Former driver Jeremy Mayfield has shared secrets about how NASCAR portrays the popularity of the sport during race weekend broadcasts.
Appearing on Chase Holden’s YouTube channel, Mayfield voiced his views on certain practices that he believes aim to maintain an image of thriving popularity despite evident declines.
NASCAR, which once stood as a cornerstone of American motorsports, is thought to be facing challenges with its declining attendance and viewership. While new strategies like stage racing and playoffs have been introduced, they haven’t revitalized fan interest, leading to calls for change.
In his recent discussion, Mayfield compared NASCAR’s attempts to fill grandstands with what is seen in other major sports like the NFL and college football. He explained:
A general view of racing from the grandstands during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on November 10, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. Former driver uncovers controversial NASCAR secret.
A general view of racing from the grandstands during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on November 10, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. Former driver uncovers controversial NASCAR secret.
Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
“Have you ever seen, you ever went to, let’s say an NFL game or just watch it on TV, doesn’t matter. How many stands have they taken down in any of the stadiums? None.
“And they’re packed, they’re full. College football game – full. Can’t get nobody else in.
“They’re not covering up their stands with beer signs and everything else… Just because they don’t have the fans there just to make it look like it’s full.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mie9we37ZA0?feature=oembed&w=200&h=113]
Speaking about NASCAR, Holden responded, to which Mayfield nodded:
“The seats are literally colored in a way now to where it looks like there’s people.
“So when you’re watching them on TV, it looks like it’s full, you know.”
In his discussion with Holden, Mayfield also took aim at the NASCAR teams which have not stood with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in their antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR. Mayfield claimed that the other teams had “chickened out” and were more interested in protecting their finances. He explained, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports:
“What Jordan and them are doing is not something everybody in that arena hasn’t already said or done; they all want the same thing. The other ones just chickened out; they weren’t gonna stand up for themselves.
“All the other rest of the teams it goes from Hendrick to all the way down the line, and Roger and them, they don’t care; they got the money; Hendrick’s got the money.
“Richard Childress needs it. A lot of those teams need the money. So, they are not going to upset them whatsoever. Now you’ve got a guy who doesn’t care what you think, which is the best thing that’s happened because he’s gonna hopefully pull the sport back into some type of normalcy.”
Former Driver Uncovers Controversial NASCAR Secret
