A Domestic to leave NASCAR?

[BigAls87Z28]

http://www.autoextremist.com/page3.shtml

If you read it, and know a little bit about the Big 3, the company is quite obvious.

Thinking The Unthinkable.

Detroit. It has come to our attention that serious discussions are taking place for the first time in the conference rooms of one domestic manufacturer in particular on a subject heretofore unthinkable in Detroit. The subject? Pulling out of NASCAR. Yes, it has been mentioned before, and I have predicted it for months now - ever since the announcement was made that Toyota would be buying its way into the France family circus - but we have confirmation that not only are the discussions taking place, they're so far down the road that a timetable for a pullout has been created, taking into account the end dates of existing contracts with individual racing teams currently aligned with this particular manufacturer.

The fact that it has finally come to this is no real surprise. Several years ago, we pieced together evidence that each of the Detroit-based car companies were spending in the neighborhood of $140 million each, annually, on their NASCAR endeavors. That figure accounts for engineering and wind-tunnel work, direct payments to the teams, personal services contracts with the drivers, promotional programs, race sponsorships, advertising, etc., etc. In the Big Picture of things, when multinational companies are spending double that amount for the "privilege" of competing in Formula 1, that would seem like no big deal, but taking into account the factors that matter most to the Detroit car companies right now, that dollar figure is a very big deal.

And what are those factors? Beyond the obvious pressures being generated by Detroit's dire financial straits, one thing in particular is driving these "pulling out of NASCAR" discussions to critical levels - and that is NASCAR's full-on push and investment in its much-hyped "Car of Tomorrow." The COT is NASCAR's new "spec" car, and it takes NASCAR's template philosophy to its logical conclusions. The COT could easily be called a "NASCAR Special" or whatever the marketing name that the hype-masters in Daytona Beach will want to call it, because any connection to what the manufacturers are producing has been well and truly broken. I contend, of course, that the connection was broken long ago, but the Detroit manufacturers have been clinging to a shred of a connection and amusing themselves with the annual massaging of their various models' grille openings, nose shapes and headlight decals.

Until now, anyway.

Now, the realization has finally sunk in for one manufacturer, apparently, and taking everything into account and putting everything on the table, there's no longer the blind allegiance to NASCAR at this company, which is a seismic shift if you know anything about this town's slavish devotion to all things NASCAR on and off for the last 50 years.
NASCAR has been living large off the Detroit car companies' cash trough for so long now that they don't even care anymore, as all sense of reality left the NASCAR offices in Daytona Beach and New York long ago. The NASCAR attitude goes something like this: If a Detroit manufacturer drops out, it's "whatever" - because Toyota is stepping up to the plate. And if another manufacturer drops out, no worries, because eventually we'll just market our own NASCAR "Specials" and then we won't have to pay any manufacturer rights fees ever again.

But for one particular Detroit manufacturer it's no longer "whatever" - and messing with the sanctity of the NASCAR budget is no longer unthinkable - it's very real, very calculated and very imminent.

This Detroit manufacturer has decided that if it competes in motorsports in the future, it will only compete in three basic areas: 1. In production-based racing series that by rule and specification retain more than a passing resemblance to the cars they sell and the competitors they compete against in showrooms. 2. "Technical" efforts, in other words, engine programs for open-wheel and prototype racing series, but stopping short of Formula 1. And 3. Developing an effort to compete for the overall victory at Le Mans. Any other efforts, grass-roots racing, drag racing, etc., would be covered as the need and budget allow.

This particular manufacturer has finally come to the stark realization that their NASCAR involvement has done more for NASCAR than anything else. NASCAR exists for its benefit and profitability first and foremost - everything else is secondary to that fundamental premise. The relentless hype of NASCAR and its sponsors by NASCAR itself and its enablers at the TV networks has resulted in dramatically diminished returns for the participating manufacturers - and pretending that NASCAR's popularity has done wonders for these car companies in the showrooms amounts to the Big Lie. The fact of the matter is that the increase in the popularity of NASCAR over the last ten years has seen a corresponding decrease in the participating domestic manufacturers sales fortunes. And there's not one NASCAR-sponsored survey that can possibly suggest otherwise, no matter how hard they try to "cook" the numbers.

Immersed in a battle for the hearts and minds of American consumers, this manufacturer has finally taken the blinders off and decided that the blind devotion to all things NASCAR has run its course and now must come to a stop.

