Cole Whitt out? Swan Racing downsizing Sprint Cup program.

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

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Report that Cole Whitt may be out of a ride. There's got to be more to it than this statement below.

Official statement:

“Swan Racing is in the process of reviewing its current situation and the ability to continue to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team has been unable to secure the kind of sponsorship required to effectively operate the team. As a result, the team management is exploring every available option. We hope to be in position to provide a detailed update in the near future.”
 
Swan Racing downsizing Sprint Cup program due to lack of sponsorship


Swan Racing, which field cars for ROTY contenders Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, is reviewing its ability to continue to compete due to lack of sponsorship.


DAVIDSON, N.C. – Swan Racing is currently weighing its options including a substantial scaling back of its NASCAR Sprint Cup operation.

Team spokesperson Ramsey Poston told Motorsport.com that Swan is assessing its current situation.
Other sources familiar with the landscape said it’s unlikely that Swan will field more than one car for the Apr. 25-26 NASCAR events at Richmond International Raceway.

The team released the following statement Thursday;
“Swan Racing is in the process of reviewing its current situation and the ability to continue to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team has been unable to secure the kind of sponsorship required to effectively operate the team. As a result, the team management is exploring every available option. We hope to be in position to provide a detailed update in the near future.”

more here
 
NASCAR Radio is reporting that Cole Whitt's program seem to be the one shutting down due to lack of sponsorship.
 
I wondered if they were going to hit any road blocks as far as marketing goes with two young rookies, when all the team had was rotten luck at the beginning of the year up through now, I really began to wonder... Bummer though.


Atleast it's Cole Whitt and not PK.
 
Another example of a team that had no business expanding to two teams. Get your team good, first, then expand.
 
Nascar is dead. No new teams or sponsors come into the sport and there is basically no driver development
 
That sucks. Cole was doing better than Kligerman was too.
 
DaBiff1618 said:
Nascar is dead. No new teams or sponsors come into the sport and there is basically no driver development
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I disagree with this. There may not be that many new teams coming in and a sponsor might drop out here and there but it's mostly on the lower end teams. It sucks but it costs money to get results, and results are what brings in the money. It's not always workable with limited funding. That's why the best drivers end up with the best teams and the best sponsors. As far as driver development, there is plenty of it.. it's just not at the cup level, but I think that's the point. Look at the drive for diversity program. Not to mention JRM, Ganassi, Penske, and JGR all have young drivers coming up through their ranks as far down as part time in the K&N series. Some come up faster than others but like I said the best drivers end up with the best teams... which in turn attracts the sponsors. I wouldn't be surprised to see any sponsorship Swan Racing lost end up on the quarter panel of some other top tier team for a few races. It sucks but in NASCAR it's all about the money.
 
SlicedBread22 said:
I disagree with this. There may not be that many new teams coming in and a sponsor might drop out here and there but it's mostly on the lower end teams. It sucks but it costs money to get results, and results are what brings in the money. It's not always workable with limited funding. That's why the best drivers end up with the best teams and the best sponsors. As far as driver development, there is plenty of it.. it's just not at the cup level, but I think that's the point. Look at the drive for diversity program. Not to mention JRM, Ganassi, Penske, and JGR all have young drivers coming up through their ranks as far down as part time in the K&N series. Some come up faster than others but like I said the best drivers end up with the best teams... which in turn attracts the sponsors. I wouldn't be surprised to see any sponsorship Swan Racing lost end up on the quarter panel of some other top tier team for a few races. It sucks but in NASCAR it's all about the money.
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Some of the top young talent we have (Whitt, Kligerman, Bowman) couldn't land a competitive cup ride. James buescher and others are going to have the same problem
 
DaBiff1618 said:
Some of the top young talent we have (Whitt, Kligerman, Bowman) couldn't land a competitive cup ride. James buescher and others are going to have the same problem
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This is why I mentioned lifting the team car limit of four... It might only create one or two rides but it's better than nothing.
 
SlicedBread22 said:
There may not be that many new teams coming in and a sponsor might drop out here and there but it's mostly on the lower end teams. It sucks but it costs money to get results, and results are what brings in the money. It's not always workable with limited funding. That's why the best drivers end up with the best teams and the best sponsors.
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UPS
Office Depot
U.S. Army
Red Bull
DirecTV
Crown Royal

I'm sure I'm forgetting others too.
SlicedBread22 said:
As far as driver development, there is plenty of it.. it's just not at the cup level, but I think that's the point. Look at the drive for diversity program. Not to mention JRM, Ganassi, Penske, and JGR all have young drivers coming up through their ranks as far down as part time in the K&N series. Some come up faster than others but like I said the best drivers end up with the best teams.
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Stenhouse Jr. 2013, Logano 2009, Hamlin/Bowyer/Truex Jr. 2006...too little talent coming up and too far in between years that they do. This year's rookie class is the deepest and most notable since 2006. Again, that's far too long in between fresh faces coming up. Some of this probably has to do with the Nationwide Series being all about Cup drivers since about 2006.
 
MRM said:
Another example of a team that had no business expanding to two teams. Get your team good, first, then expand.
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Yeah, too ambitious too soon. I like them though, hopefully they can figure out Kligerman's program because he's had terrible cars and terrible luck on the track this year. I hate it for Cole though.
 
I agree with Dun24. I don't think it was expanding to two teams, as much as it is not having a veteran driver, to help bring in more sponsorship money. I hate to see a young guy loose his ride that way.
 
Unfortunately I had a feeling this was going to happen. I questioned where the money was going to come from and apparently the answer is nowhere. They should have stayed with just 1 car until they were financially ready to expand.
 
