Here Comes 2007
Friday, January 5th, 2007 9:27am CST
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
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So while we’re wondering where 2006 went, it’s already time for 2007. With Preseason Thunder set to kick of in a few days, once it’s done there won’t be a breather until the checkers fly at Homestead next November.
When November finally rolls around though, is there really a breather? While that used to be the case, it doesn’t seem so anymore. Sure it is a little more relaxed, they’re not putting a car on the track every week, but that doesn’t mean that the work pace backs down. Preparing for the upcoming season goes into full swing the day after the last race. Take a couple days for Thanksgiving, then it’s back to it. The competition level in NASCAR has tightened so much over the past five years that it’s really incredible. Now it comes down to every day you miss during the off season is a day you’re behind come Daytona. Maybe even two days.
How many of you have followed the extremely slow media progression since Homestead? Not much there to report that is “breaking news”, but what do you read most about? Testing. Teams have been testing at tracks not on the Cup schedule almost every week since Homestead. They’re not only testing their primary 2007 cars, but they’re testing their testing their 2007 COT’s as well.
With all of this being taken into consideration, the COT is killing teams. At least initially it is. While designed to save teams money, right now it’s not doing much saving and sucking more than its fair share from the budget. When you’re taking at least 3 cars per team, most take four (two of each type), to each test session it’s going to put an additional strain on the budget. Not to mention all the additional resources to put the car into the inventory as well.
While the transition is in progress, how much additional cost is involved? Will this additional expense be saved over the life of the new vehicle? I doubt it. If NASCAR hasn’t learned this yet, I’m surprised. Any time they try to save a team money, they just spend it somewhere else. While it may very well save a few bucks in one area, which NASCAR can tout, is the bottom line for sponsors changing? Does it really have an impact on the big picture? Nope, not one bit.
Will the COT have a revolutionary money saving impact on the bottom line? If you’ve studied your history properly, then you can put a pretty safe wager on the odds that it won’t.
What it may impact though, is your smaller teams. The single car teams just trying to make the show every week. However the problem with that, at least for now, is that the additional burden is killing them. PPI has already pretty much given up on 2007 and are hoping to be back in 2008, and we’ll have to see how it goes once the season gets into it.
As we’ve discussed thus far around the Lounge, we could easily be looking at a record number of entries for the 500. With all the new teams coming into the series this season, and we’re not talking 4th or 5th tier teams but teams with major backing and resources, what is going to happen to the smaller teams that are just trying to live a dream? The Cope’s, BAM’s, or Front Row’s of the times. Their windows of opportunity are shrinking, and could very well close up completely.
NASCAR is a dog eat dog world. The top 35 rule was put in place for sponsors more than anything. Is that a good thing? It could be, but 35 seems a little much. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind seeing another row or two added to the field. Crazy, you all say. Well yes it is a little out there. While sponsors shouldn’t be bowed to like royalty, the blunt truth is that NASCAR ceases to exist without them. It doesn’t matter who you are. No sponsor, no car on the track. Even Jack Roush had a time with the 99 a few years back. Look at the troubles that have plagued Robert Yates in 2006. Thankfully, Ricky Rudd and Yates could put aside the past, and that Snickers knows that more than teeny boppers eat their products and have pets as well (Pedigree).
So here we head into 2007, with more well funded and supported teams than in recent history (if ever), the single car teams from which NASCAR was built on being choked out by this, the COT being phased in, Dale Jr fighting with step-mommy, Flip-Flop (our ol’ buddy Stewie) running his mouth on his radio show about already having the “fine” saved up in case Edwards runs his mouth again, and who knows what the heck else is being collected in this giant snowball rolling towards Homestead.
So if you thought 2006 was filled with drama, stick around. The 2007 season is already shaping up and putting itself in place to surpass it.
Filed Under: Busch Series, Craftsman Truck Series, Nascar, Nextel Cup
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