In other words, the $140 million that was previously earmarked for NASCAR, will be put to very good use.

Stay tuned, because we'll have more on this story in the coming weeks.

The ONLY company out of those 3 that are really into the 3 bold listings is GM.
#1- GM has the CTS-VR and C6-R as well as they have the GTO-R. All near production design, and not shells with sticker headlights. GM also backs Grand Am Cobalt SS's, along with GTO and soon-to-be Solstice Formula D Drifting cars.
#2- Pontiac had great success in the Rolex 24 hrs races with its prototype racing using the almighty LSX motors against Lexus and Porsche, winning most of the races in that season. GM has also been in and out of open-wheel racing for some time.
#3- C5-R and C6-R have seen massive success, and win year in and year out. But GM does not have am LMP1 car, the group of cars that ususaly take 1st place overall at LeMans. As for other racing series, as stated above GM is getting into drifting and smaller racing series. They also support drag racing Ecotecs that are doing great in FWD classes.

Ford and Chrysler have shown little to no interest in any of the factory backed cars. Ford has a Mustang GT in Grand Am racing, and there are some Vipers running around with minimal support from Chrysler. Ford and Chrysler both put new cars into NASCAR, the Charger and the Fusion, while GM only has the Monte Carlo left, a car living on borrowed time. Ending production of the MC would end GM's connection with NASCAR.
GMPD not only builds factory race cars, but builds and races real race cars.
There does not seem to be any support from PVO, and SVT is all but dead.

[Mike]

its not unprecidented...... plymouth left, dodge left for a while, pontiac left

and like you said at the end al, maybe they are planning to pull the mc out so that they can come back with a bang with a new vehicle......

[Scorched SS]

While dropping out of NASCAR may seem like a bad idea, I see only good things coming from this - im a big fan of SCCA & ALMS - the more factory backing for these cars, the more spotlight the racing series' get.

Now bring back TRANS AM - the REAL Trans Am - camaro, mustang, GTO, challenger - and we'll see the second coming of road racing in the states!

[turbo96z28]

seeing as the MC is soon to be no more, and GM will soon be in the process of transfering funds into new vehicles, it seems pretty obvious for them to bow out of NASCAR.


at least they can go out being the winningest manufacturer in NASCAR.



looks like Toyota will get some quality drivers when they join in.

[NJSPEEDER]

GM has been out of nascar before, actually out of pretty much all racing for a while.
it is nice to see that companies are realizing that production based racing is what helps sell cars on monday. i woudl be happy to see the big 3 get back into the grass roots of it.
chrysler did great things in the 90's with the ACR program, but didn't promote it very well. it pains me to say this, but the neon ACR was the only car in history to win catagories at pikes peak, IDRC and NOPI drag racing, NHRA national events, SCCA pro rally, and at the SCCA run offs all in the same year. all that with a car that could maintain 30mpg, was always at least 2 years ahead of federal safety regulations and only went for about $20k equiped.

[79CamaroDiva]

while i was reading this, all i could think about was the "mustang" that john force drives. I know, none of the funny cars look like their production cars, but that's what popped in my head.

[johnjzjz]

than why did nascar who had to know this was coming spend 50 million dollars on the properity on Staten Island to build a brand new track and making deals all this week with the people who will build it might be a ploy to devalue some stock GM just dont get it to fat to long jz

[BonzoHansen]

I do not remember seeing a GM or Ford race car at the NYIAS. That might narrow th efield.

Camry in NASCAR? Geez. Bring back Trans Am racing!

[BigAls87Z28]

Caddy had its CTS-VR race car on display. Last year, they had the C6-R and Z06.

[NJSPEEDER]

Originally Posted by johnjzjz

than why did nascar who had to know this was coming spend 50 million dollars on the properity on Staten Island to build a brand new track and making deals all this week with the people who will build it

a manufacturer leaving the top division doesn't spell the end for nascar. i am sure we will still see GM bodies and power plants in nascar and busch for years to come since they are already proven successful and are already so plentiful.
international speedway corporation(a company owned by the same France family that owns nascar) are the people building the race track.
this will also have no effect on GM's stock, if anything it will make it more attractive. for the millions that it costs to be involved with a single team in nascar they can now be invovled with entire grassroots series. this means a broader appeal and higher visibility for the promotional dollar.

