NASCAR’s Business Model Changing

by Steve Wronkowicz

I am co-host of the syndicated radio show: ON PIT ROW. Over ten years on the air and three on the net; see what can happen when I don't let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

December 9, 2008 9:10 am CST 4 Comments

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Not since the early 1980’s could NASCAR have so many unsponsored cars at its Cup races.

Most reports have only two-thirds of the full time prospective Cup teams with sponsorship deals for 2009. Yates Racing still only has full time sponsorship for their new team member Paul Menard. That deal is with his fathers owned home improvement business. Menard will drive the number 98 this year; joining the unsponsored #38 and #28 of David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil respectively.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc and Chip Ganassi Racing have had to merge in an effort to keep the BassPro sponsorship for 2009. BassPro could leave the number 1 car if there were not two full time team mates for 2009. By merging with Ganassi, Martin Truex, Jr. will have those two full time team mates in Juan Pablo Montoya and possibly Bobby Labonte who could move over from Petty Enterprises to drive the number 41 Target car.

If Labonte leaves Petty Enterprises and the iconic number 43 ride; that could open that seat for Reed Sorenson as he would move over from his proposed seat in the GEM number 10. The merger of GEM and Boston Ventures owned Petty Enterprises could leave NASCAR without a Petty in an ownership role for the first time in years. Don’t forget that Mike Curb owned the 43 for some years in the late 1970s.

Which leads us to this weeks BUZZ ON PIT ROW:

Where did Petty Enterprises go wrong?

Let us know what you think about this question or anything else going on in NASCAR’s off season. Have a comment about the banquet–let us know and we could use your comment on this week ON PIT ROW radio show. Or call the show live starting at 5pm ET on Tuesdays at 1-877-502-8255. Listen live at www.onpitrow.com

photo credit: BethAnne Heisler/ ON PIT ROW

Filed under: Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, How to fix NASCAR, Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR Rumors, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, The King, The Pettys

Tagged with: Chip Ganassi Racing, Dale Earnhardt, david gilliland, Inc., Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex Jr., Mike Curb, Paul Menard, Petty Enterprises, Travis Kvapil, Yates Racing

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Nationwide stand-alone events are underrated treats

by Matt Mercer, Special To NASCAR commentary and driver pictures, 2011 NASCAR schedule, video, Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie

I'm the former blogger of The Catfish Show NASCAR Blog and a contributor to On Pit Row. Follow me on Twitter: @mattmercer

June 12, 2008 10:01 pm CDT No Comments

So, it’s the time of year again when NASCAR’s second series branches off for 6 of the next 9 races from Sprint Cup. The drivers and teams in the series look forward to this stretch, as they’re the main event in town and the Cup drivers, although increased from years past, isn’t nearly as dominating. For the fans, I think we enjoy this stretch as well. I enjoy getting to see what some of these guys can do when they’re elevated to competing for top 5s and top 10s, instead of top 15s and top 25s. There are always good stories that come from these stretches of races. Consider last year, when we had Stephen Leicht battle Brad Coleman for his first career win, and who can forget Aric Almirola’s “win” at Milwaukee. That race, the eyes of many, led him to a Cup ride at DEI. At IRP, Jason Leffler wheeled the Great Clips Toyota to victory lane in a thrilling late-race battle.

Go back to 2006 for this stretch of races and remember what happened. At Kentucky, David Gilliland defied the odds and captured a win in an unsponsored, part-time effort. A few months later, he was racing for Robert Yates. The next week at Milwaukee, Paul Menard delivered his first win and moved to Cup the following year. This time of year is great for Nationwide action, arguably tracks like Nashville, Kentucky, and Milwaukee produce action and delivers a good balance to the Cup races at Pocono, Michigan, and Sonoma.

As for this weekend, the series is coming off Brad Keselowski’s first career win at Nashville, and the ranks of first-time winners could grow by one more, considering the previous two winners (Gilliland and Leicht) recording their first wins here. The candidates to do the same begin with a kid that has a pretty decent car, and recorded his first pole last week: Joey Logano. I would also keep an eye on Landon Cassill, Chase Miller, Kelly Bires, and the guy who finished second last year, Brad Coleman. They’ll have to hold off the Cup trifecta of Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, and Carl Edwards to do it, though. That’s no small task. My pick however will be a combo of seeking a first win and also competing in Cup: I’m talking about David Ragan, of course. After a year and a half of competition in the series, Ragan is due for a win. I can’t think of anywhere better than Kentucky for it to happen.

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc.

Filed under: David Ragan, Joey Logano, NASCAR, Nationwide Series, Robert Yates Racing, Sprint Cup Series

Tagged with: Brad Coleman, Brad Keselowski, david gilliland, David Ragan, Joey Logano, Kentucky Speedway, milwaukee mile, NASCAR, nashville, Nationwide Series, Paul Menard, Sprint Cup, stephen leicht