DATING Rivals; Track owners fight to redraw NASCAR's map.(Motorsports)

Byline: BILL McGUIRE

NASCAR boss Bill France Jr. has a plan to change the face of his sanctioning body. He calls it "realignment 2004, and beyond,'' and it's a geographic and demographic shift. Though Winston Cup has exploded in popularity across the country in recent years, at the same time, the sport's infrastructure remains deeply embedded in its Southern roots. Of the 38 events on this year's schedule, 22 of them are on Southeastern tracks.

Though stock car racing was born and nurtured at historic Southern tracks like Darlington and Rockingham (above), these venues now have trouble selling all their tickets, even with their relatively limited seating capacities. They accommodate around 60,000 spectators each, compared to the 92,000 of California's Fontana or Las Vegas' 140,000-plus. As the NASCAR phenomenon spread north and west-selling out at every new place it went-these newer facilities grew grander. Now, with no more room on the season race schedule (38 races in 41 weekends, from February into November), the pressure is on for the older Southern tracks, traditionally given two Cup races per season, to give up their second dates. The idea is simple: Give newer, bigger tracks those dates to serve more fans, make more money, and implant NASCAR as a nationwide franchise.

Say what you will about roots and tradition, or suggest that the older tracks often have better racing than the new cookie-cutter speedways: NASCAR's business decision is a strategic no-brainer. The newer, bigger tracks will get those dates, it's only a question of which tracks and dates will be thrown to the wolves.

This is no simple decision. Twelve of the tracks that host Winston Cup events are controlled by the International Speedway Corp., which, just like NASCAR, is held by the France family. Six other facilities are owned by Bruton Smith's Speedway Motorsports Inc., and the two don't see eye to eye. When France announced his realignment initiative in January, the two sides were already at war. "There are four tracks that are good candidates [for losing one of their two dates]: The last race at Atlanta, the last race at Charlotte, Darlington and Rockingham,'' says France. Atlanta and Charlotte are owned by SMI, while Darlington and Rockingham are ISC properties.

Smith says he was promised a second date for his Texas Motor Speedway; France claims no such promise was made. Las Vegas should have a second Winston Cup race as well, says Smith. France says if Smith wants a second ...