New fans of NASCAR - loyal or not?

buckaroo

buckaroo

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Over the past 20 years, the NASCAR Cup series has grown to become one of the most popular sports in this country. With the growth of popularity comes new fans, or what I call, the "neo-fan" in keeping with todays vernacular. We've all seen them and in fact, this forum no doubt has plenty of them. But the neo-fan group is a totally new group. Many of them have jumped on the band wagon simply because of it's popularity, while there are plenty who have come about being a fan the old fashioned way, and that is they truely love the sport.

For many years now, I keep hearing how so many people of the old guard, are getting tired of what is going on at the top level of NASCAR, yet the popularity continues to grow. From that I get that they are gaining more fans than they are losing. However, my thoughts on that are just how loyal are those new fans? Those old fans who have decided to dump the sport they once so loved and spent hundreds of dollars on each and every year, were very loyal. Will those neo-fans be so loyal? Only time will tell, but one thing for certain, if they aren't, the sport will have to change once again.
 
That is a tough question, buck. Since my only contact with "neo" fans is through forums, I don't have any means to judge how long they will stay fans.

I know that a lot of posters have come and gone the last 3 years or so. Don't know the reason behind their disappearance. Could be many reasons, not just lack of interest in racing.

This old dog will continue to be a fan. I may not like what is happening with some things, but until something better comes along I'll stick with it. As for the amount of money I spend, that is definately smaller now than in the past. I've got too damned much stuff now, I don't need any more. LOL

Because we're both retired, the income is limited. The hubby has managed to acquire some major medical bills, the traveling to other tracks has been severely cut back.

I'll be interested in seeing how long these 'neo' fans stick around.
 
Us "old farts" have cut back because of income reductions, medical problems and will probably be fans 'til our last breath.
"New" fans will come and go, but some will remain fans for life.
Do all of us like the changes? NO! However, it's still our choice of sporting events.
 
I'm still gainly employed and I don't spend very much money on NASCAR racing period. We used to try and hit two or three races a year, but we've stopped that in favor of our local scene, which is about 99% cheaper, and we don't have to travel very far either. And I don't see much cut backs at our local track either and I'm not sure much of those in the stands are neo-fans, though I'm sure there are some. One thing I've noticed at the local scene though is that the women fans are much more rabid than us males. Seems as though each time someone gets tossed out on their ear, it's a pack of women. And get this, this isn't in the drinking section so these ladies aren't drunk. :beerbang:
 
I don't like a lot of the new changes but I'll always be a NASCAR fan. It still beats the hell out of a ball game any day.
The new fans are mostly comprised of band-wagoners that are trying out a new "fad". As soon as it is no longer new to them they will move on to the next fad.
I go to local dirt tracks around here to get my fix of 100+ octane fumes on weekends.
When Fontana hosts the NASCAR boys, I'm there, too. In fact, I bought 8 seats for both days this Sept. I have family in Vegas and Phoenix, so I have opportunities there, too.
My dad, my uncle and some of my other relatives raced stock cars way back when and my dad used to take me to the Riverside and Ontario tracks when I was a kid.
I've loved NASCAR for as long as I can remember and will continue to, no matter what changes they make.
I think if it gets in their veins like it has mine, then some of the new fans will stick around as long as a lot of us have.
 
Now doubt, many of the neo fans will become die hard race fans, but like you said, there is a number of band wagoner's who will jump ship once they tire of the sport. I think the future of NASCAR as we know it today depends on how many of those neo fans become die hard fans such as those of us here. But in the mean time, NASCAR is working harder to get even more new fans, which is what it should be doing anyway. Just wish they would try to do something that would please us older fans once in a while.
 
Baseball is not the draw it once was so the competition it provides to gather in fans isn't as great. And, during the summer months sports junkies still need their fix. But, I think you can see the effect of the new breed of fans in the way the television viewing audience shrinks when the NFL season starts. Also, many tracks saw more empty seats last year than other years.

