Jeff Clark, President of Atlanta Motor Speedway, sympathizes with Gillian Zucker, President of the newly renamed Auto Club Speedway in California.
"We have a lot of the same issues," said Clark his eyes scanning a sea of empty seats during driver introductions.
Bad weather, according to Clark, has played a significant role in a decline in tickets sales. That and the after effects of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.
"We noticed a drop in ticket sales that started with the event where we had rain, the race was delayed, the race started, then it rained again and we finished very late in the evening. Then after 9-11 we noticed a drop in corporate ticket sales. Those two areas have yet to recover."
Weather, both rain and severe heat, is having an effect on ticket sales at Auto Club Speedway. Clark's advantage, he has exterior camping, something Zucker lacks.
"Yea, but would you like to be in a tent for two nights in 24 degree weather?" Clark asked, speaking of the sudden drop in overnight temperatures that swept over the area after a week of warmer days and nights. "What we need is a date about three weeks later than our current date. On average three weeks would make a big difference in temperature."
Clark isn't anymore hopeful of a date change than Zucker might be, even though SMI CEO Bruton Smith has suggested some sort of date swap with the Auto Club Speedway.
"It's just not likely to happen," Clark admitted as the loudspeaker's boomed out the top ten starters before a thin but enthusiastic crowd.
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