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Jim Duff: NASCAR test ban will likely do more harm than good
By Jim Duff
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars test at Daytona International Speedway earlier this year.
Sam Greenwood
Getty Images for NASCAR
COMMENTARY
NASCAR officials certainly have the best of intentions with their announcement of draconian restrictions on testing for their national series next year, but the measures could well wind up irreparably harming the sport. The virtual test ban may save struggling teams some money, but it dooms them to also-ran status once again, and that could ultimately wind up being more harmful.
If fans, officials and competitors thought the 2008 season saw a widening gulf between the sport’s haves and have-nots, just wait. Struggling teams that may have thought they were finally beginning to figure out the new model Sprint Cup car, for instance, stand little chance of making additional progress in 2009.
The Cup series’ elite organizations – Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing – don’t face nearly the same challenges. Those teams already have the sophisticated – and expensive – testing machinery in place that will allow them to continue making progress. They also have the sponsorship and budgets to go anywhere they need to keep right on testing.
Those big multicar teams supplied all 12 drivers in the 2008 Chase For The Sprint Cup, and the test ban makes it likely that they’ll do so again next year. Those who don’t make the Chase understand that their failure to make the championship field harms their ability to land the kinds of sponsorship that could boost their chances. The result is likely to relegation to second-class status for at least another year.
Certainly, these are difficult times. Few people can be surprised that the woes of the national economy are spreading into the racing world. The impact of an economic downturn was certain to be felt on a sport whose astounding growth has been fueled by its ability to work with business partners to expose their products to a particularly receptive audience.
The impact in the garage is enormous. Sponsorships worth $15 million to $25 million a year to the teams are disappearing. Multiply that by 10 or more teams, and it’s easy to see perhaps $250 million disappearing from the sport. Layoffs have started, and expectations are that others will follow.
NASCAR’s reaction is understandable. Unfortunately, its testing decision makes it more difficult for struggling teams to improve enough to help them land more sponsorship from corporations facing their own financial challenges.
Officials with the sanctioning body clearly mean well. They must believe that their test ban saves teams of all sizes money. But the big teams will find ways to cope that the small ones won’t, and that ultimately may do the sport more harm than good.
If NASCAR really wants to control costs and help the teams, it should modify its ban to let teams practice on a regular basis at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The 1.5-mile track just outside Charlotte is convenient to virtually all of the teams, and it’s the size track that dominates the NASCAR schedule.
By using the track virtually outside their shops, teams wouldn’t have to spend money hitting the road to test in distant states. And especially in the Cup series, everyone would have an opportunity to continue making headway with the new model car that proved to be such a challenge this year.
Yes, testing is expensive. But in an engineering-based sport, not testing will ultimately be more expensive.
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
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Comments
19 responses to "Jim Duff: NASCAR test ban will likely do more harm than good". Post a Comment.
Elaine Housley said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 2:16 PMI wonder if this will encourage more use of the ARCA series for developmental drivers. Since they race at Talladega, Daytona, etc. they could test and race with them...
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCharles OBrien said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 3:38 PMWell written Jim. Not only will it create a wider gap in competition, but it will continue to stifle the development of the next generation of Cup drivers like Keselowski, Logano, and Coleman. Where are these guys supposed to get their COT seat time? There are a lot better options that should be considered.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrobert roth said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 4:08 PMbob Roth
Report as AbuseThere has been so many complaints about the handling of the COT and the difficulty getting it set up I would like to hear how some of the older drivers would compare it with one of the 90's t-birds or Luminas.there wasn't a many tire problems then.As Mark martin said,the old tires were pretty good.Maybe we do need a tire war
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» Confirm Abuse ReportKenneth Farley said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 4:55 PMGee, that sounds familiar, like what I said last week almost per batum. DOH!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCallaway said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 5:06 PMTotally agreed testing this brickbat like car is not only needed it should be mandatory. It will however not stifle the growth of drivers like Keselowski or Logano both are with well funded teams their owners might even be in the process of building their own test tracks so they won't miss any laps. Who it might hurt are the one's we haven't heard about yet running around some tiny dust bull ring somewhere with all the talent in the world. Once again Brian France has stepped headlong into the deep end with his decisions. I get the feeling he must be a control freak because he's meddled more with the sport than his father ever did, first the wonderful Chase, record breaking fines, the top 35 rule, the COT (the jury is so far out on whether this was a good car they might be in witness protection) now no testing policy of a highly erratic ill handling car. I still see this series hurdling perilously towards some kind of IROC type scenario with his evening playing field mentality with Nascar prepared cars all the same being doled out each week at random just different stickers how nice.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportArthur Trim said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 5:23 PMThe big 3 teams will continue to spend money by the truck load for engineering. The medium and small teams will continue to struggle! What will happen is that none of the teams will be able spent 1-2 million dollars to take their latest child prodigies for 2-3 thousand miles of track miles "testing"!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner Boehmert said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 6:04 PMCale says the new cars drive better than the cars he drove...the first year of the COT the compliant was it was too tight...now they're too loose...that tell you something?...how do Keselowski and Logano get seat time...stay in the Nationwide series and learn the traks...come to the Cup side when you're ready to run...
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSarah Oxfurth said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 6:56 PMI think the teams it will hurt the most are the new teams...like Stewart-Haas Racing. Where and when are they supposed to perfect their brand new cars that they are building? How are their drivers and crew chiefs supposed to learn to work together? It's ridiculous! Yes, it saves some money-but it's definitely going to hurt new and start-up teams.
