NASCAR officials meet with Truck teams, consider options to save owners money
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Friday, January 16, 2009
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 $100,000 a race), Hylton and Hillman said.
Hylton said TRG Motorsports still doesn’t have funding for a full season for one truck this year and its plans remain in limbo.
Hillman’s team is looking for sponsorship, too. It likely will field Max Papis and Todd Bodine in the season-opening race at Daytona and possibly a third truck.
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8 responses to "NASCAR officials meet with Truck teams, consider options to save owners money". Post a Comment.
Michael Daly said:
Jan 17, 2009 at 2:08 PMNASCAR will go nowhere in reducing costs until it starts attacking the entirety of team budgets and directly limits how much money teams spend.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBernadette Motherway said:
Jan 17, 2009 at 4:27 PMShould be 'NASCAR officers', not 'NASCAR officials'. To me a NASCAR official is someone in a white helmet and fire suit on pit road getting in the way of the pit crew.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJack Gale said:
Jan 17, 2009 at 5:14 PMIt would really help if NA$CAR would raise the purses for the truck races. JB didn't even get $500,000 for the championship last year. I think its disgraceful how little they get paid for racing in the series with some of the best racing NA$Car has to offer.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRonald Schwalbe said:
Jan 17, 2009 at 9:17 PMAsk ANY team owner - - ANY "cost saving" move NASCAR makes -- costs teams MORE money !!!
Report as AbusePemberton is the ONLY one with actual racing experience (Brian and Helton have NONE !!!!) - and even HE has become a turncoat - -
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner Boehmert said:
Jan 18, 2009 at 10:54 AMless pit stops would help...they should to the same for the other series...no reason to run 10-15 laps and come in for a tire change...except if it's Indy...
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» Confirm Abuse ReportHarry Risher said:
Jan 18, 2009 at 8:40 PMLimit tires to 3 sets total,and use hard compound tires that are good for two hundred miles+. Use smaller carb to save money and bunch up the fields.Use larger fuel tanks that would allow longer runs without pit stops.Qualify,practice,and race on one day to save money.Tell Nazicar's Billionaire Bosses to give up some of their riches $$$ to start a "tire fund" to provide at least two sets of tires to any race team that qualifies for any Nascar race-like Morgan Shepherd who loyally runs and qualifies but can't really race because of tire costs. It wouldn't put a tend in the wallets of two of America's top 100 Billionaires who made their billions$$$ off the fans and the race teams and sponsors--right Brian "Airhead" France????
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjohn arturi said:
Jan 19, 2009 at 6:37 PM))))
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjohn arturi said:
Jan 19, 2009 at 6:37 PM))))
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