Red Flag: NASCAR goes to China
by Noah Joseph on Apr 25th 2007 at 7:03PM 
NASCAR has a solid reputation as a race series firmly entrenched in the southern United States, but has been fighting hard to defeat that image and branch out of Old Dixie. With races lined up in such northern locations as Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New Hampshire and Wisconsin, NASCAR has long since established itself with the yanks, but with races planned for Mexico and Montreal, the good ol' boys are looking to expand internationally, as well.
It seems that south and north of the border isn't far enough, however, as NASCAR officials recently made a trip half-way around the world to China in order to look into reaching the biggest potential audience in the world.
NASCAR insists that they're not looking to set up a top-tier Nextel Cup race in China, just some junior series events. You've got to figure they've got their sites set on something more ambitious than that, however. The last venture into the Far East finished in 1998 after NASCAR held three annual exhibition races in Japan.
The international expansion forms part of a bigger campaign NASCAR has been waging to establish itself as a top-tier racing series, and the recent defection of F1 stars like Juan Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve hasn't hurt any, either. No doubt that NASCAR has also been keeping a close eye on competing race series, including Formula One, which has been setting up more international races each season; ChampCars, which is planning a return to Europe; and most of all the Speedcar Series, which is gearing up for races across Asia in American-built stock cars.
[Source: GrandPrix.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
G 7:32PM (4/25/2007)
This would really help improve it's image. I know I don't watch NASCAR simply because I think of it as a redneck sport, but now as American automakers try to compete on a world scale (and try to become #1 in China) this is a great idea, and would likely increase viewers even in North America.
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akintz 7:55PM (4/25/2007)
What? No New York as one of the northern races? Does Watkins Glen have no history or something?
Sorry, it's like 15 minutes from me. :)
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Richard 8:19PM (4/25/2007)
NASCAR held several non-points races in Suzuka, Japan about 10 years ago.
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ANdy 9:27PM (4/25/2007)
Can NASCAR make a trip down to MAlaysia? I'd love to see what all the fuss is about.
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the other Kevin 2:15AM (4/26/2007)
This didn't work for the Aussie V8 Supercar challenge, it won't work for Nascar.
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MikeJ 8:37AM (4/26/2007)
"...locations as Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New Hampshire and Wisconsin"
Um, all those states have just as many "rednecks" as the south. I wouldn't call running races in those states as success with the Yanks.
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Solo Racer 3:58PM (4/26/2007)
"6. "...locations as Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New Hampshire and Wisconsin"
Um, all those states have just as many "rednecks" as the south. I wouldn't call running races in those states as success with the Yanks."
Yeah, when you're in southern Illinois, you're only in the "north" geographically speaking.
Also left off, two races at California Speedway and one at Sears Point.
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Don 5:21PM (4/26/2007)
Let's see...the Chinese will steal all NASCAR's designs and debut their own racing league "FASCAR" using incredibly substandard "original" engineered cars.
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David 1:47AM (6/12/2007)
The marriage of Communism and corporate globalizaton has produced low quality goods that are oftentimes unfit for public consumption for years, NASCAR in the PRC sounds perfect
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