As the green flag drops on another NASCAR Sprint Cup season next Sunday with the running of Daytona 500, questions abound.

Can Jimmie Johnson win his fourth straight title?

Will Carl Edwards emerge as Johnson's top challenger, after winning three of last year's final four races?

Can Kyle Busch rebound from a disappointing performance in last season's Chase and challenge Johnson and Edwards?

Will Jeff Gordon win again after failing to do so last season for the first time since 1993?

There's another question awaiting an answer, too, and it's one NASCAR officials, owners and drivers probably never considered during the sport's skyrocketing growth during the last 20 years.

Is NASCAR's popularity waning, in light of the pressure being placed on it by a recessed economy?

"I think its still up there in top three [among] major sports," said Shane Beck, a local motorsports guru who hosts "The Racing Fan" show every Saturday morning on KFNZ-AM.

"For a long time, it was rated second to the NFL. But maybe it's plateaued a little bit. ... With the rising cost of everything and the economy taking a dive, I'd have to say that maybe the fans have lost a little of the luster."

One yardstick -- television ratings -- supports the idea that the interest in NASCAR has peaked, at least temporarily.

After a 10-percent drop between 2006 and 2007, NASCAR's ratings were stagnant last season.

ABC's average ratings for the 10-race Chase to the Sprint Cup dropped from 3.9 to 3.7 -- a difference of roughly 200,000 viewers per show. ESPN's ratings also declined.

In corporate boards rooms, race track garages and among fans throughout America, there have been other ominous signs.

"We're seeing teams merge, trying to alleviate costs," said Beck. "And we're seeing layoffs throughout the sport that have never been seen before. ... I [also] noticed attendance dropping off clear back in June and July."

Two weeks ago at a press conference in Charlotte, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France called this winter "an interesting and challenging offseason for everyone."

The reason?

Everybody in the sport is tightening their belts.

In a move that will save its teams millions of dollars, NASCAR did away with testing on sanctioned tracks.

Last year, an average Sprint Cup team employed 30-40 people. But in December, high-powered teams Petty Enterprises and Woods Brothers, Inc., each laid off 20 employees.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc., laid off 100 employees when it merged with with Chip Ganassi Racing as two of the most powerful teams in the sport looked to cut costs and share sponsorships.

According to NASCAR.com, major sponsors Sprint Nextel Corp., Caterpillar, Home Depot and General Motors are struggling through the recession.

Sprint Nextel recently announced it was eliminating 8,000 jobs in an effort to save $1 billion. Caterpillar, which sponsors Jeff Burton's No. 31 car, is reducing its workforce by 18 percent through layoffs and buyouts. Home Depot, which spent $12 million on NASCAR advertising in 2007, plans to cut 7,000 jobs.

Johnson, the reigning Sprint Cup champion, told the New York Post : "Without a doubt [the economy] has impacted every team and every sponsor. It's something we're all very nervous about. ...

"When we see revenue streams that are impacted by the economy [like] ticket sales and souvenir sales, it just all starts compounding and it makes a difference on everybody."

France tries to be optimistic.

"In tough times like these, strong people tighten their belts, put a little extra zip in their step and focus on things they do best," he said. "In our sport, nobody does that better than our drivers and teams."

Some track owners are trying to do their part.

Ticket prices for a handful of NASCAR's most prestigious events have been rolled back.

For Sunday's Daytona 500, prices for selected seats have been reduced from $99 to $55 -- their lowest price since 1995.

At Talladega, the price of 20,000 tickets for the Aaron's 499 on April 26 and the Amp Energy 500 on Nov. 1 has been dropped to $40. Those tickets previously cost $70 and $75.

Richmond International Speedway in Virginia and Darlington Speedway in North Carolina have also announced significantly reduced prices for almost 30,000 seats for its Sprint Cup races.

The most significant NASCAR event in this area is held in three weeks at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The Sam's Town 300 Nationwide Series event is scheduled for Feb. 28. The Shelby 427 Sprint Cup Series race will be run on March 1.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway president Chris Powell expects 150,000 fans to attend -- recession or no recession.

"Our ticket sales are a little off," he said, "but this economy does not leave anybody out when it comes to causing strain. Certainly, NASCAR and Las Vegas are not immune."

Still, the upcoming NASCAR weekend is expected to generate between $150-$200 million in first-time expenditures.

"The sport is in good shape," Powell said. "... I don't think the popularity of NASCAR has diminished as much as people are scrutinizing how they spend every single dollar because of the economic climate. ...

"It has had an impact on our fans and our sponsors. But we will stage a very profitable and meaningful event for the company that owns the Speedway and the people of southern Nevada."

Said Beck: "Vegas is a hot spot. Some tracks aren't feeling the pinch as much as some others."

luhm@sltrib.com