Bittersweet Day for NASCAR at Homestead

Today in Florida, there will most likely be the crowning of a new NASCAR champion, Jimmie Johnson. If he indeed wins, he could get his third consecutive championship, tying the record of Cale Yarborough.

Yet, in the midst of all that celebration, there are rumors of wide-spread layoffs in the NASCAR community due to the hard economic times.

I can only guess on the numbers of layoffs, but I'm sure we will know by Monday morning.

NASCAR is a unique sport in as it involves everyone in the success of the team.  Everyone from the tire changer to the crew chief has a big hand on making a team successful.

Imagine if you are on Jimmie Johnson's team or if you are a crew member in a top 10 team and your boss tells you he has a need to fire you. I honestly don't think I have the manly things to stand in front an employee after winning a championship or coming close to one and say, "Sorry pal I have to let you go, especially after the driver and owners probably walked away with millions.

I know I'm probably not sounding like I'm being fair to drivers and owners  but hey, don't criticize me, we all have  something in common, we are just working men and women.

Good luck to all those folks and God bless you.

 UPDATE: quote from an article written   by Dusting Long .

"116 were let go at DEI after its merger with Chip Ganassi Racing this week. 70 lost their jobs at Chip Ganassi earlier this year when it shut down the 40 car of Dario Franchitti. A dozen or so have already lost jobs at Hendrick Motorsports, Jr. Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing. Layoffs also have taken place at Bill Davis Racing and Roush Fenway Racing.  Then there were layoffs at BAM Racing, which started the season before fading away. Furniture Row Racing is going to a partial schedule next year and that will cost jobs. And on and on it goes.

People are describing tomorrow as "Black Monday'' as the day when many more layoffs will take place throughout NASCAR from Cup to Nationwide and Truck teams. Estimates put the total losing their jobs at around 1,000. That's small compared to what is going on nationally, but again, it's a sign of the times and a troubling time that NASCAR has not faced in years. Some suggest this is the toughest period for NASCAR since the gas shortage in the 70s or even when the automakers pulled out before then." end of quote.