Between the stagnant economy and fluctuating gas prices, NASCAR is facing imminent widespread job cuts.
It’s thought that the bulk of these cuts will come after the Homestead Miami Speedway race next week, which marks the close of the NASCAR season. According to the Winston-Salem Journal, however, team owners Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs have already begun paring down their respective rosters.
Earlier this week, NASCAR CEO Brian France met with corporate executives from Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, and Toyota, and it’s reported that these executives expressed their commitment to NASCAR despite the dismal economy.
Commitments are one thing, but running a business is another matter entirely. NASCAR executives plan to cut as many extraneous costs as possible without sacrificing the existing marketing plans already in place.
A virtual ban on all testing for the early part of 2009 is one of the new plans being discussed. According to France, barring teams from testing at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks could save $30-$40 million a year. However, this move would also do a slight disservice to rookie drivers who could benefit from track testing.
Auto Industry Cutbacks
NASCAR Job Cuts Imminent
Trend Themes
1. Widespread Job Cuts - The stagnant economy and fluctuating gas prices are leading to job cuts in the NASCAR industry.
2. Extraneous Cost Reductions - NASCAR executives are exploring ways to cut extraneous costs without affecting existing marketing plans.
3. Virtual Testing Ban - NASCAR is considering a virtual ban on testing at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks to save costs.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive Industry - The automotive industry may see cutbacks and cost-saving initiatives due to the economic challenges faced by NASCAR.
2. Motorsports Industry - The motorsports industry may need to adapt to widespread job cuts and cost reduction strategies in NASCAR.
3. Marketing and Advertising Industry - The marketing and advertising industry could be impacted by NASCAR's efforts to maintain existing marketing plans while reducing extraneous costs.