Automakers' Bankruptcy Force NASCAR to Seek Other Options

From the beginning NASCAR has seen its share of automakers come and go.

AMC, Hudson, MG, Pontiac and Oldsmobile are just a sampling of nameplates etched in NASCAR lore.

Detroit has been good to NASCAR, and NASCAR has been good for Detroit.

That was then, this is now.

GM, General Motors, is the parent company of Chevrolet.

Chrysler and GM, two of the four automotive staples of NASCAR, have both filed for protection under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy laws.

Bankruptcy: The most feared word in corporate America.

What impact, if any, will this have on NASCAR, its dependence on factory support, and most of all, the teams that race for these manufacturers?

In a press conference held at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Brian France stated that Chrysler was current on its obligations with NASCAR. At the time of this press conference, GM had not yet filed for protection.

It is estimated that General Motors puts at least $120 million dollars a year into NASCAR. Chrysler cannot be far behind this number.

With a big chunk of factory support about to be taken away, NASCAR is forced to look at other options.

Sources close to the situation have said German car maker Mercedes is at the top of the short list.

Mercedes, known for its high priced luxury cars, also makes cars under another brand name, Smart.

Smart cars have been roaming European streets for about 10 years now. Smart cars have just recently started being sold in the US and Canada.

Sometime in the past week, under a cloak of secrecy, the first Smart cars were delivered to NASCAR’s research and development center located in Concord, North Carolina.

I have enclosed exclusive pictures of the first Smart cars. It is not yet known which teams will switch to Smart, but Rusty Wallace has always said "hey, guys have to be Smart out there." 

Could this statement be a glimpse of the future of NASCAR?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon were the first Smart cars to roll out in the top secret project.

A prototype Smart hauler was captured pulling away from the Hendrick Motorsports compound.

Kurt Busch absolutely needs a Smart car, but it is unclear if a Smart car could do anything different for Kyle Busch.

Tony Stewart has his doubts about the new Smart car already. Seems the back seat will have to be removed so Stewart can fit into the new design.

This picture of Rusty Wallace's new Smart helicopter is proof that some of NASCAR's top supporters are already on board with the new project.