Thousands of unsold tickets for Daytona 500

There are thousands of available tickets for next week's Daytona 500. Television ratings dropped in 2008 compared to the 2007 season, especially in the final 17 weeks as America started coming to grips with a faltering economy.

Large banners will cover empty grandstand sections at some tracks this year despite sweeping price cuts, and all three of NASCAR's top touring series — Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck — have accepted the fact there might not be enough teams for a full field once the Daytona euphoria is replaced with the weekly grind of the regular season.