Planning for future of NASCAR
Age of team ownership is a growing concern
What is it about NASCAR that Jimmie Johnson, the winner of 83 races and a record-tying seven Monster Energy Cup Series championships, finds “scary”?
No, not the 200-mph speeds. Not racing 2 inches from other drivers in Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway (Fox, 3:30 p.m. ET).
It’s the danger represented by another number: 76.6.
That’s the average age of the eight team owners fielding almost half the maximum Cup Series lineup of 40 cars. Combined, they won 29 of last season’s 36 races.
Rick Hendrick (drivers Johnson, Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, William Byron) and Barney Visser (Martin Truex Jr.) are 68. Richard Childress (Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman), 72. Jack Roush (Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.), 75. Joe Gibbs (Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez), 77. Richard Petty (Darrell Wallace Jr.), 80. Roger Penske (Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney), 81. Glen Wood (Paul Menard), 92.
“None of them will officially retire because they’re workaholics,” Johnson said. “But age is up there for all of them. ... We have a generation of car owners that could all retire or stop racing at the same time. That’s scary.”
The issue is gaining traction at a slippery time in NASCAR’s 70-year history. With the retirements in recent years of stars Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards, NASCAR is in a race with other forms of entertainment to make its next generation of drivers household names. Byron is
20. Jones, 21. Elliott, 22. Bowman, Blaney and Wallace, 24. Kyle Larson, 2017’s breakout sensation with four wins, is
25. None are yet ticket-selling celebrities such as Earnhardt and Gordon.
Some teams have struggled to remain financially viable as the $20 million annual corporate sponsorships of the
mid-1990s to 2000s have suffered from declining TV and at-track audiences.
Team Penske (Ford): The champion sports car racer-turned-billionaire retail automotive and truck leasing entrepreneur has translated on-track wins to business success. Penske said sons Roger Jr. and Greg “are very interested” in participating in the team’s future.
“In my business we look at succession every year,” Penske explained during an interview in January. “I’ve had to spend the majority of my time the last 10 to 15 years building a business. What I’ve been able to do is build a team of people, headed by Tim, and we have key guys in every one of the disciplines (series). ... As long as it’s economically feasible, we’re going to stay.”
Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet): The management structure was reorganized last year under Hendrick’s son-inlaw, Marshall Carlson, who is team president. “I think our deal is in good shape for the future,” Hendrick said.
Richard Childress Racing (Chevy): Childress went from small-budget driver-owner to fielding the car for six of Dale Earnhardt’s seven championships. After several lean seasons, Childress had two wins last year, and grandson Dillon won last month’s Daytona 500. Dillon’s father, Mike, is a team executive and his mother, Tina (Childress’ daughter), manages her dad’s winery.
Wood Brothers (Ford): Their family tree essentially covers the history of NASCAR. Glen, a winning driver, founded the team in 1950. He and brother Leonard are in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Leonard and three other brothers invented quick, choreographed pit stops. Glen’s children Eddie, Len and Kim now co-own the team with their father. “It’s very important to our family to be a part of this sport,” Len said.
Roush Fenway Racing (Ford): Roush admitted last year, “I can’t do what I’m doing today for another 10 years.” His partner is Boston Red Sox principal John Henry, and Roush said that affiliation with Fenway Sports Group gives the team “plenty of depth. As long as ... we’re able to make a viable business out of it, I’m sure the people that will follow me and will manage the affairs after my passing, they will look favorably on the involvement.”
Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota): The Super Bowl-winning coach’s plans took a blow three years ago when son J.D., officially team co-chairman, began treatment for “symptoms impacting areas of brain function.” Another son, Coy, is vice chairman and chief operating officer. Their intent is to keep the team “in the Gibbs family, hopefully for generations.”
Furniture Row Racing (Toyota): Owner Barney Visser had bypass surgery in November after a heart attack and was unable to attend the season-finale where Truex clinched the championship. Visser is back at the tracks this year.
Richard Petty Motorsports (Chevy): Petty, who retired in 1992 with a record 200 wins, might be in the most tenuous position.
At times, the team has appeared to be on the brink of closing. RPM moved into a much smaller shop last winter, cut back to one (not fully sponsored) entry and negotiated an arrangement to get cars and engines from Childress.
NASCAR is engaged to an unprecedented extent on strengthening teams’ financial health to pave the way for the next generation of family members.
“I don’t want to minimize the need to pay attention to that (age), NASCAR vice chairman Mike Helton said. “Our reliance on having healthy teams is paramount. ... These teams are maturing correctly. They’re sustainable models that will keep those organizations’ doors open. It’s on us to make sure all the elements are right for them to be able to do that.”
ISM Raceway President Bryan Sperber is among those pondering what will happen. “Those are big shoes to fill,” he said.