France notes trouble, voices confidence
Saturday, May. 16, 2009
CONCORD, N.C. - The crowds have been thinner, television ratings are down and top manufacturers and sponsors face serious financial problems.
The celebratory mood surrounding NASCAR's all-star race Saturday was tempered compared to years past. But NASCAR chairman Brian France remains optimistic - even as uncertainty looms with troubled automakers General Motors and Chrysler.
While GM considers bankruptcy, Chrysler is already in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and could face restrictions on the money spent on marketing.
Of the 53 cars entered in Saturday's all-star race and preliminary event, 29 carried either GM's Chevrolet or Chrysler's Dodge brand.
"They are current with all of their obligations with our sport," France said. "They're still going to be a company that needs to sell cars and trucks. We're still the best place in the country to do that from a sponsorship standpoint and the related benefits that you receive. And obviously those companies are going to have to make some tough choices."
GM announced Friday its dropping 20 percent of its dealers in a process to become a much smaller company.
NASCAR also is tied to the auto companies through additional sponsorship deals ranging from large television advertising buys to race naming rights deals.
"Our hope and expectation is that we will fare at the top of the list as to things you would not want to cut. I believe that to be true," France said. "We're obviously in close contact with our teams."
Traffic was noticeably lighter around Lowe's Motor Speedway Saturday afternoon than in previous years before the all-star race. What is troubling is that as fans stay away due to the recession, television ratings also have tailed off.
"We don't like to be down in our ratings, but it's important to understand in totality," France said. "NASCAR online, our video downloads are all at a record. Our shoulder programming, Truck Series, Nationwide, are up.
"We also didn't get off to the best start for us with a rain-shortened Daytona 500. We're in a momentum business."
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