NASCAR: Brian France sees bright outlook for sport

The message from the NASCAR Hall of Fame was loud and clear Thursday afternoon - “Steady as she goes.”

 In his annual state-of-the-sport speech in downtown Charlotte, chairman Brian France expressed pride over the successful 2011 season and optimism for the high-tech future.

Before last year, France and his lieutenants were criticized for not listening to the suggestions of tradition-loving fans who had become disgruntled with short-sighted gimmicks, monotonous events and look-a-like cars.

  Even the harshest NASCAR critic had to admit that the simplified points system attracted casual fans and built momentum for the 10-race Chase for the Championship.

 That final lap showdown between Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards at Homestead was simply captivating stuff. It was exactly the finish that France hoped for when he announced changes to the Championship format before last season.

   Fans also responded to the infectious personality of Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne and the innovations of NASCAR television partners, who finally dared to give fans uninterrupted coverage with a split-screen format for commercials. The continued implosion of open-wheel racing in America has also helped build interest for stock racing.

   France was no doubt pleased by the positive glow of the NASCAR media tour, which concluded a four-day run Thursday. Several media types were almost giddy with the stream of upbeat statements.

   But to the dismay of fans who still root for the underdogs, France offered little sympathy Thursday for the plight of the small teams who continue to fight almost impossible odds in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series. The truck schedule has already been scaled back.

 Yes, major corporations are jumping back on the NASCAR train in a big way. But nearly all that money is going to the megateams who can simply overwhelm the opposition with armies of engineers, mechanics and marketing sharks.

  In terms of the wow factor, the highlight of the week was the unveiling of the Ford Fusion prototype which will be used in Sprint Cup races beginning in 2013. A closed test involving the car manufacturers is scheduled for early next month.

In a more innocent age, one of the primary appeals of stock car racing was the unique styling of the cars.  Forget the cuteness or cool quotient, fans once rooted for drivers based solely on the make of cars they drove. Soon, we will at least be able to tell cars apart.

France also pointed to the advantages of electronic fuel injection, attendance gains at select tracks, new rules to encourage “pack racing” at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, the explosion of social media, and the long-awaited progress of the diversity program.

   Two members of the 2012 Drive for Diversity class – MacKena Bell and Bryan Ortiz – were regular Late Model competitors last season at Kingsport Speedway with the Revolution Racing team. Abingdon’s Lindsey Holman tried out for Diversity effort this season.

  For various reasons, NASCAR enters the 2012 season on a roll.

Hopefully, France will continue to seek out input from fans, and strike that delicate balance between old school and new wave fans.  

Another headline-grabbing Daytona 500 would certainly help.

agregory@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Greg_BHCSports | (276) 645-2544.