Kyle Petty did something this weekend that no one else in the sport has had the gall to do. He called out the super-teams that have become mega-teams. From Roush Fenway Racing to Richard Childress Racing this movement to mergers and equipment sharing in order to bypass NASCAR rules is becoming increasingly routine in the sport.
Roush Fenway Racing and Yates Racing are the best example of this move to side step NASCAR rules. While they seemingly operate as two separate organizations, the reality is something completely different. Yates Racing is now co-owned by Doug Yates and Max Jones. Jones, if you are not familiar, is Jack Roush’s right hand man. As part of the deal that brought in Max Jones, the team moved out of their Mooresville, NC facility (where Petty Enterprises is now located) to a less nice shop on the property of Roush Fenway Racing. Needless to say this team is basically a subsidiary of Roush Fenway, whether they will admit that or not. There is no way the teams could have continued running unfunded under just Yates.
Petty suggested the engine deal between Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. also created one of these mega-teams. This case is not quite as clear as the Roush case. While Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies does share information and work to further the performance of both teams, they operate as completely separate entities and they also sell engines to other teams. For instance I know of at least one truck series team who uses the motors. This is what Gillett Evernham Motorsports does with Robby Gordon Motorsports.
Hendrick Motorsports also does a similar thing, but certainly has the potential to operate a Roush like endeavor should they choose. The Nationwide Series teams are part JR Motorsports employees, part Hendrick Motorsports employees. JR Motorsportscould be used in a Yates like capacity. As far as the Stewart-Haas deal turning Hendrick into a six car program, I would say selling motors is not the same as buying a second team merely as a shelter.
In the end, where there is a rule, teams will find a way to get around it. This is true of performance rules and non-performance rules. The policy meant to clamp down on Roush has had wide-ranging affects across the sport. NASCAR got themselves into this situation and the cost may be the destruction of smaller organizations. So I ask, when do “two teams” really become just one?
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on Sep 9th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Did anyone notice Jimmy Johnson referring to Tony Stewart “as my teammate next year”?
It was during one of the interviews after Richmond.
on Sep 9th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Ha!! Thank you Robert!!! And I thought I was having heat stroke or something and only imagined I heard it!!
on Sep 9th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Hey Guys, thanks for pointing that out. This is the first I have heard of Jimmie saying that. Bizarre.
on Sep 9th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
The first two words of this article should tell you everything about the content: “Kyle Petty.” While I agree that Kyle has done some amazing things off the track (His camp and other charity work), he has done very little on the track in his entire career. The only reason he is even still in NASCAR is because of the Family name. His comments sound like sour grapes because Petty Enterprises has not been able to keep up with the other owners in the garage.
on Sep 10th, 2008 at 6:38 am
It’s not just Kyle Petty that is still in NASCAR because of his family name. Over the years there have been many drivers riding the coat tails of their famous name. If his last name were not Mears would Casey really still be around? He has done absolutely nothing in NASCAR, but he still gets top rides, the name sells. Michael Waltrip is another, if her were not Darryl’s little brother he would have been sent packing in the 80’s