Driver Development Stalls
8/10/2009It was supposed to be the biggest thing in NASCAR since condo-size war wagons.
The best investment this side of any company specializing in Dale Earnhardt Jr. souvenirs.
I'm talking about driver development programs.
Featuring the Young Guns-to-Be.
Where have you gone, Landon Cassill?
Bryan Clauson? Marc Davis? Cale Gale? Stephen Leicht? Josh Wise?
Willie Allen? Tracy Hines? D J Kennington? Donny Lia? Patrick Sheltra?
Kraig Kinser? Todd Kluever? Kyle Krisiloff? Ashton Lewis Jr.? Brent Sherman?
As is the natural order of things, some simply did not make the competition cut. They washed-out of the Camping World Truck or Nationwide Series like a weak wooden bridge that inevitably gives way to a raging river that surpasses its banks. Others went back to sprint cars or family businesses or changed their goals.
OK. As Walter Cronkite used to say, That's the way it is.
But put driver development programs on the list with testing, ticket buys, souvenir sales and everything else downsized by a down economy.
Gale was hailed by Kevin and DeLana Harvick, until sponsor support went south.
"As far as the development side of it goes, I kind of got out of that business," said Kevin Harvick. "(Cale) has done a good job. Unfortunately, he'll probably be the one that suffers the most from everything we've had to do from adjusting the economy and everything that we've had to do to get the sponsors for the cars and the races that we have."
Cassill was Joey Logano before Joey Logano - the teenage sensation signed-up by Rick Hendrick and put on the path to Sprint Cup stardom. Except he hasn't even driven in a Nationwide or Truck race this year.
"When the economy was good and you had more sponsors than you could put on the cars, you could get some races for these young guys, and people were willing to sponsor them," explained Hendrick, the eight-time Cup champion owner.
"As the economy tightened up and people were watching their budgets and cutting their budgets, it's hard for any kind of sponsorship. It's just really hard to convince someone that you want them to bring along a young guy, and you know there's going to be some tough times. You don't expect a young guy to get out there and run with Carl Edwards or Kyle (Busch) or some of those guys or a Harvick that are running every race. It's awful hard for them to compete with those guys.
"On one hand, they need to race against them to show their talent, but on the other side of it, if you're a sponsor, what are your chances of really winning and being on TV? So that has been the real problem." What to do? Some of these drivers are working in the shop, available for the limited amount of testing permitted, and otherwise trying to stay sharp - and noticed - on local short tracks.
But . . . could the next Jeff Gordon waste away?
"I think the All-Stars will be seen, because they are not hard to spot," said Hendrick. "The guys that have to develop will be the ones that have the trouble."
[ Next column: August 31]
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(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.