cot in the long run will cut cost to all teams. it will not hurt the underfunded teams anymore that they are hurting now. after the race on sat maybe it should be the tank of tomorrow.
How would it help them? The Cup-affiliated teams are going to have 2-3 years of a head start on building the cars and setting them up, creating a huge competition gap. If the sport is truly growing, why move the rules and such to where the end result becomes less teams rather than more?
nascar are not idiots, as much as i bash them they realize a healthy busch series is not where the cup teams dominate. the differences between the cup and busch cots looks like they will be enough so that the items you are worried about should not come into play one would hope,but i have been wrong before.
I'm sure the "deal" they worked with ESPN was not one of their shining moments... ;D
NASCAR making the decision to bring on the COT will help out the underdog as all the cars are the same, and could be called kit cars for that matter. The big expense will be the motors as that is the only thing that will be different form Team to Team, and of course the guy that can stand on the load peddle the most.
The COT is a start of things to come in Stock Car Racing, and all the old cars being shuffled down are a huge new performance and safety asset to every series that brings them in. You can bank on the Nascar CTS cars becoming ex Cup Cars by 2010... mark my words. I for one think that would be a huge benefit to teams here when you compare building a new CTS chassis now for $30,000+, in comparison with buying a ex cup car for $10,000 which already has the best of the best in parts on it.
The cost to the Teams right now may be expensive but in comparion to building 20 cars in the offseason to building 5 to replace them, its a no brainer and a good move on NASCAR's part. Remember- NASCAR is not going to do anything that will shut down race shops, instead they are trying to save the teams money and open new doors for new teams. NASCAR is not stupid. They know the Cars and the Stars are what makes the show- so why does anyone think they are doing this to kill themselves.
NASCAR is about safety first, level of competition second, and money third... which they all ready have enough of, but all said and done, NASCAR has made the very best decision by going to the COT.