KANSAS CITY, KS. – Team Rensi Motorsports is looking for sponsorship for both of their Fords for the 2008 season. President Ronnie Russell said Saturday that the team will not operate next season unless sponsorship is found before the season finale in Homestead.
“Today we don’t have anything. We do have a reasonable commitment from a huge company that we feel good with on Bobby (Hamilton, Jr.)’s car. We feel very good about it but we do not have anything signed,” Russell said.
Prior to the start in Kansas Russell confirmed without hesitation that Hamilton, who is currently sixth in the overall driver standings, will be the driver of the No. 35 barring the sponsorship but as for current driver Richard Johns in the No. 25, that is yet to be determined, based on the funding.
“McDonalds is leaving. FreeCreditReport is leaving. From what we understand with McDonalds is they have always wanted Kasey Kahne. FreeCreditReport, there has been rumblings that they want Greg Biffle. Our sport is being run by about 12 Cup guys, over there and over here. Those 12 guys can’t do all of it. Even when you have 27 Cup guys running, people in the seats don’t come to see 27 Cup guys. They come to see five or six of them. We all know that. All you have to do is look at t-shirt sales,” he explains of the team’s forced financial troubles.
“We get things to where potential sponsors say ‘ We will never see it on TV.’ They won’t show a Busch guy on TV. That affects our sponsorship. We’re 42 points out of fifth place in this series. You would think that you would get something. You never get talked about. It’s like you don’t even exist.”
“I’m trying to work with every angle I can. I’m working with certain celebrities to maybe bring somebody in. If you don’t have a Cup guy you need a celebrity as an owner. You are trying to get in front of people and get talked about.”
Certainly a sad stae of affairs for Hamilton and his team. Hope they can line up some dedicated sponsors but that will be hard. Hamilton doesn't seem to fit the current driver profile for deep pocket sponsors.
NA$CAR's in pretty bad shape right now if a team like Rensi cant get decent sponsorship.. Bobby Jr.'s a hell of a race car driver and has been for quite awhile now..
Sorry Falcons that sucks - They make an excellent point that not many folks are talking about..its crazy that they are 6th in points and having sponsorship problems. Even more evidence that Buschwhacking is a problem...
I don't get McDonalds, so they want Kasey but he has Bud, so who are they going to now??
This comes down to FOX,ESPN/NBC and TNT for there discrimanating the drivers/teams. When they do the top 10/20 and if one of the fab 5 are not in it, They will show him & why he is running in the 30s. When have they showed Kyle Petty in the back and say well if they only had more money he might not be so far back.
The only time you see 20 on back is the starting grid, Unless they crash or stay out during a yellow and even then they mention it breffly and go back to how the others came out of pits stops.
That is sponsors driven how they show and who is seen more during the coverage. They had their hands full last week when most of them were a lap down. This has carried over the Busch when they only show the cup guys.
On any of Busch races when have they intervew Hamilton Jr before the race, Not ahh. Lets get the cup guys on TV that will bring our ratings up. NOT ! Bucshwacking is for drivers the need a big head. Once in awhile at the big events ok, but most of the sesons is just bad news for the Busch drivers. Its a shame.
Its got to be a bad situation seeing that Ed Renzi was the Domestic President of McDonalds during the mid-1990's. I've had cause to talk to Mr. Renzi and he is without doubt, one of the most passionate people I've talked to about racing.
It sounds like Hamilton has someone. My guess is that it is citifinancial. I am surmising that Ed may have approached citi when he found out Robert was having financial issues.
I have been really busy portraying Coach Bolton in High School Musical. We did five shows last weekend. Hey, I am a thesbian now! I take a bow and mouth thank you to the audience and everything.
Unfortunately for Bobby his pedigree is no nonsense old school and not the slick pretty boy image today's sponsors want.
Perhaps Bud softened its stance. Or maybe Mc Donald's will not get what it wants. I can still see Mc Donald's on a Bourdais car in the future if Kasey doesn't work out.
