NASCAR: How the sport’s stance on the NFL national anthem protests could increase its popularity

NASCAR is hurting for new fans, and many old fans are leaving. Their stance on the NFL national anthem protests may be what the sport needs to grow once again.

Ratings are down. Attendance is down. Even the most die-hard fans are leaving the sport left and right. You’ve heard that line before, right? If you’re a NASCAR fan, you certainly have, and probably many times over the course of the past few years.

Many of the old-timers have left the sport over things that they believe ruin what the sport once was. They have opposed and still oppose the playoffs, which were introduced back in 2004, and they have opposed and still oppose stage racing, which was introduced before the start of this season.

And let’s face it; the millennial generation and most younger people just aren’t interested in motorsports. If there is no ball or stick involved, kids and young adults simply are not interested.

But now, the same thing is starting to be able to be said about America’s most popular sport–a ball sport: football. NFL ratings are down, attendance is down, and even the most die-hard fans are leaving the sport left and right.

Why?

Because after President Donald Trump’s remarks against the United States national anthem protesters, many NFL players decided to try to make a statement against him by protesting the anthem themselves on Sunday in what was the biggest day of anthem protests in NFL history.

And while the media will glorify the protesters and make it seem like an overwhelming majority of the public is on board with them, the declines in NFL ratings and attendance say otherwise.

NASCAR team owners made it known where they stood on the national anthem protests.