HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- NASCAR Chairman Brian France held an impromptu news conference Friday at Homestead Miami Speedway, addressing topics from NASCAR's legal battle with driver Jeremy Mayfield, to shortening the schedule, to the Chase for the Championship format and the possibility of Danica Patrick coming to NASCAR.Generally speaking and considering the poor state of the economy, France said he's pleased with the season although he'd love to have fuller fields of cars carrying more corporate sponsorship and better television ratings. He said the COT is here to stay and he doubts NASCAR will start shortening the lengths of races.
Here are excerpts from France's meeting with reporters.
On Jeremy Mayfield's court case against NASCAR, which is becoming increasingly personal and bitter: "We believe we made the right decisions to make an already tough policy ever tougher. Very imperative that we prove our policy, which we did. ...
"I will say it this way,'' France continued, "I've had a lot of experience with trial lawyers -- more than I'd like -- and with trial lawyers I've never been surprised what they would say to help someone they're representing. Nothing surprises me about trial lawyers. Our preference is never to be in litigation, we make rules and hope people will abide by them. ''
*On Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway racing: "A lot of things in my view were misrepresented, but regardless, we had an exciting race. I know a lot of people will debate that, but we always look carefully at Talladega in the fall to see what changes we may need to make for the following Daytona 500. What usually comes out of Talladega is what adjustments we'll make headed to Daytona.
"There's no question that Talladega and Daytona are our two highest-rated races. We've got to make sure racing is safe, then make sure it's typical Talladega and Daytona racing.''
*On teams attracting sponsorship: "Our cost structure is a function of the free market and what's available at the time. You're always going to have teams that are underfunded, that's not anything new. My sense is it is difficult, but it will be fine. We're starting to see the ice thawing on that a little. We still have the best value proposition in sports. It's still the only way a company can brand on the playing field, the way we do.''
*On current testing limitations: "There is some perfect balance between some testing and no testing at all. We chose to go the route of cost-saving, knowing there are some consequences. As we dial it back as the economy gets better, I don't think we'll dial it back to where it was years ago, but we'll be dialing as we go watching the economy.''
*On Chase format: "With this format to dominate four straight years, is incredible. We could not predict anyone would have the performance Jimmie (Johnson) has had. It's all about how you look at it, but obviously we look at adjustments to the format every year anyway and we'll be looking at that. But the premise of the Chase, the history, the performance in the Chase dictates how it plays out."Every sport would have the same dilemma of watching some dominant performances occur at the expense of smaller teams or others. How do you get to the perfect world? All I can say is this is historical, an incredible achievement Jimmie is putting forward and that's what's before us.
"Any models that we did, never had someone getting dominant just at the right time. It's not a formula on the computer, it's about sports, it's live and it's about who performs at a high level. Ultimately, that's what we look at in deciding what's a good outcome and what isn't."
*On shortening the 36-race schedule: "It's easy to think that (we should shorten schedule) this late in the year, but you have to take a step back and look at it. We don't have the volume other sports have. We don't have 30-40 games a week. We have one big event, per series, per week. When you start dialing that back it has a lot of effects. There's great value in having events happen once a week that outweigh dialing back or taking events off the schedule.''
*On Danica Patrick: "She has obviously taken a very hard look at this sport and is a very accomplished driver in her own right. I would love to see her compete in the highest form of racing in the world, if she does ... as they say that's why they play the game. I don't know how well she'll do. She has a lot of talent. She would be good for NASCAR. How well she performs is just like any driver, you never know until you try.
"She's certainly very welcome in NASCAR and I've told her that directly and I know others have as well.''
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
O.k , its official . NASCAR is in trouble! Even brian france doesnt get it. Its not the LENGTH of the race thats the problem, its the boring racing at any track over one mile thats the problem! And as far as having more cars carrying corporate sponsorship, who wants to invest 15-20 million dollars PER YEAR in a sport with declining attendance? Please NASCAR, dont kid yourselves with the 'poor state of the economy' thing. People are getting turned off by the product that you put on display! As far as the t.v ratings go, if you have poor ratings AND empty seats you have a problem because not only are fans not buying tickets, they are not watching the race from home! Not only did NASCAR dump north wilkesboro and rockingham like yesterdays trash, they took away a race from darlington and gave it to california, put darlingtons other race on mothers day weekend hoping darlington would go away, and all they got in return is a big ass empty race track on the west coast while darlington sells out. NASCAR has neglected their roots, and without the roots the damn tree doesnt grow. Way to go NASCAR.
