Heartburn from the Big Apple

By Mike Harper

The song says, "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere, It's up to you, New York, New York."

Once again the Nextel Cup Series banquet has come and gone and I get the feeling NASCAR has put those lyrics directly into their business plan year after year, because like a stalker they won’t leave New York alone.

I know why NASCAR has such an infatuation with the Big Apple. Big business equals big money and big money drives the sport. It’s understandable. But I’m not alone in my opinions that NASCAR should rethink their banquet location for the future.

One well-known NASCAR journalist said it best when he stated, "Nothing, by the way, better epitomizes how out of touch NASCAR is with its fan base than the whole image conjured up by New York at the Waldorf-Astoria." I couldn't agree more with him.

Even FOX Sports’ Jeff Hammond jumped into the debate about NASCAR playing around in New York. "Are we fooling ourselves? Are New Yorkers even happy that NASCAR is there," said Hammond. "Or would we be better off going somewhere different, like Las Vegas?"

Not sure if I totally agree with Las Vegas, but Hammond brings up a valid point and Vegas is the home to a NASCAR track. Can’t say that about New York City.

In my opinion, New York doesn’t want to be associated with NASCAR. They didn’t want a track in Staten Island, understandably so, and when the decision was made that a track wouldn’t be built in the NYC area, New York City Council Minority Leader James S. Oddo said it was a "monumental victory for the people of Staten Island." Oddo also added, "After all was said and done, NASCAR was simply an inappropriate fit for S.I."

Good enough for me Mr. Oddo! I get it.

In addition, during a public meeting about building a track in the NYC area, it was reported that tempers reached dangerous levels ultimately forcing police to end the meeting.

Again, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that NASCAR isn’t welcomed there. I get it. Why doesn’t NASCAR?

Maybe it’s true. Maybe NASCAR has lost touch with their fan base. David Poole, journalist for the Charlotte Observer, ThatsRacin.com and radio show host for Sirius Satellite Radio, said in his column about the New York track, "If NASCAR doesn’t take care of its fans better – the fans who pay to come watch the races, not to come do business at them – the sponsors and corporate partners eventually won’t have any customers to service through the sport."

Poole speaks the truth.

In my opinion NASCAR will move the Nextel Cup Series banquet after the 2009 season from New York to the Queen City - Charlotte.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see NASCAR move the banquet to Las Vegas before the 2009 season, but ultimately I think Charlotte will be the home for the ceremony beginning in 2010 and beyond.

Why Charlotte? Brian France said back in March 2006 about the NASCAR Hall of Fame, "Charlotte is where the hall of fame needs to be." So if Charlotte is where the Hall of Fame needs to be, why not the banquet? In addition, Mark Dyer, NASCAR vice president of licensing said about the Hall of Fame, "The ballroom is a terrific feature. Induction banquets will be held there, as well as other NASCAR official events."

Keep in mind the budget for the Hall of Fame project is $150 million, with $43 million of that dedicated to the banquet hall and ballroom. This project has Nextel Cup Series banquet written all over it. I’m sure when the banquet does move half of the championship week will be spent in New York for the ever so famous NASCAR media blitz. But the Hall of Fame in Charlotte should host the banquet bringing the series back to the true NASCAR fans who either refuse or can’t pay the $500 per night hotel rates that New York offers.

Forget the words "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere, It's up to you, New York, New York." NASCAR hasn’t made it there and I don’t believe they will. Honestly, NASCAR doesn’t need New York and my vote is to move on! So it’s up to you, NASCAR, NASCAR.