Auto Club Speedway president addresses attendance, racing

By Jeff Gluck - Associate Editor
Monday, October 12, 2009
Hosting a race in NASCAR's Chase For The Sprint Cup didn't net a larger crowd for Auto Club Speedway in California. (David Griffin / NASCAR Scene)

Hosting a race in NASCAR's Chase For The Sprint Cup didn't net a larger crowd for Auto Club Speedway in California.

David Griffin
NASCAR Scene

FONTANA, Calif. – Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker brushed off attendance concerns and praised the quality of racing at her track during an open interview session at Sunday’s Pepsi 500.

The interview, which took place before the race was complete, touched on several topics, including what appeared to be a sparse crowd.

Zucker declined to speculate on the number of fans in attendance for the facility’s first race ever in the Chase For The Sprint Cup but acknowledged the track expected its numbers to be “pretty flat” from the Labor Day weekend race last year.

“I leave [the estimates] in your hands,” Zucker said, referring to the group of reporters surrounding her. “You guys always do a pretty good job with estimates.

“I know you will all call me crazy…, but underneath the grandstands is packed; the fan zone is packed – there are a ton of people here. All of our lower-level seats are sold out. Anyone who called to try to purchase a seat knows that.”

NASCAR’s official estimate was 70,000, though most media estimates were between 45,000-60,000.

On another topic, Zucker nixed the idea that the track could change its banking to 23 degrees, which would likely make it a restrictor-plate race. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that Zucker had asked parent company International Speedway Corp. to make the change.

Zucker said she was initially in favor of the idea, but was ultimately told it would not work for “a lot of reasons, and number one is safety.”

“We need to keep those drivers safe,” she said. “I think people know this is the fastest race track on the circuit. They’re going 209 mph going into Turn 1, and if you start banking it at those kind of degrees, and I don’t know if you’re going to get a better race.

“What makes a great race is they’re comfortable in the car so they’re willing to try some things that are a little bit daring. And I don’t think you’d see that if you get up to speeds at that level – at least that’s what the experts have been telling me.”

Zucker said she would consider reducing the distance of one of her two 500-mile Sprint Cup races, adding she evaluates every idea presented to her.

“Yes, there’s absolutely been talk about that,” she said. “The 400-mile race has made a difference in a couple of places. … If somebody throws out an idea, I follow up on it. Anything could happen. Anything is possible.”

Regarding the quality of racing, Zucker pointed to Saturday’s Nationwide Series race as “the best race I’ve ever seen at this track.”

She said the race was “incredible” and that NASCAR’s rule-tweaks such as the double-file restart have improved racing.

“Some of the changes that have already been made are delivering the change that some of our fans have been asking for,” she said.

As far as the future?

“People are understanding that Southern Californians are great race fans, and we deserve NASCAR racing and deserve a race in the Chase,” she said. “We deserve two races at this race track.”
 

Comments

58 responses to "Auto Club Speedway president addresses attendance, racing". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    BILLFAN50 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 2:05 PM

    The Nationwide race was a good race,but I bet there was only about 10,000 in the stands.... Give Rockingham or Iowa one of the Cup races and cut the other one back to 400 mile...

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  2. 2
    jwill8 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 2:17 PM

    I sure would like to know her justification for her track deserving two races a year. Southern California may have a lot of race fans but we have yet to see them show up at that facility. I think they're in over their heads down there. The races were improved over the past but I don't think that is good enough to say that the place deserves to be in the chase and deserves two dates. They don't come close to capacity of the track with both dates combined. Ms. Zucker, please turn off the tunnel vision. The cameras barley spanned the entire grandstands during the broadcast. What does that tell you about the attendance? At least the television audience can see the majority of the fans in the stands at other tracks. I agree with BillFan 100%.

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  3. 3
    kylestewart said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 2:49 PM

    that place does not deserve two races.

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  4. 4
    tbyrdman94 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 2:53 PM

    California should not have any race. Very very poor attendance since it started there. I agree. Rockingham should have at least one race.

