June 23, 2009
By Allen Madding
Times are getting more and more difficult for NASCAR race teams as the nation’s economy takes its toll on the corporations who have sponsored teams in seasons past and on the manufacturers.
The evidence of the economic impact was clearly illustrated in Milwaukee this weekend. While the NASCAR Nationwide Series had a full field of 43 cars at Milwaukee, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series had only 33 trucks in competition. The reduced number of entries was also seen at Texas where only 33 trucks showed up for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino 400.
Of the Nationwide Series 43 entries, Trevor Bayne in Michael Waltrip’s No. 99, Kelly Bires in Braun Racing’s No. 10, J.C. Stout in Johnny Davis’ No. 0, Derrike Cope in his own No. 73, and Johnny Chapman in MSRP Motorsport’s No. 90 were all unsponsored. That is five unsponsored cars in a field of 43. If these teams had not been able to field these entries out of their own pockets, there would have only been 37 cars in the NASCAR Nationwide race.
The economic impact will certainly get worse before it gets better with General Motors announcing significant cuts to the support it has provided to NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series. Teams that were receiving free parts such as engine blocks, engine heads, intake manifolds, and more will now be forced to purchase these parts, putting even more strain on the team's finances.
Kevin Harvick Inc. and JR Motorsports reported that factory support from General Motors was completely discontinued. The increased expense for these pricey items will have to be covered somehow. The increased difficulty in signing sponsors will make it even harder to recover from the absence of the manufacturer support.
Ford and Dodge have also removed their programs that previously provided engine pieces and financial assistance to teams in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series, leaving only Toyota offering factory support in both series. Reports this week indicate that GM, Ford and Dodge are also reducing their support in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
NASCAR has responded by indicating they would consider allowing BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, and Mercedes-Benz to compete in NASCAR racing series as all those companies have manufacturing plants inside the United States (which was the criteria used to bring Toyota into the sport.)
Word is that Volkswagen is currently constructing a facility in Tennessee which would mean they would be eligible to compete in NASCAR as well. When asked at Michigan about the possibility of more foreign manufacturer’s involvement in the sport, Brian France was quoted as saying, "We're the pre-eminent place in North America for car manufacturers to build their business with an auto racing group, we remain that and clearly there's some companies that are going to look at opportunities that may not have even been there in the past that could be presented in the future.''
Meantime, teams are scrambling to introduce new sponsors to the sport. In the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend at Milwaukee, ConstructionJobs.com was onboard with JTG-Daughtery Racing’s No. 47 and Michael McDowell.
Local sponsors are also being leveraged.
Milwaukee Valvoline Instant Oil Change paired up with Johnny Davis’s No. 01 and driver Danny O’Quinn, Jr., Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Park Place sponsored Charles Shoffner’s No. 61 and Brandon Whitt, Sleep Inn Milwaukee joined forces with Johnny Davis’s No. 04 with driver Kertus Davis.
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
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