The ’08 NASCAR season closed Sunday with Jimmie Johnson cementing his legacy with a record-tying third straight Cup title as ABC earns a 3.6 overnight rating for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami, down slightly from '07.
But most of the talk in the garage over the weekend revolves around off-the-track issues, as hundreds of job cuts are expected as part of "Pink Slip Monday." The magnitude of the layoffs, which will hit even the most successful teams, remains to be seen, but some believe the number of jobs lost could exceed 1,000.
There seems to be an acknowledgment among drivers and owners that teams have operated beyond their means for the past decade, and everyone is scrambling to adjust to the harsh economic realities.
In addition to the imminent layoffs, NASCAR's testing ban is sure to save millions of dollars for teams, and in the wake of Johnson's continued dominance, may help level the playing field.
