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NASCAR is Fan-Tastic, But for How Long?

Perhaps it was a testament to the overwhelming popularity of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series that when Tony Stewart recently complained about the burdens of being in the spotlight, his comments were disseminated nationally on the Associated Press sports wire.

"It's getting to where it's not fun doing this anymore," Stewart said, referring to the crush of media and overbearing autograph seekers.

"Don't you wonder why there's no drivers that stand outside their trailers? Because they can't. That's the part that makes it not very fun for all of us."

In fact, that Stewart's complaints received such attention was a testament to NASCAR's marketing campaigns that hail its athletes as the most accessible in professional sports, according to a former NASCAR official.

One oft-repeated television ad, in particular, showed seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt walking between transporters in the garage area, stopping to sign an autograph for a young fan, then affectionately patting the lad on the head.

"It's all perception and reality," said a former NASCAR official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "NASCAR does all these image spots where Earnhardt's patting a little kid on the head -- first of all, you have to be 18 to get into the garage area for a NASCAR race.

"The only time (the drivers) ever sign autographs at the track, really, is there is usually an area between the garage area and where their motor homes are parked. All these fans line up 50 deep and that's the only time they really get bugged."

Stewart's biggest complaints dealt with the number of "fans" allowed into the garage area -- "our work area," as Stewart put it -- and the increasing amount of attention drivers receive away from the track, on their own time.

"Any time we're out in public, it seems like we're at their disposal," Stewart said of the fans. "I don't like having people swarm around all the time."

Stewart went on to say that other drivers feel the same as he does, but won't speak publicly for fear of angering their fans.

"There's a bunch of fake guys around here," Stewart said.

But Jeff Motley, the director of public relations at Las Vegas Motor Speedway who worked in a similar capacity for NASCAR in 1998, took issue with Stewart's assessment.

"I think it's a very, very small minority that shares Tony's view," Motley said.

Motley, who deals with drivers during the speedway's annual Winston Cup race weekend, said he could see both sides of the issue.

"I can understand why any driver would be upset if they get followed into the bathroom for an autograph, like what happened to (Jeff) Gordon at Michigan in '98," Motley said. "I can also understand a driver thinking 'This is my working environment,' but if you're going to be in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, be prepared to sign autographs.

"The drivers of today made that choice to go to Winston Cup ... and there is a responsibility that comes along with that choice -- and part of that responsibility is not only dealing with the fans, but dealing with the fans in the right way."

John Andretti, who drives the STP/Cheerios Pontiac that is owned by NASCAR legend Richard Petty, agreed.

"You sign autographs because that's part of being in the limelight, that's part of the deal," Andretti said. "It's not always convenient and it's not always the best time, but it is just what you do because of what you are, who you are and where you are.

"I grew up watching (my uncle) Mario Andretti sign autographs and I've seen what Richard Petty does. These are guys who will probably never be topped when it comes to racing accomplishments. I figure I can't go wrong following their examples, so I sign and shake hands as long as I can. I owe that much to what they built and to the sport."

Sterling Marlin, who drives the Coors Light Chevrolet and is a second-generation Winston Cup driver, said the added notoriety "goes with the territory."

"It doesn't bother me," Marlin said. "I don't mind signing autographs at all. If you do, maybe you ought to go back and run street stocks somewhere where you don't have the problem. The way I look at it, if you're going to take the money and the big crowds and all that goes with Winston Cup racing, you take that too."

Marlin did, however, agree with Stewart that the garage area is becoming crowded with autograph seekers.

"The garage is starting to get kind of full and I can see where somebody might get kind of frustrated at times but, by and large, it's not that big of a deal," he said. "What's the old saying? You just got to worry when they stop asking you for autographs."

Motley said that there has been talk within NASCAR about restricting autographs in the garage area, but added that most fans are not permitted access into the garages.

"You can't buy garage passes, so you have to be signed in by a team, or the track, or (a NASCAR) official or be a media person," Motley said. "I know there has been talk of limiting autographs in the garage area, but it's a sport that has been built on making its drivers accessible to the fans."

Both Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) and the Indy Racing Northern Light Series, two open-wheel racing series whose popularity pales in comparison to NASCAR's, hold scheduled driver autograph sessions after practice or qualifying at each of their races.

NASCAR reportedly has toyed with the idea of holding similar formal autograph sessions, but has not yet implemented such a program.

According to Motley, Winston Cup drivers remain the most accessible among all professional athletes.

"It is hard for me to believe that any professional athlete signs more autographs than NASCAR drivers do over the course of a weekend," Motley said.

You probably wouldn't get an argument from Stewart on that point.

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