I can just imagine how bad the lesser teams faired.
How could this happen??? Well there are several reasons, the biggest being rules changes. The last few seasons have been filled with many unexpected rule changes. Folks, these changes don't come cheap! Many of these teams buy their parts and equipment in advance of the season. After all, buying in bulk saves money not to mention when you buy in bulk your parts are more likely to have been manufactured in the same lot giving you more consistency. Unfortunately, if NASCAR comes in and changes the specs all those parts they have in stock are now worthless, even if the manufacturer buys them back teams still take a loss due to the rules of supply and demand.
Another contribution to BGN's financial woes is the overall economy. Corporate sponsors are having to tighten their belts and that means cutting sponsorship. Most major sponsorship deals only cover a small portion of the annual costs leaving teams to scramble for minor sponsors and financial backers.
The best way for most teams to supplement the deficit in sponsorship money is to rely on purse winnings. Just one problem with that... Winston Cup double dippers (Cup drivers that race Busch events just for the money). Many in the BGN series have taken to calling the cup boys "poachers." Consider this, last year there were 32 Busch events of those 32 events Winston Cup (WC) drivers took 17 wins. The first Busch regular to win was Randy LaJoie in the 8th race of the year! Of those 32 races 54 top five finishes went to WC regulars.
And to top it all off NASCAR has allowed a severe deficit in event purses. Last year at Charlotte's may race weekend the Busch purse was $808,687 with the winner taking $57,600, the Winston Cup purse was $3,158,165 with the winner taking $200,950. The numbers come out with BGN making just over 25% of what WC makes. That is a severe difference when you consider just how similar each car is and how close the costs run for each series. This year the cars are even closer and the purses are getting further apart.
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