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RB leaving NASCAR at the end of the season?
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2011-06-20-1728343145_x.htm
By Jenna Fryer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The owner of energy drink Red Bull plans to leave NASCAR at the end of this season, The Associated Press has learned.
Multiple people familiar with the decision say a team official traveled to Michigan Speedway and told industry leaders Sunday of the impending move. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made to team employees.
Red Bull is both the owner and sponsor of the two-car NASCAR team. The team has struggled since its 2007 entry into NASCAR and consistently has been plagued by rumors and speculation that the Austrian ownership group will leave the auto racing series.
No reason for Red Bull's leaving has been given, but the energy drink markets to the 18-to-34 age group — the demographic NASCAR has consistently lost in its current ratings slide.
The team had a horrendous debut season in 2007, when Brian Vickers failed to qualify for 13 of 36 races. He finished 38th in the final Sprint Cup standings.
AJ Allmendinger missed 19 races that year and was 43rd in the final points.
Jay Frye, a respected team manager in NASCAR, was brought on the next season as general manager, and the team slowly improved. But Allmendinger was let go late in 2008 for Scott Speed, who had been let go from Red Bull's Formula One team.
Like Allmendinger, Speed was not ready for NASCAR's top level, and the lack of experience in Red Bull's second driver hindered Vickers' development. Speed was let go at the end of last year and is currently suing Red Bull.
Vickers won a race in 2009 and made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, only to be sidelined most of last year with blood clots. He's back this season, and the team has Kasey Kahne on loan from Hendrick Motorsports, but still isn't among the top NASCAR organizations.
Kahne has five top-10 finishes and is 19th in points; Vickers has five top-10 finishes and is 24th in points.
Kahne moves to Hendrick Motorsports at the end of this year, and Vickers is in the final year of his contract. It's not clear what will happen to development driver Cole Whitt, who is ranked second in the Trucks Series standings, or to the Red Bull employees.
It's possible Frye could line up investors to buy the race team from Red Bull. He's twice before run race teams that way with varying success.
Red Bull, meanwhile, also owns a pair of two-car Formula One teams. Current points leader Sebastian Vettel is the reigning world champion and has won five of seven Grand Prix races this season.
(Jenna is pretty good about what she writes about. She does not typically write off the wall crazy stuff like Mike Mulhern would. So there might be something to this?)
By Jenna Fryer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The owner of energy drink Red Bull plans to leave NASCAR at the end of this season, The Associated Press has learned.
Multiple people familiar with the decision say a team official traveled to Michigan Speedway and told industry leaders Sunday of the impending move. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made to team employees.
Red Bull is both the owner and sponsor of the two-car NASCAR team. The team has struggled since its 2007 entry into NASCAR and consistently has been plagued by rumors and speculation that the Austrian ownership group will leave the auto racing series.
No reason for Red Bull's leaving has been given, but the energy drink markets to the 18-to-34 age group — the demographic NASCAR has consistently lost in its current ratings slide.
The team had a horrendous debut season in 2007, when Brian Vickers failed to qualify for 13 of 36 races. He finished 38th in the final Sprint Cup standings.
AJ Allmendinger missed 19 races that year and was 43rd in the final points.
Jay Frye, a respected team manager in NASCAR, was brought on the next season as general manager, and the team slowly improved. But Allmendinger was let go late in 2008 for Scott Speed, who had been let go from Red Bull's Formula One team.
Like Allmendinger, Speed was not ready for NASCAR's top level, and the lack of experience in Red Bull's second driver hindered Vickers' development. Speed was let go at the end of last year and is currently suing Red Bull.
Vickers won a race in 2009 and made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, only to be sidelined most of last year with blood clots. He's back this season, and the team has Kasey Kahne on loan from Hendrick Motorsports, but still isn't among the top NASCAR organizations.
Kahne has five top-10 finishes and is 19th in points; Vickers has five top-10 finishes and is 24th in points.
