NASCAR would be open to more foreign involvement

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- As domestic manufacturers pull back on their racing programs because of bankruptcies and falling automotive sales, might NASCAR look to more foreign carmakers to fill the gap?

Restructuring

General Motors is cutting factory support for Chevrolet teams competing in the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series

• Cuts heighten carmaker stress
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Series chairman Brian France hinted Sunday at Michigan International Speedway that it might be a possibility, and that very preliminary discussions with certain carmakers have been held to that effect. Toyota is currently the only non-American-based manufacturer competing in NASCAR, although the models used in competition are made in the United States.

"We have been talking to people off and on for a long time," France said. "These are decisions in terms of a new manufacture joining the sport that would take a long time to evaluate and actually enter, so that's not something we turn the light switch on and that would happen. But we are the preeminent place in North America for car manufacturers to build their business with an auto racing group. We remain that. And clearly there are some companies that are going to look at opportunities that may not have been there in the past that may be there in the future."

Those companies would be held to the same stipulation Toyota was, in that they must build their competitive models in the U.S. "It is under a very clear set of circumstances that manufacturers come to NASCAR to compete, and that would not change," France said.

General Motors is withdrawing its support of NASCAR's Nationwide and Camping World Truck divisions. The parent company of the Chevrolet brand is undergoing a bankruptcy restructuring.

"I'm very confident they'll be in the sport for many, many years, because it works well," France said. "But obviously, under different terms."