High Gas Prices Don't Deter NASCAR Fans
Phoenix, Ariz., April 24, 2006 — -- This past weekend, 150,000 loyal NASCAR fans spent $3 a gallon to drive to the Phoenix International Raceway to watch cars that consume $5 a gallon in racing fuel.
Three things were on the minds of those who attended the event -- the race, partying and the high price of gasoline.
"I used to pay about 40 bucks to fuel up," said one man filling his recreational vehicle at a nearby gas station. "Now it's about $55, $60."
Like most motorists, those who came to the race felt the pinch of high-cost gasoline. But these are car fans, and they're not ready to sacrifice their gas-guzzling motor homes and SUVs.
Mark Ostrow drove his $250,000 motor home from San Diego, where gas prices are among the highest in the nation. His tank holds 100 gallons, and he paid about $3.15 a gallon when he gassed up before driving to Phoenix.
He figured the cost of the trip was about $265. "I got about 7.9 miles per gallon," he said.
When asked whom he blamed, he said it wasn't the Middle Eastern suppliers of oil but the American companies that refined it into gasoline. "I'm boycotting Exxon-Mobil, because that's the largest company, and they have had huge record profits," he said.
Native son and presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, who made a political "pit stop" in Pheonix, picked up on that theme. "I think Americans are understandably upset when they see that the former CEO of Exxon-Mobil made $400 million or something obscene," he told a packed news conference.
McCain later told ABC News he thought ethanol was a possible solution. "When oil was $10 a barrel, ethanol didn't make any sense," he said. "Now, with oil at $70 a barrel, ethanol is a viable option."
Some of those who brought their families to the race said they would cut back on travel this summer. One young mother said it was all about choices. "It's whether you're going to take that trip to California or whether you're going to take that trip to Las Vegas or not," she said. "Gas prices are high!"
