NASCAR team licensing fees, other key expenses released through legal filing
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Friday, June 26, 2009
So you want to be a NASCAR driver? The cost for a license will be $2,420. And if you want to race in the Nationwide or Truck series as well, it will be an extra $110.
How about being a NASCAR owner? It will cost you $2,970.
Those are the application fees for the 2009 season, according to documents filed as part of Jeremy Mayfield’s lawsuit against NASCAR over his indefinite suspension for alleged violations of the NASCAR substance-abuse policy.
What does all this have to do with alleged drug use? Not much, but it’s the contract that the driver signs with NASCAR to be part of the sport. NASCAR submitted this agreement as part of its defense, showing that Mayfield agreed to abide by the NASCAR rule book and the substance-abuse policy.
The documents appear to offer a number of specific details about the sport’s operation that haven’t previously been available.
The agreement between NASCAR and its drivers and NASCAR and its owners is the basis for points fund distribution as well as potential sponsor conflict issues. A team owner must apply for a separate license for each car (in other words, Rick Hendrick must apply separately for all four of his Cup cars).
There are exclusivity clauses for major sponsors and suppliers Sprint, Goodyear and Sunoco that forbid their competitors from being a Sprint Cup sponsor. These sections are much more detailed than in 2007 when NASCAR was sued by AT&T over whether AT&T could be on the Sprint Cup car of Richard Childress.
As part of the agreement, drivers and car owners can’t be used to promote Sprint, Goodyear and Sunoco competitors if the promotion includes a NASCAR-style racing vehicle. Teams agree to make their best effort to use Sprint. If a fuel company is using a non-fuel component as their main sponsorship (i.e., Pennzoil-Shell), the non-fuel component must be at least two-thirds of the car and uniform design; the fuel component no more than one-third. The Goodyear clause allows an interesting exception: It does not require hauler tires be Goodyears nor pit-road carts to use Goodyear tires.
The agreement also requires teams, at NASCAR’s request, to unscramble their radio communications (presumably so fans and television can pick it up). It also requires teams and drivers to put in-car cameras in their cars at NASCAR’s request.
The driver-NASCAR agreement also details how the $30 million in bonus awards will be distributed after the season (the winning driver and car owner earn a combined $6,520,800, while second-place is $2,815,800). If the season is cut short, Sprint and NASCAR can prorate the award money.
NASCAR drivers also agree to allow NASCAR and the tracks to use photos of them and their cars in promoting events.
Drivers also agree to several media activities:
• One media tour to promote the Sprint Cup Series as well as one photo shoot and one two-hour Sprint event.
• The winner must do interviews as must second-place and third-place finishers. The winner agrees that four items – one from Sprint, one from the team’s primary sponsor, one from the race sponsor and one from NASCAR – can be placed atop the car in victory lane.
• The top 12 drivers shall provide at least 15 minutes of media availability on Thursday or Friday of race weekends.
• All drivers who make the Chase are required to do media following the 26th race (Richmond). They also are required to go to New York City prior to the New Hampshire race.
• All drivers who are eligible for the championship heading into the final event must participate in the NASCAR news conference prior to the finale.
• The champ must go to New York City after being crowned in the finale.
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8 responses to "NASCAR team licensing fees, other key expenses released through legal filing". Post a Comment.
bayareabob said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 12:07 PMAll things considered this doesn't sound that bad. They are locked into some very specific obligations but considering what they get to do and how they get paid to do it this all seems reasonable.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmichael663 said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 3:51 PMSign me up!!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmasschine said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 4:39 PMSounds downright affordable. A F1 super license cost Louis Hamilton $307,731.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 4:52 PMthey should charge more and reduce the commercials
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» Confirm Abuse ReportScott said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 6:24 PMAHMEN to that!!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmpalmer951 said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 6:35 PMDo you get a hard card for $2970?
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmotorsportsphotography said:
Jun 26, 2009 at 9:20 PMYou cant buy hard cards! You can be in this sport for 15 years and never get a hard card.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jun 27, 2009 at 4:24 PMcan you post the link to this information? I would like to read it. THanks
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