NASCAR Cup Series

Big sponsor ditches Phoenix Racing

Published Feb. 4, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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James Finch learned late Thursday afternoon that Miccosukee Resort and Gaming will no longer sponsor his Phoenix Racing teams.

Finch had a contract for the full Nationwide Series schedule and 18 Sprint Cup races but when the Chairman of the Miccosukee tribe Billy Cypress lost the last election, Phoenix Racing became sponsor-less for Daytona and beyond.

“They’re not going to do anything,” Finch said of the Miccosukee future involvement in NASCAR. “We had a contract, but our only recourse is to go in front of the tribal council and that’s not a case I’m going to win.
“If it was back in the old days, I could go in the parking lot and steal some hubcaps to race, but no one uses hubcaps anymore.”

Although Finch attempted to make light of the situation, he seemed more distressed by his inability to lock into the Daytona 500 field. Finch won the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega last spring but was 38th in points after running just 27 Cup races.

“If I could buy my way into the Daytona 500 I would,” Finch said. “Losing my sponsor isn’t going to keep me from racing next Sunday. I could finish fourth in the 150s and go home. The rules are (messed) up. I’m not going to pay more for the points than I can get for winning.

“I've seen a lot of people come and go from this sport. I stay because I'm a racer. But when you get to where you can’t race because of the rules, that’s B.S.”

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