14Falcons
NASCAR isn't just now about being competitive on the course. But off it as well, by way as to the amount of sponsorship one team garner. And it helps if you've got a driver that's receptive to all of the requests that'll be made of those drivers. It's no longer about what the drivers want. But what the sponsors require and get from those drivers and the teams from the outset.
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14Falcons
Sooner or later something's got to be done as far as the Busch series. It's sad that it's not become a pipeline for the talent as it was meant to be. But the sponsors have got NASCAR by the balls. And there's not a damn thing that they're prepared to do.
14Falcons
COT or not I must say that I've not been enamoured with what NASCAR is trying to do with regard to this particular type of technology. It seems so generic on the surface and not as if there's any reason to believe there's really anything cutting edge to it a whole.all. I know safety is at the optimum of what they want. But from the outset it's not as if it's not been at the top of their overall goals. It's now becoming all so generic and much to the detriment and competitiveness of the sport as a whole.
Obviously NASCAR isn't interested in being in on the cutting edge of racing technology. NASCAR is a mirage anyway selling the idea of stock car racing that actually happened in the past. I think the competiveness is definitely still there. It's all about cheering for your driver as a throwback to the good old boys of yesterday.
14Falcons
That I can understand but at what cost nowdays to the sport's most ardent fans. The sport is still popular at its grassroot's level. But at the same time I do believe that it's lost some of its identity as it's now become not so much abou the fan. But chasing after the 'almighty dollar' at the expense of its most ardent fans. The cost of attending many of the races has gone up exponentially and at a faster rate than inflation. It's becoming exceedingly expensive to take a family of four out let alone a family of two with all that the expenses one's expected to be called upon to assume.
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Despite all of the talk, I do not see a mass exodous of old fans leaving.
All of those involved in NASCAR must maximize the profit they can attain as a result of the dollars they have invested. That is simply a fact.
Entertainment, contrary to popular opinion, has always been expensive. Maybe people think it used to be cheaper because when they were kids dad paid and he didn't #### about how much it cost when the kids were around.
Last edited by 14Falcons on October 5th at 1:57 PM.
14Falcons
The problem is that the fans will be there but there is a growing exodus. But people are failing to realize it. The prices are rising exponentially and hence the reason why many of the tracks smaller tracks aren't able to keep pace with the demands that are being placed on them by NASCAR and particular the France family. Their ISC are now more than ever dictating the terms.
14Falcons
It's an unfair advantage as sooner or later they'll indeed have a monopoly on all of the most prestigious races on the calendar. How are the other owners of the other track suppose to compete on equal footing ? Or is that the way NASCAR ought to proceed in your eyes ? If it continues to progress along this path then there'll definately be a beakaway organization. The ramifications won't be something the fans will want to see. Mark my word this could or will happen ! And it'll be a detriment to the sport and their fans.
14Falcons
That's where your wrong as the laws convened that allows NASCAR to be in business the way it is. It in effect is somewhat of a franchise. The others can't compete with them on that score. You seem to forget that the way ISC is set up they're not a seperate entity from the whole of NASCAR. As there's cross ownership right across the board.
It just adds to all of the the uncertainty that's been created. NASCAR like the NFL is first and foremost a franchise. With the teams buying in to compete and the various tracks also paying to stage races. It's not as clear cut as you seem to think.
14Falcons
I doubt that'll happen . Is Bruton Smith trying to hold some municipality and county hostage for his demands. That's the thing with a lot of these multi-millionaires, billionaires always dictating their demands and expecting the communities to pay for these monstrousities that the public won't always benefit from.
14Falcons
George, Smith and Ecclestone aren't the most astute of businessmen. And in saying that I don't believe that they'll amount to much. The biggest joke is that we're lead to believe that these guys are all so brilliant.
"But all this must be suffered by those who profess the stern order of chivalry" Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 and six other occasions. Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
