Who's Bringin' Home The Bacon?

Wondering which of the owners is raking in the most winnings this season? If you just look at the total 2010 race earnings per owner the two four car teams rise to the top, but we all know that’s not the way to do it. Okay… In an earlier post I used the average earning per team and that yields a pretty good assessment of which owner is doing well, but ultimately the best method of comparison is determining how many starts each owner’s cars have made and come up with an average return per start. The results found are displayed below:

--------------------# of--------------------------2010------------Average/-------Average/ -----36 Race
---Team--------Teams--------Starts------Earnings-----------Team------------Start --------Proj./Team
1----EGR ------------2 -------------53--------$9,409,058------$4,704,529----$177,529 ----$6,391,058
2----JGR ------------3 -------------80-------$12,736,461-----$4,245,487----$159,206 ----$5,731,407
3----RCR ------------3 -------------81-------$12,576,185-----$4,192,062----$155,262 ----$5,589,416
4----HMS ------------4 ------------108------$16,524,972-----$4,131,243----$153,009 ----$5,508,324
5--Stewart-Hass-----2 -------------53--------$7,954,987-----$3,977,494----$150,094 ----$5,403,387
6----RFR ------------4 ------------108------$14,557,391-----$3,639,348----$134,791 ----$4,852,464
7—Penske----------- 3 -------------81-------$10,357,414-----$3,452,471----$127,869 ----$4,603,295
8----RPM ------------3 -------------81-------$10,237,075-----$3,412,358----$126,384 ----$4,549,811
9—Daugherty--------1 -------------27--------$3,287,884------$3,287,884----$121,773 ----$4,383,845
10--Red Bull----------2 -------------54--------$6,312,003------$3,156,002----$116,889 ----$4,208,002
11---MWR-------------3 -------------77--------$8,852,286------$2,950,762----$114,965 ----$4,138,731
12--Wood Br.--------1 --------------9-----------$990,245---------$990,245----$110,027 ----$3,960,980
13---RGM ------------1 -------------26--------$2,718,473------$2,718,473-----$104,557 ----$3,764,040
14—Latitude----------1 ------------19--------$1,907,320------$1,907,320-----$100,385 ----$3,613,869
15--Furn. Row--------1 ------------27--------$2,629,530------$2,629,530------$97,390 ----$3,506,040
16--Front Row--------3 ------------79--------$7,646,569------$2,548,856------$96,792 ----$3,484,512
17-Gunselman--------1 -------------7-----------$641,345--------$641,345------$91,621 ----$3,298,346
18—Germain----------1 -----------18--------$1,600,484------$1,600,484------$88,916 ----$3,200,968
19—Phoenix-----------1 -----------31--------$2,698,101------$2,698,101------$87,036 ----$3,133,279
20---TRG -------------2 ------------24--------$2,085,150------$1,042,575------$86,881 ----$3,127,725
21—NEMCO----------1 ------------26--------$2,077,204------$2,077,204------$79,892 ----$2,876,129
22—Baldwin-----------2 -----------30---------$2,379,668-----$1,189,834-------$79,322 ----$2,855,602
23--Prism -------------1 ------------20---------$1,577,731-----$1,577,731------$78,887 ----$2,839,916
24--Keyed-Up---------1 -------------2------------$157,460-------$157,460------$78,730 ----$2,834,280
25—Whitney----------1 ------------10------------$746,395-------$746,395------$74,640 ----$2,687,022

By taking that average return per start and multiplying by 36 potential starts the season’s projection is determined and seen in the far right hand column.

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Analysis

Kudos remain in order for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. Even though the two EGR drivers didn’t qualify for the Sprint Cup Chase, the racing organization continues to win when it comes to 2010 earnings. Looking at the average earnings per start, EGR is almost $20,000 per race ahead of the second place Joe Gibbs Racing organization.

Of the top racing teams Rouse-Fenway, Penske and Richard Petty Motorsports are projected to fall below the magic $5 million annual income breakeven figure per team. Here’s hoping these owners have good money managers making their actual breakeven figures less than what’s given as the industry standard for top racing teams.

We all know there are a few team owners who bring a car out, get it qualified and then pull off the track only a few laps into the race. I guess there must be enough money to pay the expenses for these start and parkers or they wouldn’t be doing it…

We all know Joe Nemechek since coming back on the circuit last season has been famous for this start and park practice. To date his NEMCO team has earned a little in excess of $2 million. With 26 starts that works out to $79,892 per start. I have to wonder what it costs the guy to prepare and haul his cars, people and equipment around the country each week. It would be interesting to see those books…

In a recent article Joe wrote, "We’re stretched pretty thin at NEMCO Motorsports but we all enjoy what we’re doing and are here because we love racing." In his 17th season driving in NASCAR Cup Racing "Front Row Joe" is one of the last independent owner/drivers on the circuit.

NASCAR allows the start and park process to happen as the practice fills out each race at 43 participants, but that’s the only good reason I can come up with. Sure I guess it's nice to support a few of the owners, but is this good for the sport? Here are the five biggest offenders in 2010:

-------------------------------------------------------------------Average
--Driver---------------------Team--------Starts----Laps-----per Start
Todd Bodine-----------Gunselman--------6--------294----------49
Michael McDowell------MWR----------18------1004----------56
Joe Nemechek----------NEMCO--------26------1706-----------66
Johnny Sauter-----------Baldwin----------4-------310-----------78
Dave Blaney--------------Prism----------20------1924-----------96

I’d like to see NASCAR continue to limit the number of qualifying entrants to 43 but unless a car is wrecked, the payout sould be based upon laps completed forcing these guys to actually stay on the track. That idea might be a double edged sword though as the races could end up with a lot more traffic for the fast cars and drivers to contend with. What are your thoughts?

How important is it to have a full field of cars?

How much of a problem do the start and parkers present?

Here's the link to Nemechek's article:
http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/joe-nemechek-breaking-the-week-down-nascar-sprint-cup-series/