The other day I was reading an article about how dirt racing is becoming a threat to NASCAR.
Here is a link to that article. https://racingnews.co/2017/02/08/dirt-racing-threat-to-nascar/
I have gave this some thought and the following is what I concluded.
This industry, relies heavily on passion and funding. A home grown racer with a 9-5 who funds their own racing and has a few partnerships with friends businesses or family, is the passion that is so appealing. They prove that anyone can go racing if one has the passion and really tries. But just like anything else, when passion accelerates and confidence and greater funding are acquired, professionals are created. There are plenty of examples of this, and whether or not that person actually has talent, funding opens doors even if skill is not present. This shows that funding is the backbone of more structured, professional, and widely known racing.
Local racing will appeal to those looking to market to people in that target area. If a marketer is growing their business or wants a wider region to market to, they will likely increase funding and require more traveling to different localities. Those looking to market are looking for the most set of eyes, for a price worth while. Many drivers become ambassadors for the companies that fund their racing. Yet again, talent is not exactly needed to achieve this.
So, the largest funded driver, team, series, are going to be the most notable in the industry. Funds mean rules. If a small series grows in popularity, and more funds go into it, there will eventually be more rules, more dare I say, politics, that go into it. Then, all the things that are seen as frustrating and appalling about NASCAR, then grow in the series and events that were once appreciated.
Passion is still in those stages, whether it be driver, fan, engineer, crew, marketing partner, etc. What it really comes down to, is appreciation. Racing is racing. For me, I appreciate NASCAR and the professionalism, funding, passion, and structure the series has. If there is no NASCAR, what will drivers aspire to be?
At the same time, I appreciate dirt track racing, paved oval, karts, trophy trucks, rally, V8 Supercars, Monster Jam, drag, endurance racing, Indy, F1, and any other form of racing. There has to be aspirations and goals for a driver to achieve. There has to be large, traveling type series, so marketers can have the option to fund a marketing campaign. That in turn funds the drivers. These are all the things that make dreams possible. Things do change and go through highs and lows, but a little respect and appreciation will quickly help one see that racing, in any form, is wonderful.
All Out Octane 