NASCAR’s Statements Require a Willing Suspension of Disbelief
RE: NASCAR Says: Sport looks strong heading into 2009
Quoting the former Presidential Candidate and Senator Hillary Clinton, NASCAR statements on Friday truly requires a “willing suspension of disbelief” if they want us to think the “sport looks strong heading into 2009.”
Nothing could be further from the truth and it pains me to see the sport I love destroyed by in-action and failure to comprehend the gravity of the economic times. The Big 3 automakers are on the cusp of bankruptcy, unless President Bush provides an immediate multi-billion dollar bridge loan from the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP). Without the Big 3 – the NASCAR economy will rapidly contract and a large percentage of teams will be added to list of defunct organizations. And with that – NASCAR thinks the sport is “strong” – but in reality – teams are dissolving faster than Kyle Busch racked up victories in the beginning of 2009; and without competitive teams – NASCAR is heading for a death spiral.
Without sweeping changes to the fundamental way NASCAR operates – the long term future is bleak. In comparison to Formula 1, following the announcement of Honda to close their F1 Racing operations, the FIA, the sanctioning body of Formula 1 racing, immediately acted with the support of their constructors (teams) to implement meaningful cost cutting measures for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Formula 1 Cost Reduction Plan
This type of leadership and decisive action may curb future team closures and ensure the viability of the sport. Contrasting the bold leadership of FIA and F1 to NASCAR’s failure to address their challenges is cause for great concern. NASCAR’s value proposition for automakers and corporate sponsors is decreasing rapidly and they must act not only to increase their value proposition; but act to immediately cut costs and increase teams’ participation in the television revenues.
Without describing my complete cost reduction plans, the key areas that MUST immediately be changed by NASCAR are the following:
• Length of the race weekends – two day shows instead of three days at the track
• Reduction of race team members allowed at the track
• Elimination of credentials and “hard card” for necessary race team personnel
• Limitation of number of sets of tires available for use per race weekend
• Elimination of track testing at non-sanctioned race tracks
• Limitations of wind tunnel testing for aerodynamic development
As always, I offer my opinion to strengthen the sport and help ensure its long term viability.
Cost-Cutting at GM Racing – NASCAR a Branding Problem?
The day is fast approaching when the automotive manufacturers are going to reign in their motorsports budgets to reflect the current state of the automotive industry. The fundamental issue with NASCAR as a branding tool for the car companies is that it fails to demonstrate the future product portfolio and demands for “green” vehicles.
Even though financial uncertainty for the Big 3 car companies is really nothing new – surging fuel prices have disproportionally affected the U.S. carmakers vs. their foreign counterparts. This is because of their reliance on profits from the sale of light-trucks and SUVs. In May, GM saw a 37% decline in light truck and SUV sales; and subsequently its share of the overall U.S. market dropped below 20%, a new low for the automotive giant that in 1980 had 45% of the U.S. market.
Over the past couple of years, as the trends of high fuel prices and the decrease in light truck and SUV sales became a reality – NASCAR adopted rules and policies to further alienate the automotive manufacturers from the sport. Instead of embracing alternative energy branding or a “green” platform – the recent implementation Car of Tomorrow (COT) – is nothing more than an antiquated “led sled” and continues a branding platform that labels the U.S. carmakers as gas guzzlers.
Some may ask, but isn’t racing and “green” technology or fuel efficiency an immediate dichotomy? The simple answer is NO – at least it doesn’t need to be.
I am the last person to believe that Ethanol fuel is the answer to our energy crisis or believe it will be the long-term solution for consumers and carmakers alike. However; one must recognize the success of Honda and their racing program in the Indy Racing League (IRL) – the IndyCar Series.
Back in 2006, the Indy Racing League (IRL) and IndyCar Series adopted the use of Ethanol fuel instead of traditional gasoline to provide Honda (their sole engine provider and automotive manufacturer) a marketing platform to appeal to the growing consumer demographic interested in alternative energy sources and “green” technology. When you compare recent sales results of Honda versus GM, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota – you must see the correlation between their brand positioning and the motorsports platform of the IndyCar Series. As of May 2008, Honda is now selling more cars than Chrysler.
Last week, GM racing director Mark Kent said that every level of motorsports that GM supports-from the giant stock-car racing series NASCAR to the grassroots Sports Car Club of America-is being evaluated. “Racing is not exempt (from cuts),” Kent said last week. Troy Clarke, president of GM North America, added: Motorsports “have not gone without scrutiny. I’m not going to get into specifics about NASCAR. But there will be modifications-changes in our marketing footprint-in this area.”
You must wonder – why is NASCAR asleep at the wheel? Over the past decade, NASCAR has developed a phenomenal market platform for all types of companies – but without the financial and marketing support of the carmakers – NASCAR teams can’t afford to operate.
The time is now for NASCAR to embrace tomorrow’s future – alternative energy and fuel efficiency branding is required for the long-term viability of the sport as a marketing platform for the automotive manufacturers.