One man's solution for a shorter yet better schedule (cont'd)

The solution

Too often those who point out an obvious fault in something are taken to task for not providing the solution, so today I will step to the plate and reveal what the good folks at NASCAR headquarters could consider to shorten their season by a full six weeks.

Attendance at venues now struggling would soar. Television ratings would continue climbing (OK, so that can only be said because the ratings for the most recent race at Bristol were up, as opposed to the longer trend of ratings going down). And Sprint Cup seasons would hold the interest of a growing number of fans, new and old, because, well, it wouldn't be so damn long and drawn out.

• 2008 Race Schedule

Let me also preface this by saying that I know my advice won't be accepted. It will, in fact, be ridiculed by those who say there's no way this can be done -- because there is too much money involved. Track officials will choke on their morning coffee and protest vigorously the mere mention that they may have to consider giving up one of their precious, if increasingly challenging, race dates.

All of that is understood going in. But something has to give.

And the fact is it would be great for the long-term health of the sport. Not only for the reasons listed above, but because it would at least then be slightly less expensive for teams to compete for a full season -- thereby reducing the number of dollars required from sponsors. That would make the sport more attractive for sponsors now sitting on the fence, wondering if their investment would be worth it. It also could increase the possibilities of corporations splitting the costs of primary sponsorship for cars during a season.

Let's face it: sponsorship dollars are drying up in this weakened economy. So are the dollars fans are willing, or able, to spend making a weekend of it to venture to the nearest Sprint Cup track. And it's going to get worse before it gets better.

So here is the suggestion: start by taking one race each away from Auto Club Speedway (formerly known at California Speedway), Atlanta Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. What do they have in common? None, with the possible exception of Atlanta, is really close to a major city, and all have had their problems in recent years consistently drawing sellout crowds (an understatement when it comes to California, by the way). Oh, and please don't press the claim that Auto Club Speedway of Southern California (its official name, now) is located in Los Angeles -- because it isn't.

That clears up four weeks on the schedule right there. To gain the additional two "off" weeks, another five current tracks could host two events on a rotating basis and only one event in the years when they're the odd venue out. This would clear the way for the impatient (and rightly so) folks at Kentucky Speedway to get one Sprint Cup event at least on a rotating basis -- even if it meant one year off, two on, one off, and so forth. If crowds there warrant more and lesser crowds elsewhere warrant a further shifting of who gets additional or fewer race dates in the future, the tracks in the rotation portion of the schedule could be altered every five years.

The current tracks nominated to participate in the rotating scheme: Dover, Pocono, Phoenix, New Hampshire and Las Vegas. Said scheme should be tweaked so that Vegas gets the second race it deserves at least every other year, preferably on years when Phoenix is only racing once.

But the greatest benefit would be the shortening of the ridiculously long schedule, not another four days of shows and gambling in Vegas every other year.

Oh, and why include a new track like Kentucky in the mix if the goal is attempting to shorten the schedule? The answer to that question is simple. It's because of personal greed. I'm from the area (just across the border in Ohio, actually), and wouldn't mind the occasional trip home.

After all, the current schedule is built on greed and not necessarily what's best for the sport or the people competing in it, isn't it?

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.