Field Fillers May Re-emerge in Sprint Cup

Many Nascar fans recall the years of the field fillers. In the early 2000’s, it was not uncommon for low-budget, fourth-tier teams to show up at the track hoping just to start the race and collect a paycheck before heading home. In 2004, the field filler era arrived at its peak, as the start and park routine became excessively recurrent. It seemed as if NASCAR was dead set on having a forty-three car field each and every race despite the fact that there were only 36 or 37 truly competitive teams.You may remember the names Andy Belmont, Andy Hillenburg, Hermie Sadler, Joe Ruttman, Carl Long, Stanton Barrett, Kirk Shelmerdine, and Morgan Shepherd. They were some of the so-called field fillers. It was not uncommon for those drivers to be several seconds off the pace in comparison to the leaders. At times, their dawdling pace frustrated the leaders.

At the time, some mid-level NASCAR teams did not realize how good they had it. There was only a diminutive chance that they could miss the race in qualifying. Eventually, the NASCAR field began to expand, and with the advent of Toyota as well as aspiring team owners, many new teams surfaced. By 2007, it became increasingly difficult for several mid-level teams, and even top notch teams to qualify for the show. It was common to have over fifty drivers and teams attempting to qualify. Drivers such as Jeremy Mayfield, Brian Vickers, Michael Waltrip, and even 1999 champion Dale Jarrett were occasionally forced to go home early. At times, it was rather chaotic. The field filler era was no more, and it was now the go or go home era.In 2008, the amount of qualifying entries began to tail off. Several teams began to cutback, while others folded completely. Chip Ganassi Racing was a prime example, as the 40 team closed up shop in July after eleven years on the track. The entry list was, for the most part, back in the forty-something instead of fifty-plus.

Following the 2008 season, the off-season was anything but, and it became merger-mania. Due to sponsorship woes, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated was set to close down at least two teams. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates was faced with a similar quandary. Officials from both organizations began to discuss the prospect of a merger. Ultimately, the two teams became one, hence the name Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Heading into the 2008 Sprint Cupcampaign, there were seven teams between the two organizations. Following the merger, there is likely to be only three teams from the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing camp competing on a full-time basis. Four teams from 2008 are no longer in existence.Gillett Evernham Motorsports was a three-car operation in 2008, while Petty Enterprises encompassed two teams. When the two entities merged into one, Richard Petty Motorsports, or RPM, it is now a three-car operation, with a fourth team competing on a part-time basis.

Hall of Fame Racing amalgamated its resources with Yates Racing, another fledgling Sprint Cup operation. They brought along the sponsor Ask.com as well as 2000 champion Bobby Labonte. While it has become a blessing for Doug Yates and Max Jones, it spelled disaster for David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil, the two drivers that carried the Yates Racing banner in 2008. Gilliland and the 38 team are no more, and Kvapil’s team will unlikely compete in the entire slate of races.Bill Davis Racing sold out and the 22 car is unlikely to attempt many races in 2009, if any at all.Due to the dwindling number of full-time entries at the Sprint Cup level, opportunity is there again for the smalltime teams. In fact, a couple of new teams will attempt the NASCAR schedule. Joe Nemechek, unable to land a Sprint Cup ride, will revive NEMCO Racing and attempt the full Sprint Cup schedule, as well as the Nationwide Series. Former crew chief Tommy Baldwin will begin his new venture as a car owner with Scott Riggs as the driver. Jeremy Mayfield is reportedly set to attempt the driver slash owner undertaking with the opening of Mayfield Motorsports. Other teams such as Phoenix Racing, one of the teams prominently known for starting and parking in 2004, will endeavor to compete in all 36 Sprint Cup events with an assortment of drivers and manufacturers.

They say that everything in NASCAR is cyclical. In a matter of five years, it appears as if the field filler era is returning to NASCAR Sprint Cup racing and the go or go home era is over, at least for now.