Economy impacts attendance at Allstate 400

Local News

Related Photos

Discussion

July 26, 2009

By Ken de la Bastide The Kokomo Tribune Sun Jul 26, 2009, 10:13 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS — Two hours before the start of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Sunday, there were plenty of empty grandstand seats around the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

With the unemployment rate in Indiana among the highest in the nation, it seems many local NASCAR racing fans opted to stay home and enjoy the 16th running of the Allstate 400 on the living room couch or on a backyard patio.

Although the numbers were down, there were still thousands of fans soaking up the atmosphere of the NASCAR weekend at Indianapolis.

Bands blared loud music, fans knelt down to kiss the famed “Yard of Bricks” and lined the fence from Gasoline Alley to pit road to catch a glimpse of their favorite drivers.

By race time, the grandstands filled in but there were still large patches of empty seats in the corners.

A sampling of fans showed most were not concerned about the tire issues that made the 2008 running of the race a series of 12 lap sprints and expressed confidence that Goodyear resolved the problem.

Bloomington resident June Taylor-Wilson has been to several Allstate 400 races, including last year’s event.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Taylor-Wilson said of the race. “I didn’t think about not coming back this year.”

Last year Taylor-Wilson said her party left IMS covered in black tire dust from their Turn 4 seats.

Taylor-Wilson was cheering for Kasey Kahne.

Kevin Davis, Westfield, was attending his first NASCAR race at IMS with a friend who has been to every race.

“It sounds like they got it resolved,” he said of the tire problems. “This is going to be a new experience. Different sounds. I’ve watched enough races on television to know the different personalities.”

Davis was cheering on Indiana drivers Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon, and said he would make the trip to the speedway again.

Evansville native Pat Thomas was also rooting for Stewart and said there are a lot of fans of the Rushville native in the Crescent City.

Thomas said they were at Indy last year and stayed until the end of the race.

“It was a bad year with the tires,” she said. “I hope they solved the tire problems.

“I would come back,” she said when asked if she would return again if there were tire problems for a second consecutive year. “I enjoy the race and the weekend.”

Troy Williams, Brownsburg, said he didn’t attend the race in 2008 and is confident Goodyear brought the right tire compound for the race. A fan of Mark Martin for 38 years, Williams starting when Martin was racing with the former American Speed Association. Sunday, he wore a T-shirt from Martin’s days driving the Viagara car for Roush Racing.

“He signed my bald head two years ago,” laughed Williams. “I’ve always been a fan of Martin and Rick Mears.”

John Thorne brought his grandson Kyler Woodruff to the Brickyard for the second time from Maryland. Woodruff had his picture taken kissing the Yard of Bricks.

“Last year they had problems with the tires,” Thorne said. “They think it is resolved. Time will tell.”

Woodruff was cheering on Kahne and his grandfather was rooting for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“I always liked him and his father,” Thorne said. “He’s due.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Remains may be grandmother of abducted girl
Noblesville police are trying to determine if the remains of a woman found Thursday along the Mississinewa River near Marion are those of missing Noblesville woman Dorothy Heard.

February 10, 2012
Students kick off Black History Month at IU Kokomo
“Hey, black child, be what you can be. Learn what you can learn. Do what you can do. And tomorrow, your nation will be what you want it to be.”

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
Council taking heat for proposal
The Miami County Council on Thursday got to hear from county employees who are disgruntled about proposed budget cuts that would reduce the county general fund by nearly $900,000.

February 10, 2012
County looks at health care options
With the city of Kokomo ending its relationship with Novia Health Care, Howard County officials are now discussing what move they will make.

February 10, 2012
KHS to implement new technology program
Starting next school year, the more than 500 freshmen enrolled at Kokomo High School will receive either a laptop computer or tablet device as part of a new technology program that school officials say will improve learning in the classroom.

February 10, 2012
Measles patient was at NFL event
East Coast fans who left the Super Bowl host city feeling good about Hoosier hospitality may have been exposed to something less welcome: The measles.

February 9, 2012
Outreach provides housing to the down-and-out
Dale Bliss tells the story of a man with no money, no job and two kids.

Without any way to pay for a hotel or rent an apartment, the man was living in a tent with his children at a reservoir near Kokomo. He told them it was a family camping trip.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Green tech lab opens in Kokomo
A California green technology company has opened a research and development lab in Kokomo and plans to hire as many as 35 people over the next few years, the business announced this week.

February 9, 2012
Main Street conference coming to Kokomo
Following up on its Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Community of the Year award, Kokomo received another accolade this week.

February 9, 2012
Howard Co. jail reconfiguration a ‘short-term solution’
With the ever-increasing number of female prisoners at the Howard County jail, local officials are looking to implement a short-term solution instead of expanding the existing facility.

February 8, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Economy impacts attendance at Allstate 400

Site Map

Contact Us