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  5. 5
    fanofhuskers1959 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 2:56 PM

    From the mouth of a true liberal.......“People are understanding that Southern Californians are great race fans, and we deserve NASCAR racing and deserve a race in the Chase,” she said. “We deserve two races at this race track.”.... What a load. Tell the people at Rockingham and all the other tracks that have lost racing or for that matter tell the people in Kentucky or Iowa. Sometimes you folks who think you deserve something really should get a life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  6. 6
    kimba9 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 2:59 PM

    I agree bring back Rockingham!!

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  7. 7
    katshere16 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:02 PM

    I agree that they do not deserve two races, but I was at the race and that was the biggest crowd I have ever seen there. The biggest problem with the California race is there traffic control, it is such a mess getting into or out of that facility. I also think it would be better to change it to 400 laps. I will stay home and watch it from now on.

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  8. 8
    fecker said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:09 PM

    Cali does not deserve 2nd nascar------look their was no one their ....bring to a track that would draw a bunch people ----cali is not cutting it. and this track is boreing anyway.Why not bring a race up to Nazareth Speedway, Northampton, Pennsylvania .....this would draw alot bigger crowed then cali

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  9. 9
    katshere16 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:15 PM

    The picture they have posted here was at the very end of the grandstand. I hate the way the media always shows the worst. They should show a picture at an angle that shows all of the grandstand and not just one end.

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  10. 10
    SheilaLovesNASCAR said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:17 PM

    Racing at Auto Club has always been boring racing. They don't deserve any dates. They got rid of Rockingham because of it's place in the schedule. No one wanted to go when it was always raining. But it's a great track for racing. California isn't. If there were fans in California, surely they would be at the track, no? Go to Ky. and Iowa and Rockingham if you want to see racing. Not California. They do have Infineon, after all. And no one is interested in going to the track. Or watching it on TV, for that matter. But, hey. What do I know? I'm just a fan.

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  11. 11
    yojoromo said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:21 PM

    Sunday race was way too long and too boring. Saturday Nationwide was a much better more exciting race. As far as estimate of Sunday crowd at 70,000. DREAM ON!

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  12. 12
    kingmrf said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:22 PM

    The fans loved Rockingham,the drivers loved Rockingham,the owners loved Rockingham,it was the greedy owners that didn't.
    Give Rockingham a date that would be worthy,not the week after Daytona,where everyone is cashed out or the 3rd week in November when it's cold no matter where you are racing and see if the fans will return.I think they would.

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  13. 13
    xmant2000 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:24 PM

    Keep drinking the Kool-Aid Gillian...

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  14. 14
    bkbroiler said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:28 PM

    Fastest track on the circut ? What happened to Atlanta MS. Have some changes been made that I have missed ? HotLanta had always been the fastest.

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  15. 15
    esuchlandldo said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:28 PM

    ISC must have a short memory. The racing at Riverside didn't last long. The racing at Ontario lasted even shorter. Why did Brian France and his associates believe that Fontana would be any better. The Southern California fans are fad-oriented and once the fan wears off they find something else to do. This fiasco at Fontana was doomed from the start and ISC just won't admit they made a mistake. I agree with the previous comments, bring back Rockingham.

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  16. 16
    wraldri said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:41 PM

    I'll weigh in on another problem at Cali. It's another one of those cookie cutter, boring tracks. One reason Rockingham was better it was a high banked 1-mile with plenty of action. That's what so many of the tracks are lacking. From a fan's standpoint, there ain't a whole lot of action til you have "the big one". And the track prez can try to put a positive spin on it, but the fact is very few people in California care to come to her race track at this point. If it weren't for NASCAR's own marketing plan, and for TV money, they'd be out of business already. They definitely do not deserve a second race.

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  17. 17
    woody17 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:44 PM

    Estimate ? The I.R.S. can tell them ....Well , tickets sold , anyway !

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  18. 18
    Spacemaker24 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:47 PM

    The problem with Rockingham is that it's a dump and the supposed loyal southern fans didn't show up to the races.

