Tuesday NASCAR Tidbits: Is GM Pulling Out?

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August 5, 9:25 AM

by Greg Engle, NASCAR Examiner

 

 

GM’s NASCAR Sponsorship Faces An Uncertain Future

The cuts announced by General Motors recently will not be limited to jobs and factories—they also will extend to marketing, event sponsorships and, perhaps even NASCAR.

“While we are committed to maintaining adequate resources to support launch products and brand advertising, we will implement significant reductions in promotional and event budgets, motor sports activities and back-office expenses,” CEO Rick Wagoner told employees, adding that these cuts are expected to save GM $2.5 billion by the end of next year.

Speaking to reporters after Wagoner’s speech, GM North American president Troy Clarke said the company is taking a hard look at its support of activities like the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s annual show in Las Vegas.

“We’ve got 20 hotrods at the SEMA show,” he said. “Certainly, that’s an important segment of the market, but do we lose something if we only had 10, or five or three?”

Clarke wouldn’t rule out taking a second look at GM’s support of NASCAR. Asked about that, he said only that the company was not prepared to discuss it at this time.

Shortly after the announcement some of the NASCAR teams GM sponsors were on the telephone trying to find out how the cuts might affect them, said Jan Thomas, who handles communications for Chevy Racing. “Everyone understands the market that we are in,” she said. “We don’t have any specifics. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

Rebecca Lindland, an industry analyst with Global Insight, said it makes sense for GM to reconsider everything, given the significant financial challenges facing the company. But she said such moves are a gamble.

“It’s a risky move to cut back on NASCAR. It’s less risky to cut back on SEMA. It’s a sexy show for the industry, but does it bring people into the showroom? That’s what they need to look at,” she said. “They need to quantify it and focus on where they can really see tangible benefits.”

Jarit Johnson Gets Help From Big Brother at Pocono

Jarit Johnson got some help from his older brother two time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie as he made his ARCA debut at Pocono over the weekend.

The younger Johnson, a regular late model competitor at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina started off the weekend under tough circumstances when the engine in his Chevy let go on his very first practice lap.

The team scrambled to make an engine change prior to qualifying. Jimmie Johnson and several crewmembers came over from the Sprint Cup garage to lend a hand.

 "I can't thank the crew guys enough for getting the car back together that fast," said Jarit. "Jimmie came over and was helping us out in his race suit and so were some Hendrick crew guys. They were preparing for their own qualifying run, which was coming up right after mine. They had much more important things to do, so I really am humbled that they would all help us out like they did."

In the end, the team had literally less than one-minute to spare before ARCA officials would have eliminated the team from qualifying.

Jarit qualified 27th, older brother Jimmie won the Sprint Cup pole later in the afternoon.

Johnson had to start the ARCA race at the end of the field, in 41st, for aborting his original qualifying order. During the race he overcame a flat tire and a broken suspension. Despite losing four laps and finishing 29th, Johnson  was satisfied with the results.

"It wasn't the finish I think we were capable of," said Johnson. "It was just one of those race weekends where things went wrong and we were chasing our tail from the start. But I really liked the track and we were able to get into the race after all that happened and finish it out without any damage."

Johnson had just a one-race deal with Fox Motorsports, a local Pennsylvania team. He hopes to continue in the ARCA Series in 2009.

"We have some things in the works and hopefully we can get with a team for a full 2009 run in ARCA," said Johnson. "I would love to do it just need to put all the pieces together and it needs to be the right situation."

 Fellows To Drive For DEI at the Glen

Ron Fellows will hopes to continue his winning road course ways this weekend in Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s No. 01 Chevrolet in this weekend's Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International.

Fellows, who won last weekends NAPA Auto Parts 200 Nationwide Series race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve that he will replace regular driver Regan Smith the No. 01 entry. The team sits 32nd in the Cup owners standings, 87 points ahead of the 36th-place team of Michael McDowell.

Fellows an accomplished road racer who has five NASACR national series races at the Glen. Smith is entered in the DEI No. 81, giving the organization five cars in the race.

Fellows may also race the No. 5 JR Motorsports Nationwide car at the Glen, although a final decision may not be made until late in the week.
 

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