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February 23, 2007
California nightmare on such a winters day
By Mike Harper
My apologies to the Mamas & The Papas for messing up their lyrics, but heading into this weekend there’s many topics that are falling below the mainstream media’s radar screen that deserve some attention and even better, some of our opinions. Lets get started with the Harvick-Shell v. NASCAR-Sunoco situation. This is one of those corporate political situations that tend to drive me up a wall. In reality it’s the dark side of NASCAR sponsorship.
In 2003, NASCAR signed a deal with Sunoco for 10 years to be the official fuel supplier. Under the agreement, NASCAR will not allow new fuel suppliers to sponsor cars. However, automotive lubricant companies are allowed in the sport and this is why Mobil One and Texaco Havoline have sponsorships – even though both companies are fuel suppliers too. Shell-Pennzoil joined Kevin Harvick and his RCR team for the 2007 season and the Shell logo was all over Harvick’s helmet and driver suit. The bad news for NASCAR, Sunoco didn’t like it and asked Harvick to wear a jacket during the pre-race ceremonies at Daytona. What made the situation even worst for Sunoco, Harvick won both Busch and Cup races at Daytona and the Shell logo was in Victory Lane and on the television for the world to see. Going to California, Harvick will begin wearing a different driver suit and helmet. This is where I feel NASCAR has gone wrong with sponsorships. To compete in this sport you need sponsors and when NASCAR handcuffs team owners and doesn’t allow them to secure sponsors, ultimately it will hurt the teams. Today’s fuel and/or oil industry is an extremely profitable industry with many sponsorship prospects. But NASCAR, thanks to their relationship with Sunoco limits teams to zero opportunities with the exception of automotive lubricants. We find the same situation with Nextel this year regarding AT&T and their Cingular brand and we’ve seen it in the past like the nasty situation a few years ago with Powerade in Victory Lane. In my opinion, NASCAR’s official sponsors are no more special than each team’s sponsors. NASCAR needs the teams, teams need the sponsors, and all three need the fans. While I understand this is NASCAR’s baby, I think contracts should have clauses allowing competitor sponsors into the sport. However put limits on the amount of signage allowed at a NASCAR event, but give owners the ability to secure sponsors and not limit what a driver can wear at the track. It’s just crazy. What’s next – sponsors buying the naming rights to tracks and not allowing their business competitors to race or sell merchandise at their track? Oops, I guess a part of that question has happened in the past too. Again, it’s just crazy! The Busch Series takes a punch in the gut. 43 cars can race in the Busch Series right? But 43 aren’t on the entry list for California this weekend – there’s less. I hope this isn’t the sign of the times for the Busch Series, but many of us feel that the number of Cup teams jumping down to the Busch Series is straining the series. Let’s face it, Hall of Fame Quarterback Terry Bradshaw bolted from the series at the end of last season because of his frustration with the smaller Busch teams missing out on sponsorship and revenue opportunities. The Busch Series is no longer the development series for Cup. It’s also no longer a series for new car owners to come into the sport. While NASCAR hits the microphone hard about increasing diversity in the sport, they should also add ownership opportunities to the mix because driver’s owning teams and Cup owner’s jumping down to the Busch Series is only closing the box on the sport. It’s big business and when Busch teams are placing drivers like Mark Martin, Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick in their cars, why would a non-Cup owner or new owner invest in a no-win situation? I know I wouldn’t with the few million I have sitting around. Bottom line, the low car counts could be a sign of troubled times in Busch. Michael Waltrip finishes 30th, but is 43rd in the standings. How does this work? I understand how he’s 43rd in the standings, because of his 100-point penalty from Daytona, Waltrip has –27 points. But wouldn’t you think that teams that tried to make the race, but didn’t make the race like Red Bull Racing and Jeremy Mayfield would be in front of Waltrip since they have zero points? I know, I know – they didn’t race and NASCAR will only recognize the cars that made the race. I’m just trying to make a point. Have a great weekend!
February 23, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
Mike
If Nascar chooses to have an offical sponsor(I saw the list somewhere and boy is it long!)it should not have any bearing on team sponsorship.This is a free enterprise system we live in.With the budgets these teams have,they have to be allowed to find dollars wherever they can!
As far as MW's points,I saw him listed as 61 in the points.Bliss was 42,Mayfield 43 and Vickers was 57.Did I misread something?
Good post
Posted by: Short Lady | Feb 23, 2007 12:02:27 PM
This whole corporate sponsorship thing is based purely on greed. Greed from Pope Brian and all of the France family. You are right Mike when you say it will come back and bite them.
The deal with Waltrip in my opinion is that he got what he deserved. Docking 100 points was worse than kicking him out of the race.
NASCAR won't step in and stop the Buschwhacking because it sells more tickets. When they start seeing only 30 cars or so it will be too late to make a change.
Good Work Mike!!!
Posted by: Mark | Feb 23, 2007 12:44:45 PM
Mike,
I had a little blurb about Sunoco the other day. It's gone too far. Sunoco gets Logos all over the track, TV ads with "The Official blah, blah of NASCAR," and all the cars fuel up with Sunoco. Neither, They, nor any other of the Corporate sponsors should be able to affect the competition and keeping a needed sponsor out does just that. If Sunoco wants to whine like a little girl then she should take her jump rope and exit the playground. Someone will replace her.
Finally a use for the Top 35, but for the Busch series. Seven, or fewer, is the number of races (I think)that lets you remain a rookie in The Nextel Cup Series. Make a Top 35, where the full-time Busch teams, with a driver who will not compete in 7+ Cup events, qualify for the show. The non-rookie Cuppers can fight their way in for those last spots. Knowing you'll make the show might keep some fun owners, Like a Bradshaw, in the Series.
