Notebook: Harvick smokes 'em in burnout competition (cont'd)

NASCAR doesn't publish a finite list of banned substances, taking the position that any drug has the potential to be abused. The absence of a list is fine with Earnhardt.

"Just don't take drugs," he said. "Don't do anything stupid, and you won't get caught. That's ridiculous. I just think that nobody deserves anything, no lists, nothing. Don't do drugs, don't do stupid stuff. The policy is a rule and don't violate it, and that's that."

“

We don't like to be down in our ratings, but it's important to understand in totality. NASCAR online, our video downloads are all at a record. Our shoulder programming, Truck Series, Nationwide, are up.

”

-- BRIAN FRANCE

Kentucky stalemate

NASCAR isn't considering any requests to change or move race dates in 2010, another bad sign for Kentucky Speedway to finally get a Sprint Cup race.

Bruton Smith, owner of seven other tracks including Lowe's Motor Speedway, purchased the Sparta, Ky., facility last year and is doing a $70 million facelift. But NASCAR won't consider any proposals for a Cup date until the former owners of the track drop an antitrust lawsuit.

"There are no formal requests under consideration," NASCAR chairman Brian France said. "We're closing in on getting the 2010 schedule behind us in terms of where things are going to be. That's not completed yet. But we're certainly way down the road at trying to figure out if there's going to be any changes."

France remains optimistic

The crowds have been thinner, television ratings are down and top manufacturers and sponsors face serious financial problems.

The celebratory mood surrounding NASCAR's All-Star Race on Saturday was tempered compared to years past. But France remains optimistic -- even as uncertainty looms with troubled automakers General Motors and Chrysler.

While GM considers bankruptcy, Chrysler is already in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and could face restrictions on the money spent on in marketing.

Of the 53 cars entered in Saturday's All-Star Race and preliminary Sprint Showdown, 29 carried either GM's Chevrolet or Chrysler's Dodge brand.

"They are current with all of their obligations with our sport," France said. "They're still going to be a company that needs to sell cars and trucks. We're still the best place in the country to do that from a sponsorship standpoint and the related benefits that you receive. And obviously those companies are going to have to make some tough choices."

GM announced Friday it's dropping 20 percent of its dealers in a process to become a much smaller company.

NASCAR also is tied to the auto companies through additional sponsorship deals ranging from large television advertising buys to race naming rights deals.

"Our hope and expectation is that we will fare at the top of the list as to things you would not want to cut. I believe that to be true," France said. "We're obviously in close contact with our teams."

Traffic was noticeably lighter around Lowe's Motor Speedway Saturday afternoon than in previous years before the All-Star Race. What is troubling is that as fans stay away due to the recession, television ratings also have tailed off.

"We don't like to be down in our ratings, but it's important to understand in totality," France said. "NASCAR online, our video downloads are all at a record. Our shoulder programming, Truck Series, Nationwide, are up.

"We also didn't get off to the best start for us with a rain-shortened Daytona 500. We're in a momentum business."

The Associated Press contributed to this report