NASCAR boss is not worried about lower TV ratings, attendance at races

[The General]

France says the sport remains among the nation's most popular and the sanctioning body is not planning any major changes to its structure or schedule.

Jimmie Johnson's second consecutive Nextel Cup title coincided with a second year of declines in NASCAR's television ratings and attendance at some races.

But NASCAR Chairman Brian France said stock car racing remains among the nation's most popular sports and the sanctioning body plans no major changes.

The pullback in NASCAR ratings and attendance occurred despite the debut of Toyota and NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow, the arrival of open-wheel racing star Juan Pablo Montoya and changes to the Chase for the Cup title playoff that increased the Chase field to 12 drivers from 10.

But this fall's Chase quickly became a shootout between Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, with Johnson comfortably winning the championship Sunday with a seventh-place finish in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

NASCAR's TV ratings are down partly because "there are lots of new ways to get your NASCAR fix than there were five years ago," such as via the Internet or satellite radio, France said before the Miami race.

"We're not immune to the economy, either," especially rising gasoline prices and a weakening housing market that have cut into ticket, merchandise and concession sales, he said.

But France said NASCAR will not make any major changes to its structure or schedule.

That includes the Chase. Although some described this year's playoff as disappointing because it came down to only two drivers who are teammates, France said "that's sports."

"Our preferable outcome is all 12 guys are 20 points within each other" heading into the final race, he said. But Johnson is "having a run in the modern era that's maybe unmatched," France said.

France also dismissed rumors that he and other members of the France family, which controls NASCAR, might be willing to sell the organization.

"The family has absolutely no interest in selling NASCAR. We're just not for sale. I'm committed to my job for the foreseeable future, and that's years, not months," he said.

Here are some other key moments of NASCAR's year, and a look at what 2008 might bring:

* The Nextel Cup Series will be renamed the Sprint Cup Series next year, owing to Sprint's acquisition of Nextel. And the second-tier Busch Series will become the Nationwide Series, after Nationwide Insurance became the title sponsor to succeed the Busch brand of brewer Anheuser-Busch.

* After months of public feuding with his stepmother-team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. opted to leave his late father's namesake team and join Johnson and Gordon at Hendrick next year. He'll no longer drive the legendary No. 8 Chevrolet but will instead pilot a No. 88 Hendrick Chevy.

If Earnhardt -- who hasn't won in 18 months -- doesn't find Victory Lane quickly in Hendrick's first-rate cars, watch for pressure to build as Junior's army of fans grow impatient.

"His fan base [expects] him to do well," owner Rick Hendrick said Sunday night. "If he does well it's because of his talent. If he doesn't, it's going to be my fault."

* Earnhardt is one of several drivers changing teams or cars or sponsors.

Hendrick released Kyle Busch to make room for Earnhardt, so Busch is going to Joe Gibbs Racing, home of Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. And Casey Mears, while staying with Hendrick, will move from his No. 25 car to take over Busch's No. 5 Chevy.

Meanwhile, the trickle of open-wheel racers moving to NASCAR turned into a flood. Indianapolis 500 winners Sam Hornish Jr., Dario Franchitti and Jacques Villeneuve are all joining the Cup series in 2008. Indeed, there could be more Indy 500 winners at next year's season opener, the Daytona 500, than former Daytona 500 winners.

The driver who started the trend, Montoya, had a successful, if not stupendous, first full year in stock car racing.

The Colombian finished 20th in points and was selected rookie of the year. He won a Cup race in Sonoma, Calif., and a Busch Series race in Mexico City.

But both of those victories were on road courses. His goal for 2008 is to conquer an oval track.

* Speaking of debuts, Toyota struggled mightily in the first half of the season, then made strides that indicated it will be a growing force in the Cup series.

Its biggest coup: Recruiting Joe Gibbs Racing to switch from Chevrolet to Toyota starting next year. That means Stewart, a two-time champion, along with Hamlin and Busch will be driving the Toyota Camry.

Meanwhile, the Car of Tomorrow, the boxier, safer car with a rear wing, was phased in at 16 races this season and will be used in all 36 races in 2008.

Drivers frequently complained that the new cars are so equal that they inhibit passing, but watch for NASCAR -- and the teams -- to make tweaks that improve the competition.

The season opener, the 50th running of the Daytona 500, is 90 days away.

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