Phoenix Racing to Exit Nascar

Jeffrey00

Jeffrey00

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Phoenix Racing to exit NASCAR: Unable to find a long-term sponsor for his #51 Sprint Cup team, James Finch is eyeballing an exit from racing all together. "I'm contemplating finishing up this year, and I don't know if I want a sponsor," Finch said Monday. "Sunday was my 776th start in NASCAR between the Nationwide and Sprint Cup. That's a lot of weekends. I'm considering pulling the plug later in the summer." Finch, 62, said Phoenix Racing will not enter any races after the Brickyard 400 scheduled for July 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He said he intends to wrap up team operations before the Chase for the Cup begins in September. "I have not been able to get the right amount of funding, the economy is pretty bad, and a lot of people don't want to do it," Finch said of his team's fruitless search for a permanent sponsor. "I'm getting kind of burned out. I think it is time for me to do something else." Finch's decision comes in the midst of one of his most successful seasons as an owner. Finch currently is tied for 13th in NASCAR's owner points standings with 276 points, just a handful of points outside the Top 10. Phoenix Racing enjoyed a fourth-place finish with Kurt Busch behind the wheel for the Nationwide race at Talladega this past weekend, and Regan Smith steered the team's #51 car to a sixth-place finish in Sunday's Aaron's 499. The team's success, which includes a pair of Top-10 finishes and five Top-15 results, did not appear to help the team find a full-time sponsor, however. The team has found sponsors for individual or small blocks of races, but the lack of a permanent sponsor has forced Finch to cover his team's considerable costs on his own. "I don't want to lose everything I've got trying to outrun people," Finch said. "I can't do that. It's time to do something else and go from there. I've still got some cars I haven't torn up. And I don't want to build any new ones." Finch said he will help his 18 employees find work with other racing teams if they want to remain in the sport.(News Herald)(5-7-2013)
 
What a shame. James Finch has been in the sport a long time, it's unfortunate to see him go.
 
If it happens it will be a huge loss on the track, and Finch has invested a lot of money into racing.

But Finch has said he was going to quit before and he kept on racing.
 
Could be he is getting some offers and he is contemplating it but trying one more last attempt at sponsorship with I'm quitting thing. There are what, 3 teams? talking about expanding into 4 car operations next year.
 
I don't see how he has managed to make it this long by mainly running out of pocket. Must really love racing.
Hate to see him go but understand, you have to stop the bleeding at some point.
 
It would really suck to see him and his team go. It's really too bad, they're having a great season - 13th in OP with three different drivers and soon to be four. Hopefully he can find a permanent sponsor between now and Indy but it doesn't seem likely.
 
Aww this blows! Whoever said this was like the Mark Martin retering thing though was spot on. Here's to hoping he changes his mind (again).
 
Really would be nice to see some of these under funded teams get a break. I think races would get a lot better. Theres a lot of racing talent going to waste when the cars simply cant perform
 
Jeffrey00 said:
Phoenix Racing to exit NASCAR: Unable to find a long-term sponsor for his #51 Sprint Cup team, James Finch is eyeballing an exit from racing all together. "I have not been able to get the right amount of funding, the economy is pretty bad, and a lot of people don't want to do it," Finch said of his team's fruitless search for a permanent sponsor.
Click to expand...

here's hoping that the difficulty in lining up sponsors doesn't drive any more of the second and third tier owners out of the sport
 
*WEAVER* said:
With Viagra as a sponsor..
Click to expand...

You know there is probably a marketing company out there that should look at a Martin/Finch combo . Many seniors things like Depend , Geritol, AARP ....an endless list . Common James ..put the word out . You might also look into a birdseed company (martins and finches :D ). An 'over the hill gang ' with maybe Buddy Parrott ,Andy Petree , or some other crew chief . I think it should be attractive .
 
James Finch got more press and will probably pick up sponsorship to make a run at the chase.
 
nevermind. He's 13th in owners points, but he can't make the chase using 2 drivers. Wasn't he going to fold 2 years ago and then partial sponsorship showed up?
 
hhmmm.........menard racing....w/ james finch ?

sorta like ganassi w/ felix.
 
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