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Not a good time in racing
I ve been slacking a little bit lately from writing a blog but i cant help feeling pretty down. Every day you get up there is more stuff about layoffs in racing. The economy is in the dumps and now it looks like the racing world is taking a beating as well. Just last week there were some 3 to 4 hundred jobs lost and there expecting a lot more. It just makes you wonder if your next. Thankfully there have been no major layoffs at Penske but i cant be sure they aren't coming. All these companies have to do what they can to survive. It's going to be interesting with the new test rules to see how teams adapt. Ive heard a lot of rumblings among team guys about the off season and what we might be trying to do so that David can get some good seat time for next year. It will be an interesting off season to say the least. I hope everyone has a good time this winter and hopefully I ll have some better stories when i come back in February. Holla
November 21, 2008 | Permalink
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Comments
Indeed times right now aren't promising, but blaming it on the economy gets the sport itself off the hook for what it ought to accept responsibility for.
The reality is this has come because the sport has never been serious about reigning in spending and thus costs, and it's finally caught up to the sport. We would not be as anxious if nobody was spending more than $30 million for a three-car team every year because sponsors would still find the sport a reasonably affordable marketing tool.
Banning testing won't help at all because testing limits from 1990 onward have been a complete failure. Until the sanctioning body forces teams to open their books and restrict their spending, we won't solve this problem.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Nov 22, 2008 1:16:27 AM
Things are pretty crappy here in good old Ohio! Not excluding our pro football and baseball teams. Out college teams Cincinnati Bearcats and Ohio State seem to do well!
The average job here pays $8-$11 dollars an hour and there some what rare. Oh well enough gloom and doom........
Us fans hope Ryan will be in a much better position to win races and his first deserving Championship! Newman was fast but not fast enough to win against Nascar's elite and we all know who those teams are.
Thanks Trent for putting your emotions out here in cyber space, you handled it like a pro! I wish you good luck with your new driver in 2009 but I'm afraid seeing the 12 from a rear camera shot of the 39 all season will get real old!
Posted by: UKNOWME | Nov 23, 2008 9:50:55 AM
Hi Trent, I know this is off the subject, but I want to thank you for sharing your thoughts with the fans this year. Enjoy your off time and especially the holiday season with the new family member. Take care!
Posted by: Donna | Nov 26, 2008 2:36:28 PM
Click my name on this post for a look at data showing a larger point made by writer Gregg Easterbrook - how things get better yet people feel worse.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Dec 1, 2008 6:08:10 PM
DARN!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate typos on links. The corrected link is on this post.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Dec 1, 2008 6:09:33 PM
Hey Trent,
Keep the wheels turning, dude! It is not an easy time for anyone right now. Certainly a good time to take "stock" of the 3 lugs that are tight.
This needs to be the year for ISC, and other track operators to fill seats instead of covering them. Ticketholders for Cup events should be sent complimentary general admission seats for the companion event.
Any Truck race should be 25 Bucks.
- An AARP "early-bird" special
Military service organizations, the Civilian Moose, Elks, Eagles. All the Scouts, boys and girls. Package deals.
Consider getting people that have never been to a race, a chance to attend without breaking the bank.
Maybe a promotion for discounts with any ticket stub prior to 2000.
Change the story from, "look at all the empty seats", to "wow, look who's going to the races".
We need the entertainment now, more than ever. It needs to be affordable.
Posted by: Larry | Dec 2, 2008 7:43:54 PM
While Larry's ideas have some merit, what matters most is the competitive product needs to be far better. Over 40 lead changes a race needs to be the norm, NEVER the exception.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Dec 3, 2008 10:49:29 AM
GM wants a bale out for giving all there money to nacar and UAW i hope the sobs fold and nascar will have to find another way to cheat,Jimmie Johnson was gave his three titles, and i dont kiss nascar ass,like all these writers do here. GM does not have the best car or trucks, all the have is that cheating nascar behine them.
Posted by: larry | Dec 4, 2008 11:15:49 PM
Has Larry been drinking again?
Posted by: canucken | Dec 6, 2008 1:03:59 AM
You know what? racing is it's own worst enemy. Penske's motorsports budget surpasses the GNP of more than a few small countrys- that just ain't right. Period. Now How in the world do you expect us folks who get up every day and go to a "real job" to feel bad for somebody who gets up and plays with racecars all day? You might lose your dream job and have to go to "work"? boo hoo.
Posted by: elfiero | Dec 10, 2008 10:00:36 AM
elfiero - so true that racing is its own worst enemy. It proves over and over that it doesn't know what it is doing, so often doesn't have the right answers to its problems, yet somehow keeps going.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Dec 11, 2008 11:25:19 AM
Hey Can, not a drop.
Mike, you are right of course. "yet somehow keeps going", is so true.
elfiero, define real job. It is the entertainment industry.
Posted by: Larry | Dec 15, 2008 4:38:33 PM
"Now How in the world do you expect us folks who get up every day and go to a "real job" to feel bad for somebody who gets up and plays with racecars all day?"
playing with race cars all day sounds like a great way to spend your time.
i bet it's actually very hard work too.
btw elfaggo...
if it's 10 am shouldn't you be in school ??
Posted by: exile on main street | Dec 17, 2008 9:27:37 PM
I look for PRN to close. Ad revenues are terrible. Bruton would rather buy tracks. Nascar won't sell him MRN, so he will close PRN. Nothing better than Barney Hall anyway.
Posted by: John | Jan 2, 2009 12:35:37 AM
NASCAR and GM has raped this sport for years,and we have to bale GM and the UAW out so they can pay all those big payroll,wonder what GM driver will win this year,one thing is fact it want be that no drivin Dale Jr,the boy is 5 years behine
Posted by: larry | Jan 16, 2009 6:45:06 PM
Hey Trent,
Do you know if there will be a points swap this year?
Posted by: Larry | Jan 17, 2009 4:24:20 PM
I ahve never been a fan of dale jr. I always loves Sr. though.
solid tires
Posted by: skid steer tires | May 3, 2009 11:00:30 AM
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