Report as AbuseAnd the teams in Nationwide-aren't they supposed to start using a COT-style car next year? A brand new car with NO TESTING? Are they insane?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner Boehmert said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 7:50 PMyou don't test...i don't test...we all don't test...it should be equal...
Report as Abusethe Nationwide COT is on hold...and i would think that they would allow some testing in that series with the car similar as to what they tried with the Cup COT at Bristol...until Hendrick went out on his own to test, which infuriated Roush...
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSarah Oxfurth said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 9:03 PMHow frustrating!! Some of my comments are posted immediately, others say they will be approved shortly then never show up. And I'm not cursing or being mean or anything! I don't get it.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSarah Oxfurth said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 9:05 PMLet me see if this one goes through-Werner, I'm not sure how you can say that no testing would be equal. It will make the Big 3 fairly equal (Hendrick, Roush, Gibbs), and it will even out some of the lower-budget teams with the Big 3. but start-up teams, having to build completely new cars, with no way to test their cars or their engines, or learn ways of dealing with one another, will be at a distinct disadvantage. They NEED testing to make their cars safe, reliable, and competitive. I will be surprised if Stewart's new teams can even finish in the Top 35 without testing.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner Boehmert said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 9:34 PMStewart's team is not a new team...it's an offshoot of Hendrick...testing to make the cars safe and reliable?...NASCAR designed the safety aspect...and even a low buck operation like Morgan-McClure had a dyno room for the motors...the no testing would delete the "factory" backed teams from getting an advantage...they're the ones who gain from the telemetry they gather in testing...the non-factory teams have nothing...like Robby Gordon, Nemecheck, Boris Said, Finch Racing and others...
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSarah Oxfurth said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 9:52 PMStewart's team is going to use Hendrick motors-that doesn't make it an "offshoot" of Hendrick.
Report as AbuseThey are building their own cars, and the crew chiefs and drivers and teams need to be able to learn to work together in a track situation. I'm not talking about just Stewart's team either. Lots of changes at MWR. I agree that it will help keep the major ones from gaining and advantage and I agree it will even out the already-established low-budget teams with the major teams, but I think it will seriously cripple the really new teams (whether new organizations, or new teams within an existing organization).
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCallaway said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 10:23 PMBsnning testing is the dumbing down of the sport! Hey if you can't hang with the big teams in the sport and are underfunded that's OK. We will keep it so they won't have a competitive advantage and reward you for not having your act together both from a performance standpoint as well as a business one as well. This must be Brian's version of no car left behind. Socialism at it's best, the point of racing is in fact gaining a performance advantage not parody which might be fine if we were to talking merry go rounds.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner Boehmert said:
Nov 19, 2008 at 10:27 PMget your team organized in the Nationwide series...Jr, Kenseth and Edwards did...then when you're ready move to the Cup Series, but don't expect to win right away...you'll learn and earn your way to the top...
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» Confirm Abuse Reportchris welch said:
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:11 AMhow about not letting the top 25 teams test. but it is surprising that NASCAR hasnt let these teams test more initially with this new car. the racing this year has been terrible and these teams need to get these cars handling better. the drivers are afraid to get close to each other because they dont know what the car is going to do. the other thing i dont get is letting them go to other tracks. if you are going to ban testing, ban it EVERYWHERE. zero testing period!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportFRANK LAVACCA said:
Nov 20, 2008 at 5:36 AMwhat will nascar do if gm and dodge cu back their money,the small teams are toast.the only ones will be the toyota's,who have gobs of money.look at gibbs this year,the money advantage was very evident,with no testing,he will be the top dog by default.ban testing,why not just put three whels on the cars,just as rediculas.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportDavid Johns said:
Nov 20, 2008 at 11:05 AMIt's very simple - under the current scenario the top tier well funded teams will still test. They'll go to non-NASCAR sanctioned tracks or manufacturer's test tracks (each manufacturer has a test track that will allow speeds in excess of 200MPH available), because they can afford to do so.
Report as AbuseAs a result, the gap between the have and have nots will widen even further, lessening the likelihood of non top-tier teams attracting sufficient sponsorship to compete.
The easy, simple, fair and equitable "fix" is to simply allow teams (at their option) to arrive at each track one day prior to the track officially opening for competition for an open day of testing. Allow the use of data acquisition on this day, and let teams test up two two (primary and backup?) cars per team.
While the mega-teams will still have an advantage due to multiple teams testing, at least the less well funded teams will be able to test at a reasonable cost - ie: one extra day's travel costs.
The track operators could open a section of the stands for fans to watch - I'd suggest for free as a goodwill gesture towards the fans (they can make money at the concession stands)so it could turn into a win-win scenario for everyone.
Any team found testing anywhere outside of these provisions should be suspended for a race.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJay Hauser said:
Nov 20, 2008 at 4:44 PMFirst off, TESTING IS NOT GOING TO STOP! The teams just cannot test at tracks that host events. This still leaves the door wide open to test at Rockigham, Pikes Peak, Texas World Speedway, Virginia International Raceway, and any other track not on the schedule. The teams have been using these tracks for years in addition to the allowed test dates. It would make more sense and save teams money to just have at least 4 to 6 open test days at Charlotte Speedway. The teams would not have to spend money traveling to other tracks. As fas as team owners building their own tracks, not going to happen. Roush and Penske have both tried to build tracks and the local cities will not allow it. If someone else would let them, it's not like you can pick up the phone and build a race track. It would take years to even get some pavement laid down if everyone involved gave it the green light.
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