Filed under: Motorsports, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Toyota
NASCAR to implement a no-testing policy for 2009
With the domestic auto industry hurting like never before, most analysts expect budgets for motorsports activities to drop dramatically in the coming few months. This slowdown of funds will surely impact NASCAR, which sees participation from each of the Detroit 3 along with Toyota. Despite being one of the most visible racing organizations in the United States, it's also one of the most expensive for teams to operate, with some estimates pegging a single day's worth of track testing at over $100,000 per car. Large teams can expect to save a few million bucks per year in expenses due to the new policy.
Just a few months back, however, NASCAR teams were pushing for more testing sessions at more tracks, and officials had proposed a new plan that would have increased testing sessions to 24 per year. That tactic would have increased the amount of money that teams and sponsors would need to spend by a substantial figure. Although we're not big NASCAR watchers, we tend to think that the change could actually benefit the series, since it could level the playing field and make for better racing. We'll see if we're right in just a few months.
[Source: NASCAR]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
RedLineTire 4:15PM (11/15/2008)
Uh, you need to fix your headline.
They haven't banned testing, only testing at tracks where they race during the season.
They're free to test at any track that doesn't host major NASCAR events. But anything else is fair game.
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TDogg! 4:55PM (11/15/2008)
Nascar sucks
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Tai 5:06PM (11/15/2008)
No testing....wow I can't see what could go wrong here.......
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Kitko 5:14PM (11/15/2008)
I'm wondering - does Toyota have enough pre-historic carbureted OHV engines to supply all teams on the grid in 2009....?
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Ian 6:25PM (11/15/2008)
You realize they all use the same motors for the most part right?
Rick 10:59PM (11/15/2008)
That's what I was thinking. Don't they have enough data to not test a carb used for the last half century? And it's an engine, as in, designed by engineers.
bduddy 3:06AM (11/16/2008)
Not really, Ian. The engine is the one part that differs substantially between manufacturers.
dukeisduke 5:50PM (11/15/2008)
Did somebody wake up Brian France? He thought everything was hunky-dory just last week. He's an idiot.
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Stan Man 6:23PM (11/15/2008)
+ 1
Add F1 to that list also.
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RLQ 6:29PM (11/15/2008)
I like to see how the Big 3 is going to affect NASCAR in '09.
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Metar 8:15AM (11/16/2008)
No testing to level the field? No. No testing means every team will have a bit of a gamble as to "what's right to do", and the ones that are right can and will dominate.
It's just like people who think that next year's stricter F1 regs are going to level the field. No, it'll spread it apart since teams have no idea where the others are at, or what's the best path to take - you just can't beat four years of barely-changed regulations.
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fixitfixitstop 12:15PM (11/16/2008)
I wonder how much NASCAR costs manufacturers in general, and that's mostly because it doesn't really sell that many cars anymore.
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ephatch02 1:33AM (11/17/2008)
The Testing ban is for all nascar regional and Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide and Truck series tracks. Teams will have to try hard to skirt the rules. Rockingham is a possibility but Richmond or Iowa speedway would be the only similar track that you would set up for. As far as a mile and half track they are screwed and far as by the nascar rule bulletin I have gotten. This is a big cost savings to the teams, I have talked to several drivers and they are all for the rule change in the nascar sereies.
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