Danica Patrick to NASCAR…Hendrick Motorsports?
Rumors are running rampant that Danica Patrick is going to jump from IndyCar to NASCAR. Is this a negotiating tactic with Andretti Green Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing? Or is she seriously considering a move to stock car racing. One must wonder why the poster child of IndyCar Racing would take the risk and make a move to NASCAR, which undisputedly, is crumbling as I speak. I can image NASCAR dangling HUGE financial incentives and prepackage endorsements, but why take the risk?
Survival of the Fittest? – NASCAR Teams Look to Consolidation
The global credit crisis may be slowing the M&A markets of Corporate America, however, mergers and acquisitions remain all the buzz in NASCAR. Back in July, I wrote Team Consolidation on the Horizon and it appears more likely than ever that Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) led by Robert Kauffman will acquire [...]
NASCAR Sponsorships’ Unraveling
Two brands and two industries synonymous with NASCAR – Coors Light (Coors Brewing) and Texaco Havoline (Chevron) have in subsequent years cut ties with Chip Ganassi Racing and ultimately vacated NASCAR team sponsorship. The association and sponsorship of these two industries – Beer and Gasoline/Oil companies with NASCAR have by far the greatest value proposition; [...]
Team Consolidation on the Horizon
Robert Kauffman is the billionaire hedge fund manager from Fortress Investment Group who last year purchased and secured control of Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) looks now to be leading a movement of NASCAR Sprint Cup Team Owners to survive through consolidation. Personal friendships may even play a significant part in the boardroom discussions. The [...]
The Reality of an IndyCar Champion
2007 Indy 500 Champion – Check, 2007 IndyCar Championship – Check, Superstar Actress Wife - Check, NASCAR Sponsor – Only in his Dreams.
In 2007 Dario Franchitti was one of the most accomplished drivers in American motorsports. When he moved from IndyCar (IRL) to NASCAR in 2008 he was full of hopes and dreams for [...]
NASCAR Silly Season 2008
Last year, undoubtedly was the most dramatic year for racing fans in NASCAR Silly Season history with Dale Jr. moving from Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) to Hendrick Motorsports. But this year may prove to be the most crucial for team owners, as sponsors and drivers play musical chairs as they navigate through the myriad of [...]
The State of NASCAR Sponsorship Programs
10 years ago, if I told a NASCAR fan that Robert Yates Racing would lose all of their sponsors and be on the verge of going out of business and becoming another “defunct” team, every single fan would have said “you must be out of your mind.”
But fast forward to 2008 and so called “super [...]
