There’s no doubt that the race-track operators, even though they are making money, will likely cut costs as much as possible to keep their shareholders happy in 2009.

They will try to cut in ways that won’t impact the fans, but in reality, that can’t be possible. They can only try to limit the impact it has on the fans.

They can cut one ticket operator but that still means someone will have to sit on hold a little longer. They can cut the hourly wage of ushers or the security force and many people won’t notice except for those frustrated in finding their seat or finding some help when they desperately need it.

Here is what I hope tracks do in reacting to the financial crisis:

• Keep concession prices reasonable – or at least stagnant. Tracks can’t raise concession prices to hope to make up for fewer fans. And they can’t close a bunch of concession stands. The worst thing at a race track is standing in line for a hot dog and soda and missing something on the track. Well there is something worse: Feeling like you’ve paid too much while also missing the action.

• Don’t charge for parking. One of the things that most tracks do offer is some free parking. They can’t try to offset costs by asking people to pay to park. The tickets are tough enough to afford.

• Work hard on traffic. Any cuts shouldn’t have an impact on traffic flow in and out of the track. Getting into tracks typically is an adventure and track personnel can’t afford to cut corners in this area.

• Keep trying the special ticket packages. Some of the special ticket packages have worked and others haven’t but tracks shouldn’t give up so quickly. What tracks should look at is how many people who used the ticket packages (such as four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas for a certain price) renew them to figure out if they’re successful.

• Remember the fan is a shareholder, too. OK, technically a fan might not own stock, but the fan is the reason people buy stock in track-operating companies. While tracks owe shareholders something in return, they owe those fans who support them as well. Don’t start charging for extra items a la the airlines charging for a first piece of checked luggage.

• Cut the entertainment fees. If there’s one place to cut, then tracks should cut whatever they shell out for a prerace concert from a well-known act. I’ve never heard a fan leave a race and say, “Well the racing stunk but that band that played prior to the event kicked butt. I am so going next year to hear what band is going to perform.”

• Remember that NASCAR is a team sport. NASCAR, the tracks, the teams and the drivers must work together to promote the sport. That means drivers and teams need to work harder when asked by the track to do something to promote the race. And NASCAR and ISC have to, in turn, bend over backward to help a team’s or driver’s sponsor to activate at the track, whether it be in lower suite fees or lower fees for space to set up a booth.

As much as fans will worry about how many teams and who will eventually make it to the track in 2009, the fans need to as well be worried about themselves. Here’s hoping that what is expected to be a rough 2009 for many doesn’t include the Sunday when they go to a Cup race. - bob pockrass/scenedaily.com