(from fox news) With car and truck counts dwindling and the automotive well running dry for NASCAR, Chairman and CEO Brian France is initializing the next plan of attack — finding new partners. In the past week, news of General Motors cutting motorsports budgets and eliminating Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series programs altogether have opened many eyes to the stark reality that the party is over. It's unlikely that France — or anyone else in NASCAR — now has the access they once enjoyed with the "Big Three," particularly since two-thirds of those calls will now be redirected to Washington D.C. So what's the next step? Start the courting process. "We have been talking to people for off and on for a long time," France said on Sunday. "These are decisions in terms of the new manufacturers joining the sport that would take a long time to evaluate and actually enter. "So those aren't something that we turn the light switch on tomorrow morning and it would happen." And in this economy, that won't be an easy task. When Toyota entered the Truck Series in 2004, its arrival evolved from a myriad of meetings that began with the sanctioning body in July of 2001. After many hours with NASCAR and even more money to feed the research and development, the prototype truck was delivered for submission in the summer of 2005. The initial investment from the drawing board to the racetrack was roughly $50 million. Graduating to the Cup Series was likely an additional $25 million to develop the car and engine package. And adding a marquee name to the roster such as Joe Gibbs Racing upped the ante considerably. According to sources, JGR received roughly $100 million for a five-year contract. Certainly, some manufacturers are fairing significantly better than others. The Toyota Camry is the top selling car in American, but even its sales were down 15.7 percent in 2008 from the previous year. The bottom line is people simply aren't buying new cars given the escalating unemployment and uncertainty surrounding the future. But NASCAR still delivers one of the best bangs for the marketing buck. Particularly if a manufacturer is looking to launch a new model — or a new brand entirely — NASCAR's fan base covers a wide range of demographics. "Of course we're the preeminent place in North America for car manufacturers to build their business with an auto racing group," France added. "We remain that and clearly there's some companies that are going to look at opportunities that may not have even been there in the past that could be presented in the future. "We'll have our philosophical approach to that in terms of welcoming new companies in as we did with Toyota. It is under a very clear set of circumstances that the manufacturers come to NASCAR to compete. And that will not change." Although France would not name brands, according to the NASCAR Sprint Cup rulebook, Section 20-1.1 — NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races are open to eligible 2008 through 2009 models of American-made, steel-bodied passenger car production sedans. Unless NASCAR decides to change that rule, potential partners would be limited only to cars manufactured in the U.S. Trucks would fall under a similar regulation. NASCAR also requires all participants to use an archaic "small block V-8 engines with a minimum of 350.000 cubic inch displacement and a maximum of 358.000 cubic inch displacement will be permitted." The first generation NASCAR engine dates back to a 1955 production car which has been transformed over the years with the newest generations evolving from the 2005 Chevrolet engine. Toyota never had a two-valve push rod V-8 prior to coming into NASCAR. After the company built the first engine for 2005, it was so solid that NASCAR insisted Toyota tone the technology down and a second engine was developed for 2007. Any potential manufacturer entering NASCAR would still have to develop its own unique power plant. However, with the R&D Toyota invested in its engine, extensive design parameters now exist that would make the process considerably less expensive than the $40 million the company spent to get up to speed. And unless NASCAR scraps the Truck Series, perspective competitors would be forced to take the same path at Toyota, first through the Camping World Series and then to Sprint Cup. So which foreign manufacturers fit the bill? Here are the most likely candidates for the next round of NASCAR newcomers: Honda In motorsports, whether it is open-wheel, sports cars or even drifting, Toyota and Honda seem linked (despite Honda made a quick exit out of Formula One at the end of 2008). There's been talk in racing circles that Honda was interested in making the jump to NASCAR six years ago but nothing came to fruition. Honda 2008 sales decreased 8.2 percent from 2007, so added exposure could be in order. Possible NASCAR models: Honda currently builds the Ridgeline truck in Ontario, Canada and the Accord in Marysville, Ohio. Nissan Long before Fiat came into the picture, Nissan was interested in a partnership with Chrysler. Chrysler could benefit from Nissan's small car expertise, Nissan's Titan truck would be served better on the Dodge Ram platform. Nissan has competed in both off-road and sports car series. The Nissan GTP ZX-T competed in IMSA until 1990 and fielded cars in the ASA Speed Truck Challenge. Possible NASCAR models: The Altima is built in Smyrna, Tenn., while the Titan is manufactured in Canton, Miss. Hyundai Unlike Japanese manufacturers Honda and Nissan, the South Korean-based Hyundai is a relative newcomer (1986) to the U.S. market. Hyundai's Genesis brand was named the 2009 North American Car of the Year. It currently supports teams in SCCA ProRally Racing, Formula Drift and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb events. Possible NASCAR models: The Genesis or Elantra are both built in South Korea. The Sonata is built in Montgomery, Ala. Hyundai does not currently manufacture trucks.
