Top Row Seat - Closing Up Shop
Dateline: 12/01/98In the few short weeks since the 1998 Winston Cup Season ended there have been some big names in the sport forced to lock their doors. In this age of million dollar contracts and $100,000 engines it doesn't matter what history you bring to a team, or how famous your name is in the sport, if you aren't producing winning numbers on the race track then it is very hard to produce winning numbers in your bank account.
My Personal Hero
In the middle of these rampant team closings stands one of the most famous names in NASCAR. Cale Yarborough was forced to let his team go and lock the doors behind them a couple of weeks ago. Although recent rumors have him still working on tracking down a sponsor for 1999 it doesn't look good for the #98 for the 1999 season.
Another Sponsor Struggle
The #7 car is also experiencing sponsor woes. Phillips is pulling out of Winston Cup leaving Geoff Bodine and Mattei Motorsports scrambling to find some financial backing for 1999. This team is still working hard towards Daytona, but if the dollars don't appear from somewhere Geoff Bodine may not have a ride through the season.
Somebody Help!
The decade of the 90's has seen unbelievable growth in NASCAR Winston Cup racing. However the price to be paid here is that the little guys are just not able to compete. Considering the fact that Bobby Labonte and Ricky Rudd were the only single car teams able to win a race in all of 1998, the small teams just don't have a chance anymore.
NASCAR needs to remember it's roots. Give something back to these guys who have given everything to help make the sport great. This sport started on the back roads of the carolinas, and on the beach at Daytona where you would drive your race car to the track, race, and then drive home. We need to support the guys who help to ground this sport in reality.
Anybody got a few million to help out a legend?
