13: The shape of the ALMS to come: Part 4 of 7

Step one. Monopoly.

Let us begin with where I left off in Part 3:

Get rid of your opponent... or buy it and own it. Here is the twist: Money grubbers also call the shots on the NASCAR side of the fence. Which series can make them the most money? Hint: money grubbers want to grub money from as many people as possible. They already have the money of NASCAR fans... so they want control of a series with a different appeal/fan base. Guess who? The # of fans in the GA stands is your hint...

The powers that be (the grubbers) want a monopoly on racing in North America. Sports cars is the next demographic on their list. So enter the purchase of Grand Am.

So why Grand Am and not the ALMS in the first place? Simple: because Grand Am was basically thrown at them for pennies. The problem is that they bought a near dead series as far as fans are concerned. Throw in the bad economy, and even our NASCAR boys are struggling to market the series, and the losses increase. Time for Plan B, and I am not talking about you niece's dirty little teenage secret with Bobby...

Plan B: Kick them when they are down

The ALMS is struggling too if you have not noticed. No major sponsor, cutbacks, layoffs, reduced quality of TV coverage, desperate attempts to fill out grids. Teams are worrying... and in swoops GA/NASCAR for the kill. Too proud to sell to us before? Well now you are too far in debt to stop us from picking you apart!

But should Grand Am (who are we kidding... NASCAR) buy the ALMS? Should they just buy the rights to Dons tracks (read: Sebring) and leave a carcass behind?

How do you buy out all or some of a series and not have it turn up the next year in a different form... competing for your dollar? Hint: Buying Sebring will not save GA from itself. The grubbers know it.

Grand Am needs to remove the competition. Step one: Forget the label of the ALMS at the moment. Look at it as 25 or so cars with support teams, sponsors, principals, drivers, and fans. Look at Grand Am the same way. Who has more money? Who attracts more fans? Who brings in more sponsorship dollars? Now add Jag and Corvette to the deal... Audi too. Who is bigger now? Who do you think the money grubbers at NASCAR want to put their money behind?

The plan forward is getting mighty simple and obvious...

But what about loyalty to GA teams?

Money trumps. Next question.

Where now then?

You can't buy the ALMS and kill it. It will show up again with a different name and different tracks. Some teams may jump ship to GA, but the fastest cars will not be in GA... and that will hurt their image. Whatever series comes out of the ashes with be a thorn in the side of GA... and add a couple of R15's to that mix... and GA is back at square one. Remember, the ALMS is not the series... it is the 25+ cars and their teams and owners. Buying Sebring won't save you... but there is another way...

Courting the Flying Lizards, Fiats, BMW's, and Vettes.

They bring the greatest proportion of fans... and money. The grubbers smell it at NASCAR. GA knows they need to get these teams/cars on board. Beg, borrow, steal, subsidize. Let me rephrase this... GT2 in ALMS is a (relative) goldmine. To pass it up would be plain stupid on a financial level. GT2 will be around next year, even if it has a new home.

Here is the problem: Ferrari will not support teams entering GA GT...that is the equivalent of marketing suicide. They would never allow defeat to a tube frame Pontiac. There was a good reason why they only showed up at Daytona.

What about the prototypes?

P1 will be dead soon. 2011 regulations will see to that. That leaves us with a possibility of Audi and Acura as filler (in North America) till then. That is another topic altogether.

Todays P2 will be tomorrows P1 in the world of Le Mans. The hope is that the 2011 specs will make it more affordable to run (good luck with that...). DP's have stability year to year. Le Mans prototypes do not. How does a race series engineer the best of both worlds?

More will be clarified in Part 5. Stay tuned, I will map out the prototype friendly structure of sports car racing in North America in 2010. With all of the rumors of GA buying up the ALMS... just don't be surprised if it resembles the ALMS more than GA.

Also, stay tuned for part 6 of the series: "Supporting the ALMS by getting your office involved with it's own Green Challenge by Michelin." Bring your calculators, it will be some fast paced, edge of your seat, feel-good, tree-hugging, accounting action!!! Scott A. will also be giving an exclusive not-to-be-missed interview.

You are welcome.