAR. The only question I might not be able to answer is one that deals with the small parts inside the car that help the car's performance, but the stuff such as the body, engine, and spoiler are easy.
Expert: Coy Jordan Date: 5/5/2008 Subject: NASCAR attendance
Question QUESTION: Sick of "NASCAR fan" being used as perjorative. Please tell me how to find annual attendance figs by year for NASCAR events. Breakdown by series helpful. The more detail and references the better, as I am attempting to counter the negative images promulgated by local and national media with facts. Even figures for just 2007 would be great. I am an avid fan since 1951.
ANSWER: Hi Mr. Rich,
I don't really know about the decrease in attendance and what to attribute it to. It could be that gas prices are discouraging fans to not make the journey to the track. It also could be attributed to the wearing off of the glory of the "Race to the Chase" advertisement, the final 10-race playoff series. But i would reference http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2006-11-14-nascar-cover_x.htm to get real stats and info.
Hope i helped!
Coy Jordan
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Mr. Jordon, your answer was very helpful. Still desire to have more on the demographics of NASCAR fans. Image promoted by media is that we are a bunch of beer-swilling rednecks. One guest on a local talk show claimed that wrecks were the only reason fans went to races, and that "any jerk can drive a car in a circle for 300 miles". That is the imagery I wish to counter with factual data. Any references you can give me would be greatly appreciated. There are surely sources of financial data showing the amounts of money involved, the technology and safety spinoffs, advertising value, etc.
Answer Well, your quote about "any jerk can drive a car in a circle for 300 miles" is certainly not true, as you well know. Most think that nascar cars are built like passenger cars (comfort and ease.) The cars are built for speed and nothing else. It can be over 130 degrees in a car, and the seats with the HANS device are really uncomfortable. Plus the drivers have to turn that car against severval G forces and when you add centrifugal force, that equals a lot of strength. The pit guys are also athletes, every jack, tire, and gas tank weighs a ton, and those guys throw those around like 5 pound weights! As far as your demographics are concerned, "http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=476206" has a pretty good list of them. I dont know the date that data was taken. But to answer your question about the money in a quick fashion, a sprint cup car cost $600,000. Additionally, one team, say the number 88 team, will cost the owner $20 million to run one full year in the circuit. So Rick Hendrick, with the 24, 48, 5, and 88 cars in the series costs him well over $80-$100 million dollars each year. He has some of the best in the buisness, so it probably cost him a lot more to keep those guys in his garage.
If you have another question, or would like clarification, please send another follow-up!
