NASCAR: TMG and Circle Sport break off partnership for 2018
By Alex Herbst
The NASCAR Cup Series sees a breakup of two partner teams for the second straight year. The Motorsports Group and Circle Sport will separate.
Marrying two teams together in hopes of building a competitive operation in NASCAR has been plagued with failure over the years. The attempts to fold Gillett-Evernham Motorsports into Richard Petty Motorsports some years ago led to a massive contraction of cars. The arranged marriage last year between Circle Sport Racing and Leavine Family Racing was also a bust. Now, Circle Sport is back in the news, breaking off their partnership with The Motorsports Group.
As reported in a press release from TMG, the teams will separate into two different operations for the 2018 season. While it remains uncertain what exactly the plans are for Circle Sport Racing in 2018, it appears The Motorsports Group will retain crew chief Eddie Pardue. It is likely that the car number 33 and NASCAR charter will remain with Circle Sport and owner Joe Falk.
TMG team owner Curtis Key had this to say about the separation:
"“We wish them the best. I will continue on this journey and look to rebound for 2018. This is sudden for us but we put a plan together rather quickly, we’ve had discussions with potential drivers but it’s only been a day since the news and we have more calls to make, we look to have a driver announce in early January.”More from NASCARNASCAR Cup Series: New team set to compete in 2024NASCAR: Will Kevin Harvick’s major record ever be broken?NASCAR: Surprising name continuously linked to new seatNASCAR driver at risk of missing the Daytona 500?NASCAR set for rare appearance last seen 13 years ago"
Circle Sport Racing and The Motorsports Group partnered up for the 2017 season to field the #33 Chevy of Jeffrey Earnhardt full-time. The entry was originally funded by a combination of Falk and Key’s partners, before Hulu came on board as a primary sponsor for 19 races. There is no word yet if the streaming site will return as a sponsor with either team for the 2018 campaign.
If there is one benefit for the sport by this team divorce, it is the addition of another squad to help reach a full field for the upcoming season. With the shutdown of the #77 Furniture Row Racing team, the uncertain future of BK Racing, and no word about what’s next for the #27 car at Richard Childress Racing, the field could be short of 40 cars at many races in 2018. However, if both TMG and Circle Sport field independent entries, then it is likely that a full field could be within reach.
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What do you think about The Motorsports Group and Circle Sport Racing breaking up? Who will drive the entries for these teams?