For decades, NASCAR was a sport fueled by independent families and groups of friends coming together to give it their all. The sport has a rich history of family-run teams, such as the Thompsons, Johnsons, Parsons, and Jeff Burton’s family, who competed week after week, often funding their efforts out of their own pockets. NASCAR provided a platform for these legendary teams until the sport began to go mainstream. The rise of big-budget teams backed by wealthy industrialists marked the decline of many traditional family teams, relegating them to the history books. However, this shift was necessary for the sport’s evolution and survival.
Despite these changes, smaller teams have managed to carve out a space in NASCAR. However, Jeff Burton believes the organization’s overly complicated financial systems, designed to maximize profits, are a significant problem. On the Crossroads podcast, Burton shared his candid thoughts about NASCAR’s rising operating costs.
He highlighted the stark contrast between the sport’s old-school “get the job done” mentality and today’s reliance on cutting-edge technology and data science. According to Burton, this trend benefits no one and poses a threat to NASCAR’s sustainability. He criticized the inflated costs that make it increasingly difficult for teams to survive. Reflecting on his early days, Burton recalled how his team operated with minimal resources: “Our first year in the Xfinity Series cost us $220,000, and we raised about $100,000 in sponsorships. Today, that amount wouldn’t even cover two races.”
Burton pointed to the introduction of engineers, advanced data systems, and expensive components as the primary drivers of skyrocketing costs. He noted how his team achieved significant success—winning races and finishing fifth in points—without an engineer for the first three years. He questioned whether the reliance on costly technology has truly improved the quality of racing, arguing that the sport’s increasing complexity may be doing more harm than good.
Finding a solution seems impossible
Burton believes the only solution lies in reducing costs across the board, but he admits it’s a nearly impossible task. “If teams have $100 million, they’ll spend $100 million. If they have $10 million, they’ll spend $10 million. The problem is the cost to do it… Once everybody has it, why does it matter that you have it?” he said. The pursuit of better technology is useless because eventually, everyone else catches up. He feels the sport itself needs to become cheaper, with reconfigured operations and logistics to slash costs. Cutting expenses would make sponsorships more accessible, allowing more drivers to break into
To achieve this, Burton suggests simplifying the sport like it used to be. “Before, we were like artists saying, ‘Yeah, that looks good, let’s do it like that.’ Now, everything is measured, scienced out,” he said. A return to the sport’s roots, focusing on skill over technology, could level the playing field and revive the grassroots spirit that once defined NASCAR.
However, Burton acknowledges that change will be hard to implement. “Tell me how to fix it ?—Because it’s freaking impossible,” he admitted. Yet, without reform, NASCAR risks losing fans and losing teams unable to shoulder the financial burden.
In conclusion, Jeff Burton’s words serve as a wake-up call. NASCAR must rethink its operational costs and re-evaluate its priorities. Without significant changes
