Folks,

I don't think that 2009 is going to be a bad year at the gate for the grandstands.

In fact, I wrote about that just a week or so ago :

http://www.michigancircletrack.com/c...he-grandstands

I do agree that the Pit Gate is going to be effected.

This will be a pivital year for track promoters and owners. If they contract their advertising budget and shrink payouts to try and save $$, they will lose their butts long term.

However.. if they are aggressive in their advertising, they would see huge gains in the grandstands.. and this will allow them to hold the line on payouts (or even increase them), which will keep car counts steady.

If the tracks lose cars this year, they will lose them forever. Its a proven fact that people who leave the short track game rarely return. If tracks can provide just enough of a stimulus package (couldn't resist using that phrase) to the drivers to get them through this lean year, the reward on the other side will be boon to the long term future of the track.