JMO but I have watched this decline happen and have a few theories. NASCAR and the France family saw a new dance partner in the yuppies in the late '90s and early 2000's. They flocked to races, watched on TV and discussed the weekends race at the water cooler on Monday. It fed the huge increases in merchandising, track expansions, and exposure. What NASCAR failed to realize is that group had a finite attention span and they are now pointing at squirrels. During this boon, NASCAR simultaneously ignored the base fans. They closed tracks that were dear to fans, raised ticket prices beyond what the blue collar family could afford, and threw their support behind a chosen few. The love affair the yuppies had with NASCAR was not unlike their love affair with Harley-Davidson. Remember when there was a waiting list for a Harley? Personally I don't believe NASCAR would be a good investment for anybody. I do not see a turnaround in the decline.