■ 29 December 2008 | 5:35 PM
Elliott Sadler wasn't the first and won't be the last to lose a job _ which he will based on this report _ during this topsy-turvy time in NASCAR.
This economic time likely is going to put additional pressure on car owners. Performance (and marketability) will be key. Certainly Sadler is someone fans can relate to with his common-man appearance. Yet, the fact is he didn't win at Gillett Evernham Motorsports. He finished 24th in points a year after placing 25th in points for the team.
Yes, the Dodges were inferior cars at most places but three Dodge drivers did win last year: Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch. Plus, GEM has slipped and is not among the top teams in the sport. That didn't help Sadler's cause.
Now, wait a minute, you say. A.J. Allmendinger hasn't won a Cup race ever. That's something Sadler has done. True, but Sadler's last win was in 2004. That's a long time ago in this sport.
The thing with Allmendinger is people saw how he's progressed. He had no shot his rookie year in 2007. A new driver to the sport with a new team. If you didn't think that would lead to bad season than you don't know much about NASCAR. But folks saw Allmendinger's performances improve. It didn't hurt that Red Bull got stronger as did the Toyota program in year 2. There's potential with Allmendinger. Doesn't mean he'll fulfill it, just that he has it. Think of him as a highly touted recruit. Maybe he'll meet expectations. Maybe not. It's easy to get excited about something like that than someone you've competed with the past few years and seen what they can do.
Another interesting things is that by replacing Sadler (age 33), the team has gotten younger. Allmendinger is 27. That makes all three GEM drivers under 30 with Kahne and Soreson. Typically, younger drivers don't cost as much (key in this financial time). Plus, this is becoming even more of a young man's sport. Think about the two guys who won the most races last year (Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards). Both were under 30 last year. Hey, Joe Gibbs Racing replaced the departing Tony Stewart with 18-year-old Joey Logano. It's a young man's game. That also didn't help Sadler.
It doesn't mean Sadler won't get a job. There's possibilities out there. Not many but a few. The key is he's going to have to prove himself at his next place and work hard to help build it up because it likely will be on the same level with GEM at the very best.
Don't be surprised if you see more similar moves as teams struggle with finances, expectations on drivers and crew chiefs escalate from sponsors and teams. This upcoming season could shape up to be one where there are a ton of changes. It wouldn't surprise me to see at least six different crew chiefs and maybe a couple driver changes by the time of the 600 in May.
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Advertising $$$s well spent
Advertising is part of any business, and an expense that is figured into any business financing. NASCAR has proven over the years to be one of the best advertising venues for many companies, including the Big 3. Win on Sunday, sell on Monday, is a fact.
NASCAR is only one form of motorsport. In addition to the 4 brands represented in NASCAR, Honda, BMW, Nissan, Mercedes, and many other companies are all involved in racing. As a taxpayer, I'm smart enough to know that some of that bailout money is going to be spent on advertising.
Some of that bailout money is also going to be spent on engineering. Most of the auto manufacturers offer racing engineering jobs to their new employees as a training program. It has proven to give them hands on knowledge of what aerodynamics, mechanical forces, etc. really are. Prior to racing, most only got that knowledge from computer simulations.
post-bailout NASCAR
how is it that it is OK for 2 of the the Big 3 in Detroit to take taxpayer dollars and still plow money into NASCAR? do you really think a majority of taxpayers will look kindly on that? the publicity and advertising do not come anywhere near justifying the expense and everyone knows there is nothing stock about a stock car. using taxpayer dollars to subsidize NASCAR is wrong and is an issue that will be coming up. the less teams there are and the lower NASCAR's visibility the better for racing fans, because taxpayers may demand that while the BIG 3 are in ownership of the taxpayer, luxuries like sponsoring sporting teams will have to be cut.