Could this be the beginning of the end.

Yes, motivated investors would probably be a good thing. They would move quickly to address problems.

Let's just hope a bunch of snowflakes don't by it. All the patriotic aspects and any references to the Almighty will be the first things to go, followed quickly by what remains of the fans.

I wonder if they'll change the rules to make the races less boring? ( don't know much about it myself but I have heard others say there were problematic rules)

People are staying home and watching on TV.

I think it goes more to the changes in the races, over the years, and the changes in the fan base.

I know I went from being more of an open-wheel fan in the fifties and early sixties, to catching the Nascar bug when so many did, when there was Big-3 backed competition and seven liter power pushing speeds to 200+ on the big tracks, and fans at both the drags and the NASCAR events were more sharply divided by brand loyalty.

There was also the darker but real factor of the gladiators risking their lives out there, which added to the drama.

As the risk level gradually was overcome with increased safety measures and reduced top speeds (temporarily, until the engine builders learned how to make unbelievable power from 355 cubes), the attraction began to wane slightly. Then as old favorites retired or died off, and rule changes and safer venues further reduced the dangers and the engine durability reduced the drama of seeing which engines could last the longer races, fuel prices and shortages were eating away at the fan base who were becoming more interested in smaller cars that had the performance to still be fun, but could also get 30+ mpg.

As NASCAR was trying to regain their losses in fans by equalizing the competition with "lucky dog" rules and mandatory pit stops, the fans were getting more bored with watching vehicles that bore little resemblance to the one in their driveways, racing at airplane speeds in packs that were necessary to remain in contact with the leaders. Drivers caught on and just stayed on the same lap until the last twenty, then raced, until NASCAR gain tried to jazz up interest by instituting the "Chase" and more lately, the "Stages". Somebody in an interview several years ago, said "What is NASCAR going to do next year, FIgure-Eights?".

I don't know the answer, and I'm pretty sure NASCAR doesn't either.

I do know I used to watch every minute of every race I could get on TV, and the last several years I have more often set the recorder to catch it for me and watched it later when I didn't have to give up something I'd rather do with my daylight hours, and when I could watch it in less than half the time by skipping all the commercials and speeding through some long green flag runs at double-time. Still catch most of them, but when I forgot to tune in for the finish of the rained-out one a couple weeks ago, I didn't suffer much trauma.

Did enjoy a race at the Paragon dirt track a couple years ago. Took me back to when I was a teen and we could hear them from our small farm about five miles SE of there, and we'd sometimes go over there and sit in the bleachers, or occasionally slip through the woods and come in uninvited when we didn't have the money for the gate. We still live just a couple miles further from the track than we did then, and if there's a west wind, we still can sit on the deck and hear them qualifying on a Saturday night.

To me, a racing fan since childhood, here is the problem.

The cars look too much alike, just like all modern cars. Boring..

Racing in packs. Boring..

Cars too equally matched. Boring..

So many ads on the cars (and drivers) that they look absolutely ridiculous.

Uncomfortable seating at tracks

High ticket prices.

Last but not least, what idiot came up with stage racing? They must have wanted to kill the last iota of fun, and it worked.

The only NASCAR I enjoy any more is the road race.

I have taken to watching motorcycle racing when I can find it. Not motocross, but FIM, and other road racing. Those guys have big ones and the competition is tooth and nail, all the time.

I wish there was a track closer to me.

Yeah.... they're probably just have a raffle and wining ticket will own NASCAR! Lmao

Drag racing is growing apparent by the numbers of people at the races and the new TV shows like Street Outlaws.
Look at the crowds they draw when they put on an event at a drag strip.
Women love drag racing just look at the number of women that have been and are currently winning in major categories and by the number of them in the stands.
NASCAR is to long and boring "there I said it" it's gotten to be boring watching a long race waiting for those final laps when a race breaks out.
Hold the entire event in one day in a 3-4 hour window, flights of ten cars qualifying at once,heat races with some inversions,and a 150-200 mile race with no segments.
I don't want to see NASCAR racing at night because it competes with small tracks which is the grass roots of racing.
One of the reasons I enjoy sprint car racing is because it takes place in the evening,in the dark and it's over in a timely fashion, besides beer tastes better at night then it does in the hot sun.

Kind of like any pro sport, they've priced their fan base right out of attending.

Never been to the Indy 500 or a NASCAR race. Absolutely no desire to see either.
Rather watch races here at local dirt track.

3-5 BILLION..... is the romour value of NASCAR!