    I thought the racing this weekend at California was fantastic. It's too bad the people that live around there fail to support it. It may be time to give Vegas a Chase date.

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  19. 19
    sue188 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 3:56 PM

    All of the races this year have had sparse attendance, but the only one that gets any flack is Fontana, Where I was sitting, we were packed. And if all the people that were roaming around would sit in their seats at the same time the stands would be packed too. Some of you people are so narrow minded and thing that NASCAR only belongs in the south. As far as the traffic, I waited 15 minutes at my car and then drove right out.

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  20. 20
    meanjoegreen59 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 4:16 PM

    NASCAR racing in the west is great.Not everyone, in todays econony, has the money to attend the races. Attendents should be better next year.
    To bad, Tony Stewart got penalized, could have won the race, hands down.

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  21. 21
    jeffreesuk said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 4:16 PM

    I was under the impression that california gets a bigger attendance than rockingham,is that the case?
    Personally i enjoy tha california races,pleanty of 3 and 4 wide action,more than any other non resrictor plate track i would say.

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  22. 22
    spurriersson said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 4:37 PM

    Would loved to see "The Rock" be added man what a race that would be.

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  23. 23
    Werner said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 4:40 PM

    for pete's sake, what;s this estimate thing...Bristol uses a scanner on the tix and can tell you the attendence from the computor...Zucker is clueless...

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  24. 24
    rairheart said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 4:45 PM

    I thought both races were great! The Nationwide race was one of the best I've ever seen. I don't care where the race is held, when bucking the baseball playoffs and college football, no race car track is going to have a full house. I really get tired of reading the know it all's mouthing off in this column.

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  25. 25
    bthompson133 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 4:51 PM

    nascar is there for the political fanfare, not the fans

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  26. 26
    cliff1031 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 5:55 PM

    NY,CT,RI need a NASCAR race

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  27. 27
    mthomas41 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 5:59 PM

    #18 people out there dont have any money thats why penske built it their cheap land

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  28. 28
    RVD420 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 6:25 PM

    I would take away 1 race from Fontana, The February date. Let Fontana keep the chase date.

    Have the February race date be a rotating date. Put it up for years bids for tracks that don't currently have a date, but cup level facilities to get a cup race every year or two. It's a win win. Places like Iowa, and the Rock if they ever fix it up would be able to a race there every other year or so. It would be a way to add tracks to the circuit without adding dates.

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  29. 29
    birdladynar said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 6:32 PM

    Little New Hampshire Motor Speedway sells out every race. Sorry Gillian, there is no need for two races at your track. The empty seats should be enough of an embarrassment. Give that race to another track that deserves it.

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  30. 30
    minkee2 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 6:50 PM

    IOWA????

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  31. 31
    artlynho531 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 7:18 PM

    and where does it say California DESERVES any races??????????

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  32. 32
    bigjeason9 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 7:20 PM

    Zucker said she thought they should have two races. She is right they should have two Nationwide races. The cup races should be somewhere that puts on a good show. Fontana has good Nationwide races but the cup cars just don't seem to race good there.

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  33. 33
    midmichman said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 7:29 PM

    It isn't just the number of empty seats, it is the fact the track doesn't seat that many to begin with. I go to MIS (sister track) and it has double the seats of Fontana and yes attendance was down somewhat this year but that is due to the economy and nothing to do with the track. Fontana can't even fill the small quantity of seats they have, so why reward them with a Chase race? Switch it to MIS if you want a two miler in the mix, just make it the first race of the Chase due to cold weather!!

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  34. 34
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 7:44 PM

    Nationwide race was exciting. No COT cars in it. Get rid of the COT and racing in general will improve.

