GM making "NASCAR-wide" cuts in support
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GM making "NASCAR-wide" cuts in support
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) -- General Motors has told NASCAR teams it is cutting back on its support in all of the sanctioning body's professional series.
Among the teams already notified that they will lose funding are JR Motorsports, owned by Sprint Cup star Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kevin Harvick Inc., co-owned by Cup star Harvick and his wife, DeLana. JRM races in the second-tier Nationwide Series, while KHI has entries in Nationwide and the third-tier Camping World Truck Series.
Cuts are also expected in the top-tier Sprint Cup series.
Chevrolet spokesman Terry Rhadigan said Friday that GM, reorganizing through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, said cuts would be made soon.
"Our discussions are indeed NASCAR-wide," he said.
Rhadigan would not say if one series would be affected more than others, nor would he say the size of the cuts or how much GM spends on NASCAR. The automaker, through its Chevrolet brand, provides cash and other support to teams, including engines and parts.
Rhadigan, however, said GM has no plans to withdraw Chevrolet from the stock car sport.
"Racing is still in Chevrolet's DNA, and I don't think that's going to change," he said.
Both JRM and KHI issued statements, acknowledging they must adjust their business models to address the funding cuts.
"We are fully capable of adjusting our business model to accommodate this change, and with the backing of Hendrick Motorsports, we will continue to lend our full support to Chevrolet," Kelley Earnhardt, general manager of JR Motorsports and Earnhardt's sister, said in a statement.
"The manufacturer support GM provides at the NASCAR Sprint Cup level is more critical in nature than in the Nationwide Series, and I hope Chevy is able to continue supporting that level, as the promotion of NASCAR works well for its demographics."
The GM cutbacks are the latest in a series of economic blows to the sport.
The global economic crisis led to more than 1,000 team members being laid off at the end of last season, and Chrysler, which just came out of bankruptcy, has cutback its funding of Dodge teams this year. Earlier this week, Richard Petty Motorsports laid off nine employees and reduced salaries throughout the company, a byproduct of Chrysler's Chapter 11 filing.
Ford, also facing financial problems, cut back its support in the truck series heading into this season.
"Obviously, Chevrolet has millions of fans, and they want see Chevrolets on the track," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. "At this time, we don't have any reason to believe that that won't be the case, at least in the short term."
Among the teams already notified that they will lose funding are JR Motorsports, owned by Sprint Cup star Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kevin Harvick Inc., co-owned by Cup star Harvick and his wife, DeLana. JRM races in the second-tier Nationwide Series, while KHI has entries in Nationwide and the third-tier Camping World Truck Series.
Cuts are also expected in the top-tier Sprint Cup series.
Chevrolet spokesman Terry Rhadigan said Friday that GM, reorganizing through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, said cuts would be made soon.
"Our discussions are indeed NASCAR-wide," he said.
Rhadigan would not say if one series would be affected more than others, nor would he say the size of the cuts or how much GM spends on NASCAR. The automaker, through its Chevrolet brand, provides cash and other support to teams, including engines and parts.
Rhadigan, however, said GM has no plans to withdraw Chevrolet from the stock car sport.
"Racing is still in Chevrolet's DNA, and I don't think that's going to change," he said.
Both JRM and KHI issued statements, acknowledging they must adjust their business models to address the funding cuts.
"We are fully capable of adjusting our business model to accommodate this change, and with the backing of Hendrick Motorsports, we will continue to lend our full support to Chevrolet," Kelley Earnhardt, general manager of JR Motorsports and Earnhardt's sister, said in a statement.
"The manufacturer support GM provides at the NASCAR Sprint Cup level is more critical in nature than in the Nationwide Series, and I hope Chevy is able to continue supporting that level, as the promotion of NASCAR works well for its demographics."
The GM cutbacks are the latest in a series of economic blows to the sport.
The global economic crisis led to more than 1,000 team members being laid off at the end of last season, and Chrysler, which just came out of bankruptcy, has cutback its funding of Dodge teams this year. Earlier this week, Richard Petty Motorsports laid off nine employees and reduced salaries throughout the company, a byproduct of Chrysler's Chapter 11 filing.
Ford, also facing financial problems, cut back its support in the truck series heading into this season.
"Obviously, Chevrolet has millions of fans, and they want see Chevrolets on the track," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. "At this time, we don't have any reason to believe that that won't be the case, at least in the short term."
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if it was up to me... cut NASCAR all together... but it isn't up to me.
Edit: i am totally ignorant to NASCAR what's Chevy VS Ford VS anything else? Do chevy provides engines? all the bodies are the same with different shells that look the same and different paint schemes and stickers ...
what am I missing???
Edit: i am totally ignorant to NASCAR what's Chevy VS Ford VS anything else? Do chevy provides engines? all the bodies are the same with different shells that look the same and different paint schemes and stickers ...
what am I missing???
Last edited by jcamere94z28; Jun 12, 2009 at 03:18 PM.
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I wonder how much GM spends on NASCAR as a whole. I also wonder how much it gets in return.
Probably hard to measure, especially the latter.
I have to really question the value of a manufacturers involvement in NASCAR in today's world.
Back when actual STOCK cars were raced... I would say the value was quite high. They were showcasing actual product.
Now that the race cars used have absolutely nothing in common with anything the manufacturers sell in the dealership showroom... I would say that the value is about equal to that of any other sponser than pays to have their decals with their name put on the body shells of the cars ... and I'm going to guess they invest a hell of a lot less than the manufacurers do.
Probably hard to measure, especially the latter.
I have to really question the value of a manufacturers involvement in NASCAR in today's world.
Back when actual STOCK cars were raced... I would say the value was quite high. They were showcasing actual product.
Now that the race cars used have absolutely nothing in common with anything the manufacturers sell in the dealership showroom... I would say that the value is about equal to that of any other sponser than pays to have their decals with their name put on the body shells of the cars ... and I'm going to guess they invest a hell of a lot less than the manufacurers do.
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"Obviously, Chevrolet has millions of fans, and they want see Chevrolets on the track," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. "At this time, we don't have any reason to believe that that won't be the case, at least in the short term."
I would love to see where this guy came up with "millions" of fans wanting to see Chevy on the track. Most Chevy guys I know gave up on Nascar years ago. I don't think anyone has been driven to buy a particular make based on a Nascar race since the Fifties. The domestics should have pulled out when Nascar started kissing Toyota's backside.
I would love to see where this guy came up with "millions" of fans wanting to see Chevy on the track. Most Chevy guys I know gave up on Nascar years ago. I don't think anyone has been driven to buy a particular make based on a Nascar race since the Fifties. The domestics should have pulled out when Nascar started kissing Toyota's backside.
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