According to SportsBusiness Journal, General Motors is cutting factory support for both the Nationwide and Truck Series teams.   The larger teams in those series will most likely be hit the hardest as they typically receive the most manufacturer help.  Those teams would include Kevin Harvick Incorporated, Rusty Wallace Inc., and JR Motorsports.  Teams get engines, parts, and cash to get their brand out front.  In the Truck Series, this leaves only one standing at this point, Toyota, with Ford and Dodge pulling out before the season.  They certainly chose an interesting weekend to do this, racing at Michigan International Speedway.  While this is not an official story coming from NASCAR or General Motors, and coming from an alternate source, we will keep our eye out for further details.

UPDATES: Hear from JR Motorsports, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon

KELLEY EARNHARDT, GENERAL MANAGER / JR MOTORSPORTS
“Obviously the automotive industry is dealing with unprecedented business challenges, and we understand the need for restructuring to accommodate the need to reduce costs and maximize return. We have been proud supporters of the Chevrolet brand our entire lives and don’t anticipate that ever changing. We are fully capable of adjusting our business model to accommodate this change, and with the backing of Hendrick Motorsports, we will continue to lend our full support to Chevrolet. The manufacturer support GM provides at the NASCAR Sprint Cup level is more critical in nature than in the Nationwide Series, and I hope Chevy is able to continue supporting that level, as the promotion of NASCAR works well for its demographics.”

JEFF BURTON: CHEVY HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE PULLING BACK SUPPORT TO THE NATIONWIDE AND TRUCK SERIES.  HOW DEVASTATING IS THAT TO THESE SERIES?
“I hate to comment on it because I don’t know a whole lot about it.  I haven’t had a chance to talk to Richard (Childress) this morning a whole lot about it but I will tell you that I know Chevrolet is going to do everything that they can to do the best job that they can in motorsports.

“This is an unprecedented time and in many ways it’s a sad time and in many ways it’s an exciting time.  Chevrolet having to pull support is a big deal because so many people rely on and they have been such a big part of the series.

“So I don’t know everything I need to know about it to comment a hundred percent but I can just tell you that in my talks with Chevrolet is that they want to do everything they can to stay involved and be a part of the NASCAR deal.  And I think they are but they have some tough decisions to make.”

JEFF GORDON: ANY REACTION TO REPORTS THAT GM IS PULLING OUT OF THE NATIONWIDE AND TRUCK SERIES?
“I think we all have been watching and waiting to see the reaction and I think it is no surprise that there are going to be big cutbacks. And as a dealer as well as a race car driver, we’re doing everything we can to keep our business going strong and doing everything we can to support them in the decisions that they’re making so that we see a great company, whether it’s smaller than it was before or not, come out of it with continued good products out there and giving the customers what they want as well as thinking that NASCAR racing is important to them from a marketing standpoint. So, you know they’re going to make cutbacks and it’s unfortunate for those that have to deal with that. We’re involved with that with the Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports being involved with that. So, it’s unfortunate, but those guys have to make decisions and do the best they can to keep their business and we’re going to stand by them.

RELATED LINKS: NASCAR | SportsBusiness Journal