NASCAR fines could affect fans

By Rick Minter

For the AJC

The NASCAR garage was abuzz last week with rumors that NASCAR officials had secretly fined two top-tier drivers for remarks they made that were considered detrimental to the sport.

The drivers haven’t been publicly identified, but the fines are reported to be as much as $50,000 per driver.

The Associated Press reported the fines Monday, and a response from NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston seems to indicate that drivers were fined.

“I won’t comment directly on the issues of assessments, but I will say that it is the sanctioning body’s obligation on behalf of the industry and our fans to protect the sport’s brand,” Poston wrote in an e-mail. “Any action taken by NASCAR has nothing to do with the drivers expressing an opinion; it’s focused on actions or comments that materially damage the sport.

“We have specifically discussed this in meetings with teams, drivers and stakeholders.”

The debate over the fines comes as NASCAR continues to wrestle with declining attendance and lower TV ratings. The official estimate of the attendance at Sunday’s Brickyard 400 was 140,000 at a track that seats nearly 300,000. ESPN reported that the race earned a final national TV rating of 4.2, averaging 5,709,103 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating was down from the 4.8 for last year’s race that also aired on ESPN.

Many fans say that what appeals to them about NASCAR is the fact that drivers are visible and their personalities come through in interviews and other appearances. But the possibility of fines could lead to more bland comments from drivers, which could drive fans away.

Driver Todd Bodine, speaking on Tuesday’s NASCAR teleconference, said the fines are a touchy issue.

“Do I think it was the right thing to do for NASCAR? Well, you know, that's a fine line,” Bodine said. “The sport needs personality. You need drivers to be outspoken. At the same time those drivers have to understand who's listening. ... It's our responsibility to do and say the right thing. There has to be a limit to it."

Ambrose out, Labonte in

JTG Daugherty Racing and Marcos Ambrose are ending their five-year run together at the end of this season, and veteran Bobby Labonte will take the wheel of the team's No. 47 Toyota beginning next year, according to statements released by the team this week.

Ambrose, who nearly won the Cup race at Infineon Raceway this year, but let his car stall under caution while leading the race, has two top-10 finishes and is 27th in the points standings.

Labonte, a 21-time Cup race winner and a former series champion, hasn’t won a race in seven seasons and has driven for several different owners this year.

Camping at Pocono

NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series makes its inaugural run at Pocono Raceway this week, and while several truck veterans have Cup experience at Pocono, several of the younger drivers say they’re the ones with the edge going in.

Rookie Austin Dillon, who recently got his first Truck win, at Iowa Speedway, is among those who believe he’s ready to take on the more experienced drivers.

“Being able to do that tire test at Pocono helped me a lot,” Dillon said. “It cut my learning curve in half and should help level the playing field between the veterans and younger drivers.”