Interesting points from this article: When Toyota entered the Truck Series in 2004, its arrival evolved from a myriad of meetings that began with the sanctioning body in July of 2001. After many hours with NASCAR and even more money to feed the research and development, the prototype truck was delivered for submission in the summer of 2005. The initial investment from the drawing board to the racetrack was roughly $50 million. Graduating to the Cup Series was likely an additional $25 million to develop the car and engine package. And adding a marquee name to the roster such as Joe Gibbs Racing upped the ante considerably. According to sources, JGR received roughly $100 million for a five-year contract. (compare this to the cost of F1)
I could see Nissan going into NASCAR. Nissan's US product lineup and marketing strategy seems to follow Toyota's somewhat closely (big V8 powered trucks and SUVs), and the Altima/Maxima/350Z/GTR build a much stronger performance image than the Camry/Corolla/Avalon. I've always heard that Honda was only interested in cutting-edge, technically sophisticated forms of motorsport (which NASCAR isn't, at least from a driveline standpoint). However, given their dumping F1 and being a spec engine in the IRL, maybe eventually they will change their mind.
Its ALL about $$$$$$, think about it, has Toyota not been sucessfull in everthing they have done? I have been involved in Nascar for over 20 years and would have never in my wildest dreams seeing a Toyota in Nascar,much less winning a major series championship ( Truck Series). So as we all know how sucessfull Honda is,whats to keep them from comming in and spending several hundred million and becoming a force in Nascar and Nissan also? I personaly can see it happening,Mr France will do whatever it takes (certain perks) to make that happen if it means $$$ in his coffers. Remember Nascar is a private outfit, not like there's going to be stock holders to vote no if he wants to do it. Just my honest opinon from my experience.
Err, no! F1 springs to mind...... Probably the biggest spend over the past few years, and it's got 'em precisely nowhere....... F1 is *tough* - You can't buy wins in F1 like in every other form of the sport (IMHO). Cheers, Ian
NASCAR should start a different series that is like the old BTCC but on ovals. Real cars, real doors, and let anybody that makes the spec size car run, American or not.
No, no! 1 - Real race cars don't have doors. 2 - Real race cars have wheels that stick out. 3 - Real racing has rules, but is not a "spec" series.
Real sedan race cars have doors, and flares that cover the wheels, and NASCAR has rules, and everyone's engine and chassis is their own. Only the bodies look the same, so its not totally a spec series.
That's why they're not real race cars (IMHO) - More aerodynamically efficient, sure, but they aren't real race cars...... It's totally a spec series - Tony Stewart *buys* his chassis from Hendrick...... (IIRC) Toyota *never* made a pushrod V8 until they entered the taxicab series, Camry -v- Fusion -v- whatever. It's "fun" racing, but it's a (very successful) spec series. IMHO. Cheers, Ian
The days of keepin the furriners out of NASCAR are ending. Ten years ago, who ever would have thought Toyota would be there? The kind of money spent mentioned above is questionable since, as pointed out, NASCAR runs with what amounts to 50's technology and there is very little (if any) ROI as the "Big Three" have been complaining about the past few years. So, other than "branding" what is to really be gained since NASCAR technology is dumbed down to the lowest common denominator, NASCAR has sucked the sporting aspect out of the equation and NASCAR races are little more than orchestrated farces? It would be easy to foresee Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, etc. get into NASCAR if the series was more like the Australian V8 Supercar Series and, of course, far more interesting to watch on all levels. However, this would require genuine original thinking (something which is in short supply in Daytona Beach) and a completely clean sheet of paper. One particular German company who's branding strategy in American racing has lost the plot a bit is now producing a V8 sedan which could well fit the bill in NASCAR and has not been mentioned however... RM Image Unavailable, Please Login
ROOTS MON: I would assume Porsche was not mentioned because the others have manufacturing plants in the USA, Porsche directly does not. I'm curious, what is your personal experience with NASCAR that brought you to your opinion? The comment about the lack of genuine original thinking in Daytona Beach was interesting.
What you just described is not a totally spec series. Formula Saab is a totally spec series, Formula Ford is totally spec series, same engine, same chassis. Tony Stewart is small potatoes, does not now have the shop to build his own chassis, so he buys a chassis. So what? Engine is Chevy, trans is Chevy, body is NASCAR version of a Chevy with Chevy templates different than the other brands. Chassis under the Toyotas is built by one of the Toyota teams, engine/trans are Toyota. Same with Ford and Dodge. IRL is more spec series than NASCAR, different chassis, same motors.
