Hi, Guest
Playing Devil's Advocate for a minute here (and I do legal work for a living so I'm used to this ;) ) I think a pullout by any of the NA manufacturers would do more to hurt them in the long run than by any short term savings that they may gain.
My reasoning goes something like this. Like it or not, the NASCAR fans tend to be loyal to the manufacturers involved in the series, at least more so than with other forms of racing.
Maybe it's because the "average" NASCAR fan is a traditionalist at heart and still remembers the "race it on Sunday, buy it on Monday" mantra that used to dominate when it came to NASCAR. Now of course realistically the cars they run today have as many "stock" parts in them as an F1 racecar, but don't try telling that to average NASCAR fans, lest you be torn limb from limb :P
Why do you think that NASCAR has steadily moved away from their "roots" and moved to other places to race and promoting drivers that aren't from the Southern US? They want a bigger and broader fanbase from which to extort $ from. Hell, that's why NASCAR is welcoming Toyota with open arms. NASCAR knows what kind of demographic that Toyota can bring to the table and is just salivating over it.
Having said all this, if any of the NA manufacturers pull out, it will look like they're waving the white flag of surrender and I'll bet that'll go over like a fart in a church during Sunday sermon with the NASCAR hardcores...
NefCanuck
My reasoning goes something like this. Like it or not, the NASCAR fans tend to be loyal to the manufacturers involved in the series, at least more so than with other forms of racing.
Maybe it's because the "average" NASCAR fan is a traditionalist at heart and still remembers the "race it on Sunday, buy it on Monday" mantra that used to dominate when it came to NASCAR. Now of course realistically the cars they run today have as many "stock" parts in them as an F1 racecar, but don't try telling that to average NASCAR fans, lest you be torn limb from limb :P
Why do you think that NASCAR has steadily moved away from their "roots" and moved to other places to race and promoting drivers that aren't from the Southern US? They want a bigger and broader fanbase from which to extort $ from. Hell, that's why NASCAR is welcoming Toyota with open arms. NASCAR knows what kind of demographic that Toyota can bring to the table and is just salivating over it.
Having said all this, if any of the NA manufacturers pull out, it will look like they're waving the white flag of surrender and I'll bet that'll go over like a fart in a church during Sunday sermon with the NASCAR hardcores...
NefCanuck