Danica to NASCAR

[Don]

Wayne.....not necessarily NASCAR's comment and not original with me. Mentioned that by mixing in the Sprint drivers in the Nationwide races, allows the newer/less experienced to gain more exposure to the type of racing and higher level of competition they will be facing when & if they move to the Sprint series. Hence, they adapt to the transition easier.

Speed coverage, must be a reason why the TV program sponsor dollars are spent on NASCAR programming, there must be a return on the advertising investment . The total economic and employment impact associated with NASCAR, from parts to track concessions etc. etc , it is big business.

Danica, no doubt there will be negative comments if she does not finish in the top 10 or 5 in her first race.........

Consider the open wheel, Indy Car and F1 (a few more this year) drivers, that move to NASCAR, how many NASCAR drivers move to the IRL on a permanent basis, other than the drivers that came from the IRL ?

[Ron61]

Don,

That is simple. NASCAR generates more money for the drivers if they make it. However even NASCAR admits that last season was not a good one for them in the finance department and that they had to many empty seats at the races. The economy undoubtedly had a lot to do with that, but also a lot of their fans are just tired of the no racing and follow the pace car for 1/4th of a race type stuff. For crying out loud, why do they need 10 laps of caution on a short track to pick up a piece of paper or rubber. I used to never miss a race, but the past few years I am skipping more and more of them as they are just boring to me for the most part.

Ron

[Wayne Maybury]

Don, I understand completely but it just doesn't seem fair to the young drivers. Basically the top pros, in any other sport, do not compete with the younger, less experienced competitors that are trying to work their way up.

There was some talk a few years ago that Jeff Gordon was probably a good enough driver that he could jump to F1 from NASCAR but it was stated that he would never do it as he would not want to take that much of a pay cut. The top NASCAR drivers are indeed very well compensated.

Danica will probably do as well as any other driver that is competing in NASCAR for the first time but she will have much more attention as she is a female in a male dominated sport. Her every move will come under a microscope. The talking heads on Speed will go on and on and on about how she did this or that or whatever. They have way too many hours to fill with useless bla-bla-bla every weekend so she will certainly be the subject for many of their conversations.

Wayne