Friday 5: NASCAR tracks welcoming more fans this season

Cup races have seen increased attendance this year and some events have had their largest crowds in at least five years, officials from NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports tell NBC Sports. 

Such growth has been spurred by a variety of factors, including the racing, NASCAR’s changes on and off the track and new fans. 

The growth also ties in with the sport’s increased TV numbers. 

The nine Cup races that have aired on Fox this season have drawn an average of 4.755 million viewers, a 14% increase from last year’s average. That would tie Fox’s greatest percentage increase in viewership from one season to another (2005 from 2004). NBC begins broadcasting its portion of the Cup schedule June 26 at Nashville Superspeedway.

While Speedway Motorsports and NASCAR do not reveal attendance figures, both companies noted the growth they’ve seen at their events. 

Speedway Motorsports has experienced an increase of more than 20% in attendance for its four races this season — Las Vegas, Atlanta, Circuit of the Americas and Bristol — according to Chief Operating Officer Mike Burch.

Among the tracks that have enjoyed attendance upticks this season: 

“We’re seeing lots of new fans … and the really encouraging thing is it’s largely driven by consumer tickets,” Burch said. “Companies are starting to come back in and buy tickets and hosting more events, but it’s really been the consumer number that has driven the growth. That, to us, is a real core interest in the sport.”

NASCAR-owned tracks are seeing double digit increases in attendance, camping and group sales, said Daryl Wolfe, NASCAR executive vice president and chief revenue officer.

“The Busch Light Clash at the (Los Angeles) Coliseum really set the tone for the sport making some really