VOLUME 5 (2017)

Tumultuous Times in NASCAR: Antitrust Implications for Drivers and Teams

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Thomas Mueller, Appalachian State University, muellerts@appstate.edu

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ABSTRACT

The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is experiencing a decline in fans, TV viewers and sponsorship revenues. The current state of the sport has motivated drivers and teams to create organizations that may lead to collective bargaining attempts. Collective bargaining is governed by federal antitrust law. This rhetorical analysis presents legal case studies in NASCAR’s prior attempts to manage sanctioning of national championship racing events, which led to restraint of trade and antitrust litigation. Implications for the future actions of facilities, drivers, teams and sanctioning bodies can be tested through the definition of antitrust and fair competition in the marketplace.

 

Street Fights: Corporate Social Responsibility and a Dragway's Attempt to Reduce Illegal Street Racing

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Amanda E. Greene Dr. East Tennessee State University, greenea@etsu.edu

Andrew Dotterweich East Tennessee State University, dotterwa@etsu.edu

Gary Lhotsky East Tennessee State University, lhotsky@etsu.edu

Jason Davis East Tennessee State University, davistj@etsu.edu

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ABSTRACT

This study sought to explore a professional sport venue’s use of Corporate social responsibility (CSR) to promote positive social change, by addressing illegal street racing, through events designed for community participation. This study specifically looked at public dragracing events, titled “Street Fights,” held at a professional dragway. The purpose of this study was to 1) examine drivers’ awareness of the event’s social responsibility initiatives with Street Fight events and 2) determine if these initiatives are promoting behavioral changes in drivers. Drivers at Street Fight events were surveyed (n=77, 60% response rate) on their levels of awareness of the venue’s social responsibility initiatives, as well as, the event and venue’s overall influence on positive social change within the community. Results showed that Street Fight racers seem to be aware that the events were created to offer a safe, legal, and affordable place to dragrace. Street Fight racers also indicated they were less likely to engage in excessive speeding on open roadways due to their participation in Street Fight events.