Ground Transportation for NASCAR Teams
The logistics of a NASCAR race weekend extend way beyond just the track. Teams utilize various modes of air transportation to get team members to and from the track each weekend. When it comes to ground transportation, logistics are just as important. This is why it is shocking that Joe Gibbs chooses a Chevrolet Tahoe instead of a Toyota to get him from the airport to the racetrack.
At the start of a race weekend, hundreds of rental cars are staged on airport property. These cars are reserved for pit crews, support staff, and drivers. They’ll use the vehicles for the weekend and then just drop them back off when they’re headed out of town. However, team owners who typically only come to the race on Sunday rely on someone coming to pick them up.
Martin Truex Jr. Owns Aviation Company
Manufacturer Support for Ground Transportation
Typically teams use rental cars of the manufacturer that supports their team. However, as we know with Richard Childress and now Joe Gibbs this isn’t always the case. When Joe Gibb’s arrived at Atlanta Speedway Airport for the Ambetter Health 400 his chariot was not a suspected Toyota. Instead, a Chevrolet Tahoe ferried Joe Gibbs and his crew away.
Essentially Sports Take on Joe Gibbs Choosing Chevy
Joe Gibbs Racing and General Motors Go Separate Ways
Joe Gibbs Racing used to have a relationship with General Motors until 2007. They then switched their allegiance to Toyota and then in 2012 moved their engine program to Toyota as well. It is widely reported the reasons for the breakup with General Motors were related to a lack of resources, not feeling valued, and wanting more collaboration. Is Joe Gibbs signaling a rekindling of a relationship when he chooses Chevrolet instead?
The Future of GM in Nascar
It remains unlikely as the Camaro ZL1 ended production at the end of 2023 and won’t be releasing another ICE version of the Camaro. It is allowed to continue racing that platform after the 2024 season though as it was a production vehicle when initially submitted for qualification by NASCAR.
