Every season we experience “silliness” within NASCAR as the drivers relocate to other teams or other car numbers within the same team.
This Silly season has the crew chiefs relocating, drivers negotiating, drivers buying into teams, auto makers decreasing their sponsorship and most of us are left to wait and wonder! The economy has us all “freakin!”.
As the average American Family struggles to fill their gas tanks just to get to work, kids to school and sports activities, could you imagine being an owner of a Craftsman Truck, Nationwide or Cup Team? If the approximate cost for fuel, per race car is $558.00 per race and running 36 races, one Cup car’s gas bill would be $20,085.00.
Then add to that cost, the cost of tires, crew members, and hotel bills … I think NASCAR just needs to build a resort at every track so the fans would be assured of an economical stay without the hotel owners gouging their prices just because NASCAR is coming to town! Call it “Fan Central” and establish a hotel chain! Think of buying your race tickets combined with your hotel bill then have NASCAR run shuttles back and forth to and from the track! One could possibly save a few dollars if NASCAR would choose to do this race package and keep fans like me and you in the stands.
How come there are no airline sponsorships on our cars? The airlines have no dollars left after they fill the planes gas tanks….?
IF GM is backing down sponsorship and realigning their products due to the fuel prices, then why doesn’t GM and NASCAR put their resources together and invent another fuel source. Certainly between them both they should be able to come up with something. Oh no wait….then the big oil tycoons would loose money so “dream on” as this alternate fuel source will never come to fruition.
America, the land of opportunity and the country we love, is struggling right now worse than we have ever seen.
I can recall back in 1973 when the gas price jumped to 39.9 cents a gallon and my Mother would not let us drive anywhere.In 1973 the name of that issue was “Oil Crisis of 1973.” Has anyone heard a name given to our current gas price issue? Please let me know if you have…
Please check out this photo (click here) … an example of 1973 gas prices.
1973 was the year that Benny Parsons was the Cup Champion while King Petty came in second. At least NASCAR has cured the points system by rewarding wins as Benny only won one race that season to Richard Petty’s six!
The gas bill at this time for these drivers was a little over $3,000.00 for 28 races! In reality, over 35 years the cost of fuel for one race car has risen $17,085.00.
What about BAM Racing proposing sponsorship packages to presidential candidates? Although a unique idea, to date no one has taken BAM up on their proposal. Could you image watching a race with Presidential candidates as sponsors? Only in America!
We as fans will have to wait and see how bad this economic hurricane effects our beloved sport.
Please feel free to leave your opinions comments or concerns below this article in the comments section. This is America and Freedom of Speech means everything!
Until Next Time….
Robyn Snell
Senior Staff
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At NASCAR’s top level, fuel price is not an issue for the race car. The official fuel of NASCAR which is currently Sunoco is GIVEN to the teams!
However, the teams still have to pay massive fuel bills for the haulers, RVs, planes and other vehicles that go to each race.
Where the cost of fuel is an issue is at the grassroots level. The Friday or Saturday night warrior generally has to buy his fuel for the race and the fuel to get to and from the track. I’ve heard that field counts are down at local tracks across the country.
Comment by Acer — Wednesday, July 23, 2008 @ 4:43 PM
At age of 61 I have seen a few nascar races. I believe today everyone one is looking for the big dollar. How can a man or woman spend two three or four million dollars a year. I left nascar about four years ago. I went back to saturday night dirt. I will not spend another dollar on nascar and some of its crying men.
Comment by Lawrence — Wednesday, July 23, 2008 @ 7:05 PM
Last year when hendricks guys were winning did nascar reduce their horsepower,NO. Nascar has told the winning team to reduce power,WHY. Because nascar is corrupt.
Comment by Lawrence — Wednesday, July 23, 2008 @ 7:09 PM