DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – NASCAR’s new charter system was introduced as a monumental moment in auto racing – a triumphant merger between a one-time dictatorship and a group of team owners finally organized enough to demand their fair share of the financials.
The franchise-type model introduced days before teams arrived at Daytona International Speedway has been celebrated for a series wracked with instability because of an independent-contractor model that forced competitors to heavily rely on sponsorship.
Now the owners are guaranteed a bigger chunk of the pot and 36 slots in the field every week.
The drivers? Well, most aren’t so certain how good of a deal this is for their bottom line.
“I think anyone would like to know before the terms of their employment change, but that is not the situation,” Brad Keselowski said. “I am aware of the fact that I am a race car driver, and no matter what happens, I am still going to be OK. I am not looking for anyone to feel bad for me. On the other side, it is not ideal.