NASCAR INSIDE TOUR

[deano]

With the North vs South VW race cancelled this past weekend, I had the chance to take a behind the scene tour of one of the top NASCAR shops; Wood Bros. A buddy of mine works in the fabrication department, so I got the cook's tour. Over 130,000 sq ft of shop space, 60+ cars, chassis dyno, paint booths, chassis plates all over the place. Incredible size, investment and scoop. Speechless. Interesting, most of the NASCAR chassis are not TIG welded chromoly, but rather ground DOM tubing, MIG welded yet (I saw a lot of Lincoln #135 110V welders!). And, other than a base coat paint job, most are wrapped vinyl (takes about two hours to completely change a paint/sponsor). The same car will run one sponsor for one race, then back to the shop, and on goes another wrap job, then other the following weekend. Great side trip, but too bad about the rain-out at Rockingham.

[vdubkid]

Go AIR FORCE!

[Tom Simon]

What a great opportunity to make lemonaide from lemons, Deano.

Did you get a sence for what it takes in annual dollars to run an opperation of the Wood Bros size? I have been curious for a long time as to "what it takes..."

[pfer10]

Just say no to Taxi Cabs.  NASCAB - the WWF of Auto Racing.

[deano]

Tom, my buddy did tell me, but I need to make sure of that figure before I open my big mouth. I know it makes NHRA Top Fuel look cheap! I recall that there are around 30 guys in the fabrication department alone, and about 130+- total employees. Out in the lot, there were 4-5 semi trucks, and a number of "smaller" trailers as well. And, there was a race going on elsewhere. There are two guys that all they do all day is sort race tires, and glue lug nuts on wheels! Job security?  I saw a recent shipment from Snap-On of 3 of those huge roll-aways on large tires and wheels with trailer hitches (5' high, maybe 6 ' long)! All brand new, still in the wrappers. Basic chassis and engines are farmed out elsewhere. Imagine a building the size of an average WalMart, just for racecars!

[MBay67]

I remember reading either last year, or 2004...that the annual cost was around 10-15 million, depending on the team (# of cars, employees, etc).

Not sure if that is still an accurate figure.

Larry W

[pfer10]

10-15 million, depending on the team (# of cars, employees, etc).

Yea that would be really low.  A major sponsor now pays $10-$20 million a year.  Most teams have 60 people/car (10 years ago they had 30 for 2 cars).  Engineers now make $90,000 - $300,000/yr where ten years ago they didn't have engineers!  NASCAB tried to save the teams money by limiting practice.  Guess what Hendricks does now?  They have so much time booked in the wind tunnel here in Indy it is almost impossible for other teams to get in.  LOL

Hendricks does a good job and gets really good money for his sposorship.  But this is how he does it.  He tells Dupont if you give me x amount of sponsorship I will put your name on the car.  Dupont says that is very high why should I do that.  Hendricks says well if you give me x amount I willl use only Dupont paint in all my dealerships.  Guess how much that amounts to for Dupont?  Win Win for both.

http://www.hendrickauto.com/dealer/dealer_results.asp?select_all=yes