Originally Posted by ARCA91:
After NASCAR tried to clean up their image and do their best to eliminate the Start and Parkers by slashing the 37-43rd prize from a cool $71,000 down to a mere $48,002, we saw the huge 50+ entry lists shrink to a pitiful 43 each week. #95 Leavine Fenton Racing replaced fast, but very expensive Qualifier Scott Speed, with happy go lucky inexpensive drivers such as Scott Riggs, Reed Sorenson, and Blake Koch. The expensive new Gen 6 car also eliminated gung-ho owners such as Larry Gunselman and Kirk Shelmerdine. $18,300 is the exact cost of attempting a Sprint Cup race at the extreme minimum. According to Larry Gunselman, this includes the $3,000 non-refundable entry fee, tires at $1,800 per set, crew hotel, crew rental cars, food, and a $2,000 diesel bills for the hauler.
Tommy Baldwin even admitted to saving tire bills and running more of an extended Start and Park team where they run to exactly halfway inside a race, then claim a Vibration, using the code words 'Check the guages'. Both TBR cars ran an extended S&P in Martinsville in late 2012 and to exactly Lap 250 in the race.
With the new Gen 6 now being 'old' and teams recycling their old Gen 6 cars in place of high-tech, tricked out Gen 6 cars, we are beginning to see these S&P teams reappear. The MSRP #66 is now fielding a part time car for Jeff Burton using a MWR racecar. Morgan Sherphard and Dave Blaney have also thrown their hats into the ring. Joe Nemechek has renamed his team and merged with 5 different owners, #32 Fas Lane raced merged with the #79 of Go Green Racing, Swan Racing expanded to two cars with the help of rapper, 50 cent. Brian Keselowski's #92 even returns to collect some nice dollars.
ARCA
It never fails. As soon as an organization or for that matter a country make a rule or law to make things less expensive for its people the costs of whatever they was going to fix doubles. Makes the cost on them ARCA cars go up too when the used ones are refurbished and not sold off.
It is kinda of neat to see them NASCAR teams send their "Developmental" (under funded) Drivers down to ARCA with their high priced race cars and teams to take lessons from Frank Kimmel and still have him beat them regularly. Frank is also a Jurneyman Driver who found he could make a very good living just outside of the limelite of NASCAR.
Honest Dad himself