Kahne moves to Hendrick Motorsports at the end of this year, and Vickers is in the final year of his contract. It's not clear what will happen to development driver Cole Whitt, who is ranked second in the Trucks Series standings, or to the Red Bull employees.
It's possible Frye could line up investors to buy the race team from Red Bull. He's twice before run race teams that way with varying success.
Red Bull, meanwhile, also owns a pair of two-car Formula One teams. Current points leader Sebastian Vettel is the reigning world champion and has won five of seven Grand Prix races this season.
(Jenna is pretty good about what she writes about. She does not typically write off the wall crazy stuff like Mike Mulhern would. So there might be something to this?)
Views: 51
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by 1ly3ruspf06hv on
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im no junior fan, but why is he a moron?
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Permalink Reply by Bigzoom on
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Why would AMP leave? Since endorsing Junior they have climbed by leaps and taken lots of Red Bull's market share. Red Bull pretty much had ALL the market share until Monster came along...now both are losing tons of market share to other companies...not to mention all the other energy type products like 5-Hour.
AMP has sliced a big cut into their shares. Hopefully SPEED can start getting a large cut. Once SPEED gets into stores like WalMart & Target it will really see big returns. We all know SPEED tastes better, GNC knows it's healthier...just need to keep spreading the word and getting on shelves. Only A Matter of Time!!!
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Permalink Reply by Ryan Couckuyt on
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Vickers and Robby full time RGM cars next year. That has a nice ring to it. Could this ever happen. Vickers is a racin machine. Red Bulls stuff isn't much better then ours.
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seriously?
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Lets see, Robby comes out with Speed Energy; a few months later Red Bull says they are leaving Nascar. Looks like Robby was bringing a bit too much heat; guess we can call them Red Steer now.
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I bet thats it.
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Permalink Reply by NIKAL on
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UPDATE #1
Sources say employees at Red Bull Racing have been told that the NASCAR Sprint Cup operation will close at the end of the year. A surprise visit by race director Thomas Ueberall had crew members scrambling for job openings at Michigan this weekend. Two scenarios mentioned for the existing equipment could be general manager Jay Frye bringing in investors and starting a new operation with Mark Martin and engines from Hendrick Motorsports, a plan that Frye had tried to expedite over the last two years with pushback from Austria. The hot rumor of late has been the return of Ray Evernham in an ownership role similar to Tony Stewart's at SHR, with Red Bull as the sponsor. On Monday Evernham told FOXSports.com he "had zero desire to be an owner again." Evernham said he had no knowledge on a Red Bull deal. Apparently, Red Bull was fairly far down the line in negotiations with Clint Bowyer for the #4 ride next season. It was one of the few companies that could afford Bowyer. Another dilemma with the Red Bull situation is what happens to Cole Whitt, who currently drives for the organization in the Camping World Truck Series. Certainly, if Frye acquires the assets, Whitt must be part of that plan.(Fox Sports)(6-20-2011)
UPDATE #2
Statement from Red Bull Racing: "Red Bull Racing Team is currently seeking outside investors as we evaluate next steps in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. We are not at liberty to comment on details while negotiations are under way. Red Bull fully supports NASCAR for the remainder of the 2011 season as we fight for victories and a position in the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup."(Red Bull Racing)(6-20-2011)
I bet Boyer is glad he has not signed any contracts! Also when RB say's they are looking for outside investors I am reading BUY US OUT! Or we will close the doors.
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bottom line is they probably feel they should've got back more than a couple wins for the $200 mil they've probably thrown into this deal....
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Permalink Reply by GTX - HEMI on
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Carl - Red Bull - JGR
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Permalink Reply by Country Boy on
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If JGR went with RB, then they would have to unload NOS energy as one of Kyle's sponsors
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Permalink Reply by John on
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This is NOT good news! The more teams without sponsors the harder it is to get sponsors. I realize RGM is doing their own deal with SPEED but they are 'selling' or bartering the quarter panels to retailers. The more sponsors in the garage the more that quarter panel is worth. Which translates to retailers buying more pallets of Speed to get their name on the car for free.
A garage full of sponsored teams is good for all team owners.
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