Tony Stewart is leading NASCAR points (the first owner/driver since Alan Kulwicki to do so) and he is "small potatoes"? I'd dare anyone to say that to his face! Ha! 1--Tony Stewart 2189 pts. 2--Jeff Gordon 2142 3--Jimmie Johnson 2047 4--Kurt Busch 1961 5--Ryan Newman 1934 6--Carl Edwards 1927 7--Greg Biffle 1913 8--Mark Martin 1868 9--Kyle Busch 1860 10-Denny Hamlin 1849 All of the COT cars are built and sold by NASCAR to the teams and I'd challenge any one to tell the difference between them without manufacturer and sponsor stickers on them; of course the same could be said of F-1 these days as well. As for furrin makes without factories in the US not being allowed in, this could be changed with the stroke of a pen. And, who not? Arbitrary rules are seemingly made up or changed every weekend in NASCAR, evidently sometimes without anyone knowing it (just ask any team owner who dares to cross the line and speak out!). RM
Where did you get the idea Nascar builds and sells cars to the teams? We build every one of our Cup,Nationwide and Truck chassis and i'm sure JGR,RCR,Hendrick and TRD aLL build their's, hang the bodies,build the engines and assemble the cars. Yes,the COT'S are required to be certified by Nascar and have sealed chips installed at several points.
Bill- does TRD still build all the Toyota team's chassis and engines in California? Or have some of them (i.e. JGR & Waltrip) started doing that in-house?
If you followed nascar you would know that Hendrick and Childress make cars and motors for several other teams, I believe Tony Stewart's team is all Hendrick stuff, and TRD makes a lot of the Toyota motors for their teams.
Most of Toyota's Nascar chassis and engine operation is based out of TRD in High Point,Nc, i'm sure the west coast operation still plays a major part in research and development.JGR builds their own chassis and engines with support from Toyota,they have in most people's minds in the business believe have a better engine package than TRD.Without taking anything away from anyone,who has the best Toyota in Nascar right now? Yes, Kyle is a great driver no matter what you think of him as a person,and we (Carl) chase that 18 car just about every week in the Nationwide series,and Carl is no slouch behind the wheel.Even Red Bull (who uses TRD engines) is seriously considering going Chevy next year (engines will be leased from Hendrick) over frustration with the Toyota power they are recieving. The new Chevy R07 engine developed by Hendrick,RCR/Earnhardt/Ganassi makes great power with a great torque curve,is lighter, has better internal oil and cooling systems than any generation of Chevy engine before it.
It is correct that the NASCAR teams now build their own COT examples. My mistake for implying otherwise. However, the first 30 COTs were produced by NASCAR at their $100M+ Research & Development facility in Concorde, North Carolina and then sold to teams. It is also correct however that the teams pay NASCAR a license fee to build each of their COTs. All COTs must go through NASCAR's R&D center for certification before they are allowed to test or race. And, if a particular car is wrecked and rebuilt, it must go through the same process again. Lucrative business if you can get it. In the long term, the switch to COT cost the teams more than just paying the license fees, expenses to build and certification process. Large outfits such as Hendrick was left with 60 and Roush-Fenway was left with 90 developed old cars which are now redundant as a result of the COT. It is unlikely anyone would invest $100M + into a state of the art R&D facility such as NASCAR's without some major ROI and, as usual, they've got all the marketing angles covered which is what they do very well. It leaves the question, will anyone new come to play? RM
Ever heard of the showcar program,where ex-race cars are put on display in malls or sponsors place of business around the country along with local displays on race weekends? Well, thats where most all of our retired cars went.We have 26 COT show car dually and trailers at any one time one the road doing shows,this of course does not include Nationwide and Truck show programs.I can't remember how many cars were sold to ARCA teams and they are still in competition,several ran this past weekend at Mansfield,Ohio,so they didn't become scrap.What happens to ex-F1 cars? Are they handed down or become collector items for a wealthy ''Vintage'' racer Walter Mitty?
Its a safe bet that most ex-F1 cars are either put into museum collections or sold to private collectors. Teams like Ferrari and McLaren have house museums and bring their cars out for special occasions such as Finale Mondiali, Goodwood Festival of Speed, etc. The Japanese makes do have the reputation for scrapping their old cars at the end of a season however; curious practice which makes any surviving cars enormously rare and valuable. RM
Toyota Racing Development (although for the first 5 years of their CART experience, it meant, well.... )
