NASCAR ~ Charter or Franchise, It's All Good

This is a new article today on the Charter/Franchise system just introduced in NASCAR's Cup division. A lot of folks have misconceptions of what it is, why it is and what it does. This explains, answers questions and quite frankly, applauds this long-overdue guarantee of value for team owners.If you click right about here, you can check it out for yourself. Please, don't be afraid to leave comments on the page. No one on our site has bitten anyone yet, though I was voted "most likely" in that category.
~PattyKay

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Permalink Reply by PattyKay Lilley on February 18, 2016 at 9:45am

They don't agree. Try reading their side of the whole thing. You'll find it right here.

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Permalink Reply by Rick_G on February 18, 2016 at 1:05pm

I have read their statement, I believe they weren't expecting to get a charter based on NASCAR's criteria, and are OK with it. I think NASCAR's criteria is wrong. I dont think Wood Bros. would have turned down a charter had they gotten based on total years in the game? Wood Bros. zero Rob Kauffman/ MWR 2??? Not hating on Mikey, and Rob, but would Bros have brought more "value" to the sports of NASCAR's then Mikey and Rob. Then for Rob to be able to instantly turn around and cash out to 4 car teams? I think this is bullshit... ymmv

Or maybe I should try and work on my reading comprehension...

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Permalink Reply by PattyKay Lilley on February 18, 2016 at 1:22pm

I don't disagree as to the value of that team, and it saddened me to see them on the outside. I said that in the article, and I believe that a "grandfather' clause should have been part of the deal. However, if that had created a sticking point that both sides couldn't move past, I'd have been sorry it was ever brought up. I feel that in the long run, this will prove beneficial to all concerned. Lord knows, if it doesn't, we can just about kiss the sport goodbye. It's on life support right now. TV ratings are out for the "Unlimited." Down 19% from airing on FOX last year. Lowest rating ever for the event on FOX. All that noise and no listeners. Kind of sad.

On the MWR Charters, that team did fulfill all the requirements of the Charter agreement. They ran 2 cars in every race from 2013 through to the end of 2015. MWR folded because Kauffman took his money out of it. Without his backing, it would have folded years ago. Techincally, it was his team. It just bore Mikey's name. He only had 2 Charters, not 4. Would I like to know what JGR and SHR shelled out for those? Oh heck yes. but they're not telling. So much for that "transparency" thing I guess, but then, knowing wouldn't change a thing, as I have no dog in that fight... and couldn't afford one if I wanted to. ☺

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Permalink Reply by Rick_G on February 18, 2016 at 1:30pm

I'll add spelling, and grammar to my list!

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Permalink Reply by Robert Suttle on February 18, 2016 at 7:49pm

Please forgive me as I have not read the Charter/Franchise system agreement. On the surface this program (Charter/Franchise system) sounds a lot like the old Tony George-IRL vs Indy Car situation. Especially as it applied to the Indy 500. I know a direct comparison can't be made at this time as there is no other sanctioning body competing directly with NASCAR. I remember when Robby started his own NASCAR team and we were all pulling for him to qualify really fast. This was because that was the year teams in the top 35 in points were guaranteed a starting spot.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on February 18, 2016 at 9:00pm

@Robert, you can not read the agreement, it appears to be a secret ever changing thing (hence my previous Obamacare post) Oh, before I forget, remember when RG was in CUP and we posted $ per mile results in the race tread? Well that is a thing of the past, race payout well not be posted for all 3 series. The rumor is, Xfinity and Trucks got a pay cut to supplement CUP Charter teams (that rumor came from a CUP team GM)

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Permalink Reply by Robert Suttle on February 19, 2016 at 11:43am

I wonder if that attributable to the ever-changing Brian France oversight committee?

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Permalink Reply by WJM on February 19, 2016 at 12:28pm

Each charter entry receives a set and equal minimum amount of "guarantee" money for each start, plus "performance" money based on the rolling three-year historical performance of that charter car. Example, the #48 would receive more than say, the #62. In addition each entry will receive purse money - which is significantly reduced.

Yes it's true, the funding for the above was provided in part by reallocating the TV revenue that would have normally gone towards the Xfinity and CWTS, which resulted in some rebellion in those camps, especially among the independent teams (those not having a Cup charter team affiliation). Hence the delayed publishing of those series' entry list's for this weekend. Supposedly something was worked out. We'll see.

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Permalink Reply by WJM on February 19, 2016 at 12:43pm

Of course, the charters are good for the 36 who own one. But if history has taught us anything, creating a limited and closed club only discourages others from wanting to participate. It also effectively removed the top rung of the ladder system for young drivers because you know damn well that the current crop of charter drivers are going to fight tooth and nail to keep their seats.