Like AMS Track: NASCAR Fans Have Changed ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - If you've noticed a lot of Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Jeff Gordon fans buzzing around town it's because the Kobalt 500 will take place this weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
It's also the 50th anniversary of the track.
WABE's Rose Scott reports, a lot has changed.

The year was 1960, and the track was called the Atlanta International Raceway and no one knew if it would be even profitable but it's not your grandfather's Nascar anymore.

Major networks now televise all the top NASCAR races but that's not all that's changed according the Brian Jones. He covers NASCAR for Score Atlanta Sports Magazine. Jones says the typical fan is very follows their favorite driver, knows the type of car he runs and knows where the drive stands in rankings.
The drivers are a big reason why NASCAR fans are diverse, the drivers come from all over...not just the south.

First place winnings have also changed In 1960 Bobby Johns took home more than 15-thousand dollars last year Kurt Bush pocketed over 1-hundred and 60 thousand.

© Copyright 2012, WABE