One thing that Grand Am needs to give up on is the dumbing down of their highest level of prototype so that it can be successfully driven by a talented gentleman racer. Face up to it, it's a pro series, it should require pro level driver talent.
While I'm not entirely thrilled with this, I think it's a reasonable response to reality. I don't think that auto racing in general is likely to be a growth industry, and in the U. S., sportscar racing has always been a niche market. There have been so many corporate mergers over the last 20 years that promotional spending on automotive products, and for that matter many consumer goods, is at a low level. Look at how few companies control the vast majority of the beer market in North America, three control almost 80% and the rest, with the exception of Yuengling, are small. If you look at the statistics on teen and young drivers in this country, the trend is for teens to get their licenses later and for young adults to drive less. And, increasingly, younger drivers have no idea what's going on mechanically. I seldom see a slammed car anymore, whereas 10 years ago I'd see one almost daily.
As far as Road Atlanta and Sebring go, I have confidence that ISC will take good care of them. After all, they do manage racetracks, it's not like they're land developers.
