Give Me Five Volume 24

By Arianne Hegeman
April 19, 2008

1.      BAM Racing’s decision to take a sabbatical until the fall is a disappointing announcement to race fans.  How far down the road are we to having just a few owners running multi-car organizations?  The trend has been predicted for a few years and may become a part of life sooner than we think. BAM Racing is not alone in their manufacturer and sponsorship issues.  But the blame does not fall totally on the sanctioning body. The faltering economy affects sponsorship availability with very few companies being in the position to support multi-million dollar requests.   The Car of Tomorrow was designed to alleviate costs for race teams but it appears that those benefits will not be visible anytime soon. The long term effects of the COT may be too little too late.    Let’s enjoy our single-car teams while they are still here.

2.       All across America, local race tracks are opening their doors for the 2008 season.  Feeding the mom and pop tracks on Saturday nights boosts interest in the sport and encourages young talent.  Instead of taking the kids to the movies, take them to your local race track.  You will not be disappointed.

3.       This Sunday’s Nationwide race in Mexico City gives the Nationwide regulars and up-and-comers a chance to showcase their skills without the distractions that Cup regulars bring into the mix.  Just a few guys to watch this weekend:  Brad Coleman, Colin Braun, Ruben Pardo, Scott Pruett and Marcos Ambrose.

4.       Kevin and DeLana Harvick may have a solution to the overwhelming sponsorship issues within motorsports.  With their recently announced interest in an NHRA team, the Harvick’s have once again proven savvy they really are.   Major companies will be more inclined to advertise with race teams that reach more than one kind of race fan.

5.      The IndyCar Series announced earlier this week that the new Honda FCX Clarity would be used as the pace car for the Indy Japan 300.  The vehicle may not be a show-stopper by appearance but underneath the hood, the Honda FCX Clarity is the cutting edge of environmental-friendly motorsports.  The IndyCar series has supported the greening process for some time; it is the only series that runs exclusively on renewable fuel.  Folks at home will be able to test the Honda FCX Clarity as soon as the summer in the U.S.  Kudos for the IndyCar Series for taking another step towards more environmentally-conscious racing.