The future in NASCAR

[hound dog]

From the look of things NASCAR may be on the way down. Teams are losing sponsors right and left, teams are looking for mergers and poor ol' Bill Davis may just have to close all together. Chrysler and GM are talking merger and GEM (chryslers main engine builder) is talking to Toyota for next year. And the list goes on. Maybe it's time for another phase in racing, a return to road course racing at the grass roots level? SCCA, NASA type without a lot of money involved?
h dog

[Ron61]

Ford announced some time ago they were pulling out of the truck series and would only provide some engineering help. Now I saw a rumor that they are considering pulling out of all 3 series. With the economy the way it is, to spend the millions they do on those phony cars doesn't make sense. I wish they would bring back the old Trans Am series and more road racing of all kinds.

Ron

[Hexnut72]

They are just tightening their belts like the rest of us.

Its been a great ride and those that have been around for a while knew it wouldn't last forever. The teams and NASCAR have spent the money developing the COT and so there aren't huge development costs coming down the pipe. I am sure they will survive in one form or another.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by Ron61

those phony cars...

Truer words were never spoken. The rules have gotten out of control...same can be said for F1, NHRA pro classes, etc. I'm all for innovation and cutting edge, but there are some racing series that demand more of a tie-in to original manufacturers' designs. NASCAR has moved to far to the left, IMHO. Boring to watch the 'car of tomorrow' run in circles lap after lap. NASCAR needs more road circuits and cars that actually look different. Yes on weight limits and engine size, common safety requirements and a few other mechanical things...the balance should be how creative each manufacturer can get.

I love F1 but it has become far too expensive for many to build a team.

I'd love to see an NHRA funny car event where each car doesn't have a huge wing covering the back half of the car. Let's see just how quick and stable someone can build a car without making it look like something that it isn't. The '1000 ft rule hasn't changed the speeds any...those cars are still pulling 300mph in the lights.

[Don]

Dave Despain on last nights Speed Wind Tunnel program quoted the NASCAR Chairman as having met with the Detroit auto manufacturers. At least at this time, they will continue to support, not defined, their racing programs as part of their Marketing effort.

Realistically, NASCAR has to take a positive public PR approach with 2009 ticket renewals , to keep the same seats or upgrades, already due or due within a month, New Hampshire ticket renewals for the Sept 2009 race due by Dec 1st

Cost reduction in NASCAR will have to take on additional emphasis, with reduced testing, fewer days at the track, shorter races, etc. An exception already announced being the Carroll Shelby sponsored 2009 Las Vegas race extended to 427 miles

Mentioned is NASCAR becoming more actively involved in obtaining Team sponsors, but will not be subsidizing those teams with weak financial resources.

The series sponsor is also having financial challenges, not related to NASCAR, with Sprint/Nextel having lost over a million plus subscribers in a short time frame to other vendors.

Another comment is freezing any changes to the COT unless there is a direct safety improvement. While some drivers and crew chiefs may not like the COT, it's the identical challenge for everyone, places the emphasis on the entire race organization including the pit crew with positions gained or lost on pit stops. The COT should not impact the performance of the pit crews.

[Fordzilla]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

I'd love to see an NHRA funny car event where each car doesn't have a huge wing covering the back half of the car. Let's see just how quick and stable someone can build a car without making it look like something that it isn't.

I agree 100%!

[86Sebring]

I haven't been to a NASCAR race in a while. What are they asking for general tickets these days? I'm almost afraid to ask

[Snakebit]

If NASCAR disappeared all together it wouldn't bother me a bit. It is the lowest form of racing on the planet. It's like combining demolition derby with a soap opera. If there is not a wreck every third lap, the Budwiser gulping fans are not happy. You don't see bump drafting or "tradin paint" in any other form of racing. Talk about real sportsmanship, when the second place car on the last lap bumps the leader in the a__ causing him to spin and loose the race! YEE HAA! They have to run oval tracks so they don't have to retrain the drivers after every pit stop to brake and shift gears for different corners of the race track. Everytime I turn on the Speed Chanel and see NASCAR I want to puke. If you want to see what inbreeding leads to, just listen to the guys that do the pre race shows.

NASCAR SUCKS!!!

[JWilly]

I am sure NASCAR would be fine if the economy were in better shape, but over the last few years I have lost interest in NASCAR and it has nothing to do with the economy. To explain: In the past I was a big fan of both the NBA and NFL, now I have lost nearly all interest in both. In their effort to make the games more exciting, the powers that be have altered the games so much in favor of the offenses (the logic is that most people prefer a high scoring game over a defensive struggle). The result is that athleticism trumps teamwork and strategy. For me, the games now are just plain boring (I do love college sports though.... Roll Tide!!!!).