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  35. 35
    psdf250 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 7:47 PM

    There have been so many excuses but this time the Dodgers weren't playing, the Angels were out of town, the Trojans had a Bye week.The only team in town was UCLA on Saturday. Other things come to mind, the track is a b_ _ _ _h to get in and out of and for some reason they didn't run the Metrolink which brings people in from all over So.Cal. But in reality the people need to get out and support the place and serious changes need to be done for better racing. We we're in the infield on top of our RV and couldn't believe all the yellow and orange in the stands. In short the color of the empty seats. It was pretty disheartening.

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  36. 36
    manzytrophygirl said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 7:50 PM

    Hey, Gillian--want to see some real racing with real fans? LET'S BRING BACK THE ROCK!!!

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  37. 37
    twit500 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 8:17 PM

    Looking at the infield it was full. 10,000 people out there. You are right about the traffic in the morning because of the no overnight parking. Change that rule, maybe. The fan zone is alot better now.

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  38. 38
    osbornk said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 9:17 PM

    The excuses the local fans regarding the "appearance" of a small crowd is funny. The stands were the emptiest I have seen all year. The racing was boring and the telecast on ABC didn't do it any favors. I felt like I wasted the entire afternoon by watching the "race" as it was manipulated by NA$CAR.

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  39. 39
    nascarnutsheeler said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 9:43 PM

    Did anyone notice that TV did Not Pan the stands. probably because they were so disappointed. It was unbelievable.

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  40. 40
    Robbygordonfan1 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 10:11 PM

    Fans in Southern California would support a second date in So. Cal but not at California Speedway. I think their needs to be two Long Beach Grand Prix, one for the IRL and a second for Nascar.
    On another topic, Jeff Gordon incorrectly stated that Southern Californians couldn't support an NFL team in trying to explain the attendance issues at California Speedway. That's not true, the League wants tax payers to give an NFL owner a new stadium, and the tax payers here don't wish to do so. That's why the 49ers and Chargers play in really old facilities is because Californians have caught on to this corporate welfare scheme and have said no.

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  41. 41
    jbbigrod said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 10:39 PM

    I watched the race, well part of it, read a lot of my Rod & Custom mag too. But was some really good PARTS to it. Liked the Nationwide race better, MAINLY because it was SHORTER. Not much time to read during those races. AND because it is shorter, the drivers are more aggressive. PLUS they are ALL running for the championship all year. But must be disappointing for those drivers who are way over a 1,000 points behind the leader. Not much hope, eh?
    - - - Don't know what you are talking about it being a cookie cutter track though. No such thing, but especially THIS track as I thought there were only TWO two mile tracks, and that the so called misnamed
    "cookie cutter" tracks were a mile and a half??? Hmmmmm. . . . . . . . . .. What am I missing here?- - - - I normally don't like when ESPN covers the races, but I did think that ABC did pretty good on this one, MOST of the time. I do like some of their features. Such as two window coverage of the leaders and others racing hard further back.

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  42. 42
    racenut43 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 10:57 PM

    I was at the race and I have seen larger crowds but it wasn't as bad as the naysayers would like you to believe. I enjoyed the race. Those who though it was boring must not be race fans as there was racing for positions other than the lead which sometimes is not shown on tv. That is why I like to attend in person.

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  43. 43
    MotorsportsPhotography said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 11:19 PM

    The place was empty but they will have two races there until the Hard rock in Kansas is done. Leeza and Brian are behind on the project. But that is the only reason Cally has two races. As far as the rock. Andy just had a 250 lap race there yesterday and nobody showed. The sand hill people of NC and SC are poor and never supported the Rock. That's why Darlington is down to 1 race. When a track can only draw 60,000 fans they dont deserve two races.

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  44. 44
    Hateda88 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 11:37 PM

    Blame Roger Penske for that track. He's the one who built it and it's just like MIS except MIS has real fans. California people won't be interested until Nascar is running electric cars lol.

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  45. 45
    racenut43 said:
    Oct 12, 2009 at 11:37 PM

    Motorsportsphoto,
    You must have been looking at the far ends of the grandstand. Were you there? The place was not empty!

