The Role of Sponsorship

• Under an agreement signed between NASCAR and petroleum giant Sunoco in 2003, Sunoco provides all of the fuel for race cars in NASCAR's top three series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series.
  
  

Transportation

• According to the U.S. Energy Information Association, the average price of diesel fuel was just under $3 per gallon in 2010.line of trucks 1 image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com
  
  Although Sunoco provides fuel for the team's race cars on the track, the cost of transporting race cars, equipment and team members to and from the track falls directly on the teams themselves. Teams in all three divisions transport their cars and equipment in haulers that average only about 6 miles per gallon and, as of 2008, cost an average of $1,200 to fill with diesel fuel. In addition to transporting cars and equipment, including tools, pit boxes and spare engines and transmissions around the country, NASCAR teams also spend large amounts of money on jet fuel to transport team executives, crew members and drivers to and from the race track each weekend.
  
  

Attendance

• In 2010, nine of the season's first 10 races saw double-digit drops in attendance.empty stands image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
  
  Fan attendance at NASCAR races declined steadily from 2005 through 2010, and the high cost of fuel for fans driving to the racetrack could certainly be one reason why. NASCAR.com reported in 2009 that the average fan travels 250 miles to the racetrack. With an average ticket to a NASCAR race costing $88.61 in 2010, many families traveling in large vehicles and campers that are inefficient on fuel are simply being priced out of a weekend at the track.