France’s spin – NASCAR doing OK

Brian France puts a positive spin on an otherwise gloomy 2009

NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France held an impromptu press conference during media day Thursday and discussed at length economic issues impacting and overshadowing the sport.

"Everybody is very interested and understands what we're up against," France said at Daytona International Speedway. "Tracks, owners, drivers — I'm meeting with every one of them the next two weeks, to talk about what we need to do to weather the storm."

The "storm" is the economy, which continues to weaken at dire speed not only in this country but abroad.

France said every "stakeholder" in stock-car racing must work to get through this financial crisis, which has Detroit's "Big Three" automakers on the ropes.

The Sprint Cup Series has seen several middle-of-the-pack teams merge over the winter in an effort to survive.

The NASCAR race season begins Saturday night with the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. The non-points sprint race will feature 28 cars.

"We're looking to get cars on the track and do what we do best," France said. "There's a lot of new things going on, new drivers with new teams.

"I'm anxious to see how that will play out. That will be the best tonic that we can get for us and our race fans." More at Daytona Beach News Journal