January 22, 2009
By Brian Watkins
Brian Watkins
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The automotive industry is cutting expenses left and right. Racing teams are merging and cutting staff to stay viable, and now those same economic conditions have had a direct impact on the future of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Car of Tomorrow (COT).
While it makes sound financial sense to postpone its debut, it’s disappointing because unlike the NSCS COT, the NNS COT has actually been praised by drivers and crew. Last spring when I spent some time with teas testing in Arizona, they commented on how much better the Nationwide car was than the current Sprint COT. Hearing first hand that a team, actually three of them, are enthusiastic about a NASCAR mandated ride is a rare occurrence -- one that I was eagerly anticipating. But now, due to the financial condition of the automotive industry and the country as a whole, we’ll have to wait until at least the 2010 season.
Many folks have said that the best thing about 2008 is that it is over. In a lot of ways I couldn’t agree more- but at the same time, 2009 remains a mystery waiting to unravel. With more questions than answers, NASCAR prepares to kick off in Daytona in less than a month. While the rules changes for the Shootout will make for an interesting affair, the changes in the pits, sponsors and manufacturers will also take some getting used to. Here’s just a few of the changes….
Another series name change -- Not only does the truck series have a new sponsor (Camping World), we also get to hear a season of speculation as to who will replace RE/MAX as the title sponsor of the Auto Racing Club of America (ARCA) series. RE/MAX has stated it will be leaving at the end of the ’09 season.
The #96 Hall of Fame Racing team will now be fielding a Ford Fusion. The team drove a Camry last season and worked closely with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman will be kicking off the inaugural season for Stewart Haas. I’m sure the media will be following the team’s progress very closely just as they did with Dale Jr. after his move to Hendrick.
Speaking of moves to Hendrick, Mark Martin will be running alongside Earnhardt, Johnson and Gordon this year.
Petty Enterprises and Gillett-Evernham are both gone, replaced by a Petty/Gillett merger now known as Richard Petty Motorsports.
DEI, who lost both Mark Martin and Paul Menard at the end of last season has merged with Ganassi. While I’m sure this move was meant to save both organizations, I doubt it will result in being anything more than life support. A few seasons back the DEI/Ginn merger was predicted to produce a “Super Team”. That prediction couldn’t have been further from reality. I’m not holding my breath on this one.
There are many more changes for 2009 -- but they all have the same theme: Survival.
As NASCAR fans wait to see what the future holds for their personal economic condition, tracks and teams wait to see what will happen when the gates at Daytona open for the 2009 season. This is a make or break year for many sponsors and more than a couple teams, and if fans can’t afford to come to the show it will be interesting to see how track owners and NASCAR adjust to lure them in.
My own attendance at any races this year is up in the air to be quite honest. I’m not a hard card carrying member of the press -- if I want to see a race I get to buy a ticket like everyone else. At this point, I’m not sure if we’ll make our annual trips to Michigan in June and August, thought we may make the short hop over to Kentucky Speedway and catch a truck race or two. For us as well as many other fans, if we go depends very much on if we can afford to go.
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