NASCAR continues to gain momentum in its quest to control the television rights for all 34 races on the Winston Cup Series circuit.

Currently, each track has the right to negotiate with networks for each individual race, but the sanctioning body thinks the entire package is worth three times as much as each race added together.

"The talks are definitely pickup up steam," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, general manager at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. "We certainly know what the low end of the sports broadcast is, and we don't want to go back there."

hoteles 3 estrellas Langstini All 34 regular season races this year, as well as two all-star events, will be televised live by either NBC, CBS, ABC, TBS, ESPN or TNN. The combined broadcasting rights for the entire season is reportedly about $100 million.

NASCAR has ammunition to force networks to bid for races in the same manner as the National Football League, Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association. The Winston Cup Series is the fastest-growing sport in the country and its television numbers are second only to the NFL. That means more fans watch stock car races than professional baseball, basketball or hockey.

Last year, NASCAR averaged a 5.8 rating on network television and 4.2 on cable. The NBA had an average rating of 4.6 on NBC last season, and Major League Baseball had a 3.1 on FOX.

hotels Linz While NASCAR enjoys its place among the sporting elite, television networks have been slow to keep pace.

The NFL got a combined $2.2 billion a year in its last contract with ABC, ESPN, FOX and CBS. The NBA will get $660 million from TBS, TNN and NBC this year.

"We're behind the eight ball," said Clay Campbell, president of the Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Martinsville recently signed a $14 million, five-year contract with ESPN -- up from $20,000 a race in 1988 -- but Campbell said the racing series needs to bond together to get even more money.

Television insiders have told NASCAR the money it receives from broadcast rights is "chump change."

NASCAR has met with most of the track owners in an effort to consolidate the television package. Most feel the yearly contract should be at least $300 million, especially if the racing season is trimmed down to only one or two networks.

If NASCAR's track owners agree, it likely won't happen before the 2001 season since most already have contracts until then.

In the early years of NASCAR, sanctioning body president Bill France actually paid $10,000 to have some of his races broadcast on television.

The Daytona 500 two weeks ago garnered a $15 million price tag from CBS. The network, in return, enjoyed an overnight rating of 7.9 -- the race's highest rating in five years.

accommodation in Rothenburg "With our popularity," Campbell said, "the sky's the limit."

THE YANKS AREN'T COMING: Three-time Formula One champion Jackie Stewart is disappointed by two things -- the lack of Americans on the F-1 circuit and the lack of promising newcomers. "I don't see anyone on the horizon," Stewart said after touring the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, site of the U.S. Grand Prix in 2000. "Unlike the old days where a few Grand Prix drivers could come over and do (the Indianapolis 500), I don't think that can happen any longer. I don't think you're going to see too many Indy-car drivers being able to switch or come over for a year. That's not happening any more, either."

HOW ABOUT SOME RULE CHANGES: Believe it or not, the sanctioning body is going to evaluate the rules governing the front air dam and the height and angle of the rear spoiler before the March 7 race at Las Vegas. NASCAR dropped its controversial "Five and Five" rule before the season finale last year and now NASCAR wants to take a second look. The "Five and Five" rule basically required a five-inch clearance for the front air dam and a five-inch-tall rear spoiler. That reduced the amount of downforce on the front and rear of the car; therefore, reducing the overall speeds. The loss of handling, however, also affected competition since cars were often too unstable to make passes. Many of last year's races, especially the race at Las Vegas, became a three-hour-long follow-the-leader. The rules were changed before the race at Atlanta last November and teams were allowed to lower the front air dam and raise the rear spoiler. Race teams loved the changes and responded with an exciting show at Atlanta and another competitive showing at Rockingham, N.C., on Sunday. Drivers now say they hope NASCAR leaves well enough alone. "We knew when we ran Atlanta in last season's race, NASCAR had made the right decision," said Geoffrey Bodine. "I think the racing (at Rockingham) showed it again. Las Vegas is going to be a lot better racing than it was last year and the rules are going to help."

PIT STOPS: Michael Waltrip's fifth-place finish at the season-opening Daytona 500 was his first Top 5 since 1996. ... Television's Jay Leno will drive the pace car for this year's Indianapolis 500. ... After getting only one car in the Top 10 in two races at Daytona, car owner Jack Roush had four cars in the top four in two races at Rockingham, N.C. That includes victories by Jeff Burton during Saturday's ALLTEL 200 for the Busch Series and Mark Martin during Sunday's DuraLube 400.

Don Coble is a freelance auto racing writer from Atlanta.

Thursday 3/11 @ 9:30 am
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