Full Throttle

I know what your thinking, the “myth” is the sometimes questionable use of NASCAR’s rulebook and the always debatable premise that it even exists. (have you seen one?)

The myth in question was offered as a basis for limiting NEXTEL Cup team size to four cars per owner. Brian France (a/k/a HWSBO) hypothesized that multi-car teams acted as a detriment to potential new owners and sponsors who desired entry to the sport, hurts its competitive nature and its long term growth.

Without going into too much detail my first impressions weren’t very far off the mark. Before the ink was dry on NASCAR’s purposal new teams were being announced. Some have materialized (Hall of Fame Racing) and others like retired NFL star Tim Brown’s planned hook-up with Roush disappeared into Bazzaro World.

Terry Blount writing for the Dallas Morning News, NASCAR Drivers a Growing Concern, captures the current state of both sponsorship and team ownership in NASCAR.

He sees a potential dark cloud on NASCAR’s horizon, too many cars and sponsors vieing for both spots in the starting field and airtime during TV broadcasts.

NASCAR officials don’t want to see cars with top sponsors fail to qualify. The more cars you have, the better chance a big-money team will go home before the race.

“We have talked about how many cars we may have,” said NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter. “I wouldn’t say we’re alarmed over it, but with Toyota coming in, it’s automatically more cars.”

Toyota is indeed the 8,000 pound elephant in the room with three Cup teams next year and at least five cars not counting two from Bill Davis Racing who is switching from Dodge to the new Toy Teams.

But there are others following Toyota lemming-like into the fray. Recently fired by RYR Eddie D’Hondt has announced a new team, Kenny Wallace has announced a full Cup schedule for 2007.

By Blount’s count there are 39 full-time cars and drivers at events this year with an average of 49 entries per race. That leaves 6 teams outside peering over the SAFECO barrier at those that beat them by the smallest of margins in qualifying.

That count potentially goes to 47 full-time cars in 2007. It can be rightly argued those missing the cut this year are underfunded and generally that’s true. The Morgan Sheppard and Derrick Cope entries are good examples.

That all changes with the big money pumped into the Toy Teams via Burger King and other national brand names. NASCAR’s bobble-head Jim Hunter sees the problem ahead but discounts its impact until averge car counts consistently go over the 50 mark. (or NAPA and Burger King call him into their offices, whichever comes first.)

“But we don’t know how many teams running this year will be back next year,” Hunter said. “It always fluctuates.”

“We just have to keep tabs on it,” Hunter said. “It probably would have to be over 50 cars showing up every week for us to consider it [increased field size]. Even with Toyota coming in, you don’t know if some other teams may just shut down.”

He has a point but even if the Sheppards and Copes shut down it still leaves more full time teams than starting spots.

It’s an obvious problem and the only fair way to deal with it is increased field size. The exception to any rule change would be Bristol and possibly Martinsville. How do you fit more cars on those short tracks without creating a new TV reality show, CrashFest 2007 and Beyond? Logos paid for with millions of dollars don’t appear as designed when crushed against the retaining barrier on lap three, or gain airtime when they are 2 laps down by lap 50 due to excessive traffic.

A brief look at the “Joe’s Muffler, Guido’s Chop Shop Chevy” as it gets the moveover flag just doesn’t cut it.

A hard look is in order but until the problem materializes sometime after the start of the ‘07 season I don’t see any changes forthcoming. But that is NASCAR’s usual modus operandi, react, not act.

It’s also a problem the IndyCar and Champ Car World Series’ only wish they had. But that is a story for another day.

NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Brian France, Jim Hunter, CCWS, IRL, Sports, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle