February is upon us and that only means one thing: the 51st running of the Daytona 500 is upon us.
The Bud Shootout, Coors Pole Day, and the Gatorade 150's all help appetize the fans hunger for 43 roaring cars going 200 laps at the Daytona Speedway. In the past, excitement has filled the air as drivers, crews and fans gear up for the biggest race week of the season.
As a new season is upon us, excitement has been replaced with uncertainty as the US economy has taken a big bite into the sport. Mergers between teams have been made and jobs have been cut, leaving some drivers looking for another ride. Sponsors have dropped out of sponsoring teams, and getting a race sold out is like pulling teeth. It's the reality that we as Americans face: a rough economy mixed in with less jobs and even less money.
If there is any light at the end of this long tunnel, it's the simple fact that sports help take us away from our daily worries. Nascar is no different; 2009 will be a defining year for Nascar because if the sport can brave this tough weather, then there will be green pastures on the other side.
With that it's now time to look at the 2009 season and the changes we as fans are going to have to get used to.
1. Who is Driving for Who?
If you are new to the sport, you have nothing to worry about, welcome. Unfortunately for those who have been longtime fans of their favorite drivers, chances are you could be buying new merchandise. The silly season is a tradition in Nascar, but this off-season has without a doubt been the silliest. Here is a list of the drivers who have new teams and sponsors:
No. 07: Casey Mears (Jack Daniels)
No. 8: Aric Almorola (Sponsor TBA)
No. 12: David Stremme (Alltel)
No. 13: Max Papis (Geico)
No. 14: Tony Stewart (Old Spice/Office Depot)
No. 15: Marc Davis (BobCat/Howard University)
No. 20: Joey Lagano (Home Depot/Farm Bureau)
No. 33: Clint Bowyer (General Mills)
No. 36: Scott Riggs (Sponsor TBA)
No. 39: Ryan Newman (US Army)
No. 43: Reed Sorenson (Multiple Sponsors)
No. 44: AJ Allendinger (Multiple Sponsors)
No. 47: Marcos Ambrose(Little Debbie/Clorox/Kingsford)
No. 78: Regan Smith (Furniture Row)
No. 82: Scott Speed (Red Bull)
No. 96: Bobby Labonte (Ask.com)
No. 98: Paul Menard(Menards)
2. Purge the Urge to Merge.
Never before in the sport of Nascar have so many teams decided to join forces to help cut costs and improve their organizations. Petty Enterprises joined forces with Gillette-Evernham, DEI teamed up with Ganassi Motorsports, and Robert Yates Racing recently agreed to team with Hall of Fame Racing. What does this all mean? It means that the practice of owning a single car team is close to being dead.
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