You ever walk into a NASCAR race and think, “Man, this place used to be packed to the rafters—what happened?” That’s the reality staring the sport in the face right now. Tracks that once bragged about sellouts—Bristol Motor Speedway had 55 in a row at one point—are now staring at empty rows, tarped-off sections, and a vibe that doesn’t quite match the glory days.

And this isn’t just an “oh, the stands don’t look full” thing. No, the economics are shifting hard. Talladega literally ripped out 18,000 seats. Michigan used to flex with 130,000-plus capacity, and now they’ve scaled it way back because, frankly, the demand just isn’t there anymore. Rising travel costs, changing fan habits, and the comfort of watching from home are all playing their part.

But here’s where it gets spicy: Kevin H

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