Brad Keselowski Claims Big Changes Are Coming In From NASCAR as Charter Renewal Brings New Opportunities

Besides a few successes in terms of race entertainment, NASCAR has managed to disappoint elsewhere. Drivers and race teams have been clamoring against the notorious charter system. The main issue is dwindling finances, and teams may lose over $200 Million over the next five years if nothing changes.

And one of the factors driving down teams’ purses is the racetrack technicalities. Ranging from low horsepower to the specific Next Gen car, sponsorship woes spring up everywhere. But Brad Keselowski is confident that NASCAR may introduce changes soon.

Brad Keselowski looks at a window of opportunity

Introduced in 2016, the charter system allowed race teams to buy and sell their spots. However, it also spelled a lack of security, as the charters are not permanent. And with spiraling wealth, the future looks bleak as sponsors opt out – a fate that has already struck Stewart-Haas Racing. Now, as the charter deed approaches its expiry date, garages are adamant about an executive overhaul of the system.

Brad Keselowski draws out an optimistic thread from this scenario. In a recent interview, he said how changes are yet to come under the system. “The charter agreements have a number of provisions that prevent significant rule changes to the car in the middle of the season. I suspect to some degree that that will remain.” But Keselowski revealed a silver lining: “They do not have provisions for changes to be made before the season. There’s a grace period – somewhere around a 12-36-month window, maybe it’s 18.”

Then the RFK Racing driver-owner offered hope about NASCAR getting in the good books of the race teams. “So there are windows for NASCAR to make changes of a significant nature to do what they need to do to make the sport move forward…they are unrelated to the RTA by the nature of how it is governed.”

With teams demanding a higher share of media revenue and permanent charters, NASCAR is under pressure. Whispers of hiking teams’ purses are ongoing, yet they do not offer much promise as Brad Keselowski agreed recently. He also pointed out the Next Gen car’s faults.

Teams have financial holes in their rides

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In the absence of permanent charters, teams face a double-edged sword. On one hand, temporary charters compel them to appear in all 36 races to be in their sponsors’ good books. On the other, expenses pile up everywhere – hauling cars and flying teams across the country every weekend or paying fees for every race. And the Next Gen car itself presents a financial sinkhole.

Teams buy parts from single-source suppliers, and the new machinery does not even last so long – 4 races at most, as compared to the older parts’ 10-race durability. Plus, the carbon fiber bodies cannot be repaired easily when damaged. Hence Brad Keselowski complained about this dire scenario – “I honestly think the Next Gen car itself was a wash between the difference of third party versus internal manufacturing.” He added, “That kind of puts the whole charter negotiation in a unique place where the teams are just thinking how are we gonna pay for this?”

With the protests ongoing within NASCAR garages, hopefully, the executives will pay heed by the end of the year.