With safety concerns growing after the death of Blaise Alexander, the fall of advertising revenue and attendances and hospitality income dropping, good television ratings may not be enough to stop commercial backers re-evaluating their NASCAR investments.
One NASCAR source commented: "The race last weekend at the Lowe's Motor Speedway was played out in front of a vastly reduced crowd in the grandstand and the sport's hospitality business is facing a major slump. NASCAR may be performing well in the TV ratings but other elements of the business are suffering."
This worrying combination, many elements of which have been out of the hands of the NASCAR organisers, has not been helped by a very public row over advertising dollars between host broadcaster NBC and the president of the Lowe's Motor Speedway, Humpy Wheeler.
For the full story on NASCAR's current position, see the features section of sportbusiness.com
Cracks are appearing in NASCAR's seemingly invincible armour with increasing worries that the war against terrorism, a downward economy and another driver's death all point to a commercial slump.