I will say this though, Cole made me a believer out of me. I was impressed with him so far this year. Hopefully he gets a look with someone else.
 
He had no business trying, who does he think he is?
He isnt a billionaire, and his daddy or papa doesn't own a team or has the right name, he aint in the club.
 
What a huge bummer for Cole, first JR shut him down now this. Oh well, what don't kill you only makes you stronger.
 
I never knew they had sponsorship in the first place. was cole or parker bringing money to the table?? maybe that has dried up??
 
DaBiff1618 said:
Some of the top young talent we have (Whitt, Kligerman, Bowman) couldn't land a competitive cup ride. James buescher and others are going to have the same problem
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Top young talent? don't think so. Young race car drivers might cover it. They have had 8 races to prove if they had enough talent to be in cup...that's their development for ya..sink or swim. Root hog or die.
 
I expect Nascar to downsize the car count eventually. Spread the sponsors over 30 or so cars instead of 43.

Nascar has said they want to be the F1 of stock cars. F1 has, what, 22 cars?
 
StandOnIt said:
Top young talent? don't think so. Young race car drivers might cover it. They have had 8 races to prove if they had enough talent to be in cup...that's their development for ya..sink or swim. Root hog or die.
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The 3 drivers I mentioned are wheelmen. Bowman is a really talented racer, dominated arca and won two poles in that piece of crap rab racing car. Kligerman also dominated arca, was really good in trucks, and was competitive with a subpar team last year. Cole Whitt is a wheelman, he just doesn't have the big last name that sponsors eat up. Sometimes you have to consider the resources a driver has and what he does with them to see the talent they have. I think all 3 of these guys are on par with stenhouse and dillon. Same with Allgaier and Michael annett
 
DaBiff1618 said:
The 3 drivers I mentioned are wheelmen. Bowman is a really talented racer, dominated arca and won two poles in that piece of crap rab racing car. Kligerman also dominated arca, was really good in trucks, and was competitive with a subpar team last year. Cole Whitt is a wheelman, he just doesn't have the big last name that sponsors eat up. Sometimes you have to consider the resources a driver has and what he does with them to see the talent they have. I think all 3 of these guys are on par with stenhouse and dillon. Same with Allgaier and Michael annett
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Here ya go...racing facts 101...Google " Alex Bowman stats" for an example. then click on the racing reference info site and look down the page to Bowman's "dominating" ARCA performance. Best he could do was a fourth over all among other lower level ARCA drivers? And somehow he is going to do well in cup? While you are at it, google the rest. None of them "dominated" anything. Instead of "thinking" they are this and that which they aren't, look it up. Right now unless somehow one or more catch on fire, they are "field fillers"
 
Kligerman has had the best opportunity of Bowman and Whitt. He did a fine job in Kyle's car last year but nothing that impressive. However, it's hard for me to judge cup success considering Swan racing is in the middle of downsizing their program. A driver can only do so much.
 
I raced a go kart one time and did pretty damned good. Where's my cup ride? I don't think all this is too fair myself, do you?
 
StandOnIt said:
Here ya go...racing facts 101...Google " Alex Bowman stats" for an example. then click on the racing reference info site and look down the page to Bowman's "dominating" ARCA performance. Best he could do was a fourth over all among other lower level ARCA drivers? And somehow he is going to do well in cup? While you are at it, google the rest. None of them "dominated" anything. Instead of "thinking" they are this and that which they aren't, look it up. Right now unless somehow one or more catch on fire, they are "field fillers"
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Bowman had one full season in ARCA and has only run 21 races and won 6. Kligerman won 9 of the 21 races in 09 running the ARCA series. For Kligerman anyway that's pretty dominating if you ask me. I don't know who they ran for in arca but I think just looking at the standings doesn't really say it all who knows whether the cars were all that reliable. Both still have to prove themselves but there both young with a lot of talent IMO.
 
BCeagles24 said:
Bowman had one full season in ARCA and has only run 21 races and won 6. Kligerman won 9 of the 21 races in 09 running the ARCA series. For Kligerman anyway that's pretty dominating if you ask me. I don't know who they ran for in arca but I think just looking at the standings doesn't really say it all who knows whether the cars were all that reliable. Both still have to prove themselves but there both young with a lot of talent IMO.
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Klingerman hasn't even been close to finishing on the lead lap in cup. In fact, he has never finished on the lead lap. When he moved up higher into Nationwide series and only finished 9th overall for the regulars, and we know how lax the talent in Nationwide was last year, that was disappointing. Of course he wants to run cup for the money increase, but he won't be around long I'm afraid, finishing 20 laps down with an average finish of 37th. Involved in two crashes in 8 races also. I am just guessing, but my best guess is that Swan put two rookies in their cars hoping that one or both would step up and get a good finish and hopefully get stronger funding. Klingerman is the best of the two..and he isn't setting the world on fire. Just like horse racing, hoping for a long shot to come in.
 
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Neither Whitt nor Kligerman have made much noise this year, but Whitt has run better than PK, kind of a shame he's the one getting the boot.
 
ToyYoda said:
Neither Whitt nor Kligerman have made much noise this year, but Whitt has run better than PK, kind of a shame he's the one getting the boot.
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maybe the "klingon" has a sponsor. one top 20 out of the bunch for Whitt. Stremme had 4 top 20's his last year and they got rid of him.
 
StandOnIt said:
maybe the "klingon" has a sponsor. one top 20 out of the bunch for Whitt. Stremme had 4 top 20's his last year and they got rid of him.
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Kligerman has just 54 points through 8 races, good enough for 38th in the standings. Best finish was 29th at Daytona.
 
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