Mexico City will play host to the first international event in NASCAR Cup Series history this weekend. It’s an exciting time for stock car racing, a historic moment every racing journalist would love to cover in person. Nothing beats being on site to bring you all the best stories from the race firsthand.
But for the first time since Kansas Speedway in 2022, Frontstretch won’t be there. That means no exclusive YouTube videos from us, one less independent voice delivering at-track coverage down in Mexico City.
Our hope is it’s the last race we’ll miss in a while. The reality? It’s looking like the first of many.
In order to sustain our level of coverage going forward, we’re going to need some help.
No one ever gets rich from racing journalism. But the way things have swung against us the last few months puts the site in jeopardy of even covering basic expenses. The challenges we face are not new – and it doesn’t have to do with a lack of popularity with our brand. Frontstretch coverage remains well respected and well known, with over 100,000 followers combined among Facebook, YouTube, or X.
So what’s wrong?
The rise of AI. Search engines replacing basic searches with AI responses rather than links to the topic you’re searching about has devastated news traffic across the country. Whether you’re covering NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, news, or bocce ball no one is immune to these trends sweeping the industry. This article from the Wall Street Journal just this week lays out some of the challenges we’re all facing.
In short: You Google “Michigan Denny Hamlin.” Google tells you some story about the race or information you’re looking for so there’s no need to go any further. Or… you just get frustrated over Google’s new system, can’t find the links to an article on your phone and give up.
There’s signs ahead this system may be changing. Google this week diverted searches on their Chrome browser back to the old way or “AI Mode.” But the damage has been done.
The Economy. It’s no secret things are not all that great right now. We’ve already had one sponsor pull out on us, specifically citing new tariffs as the cause. The amount we’re making from ad vendors from our columns is also lower because fewer companies are willing to advertise on them.
So… What Now?
The goal is to keep Frontstretch content free to view. I realize not everyone has the means to pay and we’re a website designed to be accessible to fans.
With that said… for journalism to survive long-term, it cannot be free. The reality is, everything costs money although our aim is to do things as efficiently as possible. Just 1,000 people sponsoring us for $5 a month would pay for all our travel expenses. It’s a small fraction – less than 0.02 percent – of all the people who visited our website in the past year.
I’m someone in the NASCAR industry, a prospective sponsor or a fan looking to help you guys stay afloat. What can I do?
Frontstretch is rolling out a new system where fans willing to do so can donate to help support our content. Three different links right here, can’t miss it :).
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/Q2CY4T6UM5XVU
Prospective sponsors can also reach us through our Director of Partnerships, Derek Yoder, on LinkedIn or at frontstretchdy@gmail.com.
I like you guys but don’t have money to donate. I’d still like to help. What can I do?
Read our content. Not just scroll through a comment on social. Click on those links :) That one link click to get to our website will pay us more than any “like” or passive interaction you have with us on social media.
And spread the good word of HOW you like us to as many people and places as possible. That alone makes a difference. Who knows? Someone who does have money to help may see your post and reach out.
One last thing… Just because we’re not at the racetrack this weekend doesn’t mean we’re gone completely. The website isn’t shutting down – we just aren’t on location. So enjoy the commentary, features and news we’ll continue to provide to the best of our ability from here.
Thanks for reading and supporting us all these years. We wouldn’t be here without our readers! I’m confident we’ll make it through this rough time… but now, more than ever, we need your support to do so.
Sincerely,
Tom Bowles
Editor-in-Chief, Frontstretch
The Frontstretch Staff is made up of a group of talented men and women spread out all over the United States and Canada. Residing in 15 states throughout the country, plus Ontario, and widely ranging in age, the staff showcases a wide variety of diverse opinions that will keep you coming back for more week in and week out.