Wheeler: Make NASCAR more artificial

Longtime race promoter Humpy Wheeler says NASCAR officials need to make "bold moves" to improve racing and keep fans interested by manipulating the race, i.e. making it more artificial so the racing is closer. Attendance has been soft at some tracks and TV ratings have down for most Nextel Cup races this season. Some fans also have been vocal about their displeasure about the racing this season.

"Every problem we have could be cured by better racing," said Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway.

So, what kind of bold moves would he make?

• Slow the cars 5 mph.
• Award more points for wins.
• Award more points for leading laps.
• Put half the money that goes into the championship fund into the race purses to make the races more meaningful.
• Add a halftime break.

Many of the changes, which he's advocated for years, would encourage harder racing throughout an event, he said.

"People don't buy a ticket just to see the last 10 laps of the race, they buy a ticket to see the whole race," he said. "It's not the race for ninth."

Slowing the cars could bunch the field, creating tighter racing, he suggests.