Let's Charter the Track

NASCAR and several of the members from the Race Team Alliance announced their new deal for the future on Tuesday afternoon in a press conference.  Roush Fenway Racing president Steve Newmark was on hand as the announcement was made, along with Richard Petty, Tommy Baldwin, Brian France, Rob Kauffman, and several others.

There will be thirty-six teams granted with Charters and they are guaranteed entry into each of the 36 events.  Standards for obtaining one of the Charters were based on participation during the last three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons (from 2013 through July of 2015).

NASCAR will cut its field from 43 cars down to 40 each week, and there will be four additional positions available for entry through ordinary qualifying procedures as outlined in the 2016 Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.

The Charter system is something that owners have been fighting for in an attempt to achieve more value for their racing organizations for the future.  It will help arrange more stability by guaranteeing sponsors and other partners continued partnership for an extended amount of time.

As of now the organizations that have been awarded Charters are:
Roush Fenway Racing (3), Richard Petty Motorsports (2), Team Penske (2), Front Row Motorsports (2), Hendrick Motorsports (4), Richard Childress Racing (3), Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (2), Stewart Haas Racing (3), Furniture Row Racing (1), JGT Daughtery Racing (1), Tommy Baldwin Racing (1) Germain Racing (1), Go Fas Racing (1), BK Racing (2) Premium Motorsports (1), Circle Sport Racing (1) and HScott Racing (1).  Also there are two Charters from the now dissolved Michael Waltrip Racing.

The one team that seemed to be left out of everything was the Wood Brothers.  The longest running organization is without a Charter going into their first full-time season in almost 9 years.  Running part time the last 8 years was the the reasoning for the Wood Brothers team not being handed a Charter.  Eventually they could purchase one if another team falls out.

• Charters will be granted to 36 Sprint Cup teams.  A charter will guarantee a team a spot in every points race.
• Teams can sell their charter.  They can also lease their charter for one year.  NASCAR must approve the new purchaser of the Charter.
• The agreement is for nine years (five years and a four-year option).  Teams will be able to remain part of the agreement as long as they are in "Good Standing."
• The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field will be cut down to 40 cars.  Teams without charters can compete for the remaining four positions in the field.
• A Team Owner Council will be setup and have formal input into major decisions, such as rule packages that are put into place.  The council is expected to be involved in how the sport is governed.  NASCAR will still oversee the sport.
• The Four Car Maximum will remain in effect with the Charters.  As each organization will only be allowed to have four Charters.