We've cut back to 1 track a year. And, we're still debating which for this year. But, with the rudeness and crudeness of today's fan it's not as much fun as it used to be.
 
being an old school fan,(went to my first nascar race in 67) didn't miss a bristol race from 1979 till 2004. you all know what direction i have followed, i still read about it, play the big dawgs, and enjoy keeping up and "talking" about racing, however i don't attend any races anymore, (unless my boss makes me go to BMS) i sold my scanners, i still get my BMS tickets for a friend of mine, and yes he pays me face value for them, and i probly only saw 50 or less laps on the tuble in 06, sadly the thrill is gone
 
de7xwcc said:
being an old school fan,(went to my first nascar race in 67) didn't miss a bristol race from 1979 till 2004. you all know what direction i have followed, i still read about it, play the big dawgs, and enjoy keeping up and "talking" about racing, however i don't attend any races anymore, (unless my boss makes me go to BMS) i sold my scanners, i still get my BMS tickets for a friend of mine, and yes he pays me face value for them, and i probly only saw 50 or less laps on the tuble in 06, sadly the thrill is gone
Click to expand...

Hey 7! Getcha a new guy! Latch on to one of the drivers and run with him...MAKE the thrill come back.. I did. I was a long time between awsome Bill and Jeffy.. Just get with the program, it will all come back to ya.
Betsy;)
 
I've been around forever, but don't go to Cup races anymore. Too much hassle. Tried a truck race last year, and liked it it. Going again in '07. Maybe even twice.

I'll always be a race fan. Hardly ever miss a local short track event. But all the hype and 'star' status of NASCAR drivers does not impress me one bit. In fact, it's turning me off.
 
I've cut back too. Used to be around 10 races per year. Now I go to 5. They are both at Bristol, my home track. Both at Martinsville, short track racing, you gotta love it. The all star race at Charlotte, Used to go to all 3 at Charlotte but it got too expensive.

As for the t-shirts. I got a closet full of them, don't need anymore. I used to think I had to have an event shirt for each race I went to.

I will always be a fan though it sure is different now days. Nascar used to let them race now they are taking all the fun out of it.
 
I dont think it's a question of `new` fans being loyal or not. The sport has changed dramaticlly from when I was a kid and is changing to meet a wider market. Growing up in NJ, No one knew what nascar was, it wasnt until I would visit reletives in NC that I would come to know the sport. Just like Football and every other major sport out there, it has become a as much of a show for the sponsors as it is for the athlete.
 
It is hard to say how these newer fans will end up.

You guys don't really know me. But, I have been a race fan for a little over 30 years. I started rooting for Richard Petty and following the races at a lot of tracks that are no longer "worthy" of hosting today's NASCAR events. NASCAR has thumbed it's nose at us long-time fans in favor of what it can get from the new fans. I don't begrudge them in some respects, it is obviously a good business decision to go after new fans. I personally think they could have gone about it in a way that would not alienate so many long-time fans in the process, but maybe that's just me.

I still watch races and still attend some although I haven't gone to any races in a couple of years. But, the days of planning my schedule around a race are gone. I really don't think NASCAR gives a $hit what I do anyway and in some respects I feel the same way. But I will always be a fan.

I don't know if you can say that about many of the newer fans. :confused:
 
I've been following NASCAR for somewhere between 35 and 40 years. In the last 5 years or so my interest has dropped drastically. The biggest part that drives me away is the Political Correctness direction that the sport has taken. The drivers are no longer able to "Speak There Mind" without fear of retribution from the NASCAR Hiearchy. Merchandising is also gone totally haywire. About a year I ago I started a thread on the "Official Potato" of NASCAR. Now c'mon this is totally over the edge. Another thing that drove me away was the multi car big dollar teams. To me racing is some guy building a car in his garage with the dream of coming to a NASCAR race and becoming a star. Remember a couple guys who did this..... Kulwicki and Elliott, sadly this will never happen again. The closest thing we have now is Carl Long who I will root for untill he decides to hang it up. Now theres the Car of Tomorrow.... what a joke. Is it a Chevy, Ford, Dodge or a Toy-Oater?????????(I refuse to go here, but's that's my PERSONAL feelings) We will never know. My 2 cents. How long will these new fans last???????????? My guess till they get bored with it and the "Next Big Thing" arises. Then maybe us Old Timers can retake our sport back.
 
One thing that makes them more politacaly correct is the TV cameras. I too was a Richard Petty fan. I have been a fan for about 30 or 35 years. I remember Richard saying that in the old days they woould catch them on the back streatch and take care of the problem. Now there are too many cameras for that.

I too will always be a fan. I just won't spend the money I did in the past.
 
I was a loyal Dale Sr fan. After he died i just stoped caring. I tryed to watch orther drivers, But i never found one that i could really conect with. I do like Robby and Hamlin, but they togather will never = what i had for SR. I do not agree with a lot of what the sport is doing, I guess im just old school, in a new school world.
 
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