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Big NASCAR teams having hard time finding sponsors

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As many Sprint Cup teams are discovering, finding new sponsors during tough economic times is a daunting challenge. NASCAR TV ratings have been on a downward spiral for 4 straight years and some race tracks have seen attendance drop 50% during that same time period.

NASCAR is no longer in demand by sponsors like it once was. The economy is to blame for sure, but so is NASCAR's oversaturation of the TV market, races that are too long, ticket prices that rape race fans, 1950's technology cars, and managed racing (debris yellows, etc.). The race fans have had it and they are running for the door in record numbers.

Throughout the Sprint Cup garage there are high-profile teams that still need sponsors for next season.

Tony Stewart is losing Old Spice after this season and needs partial sponsorship for both his Cup teams.

Richard Petty Motorsports is losing Budweiser and Menards and must sign or re-sign sponsors for its Sprint Cup program, which features four teams this year but could scale back to one or two next season.

Hendrick is looking for a sponsor for Jeff Gordon to replace DuPont, which plans to scale back its longtime program next year. Hendrick must then turn its attention to finding sponsors for Kasey Kahne for 2012.

Penske Racing may wind up losing backmarker Sam Hornish Jr. unless it can find new sponsors for next year.

Joe Gibbs Racing has solid sponsorship for its three Cup teams, but has been unable to expand to four teams because of a lack of sponsors.

The only team in good shape is Richard Childress Racing. They are losing Shell/Pennzoil after this season but RCR plans to announce next week that longtime NASCAR sponsor Budweiser will join the organization next year to replace Pennzoil and sponsor Harvick for most of the season.

The organization announced this week that it has signed ride-buyer Paul Menard for next season. With Menard comes sponsorship from daddy's Menards home improvement stores, which is owned by the billionaire Menard’s family.