It appears to me, NASCAR is doing nearly the same thing as the NBA and NFL have done. The CoT may have been a good move for a number of reasons but I preferred the “old” days when the cars were distinctly different from each other. At least it resembled “stock” car racing. It seems that the popularity of the sport now relies on the personalities of the drivers and that’s it. Open wheel, wine and cheese racing does little for me (at least NASCAR drivers have some passion about what they are doing). Drag racing is interesting to me if only because of the sheer power of those cars but my interest is definitely turning to the road racing circuit even though I have yet to figure out all the different “kinds” of road racing circuits. At least I can tell which car is which.

[Don]

86Sebring:

2009 tickets for New Hampshire Speedway range from $60 to $110.

[Don]

In the current racing environment, is it the make of car which attracts the fans or the individual driver, i.e., would Dale JR still be the most popular driver in NASCAR if he drove a Ford rather than a Chev ? Or, did Tony Stewart lose any fans when Gibbs switched to Toyota, even though Tony preferred a Chev ?

With the similarity of car design, the constant debates back and forth, accusations of not being treated fairly etc., or NASCAR favoring a specific brand or a Team that used a specific brand , has been eliminated.

Times change, as an example from AutoWeek:

" Ray Evernham, who left Hendrick Motorsports in 2000 to bring Dodge back into NASCAR and start his own team, soon will leave his post.

The three-time Cup-winning crew chief for Jeff Gordon said that he will sell his remaining 20 percent interest in Gillett Evernham Motorsports. He said he is no longer deeply involved with the struggling organization that features Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne and A. J. Allmendinger. (Reed Sorenson will come aboard next year.)

Evernham also said that he does not want to own another team and does not foresee having a management role with any team. "



" Jeff Burton, on comparisons of his career with Jeff Gordon's. "I told Jeff that he and I were the same with the exception of four championships, 50 wins and 70 poles. Other than that, we've done everything the same "

[hound dog]

Originally Posted by Ron61

I wish they would bring back the old Trans Am series and more road racing of all kinds.

Ron

Ron,
That's what they're doing in the NASA American Iron series.
http://www.americanironracing.com
Still doesn't have the factory backing and probably never will, but it does bring back a memory or two.
h dog

[86Sebring]

Originally Posted by hound dog

Ron,
That's what they're doing in the NASA American Iron series.
http://www.americanironracing.com
Still doesn't have the factory backing and probably never will, but it does bring back a memory or two.
h dog

that looks like a fun and rather inexpensive series to be part of. I will have to check them out

[Don]

USA Today Nov 10:

France: NASCAR will endure through economic strife
By Nate Ryan,

AVONDALE, Ariz. — NASCAR Chairman Brian France said he's confident the sport will maintain full fields of 43 cars next season and is hopeful the ailing Big Three manufacturers will remain involved next season, but he also maintained the sport could weather a reduction in both.
"These aren't our first tough economic times, we've been in business 60 years," said NASCAR's third-generation czar. "We've seen the energy crisis of 1972, and 9-11 wasn't that long ago. So we're not going to change our business model because we're in tough economic times, but it doesn't mean we won't be more aggressive and taking out costs for team owners."

France said General Motors, Ford and Dodge "play a very important role in lots of ways with supporting teams, the branding and heritage, but we're also not going to live or die if one manufacturer or another has a pullback or pullout. I hope it doesn't happen. We're working like mad to make sure it doesn't happen, but the sport is on very solid ground that transcends one manufacturer or another."


In recent months, France and NASCAR president Mike Helton have visited the CEOs or high-ranking executives with GM, Ford, Dodge and Toyota, the four automakers that participate on NASCAR's premier circuit.

U.S. auto sales have plummeted this year as energy costs have skyrocketed, and the Detroit companies also have been battered by the nation's credit crunch.


On Friday, GM and Ford released worse-than-expected earnings reports with multibillion-dollar losses for the third quarter of 2008. Their cash burn rates are accelerating and could cause liquidity problems in 2009.

Both companies have maintained bankruptcy isn't an option.

"We talked about their issues and how they might get through," France said. "It's been hard for them because they're all in the same boat trying to revamp their businesses to get to a better place.

