NASCAR vs Country Music

NASCAR and Country Music industry have much in common, among them, both were:Southern BornSorthern Stars (at least early on)Southern base of operation (Nashville/Memphis/Daytona/Charlotte/Spartanburg)Southern/middle class fan base (at least early on)Some activity prior to WWII, but mainly a post-war phenomInitially,NASCAR and the CMA had talented stars dealy loved and supported by the early fans. With the passage of time, star and fan-replacment became a necessary challenge. Which industry has best accomplished the mission? What techniques were "right", and which ones missed the mark? What are the lessons to be learned?
updated by @bobby-williamson: 12/03/16 05:48:12PM

Hmmmm...great comparison. The CMA has done an admirable job bringing along young talent that not only appeals to the younger fans...but also has popularity among the older country music fans.I remember....though...my father who was a huge nascar fan (early nascar) and a country music fan (Conway Twitty, Buck Owens, Roy Accuff, Chet atkins, Johnny Cash)...telling me Garth brooks would never make it...he also said the same thing about Dale Earnhardt Sr. He couldn't stand Brooks...and he despised the driving style of Earnhardt.Both entities have experienced huge growth. I think one difference is that NASCAR was not initially viewed (by many fans) as entertainment. Now it is very clear NASCAR is focussed almost entirely on the entertainment value of the sport.


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Founder/Creator - RacersReunion®

That's a good point, Jeff, NASCAR seemingly spent many years not realizing it was in the entertainment business. The CMA, on the other hand, always saw itself as such, and seemed to have a greater understanding/appreciation of the personalities and the role of the fan. Richard Petty is generally credited with the concept of fan appreciation...........making himself available with his legendary autograph lines. Early NASCAR spent virtually no effort making "stars" of its drivers, on the contrary, life-expulsion was handed down more than once. It's hard to imagine Hank Sr.or Roy Acuff being barred from Nashville........but Tim Flock, Curtis Turner, Marshall Teague, and even Fireball Roberts experienced the infamy of expulsion from early NASCAR.As time passed, NASCAR completely failed to realize the significance of their OWN history and traditions......eliminating the quentissential, THE defining title event THE SOUTHERN 500. Incredibly this was "modern" NASCAR boon-doggle. I can't imagine the "Grand Ol' Opry" ceasing to exist. When the new auditorium was constructed, a portion of the Rhyman Auditorium's very stage was included.Even today, I'm not sure NASCAR realizes they are purely entertainment.......and NOT pure capitalism. Entertainment depends on many nuances, that don't necessarily "make money" but can't be discounted, nonetheless. The country music folks developed new stars and new fans and new markets......eventually becoming a national, if not, global entity. And none of this transformation was done at the expense of the older fans and performers, it was an excellent example of combining the past present and future to sustain and even elevate the growth curve. Perhaps NASCAR could spend a little more time studying Nashville, seems they have already accomplishedall that Daytona dreams about.

Radio was first used by country music. which started back in the thirtys i guess, before my time at least,cma has been broadcast on radio every year for a long timeRacing on the other hand came to play in the 50's on radio and tv took over in 76 i believe by the famous back yard brawl of donnie and cale along with a couple of extras thrown in.the syndication of racing has been the down fall of nascar in the last few years because of its fan base changing and cars changing along with skyrocketing prices. todays fan doesnt want to see the follow the leader montage that is being protrayed in front of them so attendance is on the negitive slide.Country music has had its little dip in popularity and is on the upswing with bigger and bettershows being broadcast and the presentation is equal any in the past.with that said i think the south will survive the down slide of nascar because we still do it for the fun of it.kinda like fishing.we like our country music because its still done on the front porch down south and when we fishing too.if you look at it nation wide its a money thing people try to monopolize it for their profit ,racing and country music and fishing too if you watch those fishing shows,its all about the money.Down south we go fishing to relax and listen to the music,i think the fish like it too.we go to the races for the excitement of who in town got the fastest buggy this weekend whether it be on the strip.the track or the mud hole,its about the relaxation of being out with the boys and girls,cant forget the girls.So with that said yall take them hi-tec boats and them screaming dune buggies back to where ever they park those high dollar hotrods and we will listen our music playing on the radio watching the fishes play on a hot summer day or maybe down to the ole dirt track to hear the latest on how to go sideways all around the track without hitting something or tearing something up ,they dont broadcast that nationwide do they????so that being said we race in the south,we love it,we sing in the south real country because we love it and we sure as heck know how to do it with style. the south wins cma wins and southern racing wins who needs tv