Morgan-McClure Team shutting doors?

[rbroyles]

The Morgan-McClure #4 car will not be at Daytona as things stand as of now. The inability to sign a new sponser led to laying-off 28 employees this past Friday. Unless a sponser can be found very quickly, it could mean the end of operations for the Abingdon, Va based team. Many in the sport are blaming being out of the loop of the Charlotte, NC based teams as one of the contributing reasons for M-M's decline. Morgan-McClure won three Daytona races in their hayday. Drivers such as Ernie Irvan, Sterling Marlin, Bobby Hamilton won races in the #4 Kodak car. It was the departure of Kodak as a sponser that started the downhill turn of fortunes that could never be overcome by a single car team. The ever rising costs along with the widening gap between the Have & Have not teams will insure this will most likely not be the last team to fold in the near future.

[doozer]

i thought this was a done deal?

[rbroyles]

Originally Posted by doozer

i thought this was a done deal?

Larry Morgan says they have cars ready for Daytona if a last minute sponser can be obtained. He describes the team as the best bargain in NASCAR.

[doozer]

yeah, sounds we probably read the same article.


i could see them getting a one race deal but anything more than that is hopeful at best. i read the article as him throwing in the towel.

[rbroyles]

I don't see how they have lasted this long, and don't think they will be in another race. I see it as one of the negatives of the age of large teams. I feel there will only be ten to twelve teams eventually unless things change.

[ejb8910]

There was supposed to be a limit on the teams an owner could have-then owners wives got credit for a car/owner etc. NASCAR has lost a lot of interest but I still have my Bristol season tickets.

[TennFan]

Sad to hear about that. I pass by there on the way down to East Tennessee. Have been meaning to stop there but just haven't. Guess if they close shop then the sign on I-81 will come down advertising the place.

[rbroyles]

Originally Posted by ejb8910

There was supposed to be a limit on the teams an owner could have-then owners wives got credit for a car/owner etc. NASCAR has lost a lot of interest but I still have my Bristol season tickets.

I believe the new rule is a limit of 4 cars for one owner.

[615 Vol]

The 4 car is like the old hardware store in the city and Hendrick is the Wal-Mart that put it out of buisness.

[doozer]

I get the comparison but it's not like Hendrick is the new kid on the block.

[OWB]

Good Riddance, maybe they can put a Circuit City in the old MM race building and I won't have to drive to Johnson City.

[rbroyles]

Originally Posted by OWB

Good Riddance, maybe they can put a Circuit City in the old MM race building and I won't have to drive to Johnson City.

I for one think there should be some protection for the smaller teams. M-M has helped the sport grow, put in many years of effort and personal money. There will never be another Allen Kulwicki style story in NASCAR, and I think we the fans are the big loser.

[615 Vol]

Originally Posted by doozer

I get the comparison but it's not like Hendrick is the new kid on the block.

Wal-Mart has been around for a long time too. Hendrick has the two most popular drivers and the current champion which drives a lot of money their way and also drives the cost of a race team up.

[OWB]

Originally Posted by rbroyles

I for one think there should be some protection for the smaller teams. M-M has helped the sport grow, put in many years of effort and personal money. There will never be another Allen Kulwicki style story in NASCAR, and I think we the fans are the big loser.

I guess I could agree with that, but the fans lost a long time ago anyway, so this really isn't that big of a deal. M=M is just a crappy race team. They can't ever put a decent driver in a decent car. You don't win races that way.

[rbroyles]

Originally Posted by OWB

I guess I could agree with that, but the fans lost a long time ago anyway, so this really isn't that big of a deal. M=M is just a race team. They can't ever put a decent driver in a decent car. You don't win races that way.

Unfortunately, you are right about right driver in decent car the last few years. And I believe NASCAR stopped caring about the fans. Sure they give us lip service in public, but think of only what is in their best interest no matter how it affects the fans. Some are starting to wisen up, maybe enough empty seats can send them a message.