Surprised it Didn’t Happen Sooner

GM cutting support for Nationwide, Truck teams

General Motors is cutting factory support for Chevrolet teams competing in the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series as the automaker restructures under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to a story that will appear in Friday’s edition of SportsBusiness Journal.

This is a sad day; the trucks have provided the best pure racing in NASCAR’s Touring Series, in my opinion. The Nationwide Series has been in trouble for years; NASCAR has been unsure how to promote them; the result has been that the usual Sprint Cup suspects have turned Nationwide into a training camp.

Lack of support will doubtless kill off the trucks before long; the Nationwide Series will morph to the Sprint Cup Junior Varsity team even more.

Maybe it’s time for localization; I’ve watched cars sponsored by local diners and barber shops race on dirt tracks in small towns. And it was great. Pack the cooler, the wife and kids, and go to the local dirt track.

I’ve heard it said that the production of the first car was a remarkable event; somebody produced the second car, and they raced.

Factory backing or not, the racing will go on. And I’ll be there to watch.

-k-