Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Owner/driver of a team or driver for hire, it’s a doubled edged sword and both have pros and cons. If I had to choose between the two, I would choose to own my own team. Its more work and stress, but to me seems more stable. Sure you still have to perform and keep sponsors happy, but there’s no limit to how many sponsors you can have. As a driver for hire, well piss off the owner or crew chief and your gone, don’t perform, you’re gone.

Just my thoughts, what’s yours ??

If you have the money to being an owner/driver would be the way to go in most situations. However, if you're in a spot where you have a reliable owner and team (i.e. Donny Schatz, KKR, Chad Kemenah with Rob/Rita Hunter) there's no reason to have to fund it yourself. Plus, when something breaks like an engine or a wrecked chassis then you gotta pay for it. But like ya said, pros and cons.

With the drivers you mentioned and if for some reason they did lose their ride, it wouldn’t take long for their phone to start ringing. I suppose my question would be directed more so towards drivers that don’t have superstar status. It's a no brainer to drive for a team if you have rock star status like Schatz.

 Ive been wanting to ask this for a while. Maybe my facts are wrong but with Rico. He drives who's car? Doesn't he own part of Sheldon Haud's and his Father sponsors someone else. And he had a crew chief who parted ways. If this is all correct and you have all these elements. Why not put all this into one team and go for broke? Having it spread out takes the same resources leaving your pocket but scattered everywhere.

What is the ownership plan of the 24 and sponsorship deal of the Vineyard? Never made sense to me.

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

Rico and his family OWN his ride/car/team. Because of this you see Abreu Vineyards (his family business) prominently on the car (i.e. sideboard wing, etc.).  Paul Silva turned wrenches for Rico and they recently parted ways.  I do not believe (could be wrong) that Paul attended/crew chiefed every single one of Rico's races as he travels a lot and I believe Paul took a step back a few years ago from so much travel (he has a young family).  Rico does not "own" par tof Sheldon's team, rather he is a "sponsor" of the team (not sure if that is purely a $ sponsorship or he helped/supplied parts or tools or whatever).  So the 24 is owned by Rico and his family.  There's no "sponsorship deal" per se with Abreu Vineyards, but its the family business and they own the car so that's why it's displayed.  If he landed a big time sponsor I'm sure they'd move Abreu Vineyard to the chassis panels or center top wing, etc.  He does have some sponsorship in palce, but I believe most are product/associate sponsors (Alpinestars, etc.).   

P.S. Rod, I think you mentioned in a few threads a few months ago you're relatively new to sprint car racing, so dude ASK as many questions as you want.  Seriously, ask away.  We'll help (okay you can tell by now that some won't, but most of us will).  Always glad to help educate and discuss sprint car racing, especially with newer fans. 

indeed...the abreau family is becoming a major factor in sprint car racing.  they definately are putting their money where their mouth is.  take calistoga for instance.  they invested over $3,000,000.00 of their own money and the track shows it!!!  and, the abreau family is  a major  player in the hottest 360 series here in california and draw 30 to 35 cars a show.

Ascot was the greatest of all time..

West Capital wasn't half bad either..

Life is good...

There's no doubt there.  Doing a TON for CA sprint car racing from Stoga to SCCT to sponsoring other amenities, teams, etc. in CA.  Also Rico's career and they've been influential with helping Larson too.  Really great family to have in our corner of the sporting world and gives hope to the future. 

I guess $500 a bottle wine and growing grapes for some of the most well known and respected wineries in CA has been good to the family...and good for the sport in turn. 

I think it's also obvious that Rico has been spending time on the west coast. The family has invested a lot and that's understandable. He has put the business first, I hope he will be back on the road soon to the bigger races. Easy guy to approach and talk too.