NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR chairman pleased with fast start

Published Mar. 9, 2011 10:20 p.m. ET

foxsports

NASCAR chairman Brian France says he is pleased with the start of the season, but nobody at NASCAR is celebrating just yet.

Television ratings are up for the first three races of the season, and the events at both Phoenix and Las Vegas sold out. France also credits the competition, which produced 20-year-old Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne.

Speaking Wednesday on a conference call, France says the task for NASCAR is to continue to improve over its 36-race season.

NASCAR's Sprint Cup and Nationwide series do not race this weekend, but the Camping World Truck Series does.

France says he doesn't think the lull in Cup racing will hurt the momentum NASCAR is trying to build after several seasons of slumping ratings and attendance.