Jimmie Johnson Wins NASCAR Bristol TN: Empty Seats for Likely Win

by Edmund Jenks | March 22, 2010 at 07:57 am

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In his 17 career races at the famed short-track at Bristol, Tennessee, Jimmie Johnson has 9 top-10 finishes, but yesterday marked his first victory at Bristol Motor Speedway.

In the last 4 years Jimmie Johnson has won consecutive national championships and now 3 wins in 5 races to begin a 5th year with few challenges from the 40- car plus field.

With this victory, Jimmie Johnson became 1 of just 12 drivers to score 50 or more career victories and now there are only 5 active tracks Johnson has not won on: Michigan, Infineon, Watkins Glen, Chicagoland and Homestead.

Attendance Down Due to Predictable Win?

Despite the win, and after 55 sellout NASCAR Cup events at the Bristol track, the attendance was down at the Food City 500. The Bristol Motor Speedway can accommodate 160,000 and yesterday's attendance was NASCAR estimated to be 138,000.

The speedway’s record streak of 55 sellouts began back in August 1982 – when the track could accommodate a mere 30,000 fans. Some blame the economy or weather, but it may also be the result of non-Johnson fans staying home.

The average NASCAR fan must budget for attending a race. Going to an event might equate to a mortgage payment for the family home. There are those who say the COT [Car Of Tomorrow standardization] has dampened attendance. The wing will be gone in Martinsville making the Cup cars look more normalized. Another camp of people believe Jimmie Johnson's winning ways have been a downer for the supporters of other drivers.

It may take the return of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to get the fans back in the stands.