NASCAR Chairman Gives 'Midseason State of the Sport' Speech

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR Chairman Brian France addressed the media Friday afternoon in the infield of Daytona International Speedway and insisted that despite the downturn in the economy, sagging television ratings and lagging attendance, he considers the sport to be relatively healthy - competitive racing and compelling championships trumping the downsides.

"Everyone would like to point to me that the world is crumbling,'' France said. "I'm not telling you it's not difficult, it is. But we try to keep things in perspective. Lots of people would like to have our problems.''

And then France tackled the hot topic of the weekend here in Daytona -- a federal judge's decision Wedneday to lift NASCAR's suspension of driver Jeremy Mayfield, who failed a drug test in May.

"We don't just go laying the hammer down and ruining someone's career,'' France said emphatically. "We know what it means to anyone to get such a positive test back ... we are very comfortable that the test is accurate and reliable and will hold up, ultimately, when all of the facts are heard.''

France spent nearly an hour with a rapt audience including NASCAR President Mike Helton and Director of Competition Robin Pemberton, conducting his annual "mid-year update" and answering questions from the national racing press. Predictably, the majority of attention focused on the Mayfield saga and drug testing.

Here are excerpts from France's press conference.

On the economic outlook for NASCAR:
"There seems to be a bit of optimism in the broader economy and we are seeing that with better attendance in some places where we might have expected to do a little worse. So that's a good thing. The tracks have responded across the board to try to add value to our fans knowing how difficult it is with all of the things they are facing, losing their job, or the fear of that and all that means.''

On the tough times for auto manufacturers:
"We have been waiting and frankly, very much as we should, being a good partner with them through their own very very difficult restructuring and bankruptcies ... it is a painful reminder that no one is immune from difficult times.

"We were hoping in that particular case to be one of the last programs they would consider cutting and we were, but as it turns out they were in position where they had to make some changes across all of their programs.''

On the court ruling, reinstating Mayfield to competition:
"Our first responsibility, despite the ruling on Wednesday or any ruling, will always be that we are going to make sure every way we can that everyone who is driving these race cars is of clear mind.''

On whether NASCAR will appeal Wednesday's ruling:
"There are more than one way to work the appellate process. We will be looking at those options and acting as quickly as we can.''

On his reaction that Mayfield did not enter his team at Daytona despite pleading with the court that he needed emergency relief to be at this race:
"I'm probably like a lot of people. When I hear the word emergency, I think of urgency and really needing to do something. So the fact they didn't bother to show up, you can make of that what you will.''

On the evolution of NASCAR's new mandatory drug testing:
"We took a long time to review how to best go about that. ... We looked at all of the things that you would expect us to look at, the NFL's policy, USOC's. ... remembering that we had to have the toughest policy because we have the most to lose if something, if one of our players in on the field or on the track impaired.''

On the existence of a list of banned substances:
"There is a list and it's not limited. It's a long list, many, many pages long because there are scientific descriptions of all these substances. ... It's a very detailed list. ... But there's not one list you can pull out, there can't be one list by the definition of our program.

"We focus on impairment and impairment can come from the terrible drugs that are banned and are illegal in society to a misuse of a prescription.''

On the potential for new manufacturers to join the series:
"Our policy and our views haven't really changed. Some of the opportunities for a new manufacturer to come into NASCAR probably have changed. We have been talking -- and we have routinely -- because we are open, as we demonstrated with Toyota ... that under the right approach that's unique to NASCAR for a manufacturer to come in and compete at one of our national divisions. ... I do see more interests because there's more opportunity.''

On future of the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series:
"Given the circumstances of the economy, they are relatively healthy. Sponsorship could be better, of course, but is okay. And the racing is great. The truck series has felt more pain for sure because they lost a big area of support from the manufacturers that was in all of their trucks.

"Last year we responded by trying to have a lot of cost-cutting measures for the teams and that's been effective. We have had full fields of trucks and a lot of people think that's some of the best racing they see."