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February 03, 2009
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Blasts Track Owners for Wanting Drivers to do More
Recently Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports, said that he thought that the drivers needed to do more to encourage fans to go to races and buy tickets. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. didn't take too kindly to those remarks. He said in an interview with Sports Illustrated,
"The race track owners want drivers to do more? Yeah, right. They need to go back to work. They forgot what it's like to sell tickets. That's their problem. They ain't had to sell tickets for a long time and none of them remember how or knew how or ever learned how. They need to get back to working hard and doing their promotions and putting packages together for race fans. They don't want to cut the ticket price but they probably should and get these hotels to quit gouging these people. They can dump that responsibility on drivers all they want but the responsibility really lies in their hands to sell race tickets and they have to get creative in doing it. We already do a lot. We do [bleeping] plenty and they are full of [bleep]."
I agree with Junior that the tracks have to put together packages, reduce ticket prices, try to work with area hotels to encourage them to reduce room rates and figure out other ways to make going to the track affordable - and enjoyable - for race fans. However, I think the drivers share some responsibility as well when it comes to making fans want to come to the track to see races.
Perhaps for a driver like Junior it doesn't seem as important to him because he has such a large fanbase, many of whom will be his fans and attend races regardless of how much it costs or what happens. But the sport overall is, in my opinion, has some serious issues when it comes to the fans in general in that a lot of fans are becoming disinterested and discouraged, and the reasons go beyond the economy - quite a few fans are so unhappy with the direction the sport is going in that they no longer want to invest time, money or effort into being a fan. I think all entities from NASCAR to the drivers, sponsors and teams all share some responsibility in changing that trend. However, one of the best ways to renew a fan's excitement about the sport beyond what happens on the track is if they have a positive experience with a driver.
Junior is completely correct that the drivers already do a lot. They do countless public and private appearances for sponsors and other entities. On race day they have hospitality and suite visits. There are numerous media obligations, commercial and photo shoots.In addition there are also many times when drivers spontaneously reach out to the fans by signing autographs on pit road or stopping to speak with a fan at the track. But I think at times there is still room for improvement and ways in which some drivers - Junior included - can do their part to engage and encourage fans. It doesn't mean that they have to spend every minute of their spare time with the fans, but there are drivers who seem to do everything they can to avoid the fans and when they do interact with the fans make it seem like it's the last thing they want to do - that shouldn't be happening. Even if it's just a smile and a wave when they pass some fans, a little extra effort can go a long way. When a fan comes away from meeting a driver with a memory that they'll treasure for a lifetime I think it goes a long way towards ensuring their loyalty not only to that driver but to the sport as well.
Virtually every time Junior does an autograph signing there are numerous stories about how he barely pays attention to the people he's signing for. He doesn't look up, doesn't smile, sometimes doesn't acknowledge them and some have said that at times he talks on the phone while he's signing. No driver is going to be able to have a conversation or acknowledge every fan at a signing, and there are going to be times when they might have to take an important phone call or speak with someone who is there. It's especially difficult for a driver like Junior who has so many fans who show up any time he does an appearance. But I also think there's something to be said for showing some common courtesy as much as possible towards people who may have traveled a great distance, spent money and waited in line for a long time. Saying "hi" or giving someone a smile as they hand something over to be signed at an appearance shouldn't be too much to ask, not just from Junior but from the other drivers as well. I'm sure that most drivers would rather do just about anything than sign autographs and deal with strangers, some of whom are strange or demanding, but there are definitely some drivers who are better than others about giving the appearance of wanting to interact with the fans.
Of course there's another side to things as David Poole brought up on The Morning Drive on Sirius this morning. There are a lot of fans who don't understand that when the drivers are at the track their focus is with their race teams. There can't always stop to sign autographs because they may have obligations to their team or somewhere to be. Just like anyone else the drivers also have bad days or get distracted. There are also fans who don't know how to behave appropriately whether it's asking for an autograph at a clearly inappropriate time or doing things like invading a driver's personal space. I've been lucky enough to have hot passes a few times and even when the garage is hot I've been appalled by how crowded it can be and how many fans will chase down drivers and crew members for autographs even when they're in the middle of working on the cars. Poole suggested that NASCAR enforce the policy of not letting drivers sign autographs in the garage area, and I guess because I've never been into autographs myself, I would have no problem if they reinstated that rule. As much as I think the drivers need to do their part to engage the fans, I also think there needs to be some boundaries.
