Car owners in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series will be
allowed to field only four teams under a new policy issued by NASCAR
on Thursday, hoping to curb the advantage that has been afforded the
big-money, multi-car teams that have dominated the series.
Under the new ownership policy, which goes into effect next season,
owners will only be allowed to have four teams, which will extend to
“owners and any affiliate group” racing under the same banner.
Only one owner, Jack Roush, owns more than four teams. All five of
his entries qualified for the Chase For The Nextel Cup, which many
see as the primary reason for NASCAR’s decision to change it’s
policy.
Team owner Rick Hendrick also owns four teams, plus a part-time team
for driver Terry Labonte.
With the new policy, teams such as Roush Racing’s no. 17 DeWalt
team, owned by Mark Martin, and Hendrick Motorsports no. 48 Lowe’s
team, owned by Jeff Gordon, would count against the four-car cap.
No one is sure yet if Roush or Hendrick will be forced to drop one
to four teams prior to next season, however in their statement,
NASCAR said it will “work with groups that control more than four
cars to establish a reasonable timeline for compliance” to the new
rules.
Rumors had begun circulating shortly after the Chase began in
September that NASCAR might limit the number of teams. NASCAR
Chairman Brian France said last month the sanctioning body was
looking into such a plan.
In response, Roush Racing issued a statement in mid-October
defending multi-car operations.
In a seven-point statement, Roush Racing claimed that “multi-car
teams have not reduced the number of teams entering NASCAR
competition.”
“There is no crisis,” the statement went on to say. “No significant
business value can be achieved through the operation of a single
team in today’s NASCAR world.”
Apparently, NASCAR disagreed.
France said the new steps are a continuation of NASCAR’s pro-growth,
pro-competition philosophy.
“The cap, the new testing procedure and the tire leasing program are
in the best interest for the future of the sport,” said France.
“The cap, the new testing procedure and the tire leasing program are
in the best interest for the future of the sport,” said France.
Roush Racing had no statement in response to Thursday’s
announcement, but other car owners praised the new rules.
“I think it will be good for the sport,” said team owner Richard
Childress. “Personally, I could never have gotten into the sport --
the way it is today – like I did when I got in as a driver-car owner
many years ago.”
“There needs to be a cap,” said Felix Sabates. “I think it’s the
best thing that’s happened in a long time.”
NASCAR also issued new rules concerning track testing procedures,
with NASCAR setting a schedule for when and where track tests are to
be held. These will be the only opportunities teams will have to
test.
There will be six test locations that include Lowe’s Motor Speedway,
Daytona International Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Richmond
International Raceway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Indianapolis
Motor Speedway.
The author can be contacted
petem@autoracing1.com
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