NA$CAR “Blesses” Busch Series Drivers By Going International
Posted By Paul on August 11, 2004
NASCAR goes International, again, with the Busch Series holding a points-paying race in Mexico City in 2005. The Cup Series visited Japan for three years in the ‘90s, but all were exhibition races. With points on the line, all Busch teams serious about the championship will be required to attend. The purse has been announced at over $2 million, but only those in the top seven will probably break even on the Mexico trip. The bigger picture of the 2005 schedule shows even more costs that will not be covered by the increased purses and bonuses for the season.
The season will increase by one race to 35, as the Mexico race will not replace a current one. Mexico will be a road course track, as will Watkins Glenn, which will replace Nazareth. With two road course races, teams will be building special cars at about $75,000 per car.
The season begins in Daytona for four days, followed by Fontana, CA, then Mexico City on Sunday, and Las Vegas on Saturday. That would require the hauler to travel from Charlotte to Fontana, which is 2900 miles one way, then, traveling 1900 miles each way to Mexico, and 2400 to and from Las Vegas. Even with two drivers, returning to Charlotte after Fontana and Mexico City, it is not only impractical, it is impossible! So a second team hauler will be a necessity, which equals another driver on payroll. In addition, there is the issue of going to Texas and Phoenix twice next year, replacing trips to Rockingham and Darlington, which are only 100 miles from home. MORE EXPENSE!
Where will the money come from? The logic that more exposure for the sponsors will mean they give more money to the teams. But, many teams with sponsors are tied to contracts through 2005, so they will not get more money. Negotiating for more money, for a race in Mexico, will not go far for companies who do not do business in Mexico. For the 25% of the teams with little or no sponsorship, it comes straight out of the owners’ pockets, or they just stay home!
Next year, they say the Busch Series will announce a date in Toronto, Canada for 2006. Why give the Busch Series all the “blessings”? Let the Cup Series spend some of their bigger budgets on International events.
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