Catchfence

Teams Recognize Value of Support and Prepare to Adjust

Huntersville, N.C. (June 24, 2009) – Continuing news of automakers scaling back support in motorsports has race teams re-evaluating how they operate. Teams at all levels are learning about cutbacks in areas ranging from financial assistance to factory-supplied parts.

Bobby Labonte, John Andretti and Eddie D’Hondt offer their perspective on the value of automaker support in their sport:

Bobby Labonte

“Obviously, the relationship between NASCAR teams and auto manufacturers is huge. I want people to buy a Ford every day because it’s going to help us out.

“I don’t know, sponsorship dollars and other commitments might decrease in the short term, but the manufacturers who are in the sport want to stay in the sport. They all see the positives. And a big reason they are in the sport is because it helps sell cars. So it’s reciprocal. You could say we depend on each other.”

John Andretti

“Manufacturer support helps teams in many different ways. Some of it is technical, some is financial. It’s a pretty broad range. The manufacturers help these teams out for a lot of reasons. It’s not all about brand awareness or loyalty, some of it is a technical exercise. They develop concepts that can go into street cars for future use. I think when manufacturers start reducing their support, there’s reason for concern, but I think it’s more of a short-term sabbatical. Like any business, it’s about restructuring. I think they’ll find a way to return because it’s beneficial for both sides.

“If there’s a silver lining, by reducing manufacturer support to the top teams, it will bring the back of the field closer to the front. Not too significantly, but it will lessen the gap. The Sprint Cup Series is already extremely competitive and this will squeeze everyone a little closer together.”

Eddie D'Hondt

“Financial support from a manufacturer is figured into a team’s budget. It’s just like sponsorship money. It’s a fairly good size chunk of change. That comes in addition to technical support, sheet metal and other subsidies. So, everyone that’s been supported by a manufacturer is definitely going to be affected when they pull back.

“The upper-echelon teams tend to get a little more help, so they’ll probably feel the hurt even more so. The teams with bigger budgets are definitely going to have to cut back. I’m sure they’re going to have to make some changes to work within their new parameters.

“I think you’ll see the same racing and similar performance, but they’ll have to achieve it with fewer specialty people. You might see Cup teams start following more of a Nationwide Series team model, having fewer people that do a larger variety of jobs. It’ll be kind of like a football team having a third-down pass rush defense. You’ll have fewer specialists and more people that are well-rounded. “

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