You know in a lot of neighborhoods how there is that one street that’s just different from the others. It’s not necessarily a bad street, it’s just different. The yards aren’t kept up and there are big oil stains in the driveways. Well the garage throughout all of NASCAR’s national series are a lot like that neighborhood.
At most tracks the infield garage is two sided. The stalls in the garage and position of the haulers is set-up based on owner points. Obviously the first place team gets the first position, close to one of the ends of the garage and so on and so on. Sometimes there is a benefit to this other times there isn’t.
Because of this though, the better funded teams almost always end up on one side of the garage, while the lesser funded teams are on the other side; the start and parks are always over there. Now this isn’t always the case (about the funded teams), for instance the #98/17 Roush Nationwide team resides on the “other” side because of their limited schedule.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about the other side of the garage, it’s just a different world (right around the corner). Certainly the talent isn’t any less over there, but the money isn’t generally so great.
There is such a clear financial difference between the two sides that many have even come up with nicknames for it. In the interest of not offending anyone, I’ll refrain from repeating them (think negative stereotypes about poor people; don’t worry though it’s usually the guys on that side of the garage who think up the names). This is where you find the teams with the trailer behind the Ford F-350, the really old, wide open Featherlite trailers and the toterhomes. In the Nationwide Series one of the teams even has those plastic strips that you find on industrial refrigerators hanging on the back of the trailer to keep the air conditioning in. Mind you air conditioning for a lot of these teams is a luxury they don’t have.
At tracks without garages these guys usually end up out in the cold. Take Martinsville as an example: there aren’t enough stalls for everyone so these teams end up working under tents in limited space. Guess what happens when it rains? They and all their stuff get wet.
Unfortunately, as in life, things like this are one of the downsides to not having a lot of money. While it may not outwardly seem like a big deal, sometimes it is.
Related posts:
- Watkins Glen Garage Chatter
- Updated: Your Favorite Team and a Funded Driver (or John Wes Townley)
- NASCAR Needs to be in Iowa
- Wait, JR Motorsports Wants to Run The #7 Full-Time?
- Roush’s Continued Developmental Commitment
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on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 am
I was in the garage at Pocono this weekend and noticed the differences between the various teams on each side. The activity level and sense of urgency was certainly greater with those teams higher in points, as was the interest from fans and the media. Not that teams on the other side weren’t hard at work, they certainly were, it’s just that the added pressure for the teams in the Chase or trying to get in the Chase was evident. I also noticed that even the start and park teams were working on their cars which perhaps was just for show I suppose. It was also interesting seeing the #88 team be so low in points that they were almost on the other side – of course there’s always interest in Junior but seemed like it was less this season than I’ve seen in the past.
One team that jumped out at me and not in a good way was the #7 team. I’m not sure if it was just because Robby doesn’t have a sponsor this weekend or what but I didn’t get a good feeling watching them. I noticed that they seemed down on resources, more like one of the teams out of the top 35, which I guess is to be expected given that they’re a one-car team that doesn’t have full sponsorship. I know Robby has said they’re fine without complete sponsorship but seems to me if he’s going to achieve more success he’s going to need some more $$.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 7:51 am
Top teams looking for talent, whether it be driving or wrenching, need to look in these trenches under those tents. Budget racers learn how to adjust to conditions, while the chosen simply bolt on new stuff and don’t really ever learn what it takes to transform an ill handling race car into a contender.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Sadly, there are several large tracks that do not have secondary garages for both series competing during the weekend show. So at places like Pocono or Michigan the ARCA/Truck and sometimes NNS series work under a tent, have to chase down water spigots to fill their cool down units and nearly come to blows over electrical outlets.
Seems to me that many of these tracks could afford a couple hundred thousand in concrete, red iron, conduit and tin. However, fewer resources do tend to bring out the most creative and resiliant in the garage.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I don’t feel that there is any disadvantage to having the “other side” of the garage. In fact, maybe it helps inspire drivers by putting a ‘chip’ on their shoulders.