The bottom line though, is that the drivers - Junior included - and the sport would be nothing without the fans. The sponsors pay the bills and are essential to the teams and drivers, but they are on the cars because they want to race the fans. The fans not only cheer for the drivers at home and at the track but also buy tickets and merchandise. If there are no fans there is no profit, not just for the tracks and the teams, but also for the drivers since they get a cut of merchandise sales. The sport really can't survive without the fans and it's not just the responsibility of the tracks to make sure that people remain fans of the sport and show up at the track.
Posted by silverdsl at February 3, 2009 09:34 AM
Comments
Jr is definitely one of the least fan friendliest drivers of them all. Perhaps that is why he was so offended by Bruton's comments. Anyone remember the disaster that was the Dale Jr FAN cruise?
Anyways, Jeff Burton took the opposite approach, saying that he thinks the drivers need to do more for the fans. And it wasn't just being more available to fans at the track, but also reaching out through fan initiatives and using the internet, such as the driver websites, to reach fans. Because not every NASCAR fan gets the pleasure of attending races in person...so there is a whole other fan base out there that needs to also feel a part of things. I know you have made a few comments over the years about the drivers not making the most of the tools at their disposal like their websites. Now would be a great time for these drivers to really step it up in that area.
And I am a guilty party for autographs in the garage area...but only once...only 2 autographs (my only mission that day was to get Casey to sign his 600 win car! and I got it and BV's autograph) and it was AFTER practice, after they debriefed with their teams and were heading towards their motorcoaches for some downtime before qualifying. Otherwise I just took pictures and ogled. LOL! We only had cold passes so we weren't in the thick of things. I was just more interested in seeing things up close. It's an experience I will never forget. There has to be a way to get the fans closer and still let the teams get their job done. BTW...Jeff Burton also need mention that fans need to remember and understand that there is a proper time and place for everything.
Posted by: Carol at February 3, 2009 11:03 AM
LOL, yeah I do remember the Jr. fan cruise - I still have no idea why he agreed to that. Even if he was better at engaging the fans it probably still wouldn't have worked out very well!
Burton is 100% right and I know that other drivers and teams share his belief. I could say so much on this topic, partially because I help a team with their fan forum and have given them feedback on this topic, reaching fans online through their website and other sites. That particular team, and from what it seems to me most other teams and drivers, recognize what a valuable - and important - tool their own website and other sites are. Still, there are some drivers, mostly on lower levels, that don't have websites or some that don't do much with them. I'm understanding that some drivers don't have the resources in terms of people or money to have extravagant websites with a lot of content but anyone can create a Facebook page and use it to get information to their fans. More than a few fans of a certain former Cup driver who now races in the East Series have taken note through the years that his website is frequently lacking in content and often isn't updated in a timely manner - if at all - with news or information about appearances and have said that if he doesn't seem to care about those things then why should they?
In terms of getting autographs in the garage area, I think there are times when it's okay such as when the driver stops and indicates a willingness to sign for fans. From what I've seen Casey has always seemed happy to sign for fans in the garage area as long as he's done with his team. Most of the drivers seem to sign as they walk though the garage area before or after practice/qualifying at least once a weekend. It's when fans chase down drivers to the point of trying to pull them away from their teams and are pushy about it that I think it becomes a problem. And don't even get me started on the fans who complain about a driver not coming over to sign when it's clear that a driver has helmet in hand and is about to climb into their car! I'm like you in that I'm content to stand back, take in what's going on and take photos, unfortunately there are a lot of fans who aren't like you and I who ruin things for everyone else.
Posted by: silverdsl at February 3, 2009 11:46 AM