Economy may even touch on NASCAR
Martinsville Speedway is not immune even with a seating capacity that ranks among the smallest in the Sprint Cup series.
Tickets remain for Sunday's Goody's Cool Orange 500. Track president Clay Campbell, noting the economy, said Wednesday that ticket sales "have been soft this year versus years in the past."
Sold-out signs at NASCAR ticket windows are slower to pop up. Richmond International Raceway, once considered among the most difficult tickets to get, has backstretch seats available for its cup race in May. Track officials, though, expect to record their 33rd consecutive sellout. Tickets also remain for May races at Darlington, S.C., and Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C.
Campbell notes that unlike other sports, race tracks draw fans from greater distances. Nearly half the ticket buyers for Martinsville's Cup race last fall came from more than 200 miles away, track spokesman Mike Smith said, citing ticket department research.
A majority of Martinsville's typical race-day crowd comes from Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Soaring gas prices could keep some of those fans from attending. The Energy Information Association reports that gas prices nationally have climbed nearly 50 cents per gallon since September. Gas prices in the lower Atlantic region, which includes Virginia and North Carolina, have increased 28 cents per gallon since Feb. 4. More at Roanoke.com