What Will Happen in 2009?
11/10/2008Motorsports 2009 will be different. VERY different.
I've been thinking about some of the economy-caused changes we could/might witness next season.
NASCAR will add 50 miles to every race to give fans more for their money. OR, NASCAR will subtract 50 miles from every race to save money.
The Indianapolis 500 will go back to its traditional 11 a.m. starting time to allow participation by NASCAR drivers. OR, Indy will be on Memorial Day Monday to allow participation by NASCAR drivers.
NASCAR will switch to ethanol to encourage alternative energy sources. OR, put windmills in front of Kenny Wallace and Jimmy Spencer to harness new energy sources.
Contract time for Danica Patrick will launch another round of reports she's headed to NASCAR. OR, ALMS, Formula One, NHRA or World of Outlaws.
Alan Johnson's new Top Fuel and Funny Car team will dominate NHRA and assume the Whit Bazemore-Gary Scelzi role to create controversy. OR, John Force will win his 15th championship and retire.
ALMS will merge with Grand-Am to create one strong U.S. sports car series. OR, not, because that would make too much sense.
NASCAR will drop its four-team maximum rule to encourage increased car counts. OR, no need to bother, since Yates is effectively a Roush Fenway operation and Stewart-Haas will have a robust alliance with Hendrick Motorsports.
Formula One will require engines to come from a single source to reduce team budgets. OR, simply ban champagne and caviar in the hospitality centers.
Tracks with unsold tickets will try to sell them via a Priceline.com "name your own price" system. OR, include a free Dale Jr. cap and T-shirt with each purchase.
Racing on TV will be revolutionized by the bold new approach Versus will try with Indy Cars. OR, the series will fade into a new era of post-reunification obscurity because fans don't get that channel.
NHRA will cancel the two Friday qualifying rounds to help sponsor-challenged teams. OR, reformulate its schedule to add a third qualifying pass on Saturday.
Speedways will go to local dealerships for pace cars as factory deals end. OR, NASCAR will use the Smart car and promote it as a new automaker entering the sport.
NASCAR will respond to public demand for closer CoT racing by permitting extra test sessions. OR, add three debris cautions per event.
[ Next column: November 24. I.N. Sider will name the Man of the Year for 2008 in the season's finale column on December 8. ]
Sign-up at Valvoline.com for I.N. Sider's free weekly "Track Talk" Newsletter, delivered to you by e-mail.
(I.N. Sider is the pen name for an independent motorsports business-person who has a quarter-century of professional experience working in almost every major North American racing series. The writer is not an employee of Valvoline or Ashland Inc. The column is intended to inform, entertain, and stimulate thought on the contemporary motorsports scene. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Valvoline or Ashland Inc.)
BackAbout I.N. Sider
I.N. Sider is the pen name for an independent motorsports business-person who has a quarter-century of professional experience working in almost every major North American racing series. The writer is not an employee of Valvoline or Ashland Inc. The column is intended to inform, entertain, and stimulate thought on the contemporary motorsports scene. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Valvoline or Ashland Inc.