Signs the (NASCAR) economy is in bad shape

Here are five signs that the NASCAR economy is in bad shape:

1. Crowds have been down at nearly every track this season during the Chase.

2. Former dominate teams are struggling. A multiple time Daytona 500 winning team, Morgan-McClure Motorsports, was forced to shut down due to a lack of sponsorship. Lets not forget Yates Racing, a former Championship winning team, hasn't had a full time sponsor all season long.

3. Another legendary team, Wood Brothers Racing, has not only been struggling to find sponsorship, but have also struggled to race their way into the top 35 in owner points. Without Bill Elliott around to guarantee them spots in races, Wood Brothers Racing would likely have folded already.

4. Merger, merger, merger. Wasn't it only last year that Dale Earnhardt Inc. merged with Ginn Racing? Now, all of a sudden, DEI is set to announce a merger with Chip Ganassi Racing (to create Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, supposedly). Lets not forget Bill Davis Racing, Gillett Evernham Motorsports, Hall of Fame Racing, Wood Brothers Racing, Petty Enterprises and Robby Gordon Motorsports have all been in talks to merge with one team or another.

5. Owners are selling stakes in their teams to investment groups. Roush/Fenway? Gillett/Evernham? Boston Ventures/Petty Enterprises? What's next? Hendrick/Steinbrenner?

Maybe all of these things really amount to nothing, maybe not. Truth is a lot of things are going to change in 2009. Will it be good or bad for the sport? I'm not really sure, but we will soon find out.