I won't rub more salt on Mikey's wounds...Ok, just a little. I had beer out my nose when Dave Disdain (<--- not a mistake) asked him what he thought about Gordon's penalty...Classic.
Posted by: Keith | Feb 23, 2007 2:06:06 PM
Mike...
You covered a lot of ground in your article, and you are...right on! Greed is the big motivator and the single issue, and I doubt seriously that will change. We are told repeatedly that NASCAR team are independent contractors, when it comes to obtaining any concessions from NASCAR. Why does this not extend itself to teams obtaining whatever sponsors are available?
I doubt that NASCAR consulted 61 race team owners when they went looking for a Winston replacement. If you think NASCAR teams are independent contractors in the true sense of the word...then let one of the superstar drivers decide to sit out just one race and see what the NASCAR response will be. When the right attorney comes along with an appropriate legal gimmick...the monopolistic structure of NASCAR will be tested once again in the courts. You live by the gun...and you die by the gun. Great job Mike!
Posted by: jim | Feb 23, 2007 2:08:22 PM
Since NASCAR likes to make new rules, how about if you want to be the offical this and that of NASCAR, you have to sponsor a car like Home Depot or UPS. Not sure what Sunoco pays for this title but it seems you would get more bang for your buck given the right situation.
Posted by: jeff | Feb 23, 2007 6:13:11 PM
Wow , this qualifying is going to take 3 hours for this brutal race , there having each car take there run and then making the next car wait till the one that just ran get all the way the garage before the next one can even start there car , what a joke .
Posted by: Eric | Feb 23, 2007 7:09:56 PM
I suppose the "official widget of NASCAR" deserves some sort of protected status, but the flap over Shell v. Sunoco and Cingular/AT&T/BellSouth v. Nextel/Sprint surely make you wonder if these "official" deals are good for anybody -- even NASCAR -- in the long run.
Posted by: David Green | Feb 23, 2007 11:06:58 PM
I think Jim nailed it. Team owners are only independent when it suits NASCAR's agenda. As long as NASCAR has the power to approve or disapprove sponsors that teams try to independently secure this issue will continue to be a serious problem. It's racing. It's a no-brainer that sponsor products that are used in, on or for cars want to sponsor race teams.
The Busch series is in already in trouble. It will hold it's own for companion races but it will be eye-opening to see how many entires will be there for the others.
The only thing I'd like to see about Mikey is duct tape across his mouth. He got himself a 20 year career by riding DW's coattails. Otherwise there's no "there" there.
Posted by: Barb G | Feb 24, 2007 12:19:26 AM
Mike, AMEN re: your comments on sponsorship. I remember the Powerade bottles on top of the cars in Gatorade Victory Lane.
What was NASCAR thinking?
Oh wait, I know what "NASCAR" was thinking. . .here's another way to get more CASH in our pockets.
That "cash" would have been better spent on a Cup or Busch car that do not have a sponsor. I thought NASCAR was supposed to be helping the owners secure sponsorship. Instead, I believe they are causing them to loose sponsorship.
If things keep going the way they are in the Busch series, it might not be around much longer, which is very sad.
The whole situation with Michael Waltrip is making me nuts. Since the 55 didn't make the race at Fontana, I guess he'll fall even lower. Right back there with Allmendinger, Mayfield and whoever else missed both Daytona and Fontana. There's no way they will ever make the top 35 this year. But that's an entirely different issue that needs to be addressed.
Great post Mike, and love the radio show. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Shirley | Feb 24, 2007 12:29:47 PM
The flap over logos is, I guess, an issue, but the big story for me this weekend is the mini-field for the Busch race. I don't know how many of the entries are owned by Cup teams, but even if it's only 5 or 6, that means that there are only about 34 Busch teams? And what does it mean if Cup owners have Busch teams? Are they Buschwhackers only if Cup guys drive them?
I have no idea what the answer is. How about using ARCA as a 4th level series and run it as a sideshow for Cup, while running truck and Busch together at other tracks? Have the American LeMans or Rolex cars run on Saturdays at courses like California where there's an infield course? Explore more open-wheel support races? Do the economics demand that there be two races every weekend? If not, then run Busch separately and hope for 10,000-20,000 fans. I can see why Cup teams use Busch as a testing ground, but it's going to kill the Busch series.
Posted by: Doug | Feb 24, 2007 4:43:34 PM
nascar wants all the money, and you will play by there rules ,and the rules are made up as they go.when they tell you it is for the fans, LIE.. they care less about the fans.it is who can give them the most money.
Posted by: john holder | Feb 25, 2007 1:13:21 AM
It is not just sunco but Altel they are doing the same to cingular. They wont let the car change because of the same rules that to me amounts to collusion so i think sunco needs to get over it and ignore it.
Posted by: lisa Smith | Feb 25, 2007 11:46:08 PM
OK, three good subjects...
1) The Sunoco-Shell thing can only be explained as lawyers at work. What kind of marketing exec goes into a red alert seeing the Shell logo on TV? Sometimes I'm really grateful for my perspective.
2) The Busch Series problem is bigger than people realize. This is NASCAR's future. Where are the development drivers coming from? Anyone who shows any promise in the Busch series is rushed to Cup, and young drivers fighting to get there have to race against seasoned veterans rather than driver that are at their level.
The Buschwhacker situation is unfair to smaller teams...and why does NASCAR automatically assume that that's the way to put butts in the seats? What's wrong with promoting up-and-coming stars? Minor league baseball doesn't do too badly.
3) Michael has to race backwards for three laps, then get out and spin on his head. The spreadsheet NASCAR uses doesn't work any other way.
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Feb 26, 2007 9:57:51 PM
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