Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Just wondering out loud here, and am curious of others thoughts....

With the upcoming closure of SHR at the end of the season, and the sale of the All Stars last year, do you think Eldora and TSR are next on chopping block for Tony Stewart?

Not trying to start and nasty rumors - I heard or seen nothing suggesting that. The thought and curiosity popped in my head when I read of SHR shutting down.

Total conjecture on my part but I would guess TSR goes before Eldora. As long as he can find the right people to run Eldora I think that's a passion project for Stewart. 

Ironically, and very sadly, Jerry Gappens passed away today. 

I think the thought and curiousity probably popped in a lot of heads probably over the past season or two. The SHR closing does not shock me though after I heard Jeff Gordon say on Dale Jr's podcast earlier this year that Hendrick Motorsports has not made a profit in 10years or more. Arguably the most successful owner/team/organization in Nascar cannot turn a profit. Then the Ford contract coming up, Anheuser Busch leaving, most successful driver in the teams history retiring and no driver really close to taking the reigns.....I can see why it is an easy decision to close up shop. Kevin Harvick yesterday said that Tony & Gene are hands off owners who entrust in people to run things. So why continue to lose money with an uphill battle and let's be honest, Tony is not a big fan of a lot of people in the Nascar Organization. Plus you have 4 charters with multiple people wanting them, and the price is high to sale so its somewhat of a no brainer.

TSR as in the 15 car goes (Drag racing team is also TSR), I believe Donny said in an interview this offseason that him and Tony had an agreement that they are sticking together until Donny wants to be done. Take that for what it's worth but I would imagine that even though the cost to run a WoO top level team is probably not a bill anyone of us would want to pay, it probably looks like ordering off the dollar menu comapred to SHR

Eldora, I would say that is fairly safe as of now. I would say depending on what they actually put back into the track as far as updates and operations, it might actually turn a profit. And from the outside looking in, it would appear the people that manage it do a good job so it is probably a realitvely stress free investment (compared to SHR that is) that Tony may want to hold on too. The All Star deal I have always taken as Tony not necessarily wanting to buy a series but due to the animosity towards the previous owner and the amount of drivers coming to him, he did it as a service to them. I can see how that investement probably became time consuming and money draining as well which probably caused him to want to sale.  

I didn't say everything he did loses money. Just suggested that SHR probably was considering Hendrick was based on Gordon's comments and also the comments of other owners about the them losing money too. I think its fair to infer that SHR most likely was not profitable. I also said Eldora most likely is turning a profit depending on how they re-invest into the track. TSR and the sprint car stuff, not sure if that does or does not make money or if it break even. More of an appreciation for him that he has supported a team for as long as he as.

As far as the drag racing and other stuff and how he supports it, theres this new thing that race teams have come up in the past few years called sponsors. Generally how it works is companies give race teams money to put their name on their cars for advertising. The team then uses that money to support the operation for parts, salaries, equipment. Only thing is that you need to have sponsors give you enough money to justify the spending and time invested which is basically what I was getting at. Most likely the time, lack of performance, the pain in the backside, and lack of profit if any is probably why SHR is making their decision. The other operations he has, I would say are more than likely worth his time and investment

I think most of it is based off of the sponsor ship deals when it comes to the racing stuff. I don't think he makes a lot off of it, but I don't think he loses anything either. Lets not forget he also shut down his second sprint car team as well.

It seems highly doubtful either would be impacted, as I think a lot of indication puts the SHR shutdown on Haas and not Tony.

I'd be shocked if Eldora was anywhere near break even given the number and scale of their crown jewels, and the lack of a weekly program that would likely be a loser. It seems to be an efficiently scheduled track and I'd just be surprised if it wasn't in the black from Kings Royal week and the Dream/World LM events. 

Wasn't he the promoter at Gas City for a while?

From the Indiana Open Wheel Forum:

RIP Former Eldora & Gas City Promoter Jerry Gappens

Promoted at Terre Haute too. Nice guy, sad news.

Truly one of the best guys you’d ever meet. He revived Gas City from the dead and had it thriving

I hated to see him leave GC but you can’t realistically turn down a spot at the big E

The 2nd sprint car team had basically became more for his own personal use than a traveling team though. Yes he had Madsen run it a year when they had some success but after that it was basically shut down mainly because he wasn't racing anymore and had started getting into drag racing at that point. The thing outside of money that is a factor is time and stress. I personally do not think SHR or any Nascar teams make money anymore, Tony Stewart himself might on seperate deals but the business/company itself no. And if they do I am sure it has become something that the little money it does make is not worth the time and stress anymore especially with his other interests. And the time is probably more valuable than the money. When you have to take focus away from the Drag Racing cars and possibly Eldora which watching body language Tony seemed to enjoy more than being at a Nascar, in order to deal with finding sponsors for 4cars and why your 4 cars are not performing up to standard the decision becomes very simple. My opinion, the drag racing and even the dirt track stuff makes him happy and is worth his time and money now, Nascar not so much. 

i doubt very much if Tony needs t o part with eldora, with the purchase price way back when, 8mil was a good deal. but, with tony becoming a dad???

Ascot was the greatest of all time..

West Capital wasn't half bad either..

Life is good...

Hendrick Racing Controller, "Boys, it's near year end and we're looking at profit of $100,000 this year, what should we do ?"

"Pay Jeff Gordon a $100,000 bonus" says Mr. Hendrick.

Jeff Gordon to NASCAR," We didn't make a profit this year or any year in the past."

I don't see any way Eldoea is losing money. If I had to guess, I'd say quite the opposite. The Kings Royal alone has to bring in huge money. Don't know much about the big late model races but I'm sure they're pretty lucrative too.

Beer sales from the Kings Royal week alone exceeds the gross national product of 56 different countries.

Fact. 

Agreed on Eldora not losing money. Eldora doesn't do a lot of charity races, like other big tracks do. What I mean is that Knoxville seems to lose a ton of money weekly and makes it back on a few weekends a year. Eldora seems to have decent crowds for most of their events and still has the gigantic weekends like the Royal and World 100. Plus they likely benefit from Flo putting money up.