HAMPTON, Ga. -- The drivers keep saying how much the racing has improved in the opening month of the NASCAR season, yet there's all sorts of evidence that defies their optimism.

Television ratings? Down. Empty seats? Plenty. Potholes and errant caution lights? Those, too.

And look who's won two of the first three races: Jimmie Johnson, the guy who's captured an unprecedented four consecutive Cup Series championships. His fast start heading into Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway has further dampened enthusiasm for a sport that once appeared on the verge of carving out its place among the Big Three of American sports: NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball.

Four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon has certainly noticed the warning signs.

"Yeah, you recognize it," he said. "When you go through driver introductions and wave to all those people, it's hard not to recognize where we're at."

While the struggling economy had certainly affected all sports at the ticket office, NASCAR's once-booming TV ratings might be the most troubling trend.

The rating for the season-opening Daytona 500, the sport's biggest event, dipped more than 16 percent from 2009, hurt by two hours of delays caused by a pothole problem. Fontana's numbers were similarly off (and the actual attendance was even worse). Last week's race at Las Vegas, where the caution lights came on twice for no reason, suffered a 37 percent plunge.

Of course, it must be recognized that all three races went up against the Winter Olympics, with Las Vegas facing the stiffest competition from a stirring U.S-Canada gold medal hockey game on the final day of the Vancouver Games. But some major sports have actually seen an increase in television ratings, including a record audience for this year's Super Bowl.

"There's a lot more to watch on television," Gordon said. "But then you look at the NFL, they have the best ratings they've ever had. Obviously, there's something we can do. We've got to try to tap into that." (Continued)