Humpy Wheeler and Kyle Petty had a long-distance debate on NASCAR's newest changes. Credit: Chris Trotman and Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Global NASCAR? Petty, Wheeler differ in opinion

CONCORD, N.C. -- Are the latest changes coming to NASCAR as a result of lower television ratings and sagging attendance in some markets? And if so and the changes are successful, will NASCAR's popularity soar to new heights, perhaps even reaching the far corners of the globe in ways that until now have scarcely even been imagined?

Well, it depends on who you ask.

Brian France announced changes to the Chase on Monday. Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

CHANGES ANNOUNCED Wins will be more important than ever following changes to the points system and Chase.  •   Complete story, click here FRANCE ON CHANGES NASCAR tweaked its Chase format because it lacked a way for "wild-card" teams to qualify.  •   Complete story, click here DAVID CARAVIELLO Chase changes will add more drama, but David Caraviello says brush up on algebra.  •   Complete story, click here WHAT IF ... ... NASCAR's changes had effect since the invention of the current points system in 1975, the records would look different.  •   Complete story, click here MESSAGE BOARD What do you think of the changes to the points system and Chase format NASCAR has announced for 2007?  •   Post your thoughts New for 2007Brian France on the changes in the points and Chase Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

If you're asking Humpy Wheeler, the longtime president of Lowe's Motor Speedway, you're likely to get one set of interesting answers. But if you take Wheeler's answers and run them by longtime Nextel Cup driver Kyle Petty, you'll get the polar opposite view.

In sort of an unofficial point-counterpoint debate that unfolded Tuesday miles and hours apart on the trail of the Lowe's annual media tour, Wheeler and Petty debated the day's most compelling racing questions.

It started in the morning on the fifth floor of Wheeler's track, just outside the Speedway Club. Wheeler was part of a NASCAR/Lowe's track contingent that unveiled the latest changes in the Nextel All-Star Challenge, which came one day after NASCAR also announced a tweaking to the points system and Chase for the Nextel Cup championship which determines who wins the driving title each year.

Wheeler contended that the lack of television ratings, and to a lesser extent the lack of fans in the stands at certain venues, were the driving forces behind the changes.

"The slight decline in TV [ratings], I think, has had much to do with the tremendous growth we had in our sport through the 1990s all the way through 2001," Wheeler said. "We were on a tremendous power curve. And if you look at all sports, they go through these power curves and then it levels off a little bit.

"Then you test yourself. The test is to see if you can get yourself up on that power curve again. That's precisely what we're trying to do right now. I think that's the thrust behind all of this, and in order to do it we've got to make the racing better, we've got to have more color with the drivers, we've got to promote harder. If we were doing as good a job on our races as television is, we'd be right there.

Told of Wheeler's comments a few hours later when the media tour made a stop at the Petty Enterprises race shop in Level Cross, N.C., Kyle Petty shook his head in disagreement on all fronts.

"I just think they needed a change," Petty said of the alterations to the points system in particular. "The other system worked, but I think they dodged a few bullets with it. To have good Chases three years in a row was a miracle. Because if you look what Kevin Harvick did in the first 10 races and the last 10 races of the Busch Series last year, that just as easily could have been Kevin Harvick in the Cup Series, blowing out the system. He could have totally blown out the Chase with the system that they had.

"So I think you look at things like that, and they should count their blessings. They should go to the bank and say we got lucky for three years; now let's throw something else out there."

Petty also said that he believes television ratings and declining attendance don't usually go hand in hand. He said some tracks have empty seats because it's easier to stay at home and watch on TV, which should in theory drive the ratings up.

"I would rather sit at home and watch it. I'd rather be sitting on my couch than fighting a crowd of 150,000 people, sitting next to someone you don't know, getting hit in the head every time they get up to go to the bathroom," Petty said. "I want to sit on my couch and go to my own bathroom or go to my refrigerator."

Petty also took issue with Wheeler's contention that the drivers need to be more colorful. He said that the current state of the sport prevents that.

"I don't think drivers are too bland. I think drivers are pretty good at being individuals," he said. "You know, we crucify Kurt Busch because he's an individual. He is who he is. You may not like his personality. I don't consider that bland. I just consider that his personality. I happen to like Kurt Busch. He does stuff for us at the [Victory Junction] camp and I think he's the greatest guy in the world, but the fans crucify him.

