With the North American International Auto Show about ready to open to the public, the press got to spend Monday and Tuesday with manufacturers as they launched new products and spoke about this suddenly and dramatically changing industry.
In addition to numerous new vehicle premieres, both worldwide and national, the 2010 NAIAS saw some of the automotive world's most eagerly anticipated news and products. As an automotive journalist we were invited to once again gain unprecedented access to the industry's top leaders and innovators in one location at Detroit's premiere global event.
But all was not cheery, as whispers and quiet rumblings filled the back halls and conference rooms about an impending announcement which was going to shake the motorsports industry to the bone.
Specifically, we are talking about NASCAR and funding for NASCAR racing and promotional programs by the Detroit manufacturers.
Oh, I know, you've heard it before, "that the gravy train was not only heading to its last roundup, but that the whole damn thing could jump the tracks at any moment and they needed some relief, and in a hurry too." Blah, blah, blah... nothing happen.
Or very little anyhow. Yes, some NASCAR teams saw some changes in funding, some low level teams were cut loose or others forced to shut down. But at the top, very little change was handed out in a significant way.
That isn't the buzz coming out of Cobo today.
As first reported by Peter M. De Lorenzo of autoextremist.com
"NASCAR is in the crosshairs once again. Only this time it's not a loose band of disgruntled Detroit marketing mavens tired of the NASCAR stranglehold on their marketing dollars who are on the muscle to finally break the France family cabal. (Those types ultimately don't matter as they are easily deflected and neutered by the Daytona Beach posse.) No, this time we're talking about someone who is at the very top of one of the domestic manufacturers, someone with a battle-tested engineering background and someone who is not only disgusted and fed-up with what NASCAR has become, but who is mad as hell that his company continues to waste millions on an enterprise that he feels offers little meaningful return on investment. Like "zero," as he put it."
What does that mean ?
If you believe the tea leaves and the whispers, one of Detroit's Big 3 is pulling out of NASCAR.
Lock, Stock and Barrell.
As Peter put it:
"it is clear to me that a new era is about to begin in terms of this company's relationship with NASCAR. And how that relationship will fundamentally change and what the expectations will be going forward could very well mean dramatic and all-encompassing changes for NASCAR, or else."
One well respected of the auto press said
"Sounds like Alan Mullaly to me. I doubt Ford is getting much out of NASCAR these days and it probably doesn't reflect the direction the company is going. I find it hard to believe that it impacts Toyota all that much in the long run also."
Other speculated it could be Chrysler, some even speculated that perhaps GM with its governmental management group and red ink flowing could be the company with the draconian agenda headed to Daytona.
Perhaps more will come out in the coming days and weeks, but Speedweek begins in only 15 days, the clock is ticking.
