Jack Attack! Five Car Teams Gone After ‘06
Written by George Katinger · November 12, 2005
Sorry Jack Roush, beginning next year no team owner will be allowed to field more than four cars, except you. And after 2009, you’ll have to release a sponsor, fire a driver, and disband a team. The price of excellence can never be underestimated, especially if you compete in the WWF on wheels.
motorsport.com: 2006 competition policies announced
speedtv.com: France, Helton Defend Team Caps
sportingnews.com: Roush isn’t just bigger, it’s smarter
autoracing.tbo.com: Roush: Cap Singles Him Out
sports.espn.go.com: New four-car cap infuriates Roush Racing
Yeah, I know I’m a bit behind the curve in getting on this story, but what the hell, better late than not at all, right? Anyway, I can understand NASCAR’s concern over the potential of big teams dominating the sport. Look at some of the statistics over the last year.
From the ESPN posting:
Roush has won the past two championships with Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch and he got all five of his drivers into the Chase.
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8 Responses to “Jack Attack! Five Car Teams Gone After ‘06”
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You’re not “late” George, in fact the post is the first of it’s kind among the many racing blogs I read. (but only because I haven’t spit mine out as yet)
Here are a couple of stats on the other side of the fence:
From 1990 to 1995, only 7 percent of all entries were from multicar teams. This proportion grew to 38 percent from 2000 to 2004.
Yet as multicar teams became more prominent, the outcome of races has become more balanced. During the past five years, no driver has repeated as the top earner or the points champion. From 1990 to 1994, there was an average of 12 different winners a season; from 2000 to ‘04, there was an average of 17 different winners a season. And I believe this years count sits at 14 or 15 different winners.
But stats are the venue of choice for liars and fools in many cases.
Although you have hit the nail it is slightly off the mark.
One point missed, if multi-car teams are allowed to continue the obvious and possible end result would be say, 5-6 owners controlling 25-30 cars in the 43 car field.
For my money I could care less as long as the racing is competitive, BUT it isn’t. It’s Brian’s cash and that much power in the hands of a few owners is a serious threat to the France cabal of the ISC, NASCAR, food vending, 12 tracks owned and 4 others with financial stakes. And a giant slice, if not all, of the souvenir cash as well.
Besides all that, just what has he done? Nothing is the correct answer.
His edict affected one team, maybe. In the unlikely event Jack signs all his sponsors and drivers past ‘09 the new limit has no affect.
France did address the “affiliation” angle but screwed that up as well. The rule states an owner can’t have a fifth team as an affiliate IF that team provides any profit to the parent owner.
Well Gee, that’s not to hard to get around is it? In fact Joe Nemecheks deal with Hendrick for engines has that setup now.
To be honest I think France had no idea what backlash would result when he floated his trial balloon in early Oct. Now he has done a rethink, refused to back down entirely, and put out a new rule that is toothless.
A toothless rule? If it were toothless would Jack be bitching so loudly? I don’t think so!
It should be an interesting off season, with Roush continuing to cry over his unwarranted attention from Daytona and all the teams concerns of the new car design, the one they can’t afford to build.
I completley disagree with this rule. NASCAR is a free entreprise and Roush has worked hard to get where he is today.
But, this new rule will prevent NASCAR becoming similar to F1. F1 is controlled by a hand full of teams. If they decide they want to leave F1, they can do it. They basically control the series. NASCAR doesn’t want to loose their series. What if Hendrick and Roush decided they didn’t like one of NASCAR’s rules? That would leave NASCAR empty handed. Bad rule, but it does bring some benefits.
THAT SUCKS! JACK ROUSCH
AND HIS TEAM DESERVE ALL THE CREDIT FOR GETTING
5 CARS IN THE CHASE. THAT
IS PROBABLY WHY THEY ARE
RESTRICTING THE NUMBER OF
TEAMS. OR WAS IT BECAUSE IT DIDN’T ALLOW ROOM FOR
JEFF AND/OR JR? WELL THEY
HAD LESS THAN STELLAR YEARS AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER YOU ARE
JEFF GORDON, OR DALE JR.
OR THE NY YANKEES, MONTREAL CANADIENS, OR THE BOSTON CELTICS. SOONER OR LATER, IF YOU DON’T WIN, YOU SPEND 6 MONTHS PLAYING GOLF! I’M
SURE THAT AT SOME POINT,
JACKS LUCK WILL CHANGE.
REMEMBER ROGER PENSKE AT
INDY IN 1995. AFTER
WINNING 7 INDY 500′S IN
11 YEARS, HIS CARS COULDN’T EVEN MAKE THE
SHOW, NOT EVEN WITH 2
TIME WINNERS DRIVING.
NASCAR HAS SPENT THE LAST
3 YEARS FIXING SOMETHING THAT WASN’T BROKEN. OBVIOUSLY, THEY AREN’T DONE YET. PLEASE STOP!
Steve… oh Steve it’s bad form and poor blog etiquette to use all caps.
Thank you.
Yes George, toothless. When a tiger bites you bleed, when a toothless tiger bites you bruise.
Roush has hardly been touched and Hendrick’s fifth team with T. Labonte was a part-time deal anyway and won’t be around in ‘09.
Just what “bite” does it have, none that I see.
Maybe I need to read the stories a little closer, because I don’t see any relief for the “Cat in the hat” under the edict as described.
The bigger implication is that Daytona has set four car limits, but that’s just for now. If more four car teams start to show up you can bet your butt that they will reduce it to three real quick!
Ultimately you can’t blame them for wanting to keep control of their business, it’s just a damn shame they have no leadership or vision to be proactive, they can only react and piss the fans off like Steve and myself.
More “tiger” with less “bite?”
Virginia Pilot newspaper is reporting another loophole to sooth the savage beast Roush:
” NASCAR president Mike Helton said organizations will be allowed a fifth team provided that the driver is a rookie and competes in a limited number of races to be set by series officials.”
The end result if Roush were smart, and we know he is, he says goodby to the TV Gong Show.
His fifth teams becomes a live action GS with up to 7 rookie drivers, 5 events each for the entire year.
I agree, somewhat, that the four car limit may be “for now,” and as Roush and Hendrick continue to win even after the edict goes into effect it may be reduced to three.
But, that is a BIG but.
Sure, absolutely - more Jack Roush - sponsorship with Crown Royal, then can his driver for having a drink.
Roush whiners whining that Kennseth has to “share” equipment and that’s why he didn’t get his second championship this year.
Let’s give him SIX teams. Oh, that’s right, (I forgot) - he already has a Yates in the box.
LOL!