NASCAR Cup Series

Bowyer's success hasn't brought security

Published Apr. 27, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The "help wanted" section for drivers is shrinking in NASCAR‘s Sprint Cup division.

Last season, two of the sport’s top names — Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch remained with their current teams after testing the driver market and realizing there was no place (and no money) like home.

This month, Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton locked down their contracts — at what is reported be an adjusted rate relative to their sponsors recommitment. Again, it was unlikely that either of the veterans would find a better situation than their current jobs.

Unlike Harvick, Busch, Biffle and Burton, Clint Bowyer’s status is a bit more tenuous. The No. 33 team lacks full sponsorship for 2010, let alone next season. Not surprisingly, the 31-year-old year appears a bit nervous.

“I would have liked to have had it done months ago,” Bowyer said. “I’d just as soon not have the distraction. Things are good. Our team is running well. Hopefully, we can get something put together.

“We’re talking about it, but we have to have sponsorship and everything put in place. It puts everybody in a difficult and uncomfortable situation.”

Three of Richard Childress Racing’s teams are in the top 11 in the point standings. Bowyer is 10th despite weathering an engine failure at Bristol.

RCR has two fully funded teams. Yet the organization has scrambled to assemble complete programs for the Nos. 29 (Harvick) and 33 (Bowyer). Not unlike other uber organizations in the sport, RCR has raided sponsors from more fragile teams. However, RCR has struggled when it comes to introducing new support or new categories of late. Harvick was responsible for bringing in Jimmy Johns — from KHI — to sponsor six of his Cup races.

Bowyer believes the current economic cycle is simply “the nature of the beast.” Bowyer insists that RCR’s resources are the best they've been since he graduated to Cup in 2006, and he’s willing to step up his own program on and off the track to satisfy current sponsors and attract new business for the No. 33 crew.

“I want to stay where I’m at,” Bowyer said. “We just have to be able to put it all together contract-wise. You have to have sponsorship. You can do everything in the world right, but if you can’t pay for it, you can’t do it. It’s no different then when you’re racing back home — when you’re racing modifieds in the Midwest. It doesn’t matter how much talent you have or how good a team you have or how good of equipment you have. If you can’t pay to go to the racetrack, you can’t go.

“It’s part of the program right now. You have to be able to sell. You have to be able to do everything that you can possibly do. We have a great package with our 33 car and with our partners — General Mills, BB&T, America Ethanol — everyone that has been involved has made it a great program to be involved with. Hopefully, we can find another partner for these sponsors and make it successful.”

Besides Bowyer, who could be the last man standing when the best seats are filled?

Carl Edwards is, by far, the most marketable driver in the free-agent category. With a perfectly matched sponsor to support his program, the current points leader is likely to experience the least severe financial correction in his contract. If Edwards remains true to his word, he’ll align himself with an organization that gives him the best opportunity to win championships.

Yes, Edwards is free to test the market. And although Edwards has been rumored to have visited Penske Racing, Red Bull Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, could any of those companies provide him with the caliber of equipment that he’s in right now? Expect an Edwards announcement before Memorial Day.

Juan Pablo Montoya will likely follow suit with the other 30-something racers. Felix Sabates, one of the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing’s co-owners, has insisted all season that Montoya is “not going anywhere.” Is it just a coincidence that Montoya’s performance has picked up in a contract year? In his fifth year on the Cup tour, the 35-year-old is off to his best start. Why would he want to start over?

Considering that McMurray’s contract wasn’t settled until after the season ended, it would not be unexpected for EGR to drag out Montoya’s negotiations.

Mark Martin is in his third and final year in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Martin, 52, will make way for Kasey Kahne, who is driving for Red Bull Racing in the interim. While there had been speculation that Martin would replace Kahne at RBR, that notion was shot down by Red Bull, which markets to a much younger demographic.

Although Martin remains one of the more competitive racers in the Sprint Cup garage, teams seem to be trending toward development drivers again. That could make Martin extremely valuable as a mentor for a younger racer — similar to his role at Ginn Racing in 2007. The latest scuttlebutt has Martin in a truck at Kyle Busch Motorsports. Certainly, watching Martin taking on Ron Hornaday Jr. would be worth the price of admission.

There are mixed reviews coming from the Red Bull camp regarding Brian Vickers’ status. It has been nearly a year since Vickers, 27, was sidelined because of blood clots. Since Vickers returned to action in February, the results have been lackluster, at best. After eight races, Vickers is 28th in the point standings. Kahne, the team newcomer, is 18th in points despite being wrecked at Martinsville.

When they compare their NASCAR contingent with their European counterparts in Formula One, the Red Bull powers that be in Austria must be scratching their heads. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel is the defending F1 champ and is currently the points leader. Teammate Mark Webber is fourth in the standings. Team Red Bull is also leading the constructor’s championship points.

Vickers has been with RBR since its inception five years ago. It will be curious to see if one win and one Chase berth will be enough to secure his future with the organization.