[Ron Sutton]

There is an interesting story (to me anyway) about a race team losing a million dollars a year in this current market. Most of you may want to stop reading, as it is of little interest for most people not in professional racing. Of course I found it interesting ... because I was in a similar situation two years ago (2012). I say similar, because my 9 race teams ran in lower ranks of racing on a regional level (4 states on the West Coast) ... and my operating budget was much lower than the team in the story.

To run all 9 of my race teams (6 USAC Midgets & 3 NASCAR Modifieds) competitively, took $1.75 million a year. When we had this revenue (primarily through sponsors) as in 2010, we won 24 races & made money. The next year (2011) when we had 3/4 of that budget ... we won 18 races. That year I spent only a little less ... so I lost $250k. Two years later, when we had half that $1.75m amount & cut deep on all expenses ... staff, overhead, operational, R&D ... we only won 3 races ... and I still lost $150k.

That is when it stopped being fun for me & I sold all my teams, rigs, retail inventory (Oval Racing Parts Store), etc. The challenge is not how do you cut back expenses & carry on. All good businesses do that as the market ebbs & flows. The challenge is to perform at the same high level with half the budget. Like Brad says in his story, he's not interested in doing it if they can't win. Neither was I. This economy challenge is effecting professional race teams everywhere ... big & small ... but you don't often read about it. You can read Brad Kesoloski's story about his NASCAR Truck Team HERE.

P.S. Please don't think I'm complaining. I loved my time racing & winning with our young development drivers. You can read what some of them said recently on Facebook HERE & HERE. And I love what I'm doing today helping car guys with their ProTouring projects, autocross & track cars ... plus a few race teams.

P.P.S. A funny coincidence is Brad Kesolowki's old Busch/Nationwide crew chief (from when he ran on a low funded Chevy team) worked for me in the 2010 year I mentioned above.