Despite Declining Economy TMS expects 400,000 at Nov. Race

Justin, Texas

Dollars are tight. Just one look at Craigslist or Ebay and one can find some bargains on tickets, pit passes, and infield camping. Money is flowing easier than this time last year. It is a great time to be a Nascar fan! Now’s the chance to get it all in Texas.

According to the Dallas Business Journal, Eddie Gossage, president of Texas Motor Speedway, said he expects attendance and revenue for the Nov. 8 Dickies 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race to remain about flat with last year’s numbers.

Hard Times in the Infield. Photo by Bruce Cameron

He expects 175,000 to 185,000 in attendance for the Sunday race, and about 400,000 for the entire weekend.

“If people are getting worked up about 105,000 at a Cowboys game, we call that a bad day on Saturday,” Gossage said in a recent interview.

About 240 of the track’s 15,000 Backstretch Buster seats, which sell for $20 and $40, remain available.

The venue’s high-dollar RV parking spaces are sold out. “We’re having a hard time with the corporate clients who a year ago bought 500 tickets and this year bought 200,” Gossage said. “I think that’s settling down some.”

Already looking to next year, Gossage said he is in talks with sponsors willing to take the place of Dickies, which has not renewed its sponsorship of the Sprint Cup race for 2010.

Bruce Cameron, The Racing Reporter