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  46. 46
    racinghcr said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 12:36 AM

    Maybe if Nascar's "Bosses in the BOX" threw about 20 bogus "Debris Cautions" during all the races at California that would bring in more brainwashed "Fans" who don't know what real racing is !! Writer Gluck believes Nascar's bogus"debris cautons" that result in big ,late race wrecks is "Good Racing!" FANS ARE NOT STUPID--they know Nacar's "Rules controlled SHOWS" are FAKE and are NOT going or watching on TV! It's over Nascar !

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  47. 47
    cheryllauer said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 8:27 AM

    My husband and I were AT Rockingham over the weekend! We saw two great races: USAR on Saturday and ARCA finale on Sunday. A much better time than watching boring CA on TV either day.

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  48. 48
    SS396Chevelle said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 8:30 AM

    Well of to Lowes and if the camera shows the entire race track get ready to see about 70,000 empty seats. Been there done that.

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  49. 49
    nascarnutsheeler said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 9:46 AM

    I'm curios as to what the attendance will be at Texas

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  50. 50
    beachracegirl said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 11:15 AM

    Having been to other Nascar Tracks (TMS mainly), I must say that it's not lack of SoCal race fans but the way this track is ran. It is NOT fan friendly. It is NOT family friendly. It is ran like typical "France" Nascar. Rules vary & are not imposed equally. They make it so much of a hassle to get in. ONE tiny 6 X 6 X 12 cooler but if bring that than you better leave your purse home & by the way you need to hand carry in your batteries, scanner, headset. Coolers can't have an ice pack so in 90 temps you will have HOT drinks & spoiled food. Their goal is to charge you $5 a bottle for water. Their announcing is boring. They do not put into making it fun like Bruton Smith tracks do. Most SoCal fans would rather PAY MORE and drive to better fan friendly tracks... WE LOVE RACING. SoCal lives racing just not going to put up with being robbed to attend. Give it to Bruton to manage.

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  51. 51
    psdf250 said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 12:49 PM

    # 50 at first I thought the same before the February race and said I wouldn't go back except for the fall race once in a while. The person from the track that I dealt with took good care of us and we had a great time. I do agree that the France syndrome needs to be dumped before this track becomes another Ontario Mills.

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  52. 52
    tinynascarfan said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 12:59 PM

    It doesn't matter if 2 fans or 250,000 fans show up at california, it is the biggest market nascar is in and it will have 2 race dates because of that. So as an avid nascar fan i will do what i always do, just like all the other avid nascar fans do, we will bend over and take it from the france family just like always, because we have no say in the matter.

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  53. 53
    tinynascarfan said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 1:02 PM

    actually we do have a say in the matter but it will not work, if we all stay away from all the tracks for one year. and just let the johnny come lately's who dont have a clue what nascar is go to all the races, and attendance is so bad the france family goes bankrupt and has to sell to someone who understands nascar fans, then hell will freeze over.

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  54. 54
    rogersnwt said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 1:26 PM

    I agree- give on back to the Rock....That would be something...

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  55. 55
    prrfan said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 4:25 PM

    If that race was run at Darlington or even The Rock. The stands would have been full.

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  56. 56
    Werner said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 5:55 PM

    how about they build a casino next to the trak?...

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  57. 57
    razldazl said:
    Oct 13, 2009 at 7:30 PM

    Jeez, lady !! Get real !! You REALLY don't DESERVE anything..would be nice to see you sell out 1 race...give a race back to Rockingham..

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  58. 58
    keith308 said:
    Oct 15, 2009 at 10:44 AM

    BRAIN DEAD NASCAR!
    THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH FONTANA
    BORING BORING BORING BORING
    QUIT BLAMING THE ATTENDANCE ON EVERYTHING ELSE
    DO YOU NOT READ WHAT FANS POST
    YOU HAD BETTER START PAYING ATTENTION
    IF FONTANA WAS A 3/4 OR 1 MILE TRACK THERE
    WOULD BE A LOT MORE FANS!!!!
    PAY ATTENTION AND LISTEN TO YOUR FANS!

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