"The net of it was we didn't talk about any bankruptcy, but we talked about helping them get until 2010 when their legacy costs have been renegotiated with unions. That's a big milestone year for them. We hope they will (stay with NASCAR through 2010), and that's all we can do.. .. I've been told directly by each of companies having challenging times that one of the things that works best for them is NASCAR. Each went out of their way to tell me that while there are pullbacks and cuts to meet these challenges, the last thing would be to abandon something that works so well."

Among other topics addressed by France in a 25-minute news conference before Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway:

• With several teams still hunting for primary sponsorship in 2009 (some estimates put the number of full-time teams currently at around 30), NASCAR quietly has been involved in helping facilitate merger discussions that could allow some teams to stay viable. Dale Earnhardt Inc., Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Petty Enterprises are among those who have expressed an interest in forming alliances to increase cost efficiency.

"We've been in the middle of realigning team owners should they think a merger would be important," France said. "We play a role in that and don't publicize that. Mike and myself meet with them constantly. We understand what teams are underfunded and face the biggest risk and are working with them to find a sponsor, a partner. We just don't put that in bright lights every week."

• France said NASCAR will continue to evaluate cost-cutting measures through rules changes (such as eliminating testing), but the sanctioning body is limited in its ability to keep teams afloat.

"We need to be more aggressive than ever in taking costs out of system; it's a core requirement," France said. "But what can we do? Can we establish lines of credit? They're individual businesses, there's literally hundreds of them that could be affected depending on how far they'd go. We're not talking about 20-25 traditional sports teams where some halo credit line could be established for them. That's not practical.

"We understand team owners are in dire straits, but the entire country is in dire straits in one form or another. Frankly, we may come out better than most. We're all sensitive to team owners who are struggling and want to have sponsorship, but we can't expect to operate as an island and be oblivious to what's going on where companies are pulling back on every form of advertising, marketing and promotions and somehow the NASCAR guys won't get cut back on anything. That's unrealistic. I wish we could have a safety net for everyone in our industry, but it's not practical."

• As NASCAR weathers the downturn, don't expect to see France to attend more than his usual 12 to 14 races annually.

"We like the way we're structured," he said. "We have a president of our company at every event who has the total confidence of me, the France family and every member of our board. I don't know any other sport that does that.

"Most of the business elements happen during the week. That's when we meet with team owners and partners in all forms. That's when we set policy for the sport. On the weekend, we celebrate running the events, which is what we should be doing."

[Ron61]

HDog,

That is great. Thunderhill is just an hours drive from my house and I go there to watch my friend some times. Also like to watch when the Porsches are there with their team cars. Worst thing is I start wanting to get back on the track and with my age and health that would just be to dangerous to other drivers.

Ron

[hound dog]

Ron,
Actually you might be able to do a hpde1 with NASA sometime. I'm no spring chicken and I don't seem to get in many drivers way. If I do I just give'm a "point by". Actually have seen drivers in pickup trucks on the track before, but then again I do live in the southeast!!
h dog

[hound dog]

Last rumor that I heard today is that Kyle Petty may go back and drive for the Wood Brothers. Kyle's best days are behind him but he keeps hanging on. But if the auto makers pull out of NASCAR the series will have to go back to near "grassroots" racing. Rick Hendricks is rich but he can't afford to field 4 cars without large infusions of cash. Maybe we'll see the days again when a winners purse of $50,000 will mean something to someone.
h dog

[Don]

Brian France - NASCAR teleconference,
Racing series NASCAR-CUP
Date 2008-11-11
NASCAR Teleconference Transcript - Brian France
November 11, 2008 An interview with:

Part 1

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=314021

Part 2

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=314022

[WildBill3]

SnakeBit you want a little cheezzze with all that wine and negitive attitude towards our fellow car nuts who go in circles and roadcorses dont be so mean spirited.I love all forms of motorsports from F1 to the guy just taking his little mustang 4banger out with his buddies to compete on the weekends at the local short tracks.Ever been three wide at 100mph on 29 degree bank with your best freinds only to come out at the end of the race and slap each other on the back for a great race ahh dout it.Dout if you know skill if it slapped you in the face to wish harm on a industry that employs 10's of thousands and means Billions to our economy is short sighted, if you dont like it fine dont watch.But dont wish harm on them they have families to feed just like you and I.The guy that race lawnmowers even get my respect. Long live All Racing in the U.S.A. Were all just car crazzzzy different strokes for different folks. I hope thers some racing for all of us on the other side of this Downturn...WB3