Full Throttle

Atlanta Motor Speedway say good night Gracie second Cup date. While being “old school” as they come it’s time, time to give-up any thoughts of ever filling the place up and retaining two events per season.

Announced attendance was 94,000 in a place that seats 124,000 give or take. At best a third of the seats were disguised as empty seats. At 70 degrees plus and sunny it damn sure wasn’t the weather was it?

Some are hot on the economy being the cause, SI being one of several this morning.

Yeah well, what was the excuse five years ago when many seats were unsold?

Think about it. This is the first week back in what is supposedly the hot bed of NASCAR fandom after two weeks on the “hated” left coast and the box office was a dud.

And mark my words, the overnight TV ratings that should come out today will be in the 4-7 percent range on the downside. If it’s the “economy stupid” why aren’t the TV sets being lit up like Times Square on New Years Eve?

Many claim the loss in interest is due to the new car and perceived lack of competition.

Poppycock!

A decade ago only 14 cars finished on the lead lap at Atlanta. A decade before that only 12. In 1979 only 3, count’em 3 were on the lead lap.

And keep in mind ‘79 and ‘89 were way before the much talked about era of “The Grand Phantom Yellow Flag Conspiracy” that allegedly creates tight competition and close finishes now.

Again I say Poppycock! Jeff Gordon on the other hand is just baffled.

“To me, this is some of the best racing we’re putting on in the series anywhere we go,” Jeff Gordon said. “I know there’s a lot of race fans around here. I’m a little baffled by it. I’ve been hearing that they were going to have some empty seats. It’s hard to say.”

It’s not hand to say Jeff, let me help you out.

If low end seats went for less than 40 bucks on a sunny spring day just screw’em! Send Atlanta’s date somewhere else.

As much as I loath to say it - because of my dislike of Carrol’s phony anti-trust lawsuit - give the date to Kentucky Speedway. Or Iowa Speedway.

Hell, give it to Infineon, at least then it stays in the SMI family.

David Caraviello wrote a piece a couple days ago that pretty much sums it up.

But given how much the series has changed in the past 15 years, and given all the incessant complaints from old-schoolers about how good it used to be, you’d think race fans from Ringgold to Kingsland would chain themselves to the gates of the old speedway before they’d let another date at another traditional track be taken away from them.

That sure didn’t happen. They must have chained themselves to the sofa and watched some inane childish reality show.

And one last thing, two actually, two questions for the “I hate the late starting times” crowd.

1. How many whining about Cup events starting late and ending past your bedy-by time are also fans of the Numerous Felons League?

2. If you answered yes to question one how many also watch Monday Night Football on a regular basis?

If you answered yes to both questions you’re up at midnight watching MNF, just shut the hell up about NASCAR start times.

‘Nough said, rant over. Now it’s your turn.