Nascar is getting pathetic. There are more than 10 people racing each race. Who wants ti sit and watch and listen to all the onesided commits 3 to 4 hrs. All these guys deserve mention. they pay their dues. Last year it was all Carl Edwards(cousin Carl) People got sick if it. This year again Jimmie, Jimmie, Jimmie & the 3 of the 4 Hendricks guys. No wonder your losing sponsors
you losing fans. Who wants to sit & watch someone's feet in a car 2 0r 3 laps or a side view of someone face?
Everything sounds like it's ok to me.
(why isn't there a sarcasm font?)
Obviously, I'm a huge Gordon fan. In 'all' honesty, in 2010, I am 'only' going to watch Football, baseball & Lance Armstrong kick ass up the mountains as he passes every for the win! "NO NASCAR WHATSOEVER ON MY LIST!!" I'm fed up with JG's continued support for his 3rd grader crew chief Steve LeTarte & the fact that he's happy just riding around the track maintaining the same speed. NASCAR/Brian France has absolutely 'RUINED' the sport entirely! 'Everyone would agree with me on this!!' I 'now' rank NASCAR at the very bottom of the sports list! People are 'more' interested in watching the WWE wrestling than NASCAR! "NASCAR & BRIAN FRANCE IS A JOKE!!" **Football, Baseball & Lance Armstrong for 2010!!!** SCREW NASCAR!!
OH BS BS BS. You will resume nascar following again in february for daytona like all the others saying they are done with nascar.
And thats exactly why nascar rules their way or no way.got it?.
BRIAN SCUM FRANCE SHALL SAID:
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING OUR 2009 MOVIE; THE MAKING OF A 4 TIME CHAMP.
ALL YOU FANS JUST WATCH,PAY AND SHUT UP!
IT'S OUR WAY OR NO WAY!.
I'm so sick,tired and disgusted of the 48 cheat winning every year to the point i'm about to quit
viewing nascar permanently.
There is no racing and no competition anymore exspecially with all the nascar favors going on for the cheat team and other favors for the chase drivers.
And these blogs have been getting ridicolous too as pussy jjjerk is the only driver out there.
Every blog is about the cheat team lately.
Somebody ougther run the 48 hard in to the wall at homestead so martin can win the champ.GO MARTIN.48CHEATS48SUCKS!.
ever since toyota was let in nascar has gone way down hill read into it they way you want but this is fact
the tv audience is shrinking b/c of the freegan NON STOP TALKING and boring directing...when any sport has 6-7-9 people all trying to say SOMETHING and actually saying NOTHING it is a total TURN OFF...i spend half the time yelling at my tv..to SHUT THE EFF UP...then the other half comercials...OH dont even get me started on these freegan phantom DEBRIS calls....the tv product sux...
NASCAR tries to dictate what forty three different individuals can say or do. Don't cuss, don't say what your real feelings are if someone wrecks you, don't say anything derogatory about NASCAR, TV,GOODYEAR, ETC. Hell, if I want scripted racing I'll put in DAYS OF THUNDER.
Every year someone bitches about something.....Kids, NASCAR is not about 'moonshiners' anymore. It's called corporate growth. The growth is why it's on TV and in almost every major spending market in the USA....It's about exposure. Since day one NASCAR has been about 'stretching the rules". Everyone thinks Hendricks cheats. Grow up!! Fisrt sign of a sore looser..."he cheats". Personally I remember when the 17 won the championship with consistent placing and very few wins....THAT was boring! While not a big fan of the 48, you have to give them credit for doing what they are doing, winning races!
And if you think for a second that NASCAR would risk the hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate advertising to "fix" or "script" a season, then you really do belong in your little world, tucked safely away.
