It’s one thing when the economy sucks (or doesn’t suck, depending on who you ask) and people are defaulting on their home loans and it’s totally another when it starts affecting NASCAR.

I was at home yesterday and I caught an episode of NASCAR Now on ESPN. Dale Jarrett was on and they were talking about the whole General Mills swap from Petty Enterprises to Richard Childress Racing. This swap obviously opens up a sponsorship opportunity (Plus there are a ton of cars in the Nationwide Series that don’t have sponsors), but who’s going to take it? Apparently some established NASCAR team sponsors are looking around, but there’s also this idea that it’s hard for companies to justify spending money on sponsorships these days with the economy in the doldrums.

Jarrett hypothesized that this could possibly lead to a shorter schedule, after all less sponsors equals less money and less money equals less races. Of course the drivers would probably like this idea, but I’m not so sure how I would feel about it. It’s bad enough trying to fill the Sundays on the off weekends we do have. How would it feel to have a season that ends in August?

In other news…

Carl Edwards— If you’re going to the races this weekend in Texas and you’ve always wanted to meet Carl Edwards you’ve got an opportunity to do so tomorrow. Carl will be at the Office Depot in Grapevine, Texas from 6pm to 8pm on Friday, April 4th. He’ll be meeting the (lucky) employees of the store and then signing autographs for fans. The No. 99 Office Depot show car will also be in attendance. Below are some details if you’re planning on heading out there tomorrow.

WHERE:
Office Depot Store #406
1317 State Highway 114 West
Grapevine, TX 76051

WHEN:
Friday, April 4, 2008
6-8 p.m.

This event is open to the general public, and 250 wristbands will be distributed for autographs (one per person). The wristbands may be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis at the store beginning at 7 a.m. on the day of the event.