This is the Statt Mann Baby!!  Time to Scatt a little bit.

It’s a crucial time for NASCAR.

We just saw a great season of racing.  Jimmie Johnson added some drama while covering the field earning his second straight Nextel Cup championship.

Carl Edwards also covered the Busch Series field winning that title going away.

The truck series had the best racing with the championship not going to Ron Hornaday until midway through the last race of the year.

But even so, there’s considerable documentation showing event attendance down and the television ratings tumbling.

In addition, next year starts a complete overhaul of series sponsorships.  The headlining Nextel Cup series changes to the Sprint Cup.

The Busch series will become the Nationwide Series.

And in 2009, the truck series must change because the Sears Craftsman brand has said it won’t be coming back after next season.

It’s not good when fans are finding better ways to spend their money and leisure time.  And the sponsors are finding the product too expensive.

Apparently size doesn’t matter with the guys at the top still promoting that one in four Americans number when talking about their fan base.

Indeed these are crucial times for what’s supposed to be the next best thing to the NFL.

Peace.