And face it, come Feb. we all will sit our butts down to watch Daytona.....and the bitching will start all over again about someone else.
mc90277, you 'really' don't get it....you idiot! Any major sport that can be bet on in Vegas is controlled by the 'cigar boys' if you know who the hell I'm talking about!! That is the truth! Very easy to fix any sport when you have the 'right' people in place! But you don't know this because you're a 'MORAN!' And when all these pissed off fans post on here that they're done watching NASCAR, 90% of them mean it 'this time around!' They're 'all' fed up with the phony fake crap that NASCAR throws in their face every weekend!! Until every human on the face of the earth stops betting on major sports, we're all going to continue to get the same ol' fake crap from all the major sports the same way as the WWE Wrestling provides!! 'And that my friends is the honest truth!!' "WISE UP MC90277....YOU AIRHEAD!"
doesn't matter anyway. pretty soon the only drivers in the race will be from hendricks and they will all be driving toyotas
You're dead wrong ESPVISIONS!! You haven't the slightest idea who the hell I am & who the hell are you to speak for me! I'll say it again......"NO NASCAR IN 2010 FOR ME, INCLUDING THE DAYTONA RACE...PERIOD, END OF STORY!!!" As big a fan of the #24, I could give a rat's ass anymore....I wish him well!! "FOOTBALL, BASEBALL & LANCE ARMSTRONG IN 2010 FOR ME ALL THE WAY BABY!!!" AGAIN,....."SCREW NASCAR!" NASCAR IS GOING TO TAKE A HUGE HIT IN RATINGS NEXT YEAR FOR SURE......THE FANS ARE GOING TO STICK IT TO 'EM!!!
I HOPE YOU MEAN WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT QUITTING DA24JG.THAT'S WHAT NASCAR NEEDS FROM MOST FANS AND THE 48 CHEAT HAS TO GO!
Three types of people: Those that make it happen, those that watch it happen and those that are clueless. Brian France is clueless!!! So is NASCAR.
Nascar has become a joke. I have raised my family at tracks for 30 years.I stopped going to Daytona, stopped going to Charlotte and refuse to watch the Jimmy Johnson show at my home track in Homestead (Had season tickets). Went to 1 race this year. Atlanta. (Son home from the middle east. His request.). Now watching the NFL on Sunday. HELP. At least I can find some competition there. Sucks to watch Nascar now. Wake up NASCAR!!!
Human-Nights:
Wait till the left wing washington liberals come after NASCAR!! Maybe tax tickets, place restrictions on corporate spending, insist the crack heads and scum get free tickets. Remember this is called success and with these washington left wing bastards/bitches that is not allow in this country any more. How do electric cars race.
There is NO corporation getting back in product sales, the money spend on these worthless race cars.. Good buy DeWalt who is next...
You sound like a jerry falwell disceples,dude.
maybe you shall take a break and go fishing again.
the liberals are the scum of the earth, but you conservatives assassins of the poors and the not so wealthy are not much better.
Brian France & his equally brain-dead sister,Lisa.(France), Kennedy just doesn't get it.Brain France called Talledega, "exciting.". Some excitement. 170 laps, (out of 188), of "follow the leader." Some excitement.Kind of in the vein of watching paint dry, grass gow,don't you think. I quit going to Daytona in 2001. Quit going to "Dega" ion 2002. Bristol & Charlotte, in 2003. See a pattern here? Only race i went to this year, was TX.(Just so you know, the tickets were free. Given to me by a friend who couldn't make it). Only to hear Cheat Knauss cry over the radio that his wrecked car couldn't do 140 mph.(NAZCAR obliginely dropped the speed down to 130 so the gay blade could stay on the track & not get a dnf. THAT would have wrecked everything. Might even had to refund the money Hendricks paid to keep Johnson installed as champion).Brainless One, you had better get busy ordering those hide-the-empty-seats corporate banners for next season. You might even get a reduced price if you order now.Why? Because the downward spiral of NAZCAR, in all likelyhood, will continue.
I for one think that the two plus mile tracks have used up they're usefulness. To me the races are boring, unless you liked playing follow the leader in school. I would actually like to see one more road course in the series as well as adding one to the chase.
I would also like to see them change up the tracks in the chase. None of which is going to happen.. but then again, the right thing rarely happens...
Fred