GM cuts back in NASCAB

[dando]

And so the dominoes begin to fall....

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=4253684


BROOKLYN, Mich. -- General Motors is planning to cut back on its support of NASCAR teams in all of the sanctioning body's professional series.

Chevrolet spokesman Terry Rhadigan says GM, which is reorganizing through bankruptcy, is discussing what he described as incremental cutbacks in support. He says cuts will be made soon and that the discussions are "indeed NASCAR-wide."

-Kevin

[Methanolandbrats]

There will be a spec motor for cabs with badged valve covers before long.

[TKGAngel]

Richard Petty Motorsports already let staff go and rolled back salaries after the Dodge bankruptcy filing.

Problem is NASCAR comes out of "marketing" budgets. The marketing numbers Dodge and GM submitted to the gub'mint were lower than their current marketing budgets, and the gub'mint gave them even less than what they were asking for.

NASCAR had to have known this day was coming.

[Sean Malone]

I never really understood manufacture involvement in today's NASCAR anyway. I was under the impression that the engines blocks are molded by third party race shops with the heads coming raw from the manufactures and then prepped by the teams or something like that. I think all the cars use the same or similar transmission's like jerico's etc and they all use 9 inch Ford rear ends with race shop gears. As for other 'monies', race signage/sponsorship? When Dodge re-entered four or five years ago I believe the only real investment was from their dealer network, not Detroit itself (and it was basically just for their title sponsorship of some cookie cutter race that I don't know if they still do or not).

[KLang]

The government can send them some TARP money. :\

[Methanolandbrats]

I never really understood manufacture involvement in today's NASCAR anyway. I was under the impression that the engines blocks are molded by third party race shops with the heads coming raw from the manufactures and then prepped by the teams or something like that. I think all the cars use the same or similar transmission's like jerico's etc and they all use 9 inch Ford rear ends with race shop gears. As for other 'monies', race signage/sponsorship? When Dodge re-entered four or five years ago I believe the only real investment was from their dealer network, not Detroit itself (and it was basically just for their title sponsorship of some cookie cutter race that I don't know if they still do or not). Hilljacks and cousin bangers are still into the Ford vs Chevy vs Jap thing. Cab demographics and all that :gomer:

[pchall]

There will be a spec motor for cabs with badged valve covers before long.

They're really not too far from that already:

Dodge

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/nascar-engine.jpg

TRD

http://z.hubpages.com/u/399884_f260.jpg

Chevy

http://z.hubpages.com/u/399896_f260.jpg

NASCAR controls the design of these engines from the 4bbl carb, down the intake runners, through the valves and heads, the block, and the sump.

[oddlycalm]

Doesn't matter because it's "motorsports entertainment" with all the focus on the drivers. In NASCAR the cars are props like folding chairs at a pro wrestling event. :thumdown:

oc