Not everyone is happy with NASCAR’s new charter system, which was announced Tuesday afternoon.
In a media release announcing Reed Sorenson will drive for him in the Daytona 500, team owner Mike Hillman expressed his disappointment at the new system. Hillman will not get one of the 36 charters, which are based on full participation in the series the past three years.
“While we are absolutely disappointed with our exclusion from the new charter system, we have sponsors, partners and friends that have stood behind us, and for that I am truly grateful,” Hillman said. “I’ve poured my heart and soul – literally my blood, sweat and tears – into building a competitive NASCAR Sprint Cup team over the past three years, and to be told one week prior to the sport’s biggest event of a complete overhaul of the framework of the Series is disheartening.
“For the time being, I will instead focus on the positives and that we have a great partner like CRC Industries that will allow me to continue to realize my lifelong dream of fielding a car in the Daytona 500.”
Former NASCAR driver Rick Mast also chimed in via Twitter:
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@Kenny_Wallace @SiriusXMNASCAR @NASCAR Its called wisdom/experience.Think about sponsors and such we lost inthe 90s because of no protection
— Rick Mast (@rickmast22) February 9, 2016
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@cnyautofreak Im coming from what I witnessed during my time. We all were begging for NASCAR to do this. Tons of companies left.
— Rick Mast (@rickmast22) February 9, 2016
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@cnyautofreak . That's where NASCAR had to give up some control. Hard for them to do. I know exactly what u r saying. We'll see I guess.
— Rick Mast (@rickmast22) February 9, 2016
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During Tuesday’s announcement about the charter system, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said: “This is not a new idea that has been proposed to us recently. This has been an idea that was on the table in various forms for a long time. We’ve never been able to sort (it) out.”
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