The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is seeing its teams "battle financial challenges while facing questions about a schedule that has veered from its grassroots beginning," according to Dustin Long of NBCSPORTS.com. Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski, who owns a team in the Truck Series, said that his truck operation lost $1M in '14. But he noted that figure is "still the average for his organization." Red Horse Racing, which ran in the Truck Series for 13 years, "suspended operations May 22 after struggling to find sponsorship." Driver Kyle Busch said that it costs $3.2M to "run a full-season Truck team," and he has to "put some of his own money into the operation." But Keselowski said that the cost is closer to $4.5M to "run a full-season Truck team." Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick, whose Truck Series team folded years ago, recently suggested on his SiriusXM NASCAR Radio show that the series "run at more short tracks -- as it did in its early years -- to help NASCAR reconnect with grassroots racing fans and give the series a stronger identity." However, if NASCAR "went to some smaller tracks, it might have to lower sanctioning fees and that could mean a smaller purse for teams." Busch: "If we make less money, you’re digging our grave, so the sanctioning agreements can’t be for any less money, that’s for sure. We actually need them to be for more." Keselowski said that with more short tracks, engines are "not as great a factor and money can be saved there." Also, more short tracks would "make aero development less important and that might be another area to save money" (NBCSPORTS.com, 6/2).
WHEN IS IT MY TURN? In Delaware, Martin Frank writes at the Cup Series level, the "future of NASCAR is still stuck behind the established veterans." There "desperately needs to be a changing of the guard." Some of the sport's most popular drivers have "retired in the past few years, such as Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, and Tony Stewart." There are new drivers coming up, but many are "still looking to make their mark," such as 24-year-old Kyle Larson. Frank notes "all of this is happening in the context of dwindling television ratings and attendance" (Wilmington NEWS JOURNAL, 6/5).