[1972LT1]

F@*k GM. Let them concentrate on cars most people can't afford. Good choice once again to the morons at GM. What's next for Detroit"s retards? factory donks? Way to go guys. Hey I know ....lets build a few more proyotypes of cars to say "look what we can do" and then never build the cars(ie. Holden Effijy,Corvette Indy,Stingray3,Buick Wildcat, Pontiac Banshee)

[johnjzjz]

Originally Posted by NJSPEEDER

a manufacturer leaving the top division doesn't spell the end for nascar. i am sure we will still see GM bodies and power plants in nascar and busch for years to come since they are already proven successful and are already so plentiful.
international speedway corporation(a company owned by the same France family that owns nascar) are the people building the race track.
this will also have no effect on GM's stock, if anything it will make it more attractive. for the millions that it costs to be involved with a single team in nascar they can now be invovled with entire grassroots series. this means a broader appeal and higher visibility for the promotional dollar.

UNLESS YOU ARE AN INSIDER YOU CAN NEVER GUESS WHAT IS PLAYING OUT IN THEIR WORLD JUST THOUGHT THE FIRST QUESTION WAS KIND OF FUNNY KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON FIRST HAND WITH THE JOB ON STATEN ISLAND JZ

[11 Bravo]

Originally Posted by johnjzjz

KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON FIRST HAND WITH THE JOB ON STATEN ISLAND

Spill the beans, bro. Don't leave me hanging

[johnjzjz]

they are giving out the contracts on the construction meetings are going on last and this week and bidding and all that is long over its going forward billions before its done the area is completly cleared and the city gave the go ahead jz

btw -- 67n20 101st ABN 68 / 69

[NJSPEEDER]

Originally Posted by johnjzjz

UNLESS YOU ARE AN INSIDER YOU CAN NEVER GUESS WHAT IS PLAYING OUT IN THEIR WORLD JUST THOUGHT THE FIRST QUESTION WAS KIND OF FUNNY KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON FIRST HAND WITH THE JOB ON STATEN ISLAND JZ

what inside info do i need?

ISC has been very open about their development plans in the northeast. staten island was not the only option they have persued in this region. facilities in the meadowlands and atlantic city areas have already proven to not be economically viable. staten island was the only spot that worked for this type of project.

only thing i would like to find out about is if the possible infield road course that is rumored to be associated with the banked oval will happen. if you know anything about that please let us know.

[johnjzjz]

have not seen any actual plans of all of what is going on but if i get a copy will let you know or even pix as its happening jz

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Caddy had its CTS-VR race car on display. Last year, they had the C6-R and Z06.

I meant no nascar cup cars on display.

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by 1972LT1

F@*k GM. Let them concentrate on cars most people can't afford. Good choice once again to the morons at GM. What's next for Detroit"s retards? factory donks? Way to go guys. Hey I know ....lets build a few more proyotypes of cars to say "look what we can do" and then never build the cars(ie. Holden Effijy,Corvette Indy,Stingray3,Buick Wildcat, Pontiac Banshee)

WHAT!!! So GM sucks now because they make concept cars?!?! BWHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! Let me guess whats next...that GM never builds any of its concept cars?
The cars that people cant afford are the cars people WANT. No one drools over a Chevy Aveo, but they will sure hump the **** out of a Z06.
No one's heart races for a Fiat Panda, but I bet you there isnt a man on earth that wouldnt take a Ferrari.
And lets not forget to cap off this argument with something related to Fbodies, and that GM will never ever build the Camaro, and if they do, it will be in the year 2025.

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

I meant no nascar cup cars on display.

Thank god.

[1972LT1]

What I meant AL was that GM makes cool concept cars then never builds them(unlike Dodge), but they keep putting out garbage SUV's, a wanna be El Camino(ssr) and a wanna be PT Cruiser(hhr). Rather than dicktease us do something...rather than follow everyone else forge new ground. Mabye Chevy shouldn"t be GM's flagship, they were second to Buick, Olds, Pontiac in the 60's and early 70's. might be time for a change.

