There is a new NASCAR evolving and the traditional factory involvement will be a casualty.
When Carl Kiekhaefer decided to blitz Big Bill France's series in the 1950s he threatened to change the way anyone who wanted to win in NASCAR had to operate. With Buck Baker, Speedy Thompson and others plus a fleet of big bad Chryslers, Kiekhaefer's team steamrolled the series until France' rules manipulations ran him out of the sport.
Junior Johnson gets most of the credit for starting the multi-car team trend in the modern era when he paired Darrell Waltrip with Cale Yarborough.
The last time single car team won a Cup race was in 2003 when Ricky Craven got a win for Cal Wells' PPI Motorsports at Darlington.
The big teams kept getting bigger and when Roush Racing looked to be adding a sixth car, NASCAR did what NASCAR does and changed the rules. The France's enacted the four car maximum car count per team.
That rule caused two things to happen. The first was the realization that any organization that was serious about winning races and championships in the new NASCAR, would have to have four teams. The wannabes have been maneuvering to get to the magic number.
The second reality is that any organization that simply wants to play in the France's sand box, needs an ally. Enter the era of the super teams.
I don't remember when, exactly, I first heard the term satellite team. It wasn't that long ago, though.
Hendrick Motorsports, certainly one of the super teams, made news last week when Rick Hendrick said that he didn't have room on his team for super free agent Dale Earnhardt Jr., but could help him with engines and cars if Junior wanted to go on his own. Hendrick offered Earnhardt satellite status.
Four teams alone does not a super team make. Hendrick Motorsports has all of the ingredients in place.
- Four strong well and fully sponsored teams with top drivers.
- Control of the technology - engines, chassis, wind tunnel and R & D - that their own teams need and that can be exported to satellite teams.
- The assets and the willingness to employ them to take maximum advantage of the rule book. Just look at today's stories on the way the big teams skirt the testing rules. Marc has it.
In the end, I think you could end up with as few as six or seven such organizations. Right now, Roush Racing, Everinham Motorsports and Hendrick qualify. I also put Toyota Racing Development in the super team class. It turns out that Jack Roush is probably right about Toyota and it's racing style and commitment. They will be the source of the success of their teams. In reality, all Toyota teams may be satellites.
Who are the other possible super teams?
The Dale Earnhardt Inc./Richard Childress Racing joint engine program could help grow that group.
Chip Ganassi and Penske Racing are the Dodge strongmen and could certainly pull it off if they have the want to. I believe Joe Gibbs Racing is headed toward super team status.
That's it. All of the other players will be satellites of one of the monsters. They'll win an occasional race, but no championships.
Not until NASCAR changes the rules again, that is.
Comments