BROOKLYN, Mich. — The high price of gasoline was on many minds at Michigan International Speedway this weekend.
And it could be one of the big reasons MIS isn’t sold-out for Sunday’s LifeLock 400.
Jim and son Jarrett Roush made the trek here from Waterloo, Ill. It was the 15th weekend at MIS for Jim, 40, and the third for his son, 14.
“We weighed our options about not coming because of the fuel,” Jim Roush said. “We buy the tickets in December. We didn’t do other things, to save money so we could come here for this. The local dirt track and the drag racing, we didn’t go to any of that, to save money for this trip.”
The Roushes are no relation to NASCAR team owner Jack Roush of Northville, Mich.
“Unfortunately, no,” Jim said. “We tried to convince him. We’ve met him several times. I think he just humors us. ’Here are those guys from Illinois.’ “
Jim Roush said he’ll spend about $600 this weekend camping in the campground from Friday-Monday morning.
“We bring our own food,” Roush said. “We don’t buy anything here at the track. We’ve got our coolers full of soda and food.”
NASCAR chief executive officer Brian Z. France said he reminded drivers during a meeting on Friday that fans are making sacrifices to attend races, “particularly at Michigan where the economy’s been particularly hard hit.”
The drivers understand gas prices are affecting sponsors and fans.
“It’s affecting FedEx a ton,” said Denny Hamlin, who drives the No. 11 FedEx Freight Toyota. “If you think about all the airplanes they need to fuel, all the trucks they need to supply to deliver the packages that they do. ... It’s really, really tough on this sport.”
Hamlin said he was shocked by the price at the pump.
“It’s tough when you have a normal vehicle and it takes $85 to fill it up, where it used to take about $26. I haven’t been around too long and I haven’t had my license too long. ... I don’t remember when it was 25 cents, but I do remember when it was about $1.69. It’s amazing that there’s nothing that can be done with the gas prices. Hopefully, change is on the way.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. agreed.
“I’m glad I don’t have to pay for it, with the miles I burn this weekend, or else I probably wouldn’t be here,” he said. “Gas prices are ridiculous. “
Greg Biffle said the price of gas could affect the fans:
“If people are trying to save money or pinch pennies, they’re going to stay at home and watch on TV or whatever,” Biffle said.
Michigan International Speedway president Roger Curtis said the August race traditionally draws better than the June date. He expects a crowd of more than 100,000 for Sunday’s race. MIS’s reserved grandstand capacity is about 130,000. The last time it sold out was August 2005.
“I think the story is really how many fans are going to be here, not the ones that aren’t,” Curtis said.
Curtis said the turnout at MIS would be a sellout at many of the other tracks on the Cup series schedule.
“It’s tough when you have a normal vehicle and it takes $85 to fill it up, where it used to take about $26.”
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