Tony Stewart today will formally announce his plans to retire after the '16 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, and that move combined with Jeff Gordon's departure after the '15 campaign means this generation’s "star power drain has begun," according to Jeff Gluck of USA TODAY. Other top names "aren’t getting any younger" -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. turns 41 next month, Jimmie Johnson is 40, Kevin Harvick turns 40 in December and Matt Kenseth is 43. In all, six of the top nine active drivers on the all-time wins list "could be gone" by '20. The new NASCAR "will feature battles between drivers like Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch," but none of those drivers "currently enjoy the fan following of a Stewart, Gordon or Earnhardt." It also "doesn't seem like many drivers coming up through the ranks have the charisma or personality to fill those shoes." The spotlight "will increase on the remaining drivers, to be sure, with NASCAR’s powerful marketing efforts behind them." Gluck: "But will fans be as interested and loyal to the sport without drivers they spent 15 or 20 years following?" (USA TODAY, 9/30). In Charlotte, Tom Sorensen writes it is "difficult to imagine a driver who's anything like Stewart." Sorensen: "When he walks into a room, you know it. When he drives onto a track, you know it, too. NASCAR’s popularity took a hit when drivers who appear to be working class, drivers who just want to race, began to disappear. They’ve lost one more" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/30).
FRANCHISE TAG: NASCAR yesterday revealed that it has held a meeting with Sprint Cup Series team owners to "talk about the future of ownership in the sport." While NASCAR's statement "didn't use the word franchise or any of its derivatives, it was clear that the sport did discuss a franchising model or something resembling one." The discussions are "likely part of the goal of the Race Team Alliance, which consists of all the major Sprint Cup Series teams." The RTA has said that "one of its main goals is to help create a better and more efficient business model for teams" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/29). FS1’s Jeff Hammond said, "I’d love to see franchising come into the sport. I’ve been around a long time, I’ve watched a lot of foundation owners put their life basically into this sport and not really get anything out of it when they decided to step away from it. I think it’s a great opportunity for these owners to maybe finally get something and to give them some value for their teams.” Richard Petty Motorsports Dir of Research & Development Drew Blickensderfer said, “There are a lot of times when guys are getting older and they retire from the sport, or owners don't have sons or family members to pass it on to. ... This is going to give an opportunity for there to be some value. So generations that don't want to be in the sport, they have some value for their team” (“NASCAR Race Hub,” FS1, 9/29).
PARTY IN THE POCONOS: In Philadelphia, Bill Fleischman confirms earlier reports that Pocono Raceway "will host a NASCAR Xfinity Series race next year." The Xfinity race "will be part of a busy June 3-5 weekend schedule at Pocono: Xfinity and ARCA series races are scheduled for Saturday, June 4, with the Sprint Cup race Sunday." Pocono President & CEO Brandon Igdalsky "described the Xfinity race as 'a great natural fit,' since Xfinity is owned by the Philadelphia-based Comcast" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 9/30).