[11 Bravo]

I've been a NASCAR freak since the early 80's, actually since the first televised daytona 500 in '79 when the scrap broke out on TV, and go to every race down here in Charlotte and Darlington. My last weekend before I move up there will be spent at the Coca Cola 600. But I do not like how NASCAR is changing. I do not mind the expansion, a NYC track would be killer, I actually like the new car "of the future" compared to the junk running now, but I just don't like the whole goody two shoes image thing. Young, polite, no fighting or cussing or you will be docked points or even a suspension, prettyboy with filed down and bleached teeth, waxed eyebrows, $500 haircuts, industry standard wrap around sunglasses, plactic surgery (you would be suprised at how many drivers have it) trophy girlfriend/wife for camara time ect. The race last saturday had a kick ass battle for second place going on during the last lap. But what is on the TV screen? Mrs. bleach blonde Deanna Harvick in an emotional moment before her hubby wins. WTF. I don't like how a 20 year old gets right in a top notch outfit and becomes an instant millionare when he has a yellow stripe on his rear bumper when guys like Ward Burton can even get a decent ride. Most of these guys have private jets by their second season. I was at the All Star race last year when Harvick and Nemecheck wrecked and got out and started fighting in the grass (pic in sig). The crowd went nuts. But NASCAR wants to stop that to keep the clean cut sunday family image. Screw that.

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by 1972LT1

What I meant AL was that GM makes cool concept cars then never builds them(unlike Dodge), but they keep putting out garbage SUV's, a wanna be El Camino(ssr) and a wanna be PT Cruiser(hhr). Rather than dicktease us do something...rather than follow everyone else forge new ground. Mabye Chevy shouldn"t be GM's flagship, they were second to Buick, Olds, Pontiac in the 60's and early 70's. might be time for a change.

Unlike Dodge? Please inform me of a recent Dodge or Chrysler concept that came to life?
The new SUV's are not garbage, in fact they are tops in there class. The SSR was never ment to be an El Camino, it was a hot concept that everyone wanted and begged for, GM made it, and no one wanted it. HHR is not a wana-be, because it beats out the PT in everything.
How about cool concept liek the Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky? How about the ability to bring a 505hp Supercar UNDER 75k? ****** concept I guess. Or a 400hp sports coupe for under 35k? Another dumb move.
I dont understand your logic. Maybe its because im "Mr.GM", but I dont see the same sort of constant roll out of product like GM is doing right now. Again, Im just Mr.GM, and we all know that GM= Crap because they cant offer a 500hp car with twin carbs, 4spd Muncie, 12 bolt rear, stripped out for under 2k.

[turbo96z28]

Originally Posted by 11 Bravo

I've been a NASCAR freak since the early 80's, actually since the first televised daytona 500 in '79 when the scrap broke out on TV, and go to every race down here in Charlotte and Darlington. My last weekend before I move up there will be spent at the Coca Cola 600. But I do not like how NASCAR is changing. I do not mind the expansion, a NYC track would be killer, I actually like the new car "of the future" compared to the junk running now, but I just don't like the whole goody two shoes image thing. Young, polite, no fighting or cussing or you will be docked points or even a suspension, prettyboy with filed down and bleached teeth, waxed eyebrows, $500 haircuts, industry standard wrap around sunglasses, plactic surgery (you would be suprised at how many drivers have it) trophy girlfriend/wife for camara time ect. The race last saturday had a kick ass battle for second place going on during the last lap. But what is on the TV screen? Mrs. bleach blonde Deanna Harvick in an emotional moment before her hubby wins. WTF. I don't like how a 20 year old gets right in a top notch outfit and becomes an instant millionare when he has a yellow stripe on his rear bumper when guys like Ward Burton can even get a decent ride. Most of these guys have private jets by their second season. I was at the All Star race last year when Harvick and Nemecheck wrecked and got out and started fighting in the grass (pic in sig). The crowd went nuts. But NASCAR wants to stop that to keep the clean cut sunday family image. Screw that.

at least i'm not the only one that misses what NASCAR used to up until about the mid-90s.

[Savage_Messiah]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Unlike Dodge? Please inform me of a recent Dodge or Chrysler concept that came to life?

ME 412 FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111111!!!

[Tru2Chevy]

Originally Posted by turbo96z28

at least i'm not the only one that misses what NASCAR used to up until about the mid-90s.

Nope, not at all. I still watch it some, and I keep an eye on the weekly results, but I usually have more interesting things to do on sundays.

I long for the days when they had a 3" spoiler on the front bumper, a 4" spoiler on the trunk, slicks and a cage added to a showroom car. That was stock car racing....

- Justin