GM cuts support to its Nationwide, Truck series teams

June 13, 6:46 PMSports Business ExaminerJosh Lobdell

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KHI is lsoing GM support for both its Truck and Nationwide Series teams Getty Images 

General Motors has followed its Detroit rivals, Ford Motor Company and Dodge, in cutting off its financial support to it NASCAR teams that operate outside of NASCAR’s premier division the Sprint Cup series.

For the most part this will not significantly change anything in the lower two NASCAR national divisions. For the smaller teams that operate in these series it will not change anything since they do not get any support in the first place. GM was only providing support in the Nationwide series to Kevin Harvick Inc., JR Motor Sports, Richard Childress Racing, and Rusty Wallace Inc.

Most of the manufacturer support in these series was in offsetting the cost of engine programs. While that is significant, the loss of Gm support should not adversely affect the racing NASCAR fans see week to week.
However, it should be noted when Ford cut off its support for these series prior to the 2009 season its premier team, Roush Fenway Racing, cut its lineup in both series rather significantly.

RFR went from three full time Truck series teams in 2009 to just one in 2009. In the Nationwide Series RFR had three full time entries and another part time car; in 2009 RFR has just three full time cars that are running the complete schedule with a rotation of cup drivers and developmental drivers.

This is key since only cars in the Nationwide series who attempt all the races are guaranteed staring spots in they are in the top 30 in nationwide Series owner’s points.

KHI will be the team most affected by the loss of GM support since they run multiple teams in both series. However KHI has proven itself quite capable of signing new sponsors week and week out. Even if they are only one race of few race deal KHI has a strong sales department that will be bale to make up the loss of GM financial support.

That is the real story here, each team will have to rearrange internally how the team is structured and their sales departments will have to work a little harder to get additional sponsors.

For the trucks series teams this may be a little easier since they are the only National NASCAR racing series who have seen a significant increase in their TV ratings. Those strong ratings are due in large part to a suburb pre race, and race broadcast by the folks over at Speed TV.

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