2019 Robby Gordon Headquarters
RB leaving NASCAR at the end of the season?
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2011-06-20-1728343145_x.htm
By Jenna Fryer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The owner of energy drink Red Bull plans to leave NASCAR at the end of this season, The Associated Press has learned.
Multiple people familiar with the decision say a team official traveled to Michigan Speedway and told industry leaders Sunday of the impending move. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made to team employees.
Red Bull is both the owner and sponsor of the two-car NASCAR team. The team has struggled since its 2007 entry into NASCAR and consistently has been plagued by rumors and speculation that the Austrian ownership group will leave the auto racing series.
No reason for Red Bull's leaving has been given, but the energy drink markets to the 18-to-34 age group — the demographic NASCAR has consistently lost in its current ratings slide.
The team had a horrendous debut season in 2007, when Brian Vickers failed to qualify for 13 of 36 races. He finished 38th in the final Sprint Cup standings.
AJ Allmendinger missed 19 races that year and was 43rd in the final points.
Jay Frye, a respected team manager in NASCAR, was brought on the next season as general manager, and the team slowly improved. But Allmendinger was let go late in 2008 for Scott Speed, who had been let go from Red Bull's Formula One team.
Like Allmendinger, Speed was not ready for NASCAR's top level, and the lack of experience in Red Bull's second driver hindered Vickers' development. Speed was let go at the end of last year and is currently suing Red Bull.
Vickers won a race in 2009 and made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, only to be sidelined most of last year with blood clots. He's back this season, and the team has Kasey Kahne on loan from Hendrick Motorsports, but still isn't among the top NASCAR organizations.
Kahne has five top-10 finishes and is 19th in points; Vickers has five top-10 finishes and is 24th in points.
Kahne moves to Hendrick Motorsports at the end of this year, and Vickers is in the final year of his contract. It's not clear what will happen to development driver Cole Whitt, who is ranked second in the Trucks Series standings, or to the Red Bull employees.
It's possible Frye could line up investors to buy the race team from Red Bull. He's twice before run race teams that way with varying success.
Red Bull, meanwhile, also owns a pair of two-car Formula One teams. Current points leader Sebastian Vettel is the reigning world champion and has won five of seven Grand Prix races this season.
(Jenna is pretty good about what she writes about. She does not typically write off the wall crazy stuff like Mike Mulhern would. So there might be something to this?)
By Jenna Fryer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The owner of energy drink Red Bull plans to leave NASCAR at the end of this season, The Associated Press has learned.
Multiple people familiar with the decision say a team official traveled to Michigan Speedway and told industry leaders Sunday of the impending move. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made to team employees.
Red Bull is both the owner and sponsor of the two-car NASCAR team. The team has struggled since its 2007 entry into NASCAR and consistently has been plagued by rumors and speculation that the Austrian ownership group will leave the auto racing series.
No reason for Red Bull's leaving has been given, but the energy drink markets to the 18-to-34 age group — the demographic NASCAR has consistently lost in its current ratings slide.
The team had a horrendous debut season in 2007, when Brian Vickers failed to qualify for 13 of 36 races. He finished 38th in the final Sprint Cup standings.
AJ Allmendinger missed 19 races that year and was 43rd in the final points.
Jay Frye, a respected team manager in NASCAR, was brought on the next season as general manager, and the team slowly improved. But Allmendinger was let go late in 2008 for Scott Speed, who had been let go from Red Bull's Formula One team.
Like Allmendinger, Speed was not ready for NASCAR's top level, and the lack of experience in Red Bull's second driver hindered Vickers' development. Speed was let go at the end of last year and is currently suing Red Bull.
Vickers won a race in 2009 and made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, only to be sidelined most of last year with blood clots. He's back this season, and the team has Kasey Kahne on loan from Hendrick Motorsports, but still isn't among the top NASCAR organizations.
Kahne has five top-10 finishes and is 19th in points; Vickers has five top-10 finishes and is 24th in points.
Kahne moves to Hendrick Motorsports at the end of this year, and Vickers is in the final year of his contract. It's not clear what will happen to development driver Cole Whitt, who is ranked second in the Trucks Series standings, or to the Red Bull employees.
It's possible Frye could line up investors to buy the race team from Red Bull. He's twice before run race teams that way with varying success.
Red Bull, meanwhile, also owns a pair of two-car Formula One teams. Current points leader Sebastian Vettel is the reigning world champion and has won five of seven Grand Prix races this season.
(Jenna is pretty good about what she writes about. She does not typically write off the wall crazy stuff like Mike Mulhern would. So there might be something to this?)
Views: 51
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chris Anello on
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That's awesome
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Permalink Reply by RGordonNo#1 on
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This will open more doors in NASCAR, but what benefits Speed Energy is the Competition from a National Retailer of Energy Drinks.
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Permalink Reply by Tim Nation on
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yea I can totally see this with Danica then driving for him with the ties to hendrick
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Sweeney on
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More like Go Daddy Racing.
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Permalink Reply by 1ly3ruspf06hv on
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Cant Mark ever get a sponsor thats not humiliating? I mean, money is money, but Viagra and now Go Daddy? I just have a hard time evertime he says Go DADDY!!!
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Permalink Reply by DefLefty on
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I'm guessing Mark is not going to look as good as Danica in some of those commercials. Call it a hunch.
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Permalink Reply by Karen on
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this is all so odd! during the Michigan race between naps, we were talking about Red Bull probably pulling out of NASCAR and a possible Martin/Patrick team. All that Speed Energy makes you clairvoyant! However, our scenario had Robby turn over the reins to manage his NASCAR team to Mark Martin who brings in Danica for the 7 to run in select cup races. Instant sponsors and $$$. In Robby's last interview in Mexico - he seemed more excited about making Speed Energy a success than his own racing and that is one of the few times I have heard him talk about bringing in talent. Mark needs a job next year.
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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on
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I expect Red Bull to be more involved with different drivers, tracks and promotions around NASCAR instead of sponsoring two full time Cup teams. NASCAR works ...just look at AMP. The sells have landed them in the Top 5 in energy drink sells since sponsoring Dale Earnhardt Jr. (cutting into Red Bull's market share). Red Bull had sponsorship at Texas' track early this year.
Red Bull's biggest failure has been their driver lineup in Nascar as a team. We know Robby was the first, but since becoming a team Red bull hasn't had a solid lineup. AJ was very green and they pulled the plug way too early on him. Scott Speed was another rookie driver that wasn't allowed much time. Vickers was an average driver that had health issues. Red Bull has only had Kahne to promote with a following fan base, but he's gone after this year.
Nascar's love affair with Dale Junior (AMP gets to benefit) makes it hard on others like SPEED, Monster and other energy drink companies. Even with Vickers running up front, AMP got 10 times the exposure with Junior running mid pack. Doesn't suprise me at all. Nascar is it's own worst enemy.
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