DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR’s season-opening event had a much different feel Thursday.
Drivers came to media day with all the typical enthusiasm for the Daytona 500 and the new season. But they ended up fielding more questions about the economic downturn than Jimmie Johnson’s quest for a fourth consecutive championship, Tony Stewart’s new venture as an owner/driver or what could be Mark Martin’s best and last chance at getting a Cup title that has eluded him for nearly three decades.
All those story lines took a back seat to the struggles facing a sponsor-driven sport trying to survive tough economic times.
“We obviously are driven by a lot of corporate sponsors, and our fans are the most loyal out there,” four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon said. “They’re all going to be tested during this time.”
Hundreds of NASCAR employees have been laid off since the end of last season. Several owners merged race teams, others slashed budgets and some even folded shops altogether. Bill Davis Racing, The Wood Brothers and Petty Enterprises had massive layoffs. Even powerhouse teams such as Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Roush Fenway Racing endured cutbacks.
Although more than 50 cars are on the Daytona 500 entry list, the number likely will drop in the weeks following the Feb. 15 opener. Drivers are bracing for the economy to get worse before it gets better, meaning some sponsors could pull out midway through the year.
“Generally the teams, and I know NASCAR, are doing more with less,” NASCAR CEO Brian France said. “Can we do even more? Sacrifice? Sure. I just know that budgets are coming down, layoffs have happened, people are doing more with less. NASCAR is no different.”
Meanwhile, Johnson’s cut finger is “healing well,” and he plans to test several braces on his left hand when Daytona International Speedway opens today for practice.
“Outside of it being a little clumsy and swollen, it’s healing well,” said Johnson, who accidentally sliced his finger with a kitchen knife as he attempted to alter his uniform during last month’s Rolex 24 sports car race.
Footnotes.
Michael Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner who hasn’t won a race since 2003, said he will end his driving career at the end of 2009 if his results don’t improve this season.
• Aaron’s said it will sponsor David Reutimann’s No. 00 Toyota for the entire season.
• Rain forced NHRA officials to postpone the first round of professional qualifying in the season-opening Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.
The Associated Press
