Nascar has seen as many as 60+ teams show up to attempt qualifying, but with the economy, sponsorship woes, increased costs and team number limits, Nascar is searching for teams to assure it's 43 car field next season.
Nascar recently approached the #09 team to ask if they run a full schedule next season. Start & Park teams might increase. Nascar is working to help teams secure sponsors or get race deals.
Nascar has seen as many as 4 teams inside the Top 35 looking to possibly dissolve. When RPM & Yates merged it eliminated a team. Roush will eleminate a team due to Nascar's team cap limit of (4). RCR could dissolve the #07 team if sponsorship isn't found to replace Jack Daniels. The #96 could move their driver Bobby Labonte and sponsors Ask.com & DLP to RCR, but that would still shorten a team. That puts 3 teams inside the Top 35 for sure being dissolved.
Currently 41 teams have attempted every race this season and 5 of those are start & park teams (that only race select races the full distance). That leaves currently 36 real Full Time teams. If 3 are dissolved, Nasacr could realisticly see only 33 or even 32 Full Time teams racing next season.
Nascar has restricted testing to help teams save money, and have had meetings with owners to seek ways to help improve the competition.