Shifting Seats For Speedweeks

Speedweeks has returned to the High Banks of Daytona International Speedway after a tumultuous off season. The economic downturn has hit the garage area hard and is also being strongly felt by track owners as ticket sales have plunged. Daytona International Speedway, owned and operated by International Speedway Corporations (ISCA:NASDAQ), has slashed ticket prices up to 50% to bolster sales.

Most notable for me in the garage area was the collapse of Petty Enterprises. Without a sponsor for the famed #43, Bobby Labonte was forced to divorce himself from the team in order to try to secure a quality ride for 2009. Petty Enterprises went on to merge with Gillet Evernham, and the #43 is now part of that group now called Richard Petty Motorsports. It is not the same thing as it once was, and everyone knows it. Kyle Petty, one of my favorite people, is out of a ride. He had Wells Fargo set to sponsor him, but the banking debacle has cancelled that potential deal.

Labonte found a ride with the famed Yates Racing Ford operation and will drive the #96 Ask.com Ford Fusion. At this point, I am glad Bobby found a ride. I am not a Ford guy, but prefer it by far to Toyota, and Yates has always had fast rides. After a season with Toyota, Tony Stewart formed his own team and is now back with General Motors fielding the Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolets for 2009. This is a bold move for Stewart, forming his own team. If you are a follower of my blog, you know I appreciate the type of entrepreneurial spirit. Good luck to my boys Bobby and Tony this year. Hope to see you boys in victory lane!