It seems many drivers have taken that to heart, leaving current situations for much greener pastures.
Ryan Newman, who has been with Penske Racing South for his entire NASCAR career, announced late last month that he will be leaving PRS and joining Tony Stewart in the newly formed Stewart Haas Racing in 2009.
Newman has been very vocal in his disappointment in the performance of the Penske Dodges. Other than having one win in at the 2009 Daytona 500 in February, he only has two top fives and eight top 10's this season coming into Richmond this weekend.
Car manufacturers are struggling just as much.
With dropping sales across the nation America's big three automakers are struggling to keep up with foreign manufacturers who can provide better fuel mileage and better quality.
With this concern, manufacturers in NASCAR are reviewing their involvement in the sport and how much money they are fiscally able to contribute.
While NASCAR executives are not worried, they are cautious and are keeping an eye on that situation. They have strong relationships with these manufacturers and keeping them happy is important to the health of the sport.
Drivers are not the only ones feeling the pinch in these tough economic times.
Fans, the heart and soul of this sport, are staying home and watching the races on TV instead of spending the money on tickets, gas, food, and souvenirs.
With the races having less and less action after a drop of the green flag this year, staying at home allows fans to turn off the TV and tune back in with 50 to go and not waste their time, and more importantly their money, at the track.
With fans staying home, that means sponsors are losing big business at the track. If fans don't show up, who is going to buy their product?
We are their number one client, NASCAR is a brand loyal sport. For example, I only drink Pepsi products and, yes, I use DuPont products.
To an average person I sound insane. But I am brand loyal to my driver Jeff Gordon and without people like me, sponsors lose big money with empty seats.
Even the drivers are cutting back when it comes to the personal side of racing, private jets are not sitting fueled and ready to fly drivers back and forth throughout a cup weekend.
Fewer employees flying with the teams to races cuts back on hotel, rental cars, and overall cost.
Only time will tell what the overall impact of this down economy will have on this sport. But like all things, it will get better.
Will it mean smaller organizations becoming nonexistent, or will it mean tracks lowering ticket prices to accommodate the struggling race fan?
But hard core fans will be there, either on the couch watching the race or sitting in the stands, instead of attending multiple races a year they will cut back to maybe one or two. They will buy their favorite team's driver apparel and gear. Just not as much of it and not at the track where it can cost twice as much.
So the fans will be there, it's just a matter of will the sponsors.
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