NASCAR officials meet with Truck teams, consider options to save owners money
NASCAR is considering ways to allow Camping World Truck Series teams to save costs, and one of those could be limiting the number of crew members brought to the track, NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp confirmed Friday.
NASCAR could just limit the number of crew members brought each weekend, but it also could prohibit pit stops except after an accident or a flat tire.
When the series first started, the teams did not have pit stops unless the car had a mechanical problem on the track. NASCAR had a halftime break for teams to adjust on their cars and teams did not lose position for pitting.
If implemented, the move could save anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 per team, said TRG Motorsports Director of Competition Butch Hylton.
“I’m more worried about the fans and how they are going react to it,” Hylton said. “Is that part of the show for them? Is it OK that we don’t have pit stops? At the end of the day, if they’re not happy with our races, that’s not going to help us economically.”
And with the current length of Truck races, often teams would need two breaks.
“It takes some of the glamour out of it for the fans and it kills the TV thing because the fuel cells, with the way they are today, we would have to have two breaks, not a halftime break,” said Germain Racing general manager Mike Hillman Sr. “I don’t know for sure, but I’d be surprised if they went totally that way [to no stops].”
Another option, Hillman said, would be to limit teams to four over-the-wall crewmen during a pit stop instead of seven. The stops would be slower but all teams would be on equal footing.
The pit-crew option was one of many discussed among owners and NASCAR officials Thursday. Tharp said that right now, the sanctioning body is discussing different options with teams.
Hillman said NASCAR President Mike Helton, NASCAR Vice President of Operations Steve O’Donnell and NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton were all at the Thursday meeting. He said it was a productive meeting and appreciated the interest from the NASCAR officials.
Limiting engine costs also was discussed, including the use of a spec motor for races 1-mile and under – Hillman said his team already has tested the one used in the Camping World East and West series and it is acceptable. Usage of the engine would allow teams in those series to possibly race in the Truck Series some.
“I think that motor could run everywhere except Daytona and Talladega the way it is,” Hillman said.
NASCAR already has eliminated the need for each team to have a scorer, which will save teams about $30,000 a year, Hylton said.
“There’s no good answer,” Hylton said. “I wouldn’t want to be in NASCAR’s shoes. … At least they’re trying to do something for us. They realize the economy is bad and everyone is struggling with sponsorship, so they’ve jumped in here and they’ve listened to the owners.”
A typical competitive truck budget can run $2-3 million (around $100,000 a race), Hylton and Hillman said.
Hylton said TRG Motorsports still doesn’t have funding for a full season for one truck this year and its plans remain in limbo.
Hillman’s team is looking for sponsorship, too. It likely will field Max Papis and Todd Bodine in the season-opening race at Daytona and possibly a third truck.
