Forbes: NASCAR’s Most Valuable Teams

Forbes Magazine released their list of NASCAR’s Most Valuable Teams yesterday.  According to their report, average team values are up 65% over the last two years and Hendrick Motorsports is now the most valuable team over Roush Fenway.  I think the top three teams on the list are no real shock, but I was surprised that they listed Evernham Motorsports as being more valuable then Richard Childress Racing.  I guess maybe they are worth more with George Gillett’s investment in the team.

Even though NASCAR claims that it is second to only the NFL in this country, the team valuations compared to other sports are quite different.  Forbes estimates the Dallas Cowboys as the most valuable sports franchise at around $1.5 billion.  The MLB’s most valuable team, the New York Yankees, are worth in the $1.3 billion range, with the NBA’s most valuable being the New York Knicks at $604 million.  One of the biggest reasons behind the difference between NASCAR teams and other sports teams is that those leagues share revenues (TV rights, merchandise, etc.)  between the teams, and NASCAR does not.

The other point to note here is the difference between the number one team, and the number fifteen team on the list.  The gap between Hendrick and Robby Gordon Motorsports is an estimated $307 million.  - Insert “David vs. Goliath” comparison here. - 

With the growth that continues within the sport, it is no wonder that many Private Equity firms have gotten involved (see Boston Ventures invests in Petty) and that more are sniffing around.  The days of the small, single car, single owner team are now ancient history.

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