Gas prices.

Two little words that have become a standard subject of conversation roughly five to 27 times a day lately.

And it should be.

Fuel costs are an important consideration in answering many everyday questions.

How much does it cost to visit your grandmother? Where will you go on vacation if you even decide to go?

Businesses have to consider the increased cost of getting merchandise delivered. Consumers have to think about how much more it will cost to drive to the store to buy those products.

Imagine trying to answer the gas question at a racetrack.

Gas prices can affect the drivers since the 110 octane fuel they use ranges from $6.50 to $7.50 a gallon. Race cars require gas to run and so do the trucks that transport the cars to the track.

Then, there's the fans. They have to fill their gas tanks to drive to the races.

What if fuel prices forced racers to quit driving and fans to quit coming?

"I think the economy is having an effect on all racetracks," said Kenny Lang, who races at Franklin County Speedway. "If it keeps spectators away, it keeps the racers away.

"If gas prices were lower, I think we'd be seeing more fans on a Saturday night."

So what are tracks doing to prevent increased gas prices from being a problem?

While officials at local tracks maintain that fuel prices have not drastically altered the way they go about their business, some are still making adjustments to keep the cars on the tracks and the fans in the seats.

Motor Mile Speedway has managed to keep the fuel prices the same for the drivers despite the increase in what the track pays, according to competition director Randy Merriman.

They've also made special concession for the fans. Ticket prices have been cut to $5.

"Fuel really controls everything," he said. "If we don't have cars here, fans aren't going to show up to watch them.

"Our fan base is the most important thing we have."

Meanwhile, the other piece of a racetrack's livelihood -- its drivers -- also have seen some additional perks.

Merriman said if a race night is rained out -- and several dates at the Radford track have already been called because of the weather -- competitors are given a reimbursement to pay for the gas needed to return home.

"We're trying to do everything we can to make sure our competitors can race," Merriman said.

These ideas aren't limited to Motor Mile.

Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat has initiated its own cost-cutting measures.

"Over the past couple years we've been implementing rules where they'll run lower compression engines and will be able to use pump gas, high test from the service station," said Fred Brown, owner of the track. "The people want to race, so we've got to figure out how to make it affordable and still be something that they want to do."

Brown added that using more durable tires helps cut down costs, especially at a dirt track like Wythe Raceway.

They also do things for the fans.

Fans with a previous week's ticket, receive a discount for the next race. Wythe Raceway has also used coupons and held drawings where they'll give a fan $20 to help with gas.

"Here's a $20 bill. Thank you for coming," Brown said.

Franklin County Speedway puts a portion of what the drivers spend on fuel and tires into a points fund. Every division has a points prize, so some of those costs end up back in the pockets of the drivers.

So far, the tracks generally say they are coping and the product on the ovals is not suffering.

Considering how many things fuel prices affect, that appears to be a good start.