"What happens, or at least what I think happens, is that even 20 years ago it was OK to be Tim Richmond. It was OK to be flamboyant. It was OK to do these things, to go here and go there and do this stuff. It was kind of cool.

"But now you've got a corporation spending $15 or $20 million, and if you have your picture taken in the wrong place at the wrong time, you can kiss that $15 or $20 million goodbye. It's not like the NBA where they sit you on the bench for five weeks. That sponsor walks away -- and when that sponsor walks away, not only does it affect you, it affects the other 125 families that work at that shop, or the other 300 families that work there.

ALL-STAR CHANGES •   All-Star changes meant to make it easier for the fans

"I wouldn't call it blandness. I just think that you have to be incredibly careful with what you say, where you go, what you do and who you're with. Because you're not a driver anymore. And the easiest way to say it is that you're not a driver anymore; you're a business. And the brand name of that business is your name, so you can't be as outspoken or as talkative or do some of the things that you might normally like to do."

Wheeler went on to say that he believes NASCAR's changes will fuel a growth in aforementioned "power curve," thus spawning a resurgence in popularity similar to the one that seemed to start leveling off for the sport around 2001.

"We've just flattened out after this long power curve growth, and we need to do something to get it going up again," Wheeler said. "Now, one of the things that is going to help us -- not will, but can -- is getting better ratings in New York, Chicago and L.A. In order to do that, we've got to have a reason for Hispanics to like it. I mean, L.A.'s 50 percent Hispanic. I think this is what a successful [Juan] Montoya would do for us.

"He's got to be successful. He can't sit back there and finish 15th every race to get people excited."

Montoya is a former Formula One driver making the crossover into Nextel Cup. He drove in four Busch races and one Cup race last year, but this will be his first full-time season in the No. 42 Dodge owned by Chip Ganassi Racing. Wheeler went on to say that if Montoya is successful, it could kick off a global warming trend toward NASCAR that would almost know no bounds.

"I think it's going to keep getting bigger," Wheeler said. "Eventually I don't think we're going to be able to hold this to the United States, obviously. With Busch racing already in Mexico and going to Canada, can Cup racing be that far behind? If it does that, is it going to go to Europe and to the Pacific Rim? I would say the answer is probably yes. It's going to be an evolutionary process and it's going to take time to do it, but the opportunities globally are tremendous right now. If you look at the NBA and the NFL right now, they're thinking globally -- and I think we have to start doing the same thing."

Wheeler admitted that no one is working toward the globalization of the sport as of yet. But he insisted that it is coming.

"Nobody is really working on it, technically. Nobody that I know is putting a huge amount of effort into saying we're going to be an international sport. I think that's just going to evolve over a period of time because of demand," Wheeler said.

"Montoya does well, people in Europe are going to get interested. Hispanics and the South American community are going to get more interested in it, and then the demand for races will come. And we'll give 'em one.

"But money drives everything. And that's why you have expansion. That's why Christopher Columbus sailed. They wanted more trade. So it's just inevitable that we're going to do the same thing if the sport keeps growing like I think it can."

Petty, naturally, thinks Wheeler is out of his mind on this subject.

"I think that would be a huge mistake," Petty said of Wheeler's contention that NASCAR eventually will go global. "I think there is only one form of global racing, and that's Formula One. And to try to go head to head with Formula One, we ought to all just stick something in the side of our heads. You know what I mean? It's just stupid. That's an established brand.

"I think the one thing you have to do, a good business practice, is to know your market and dominate your market. We dominate this market. ... NASCAR Nextel Cup is the dominant force in stock-car racing in the United States. So for us to have to go head-to-head with Formula One in Brazil or in Europe, that's just stupid.

"This comparison might work better. Let's play the Super Bowl in Europe at the same time as the World Cup -- and see how many people come out to watch American football vs. European football. Over there, they're European football fans; over there, they're Formula One racing fans. Yeah, we might get some of them. But we're not a global entity. I think Coca-Cola is a global entity, but NASCAR is not global. Sorry."