It’s NASCAR time again! The new Sprint Cup season kicks off Saturday night with the Sprint Unlimited race in Daytona. For your viewing convenience, here are all the driver/color/number combinations for 2014.
Okay, NASCAR watchers—at the track or in the den—here are some of the key changes for this coming Sprint Cup season. The beautiful and realistic images are courtesy of Lionel Racing, purveyors of quality NASCAR diecast models and other fine collectibles.
+ Kevin Harvick has moved from Richard Childress Racing, where he raced the number 29 for 13 years, to Stewart-Haas Racing, where he will drive the no. 4 Chevrolet with multiple liveries, including Budweiser red/white.
+ In a controversial step for many fans, Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year contender Austin Dillon will drive a Chevrolet carrying the no. 3 for his grandfather’s team, Richard Childress Racing.
+ Kurt Busch steps up to Stewart-Haas Racing where he will drive the no. 41 Chevrolet in black and red with Haas Automation sponsorship.
+ Martin Truex, Jr. takes over Kurt Bush’s former ride, the no. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet.
Also worth noting: The trend of cars carrying multiple liveries and sponsors continues. Given the current costs of racing, the number of companies that are willing or able to carry a NASCAR Sprint Cup entry through an entire season are pretty slim. By splitting the season into calendar, geographic, or strategic divisions, teams can bring more potential sponsors into the game. Gallery below.
I grew up in the sixties and seventies glued to the set for NASCAR races. My friends and I were mostly into sports cars but the spirit and personalities of the stockers appealed to us. Unfortunately it became big business and, as such, grew less relevant and accessible to grassroots enthusiasts with high prices and homogenized racers. The nearly thirty percent decline in attendance within the last eight years painfully bears this out. Heck, no one else even cared enough to comment on this post. Let’s hope they can find a way to get their magic back.
Totally agree. I wonder if anyone shares my current view: all the above exactly as you describe it, plus shock and bewilderment at the new playoff system. I don’t even know what my level of interest will be. Guess I will wait and see.