Steve Spencer, left, and fellow Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip after a race at Fairgrounds Speedway. SUBMITTED

Retired racer and Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Famer Steve Spencer was like most NASCAR fans and followers as they watched the heated court battle between the sport’s owners and competitors:

“It was confusing,” said Spencer, a Lebanon resident who was a top area racer in the 1970s and 1980s and competed periodically in NASCAR’s premier Cup Series. 

“Nobody had ever challenged NASCAR and won, but Michael Jordan had the money and the clout to do it,” Spencer said. “Now, whether that’s good or bad, I can’t say.”

A compromise was reached, with both parties expressing satisfaction with the settlement of the acrimonious court case that some feared would tear the sport apart. “I still don’t know who won,” Spencer joked, “but I’m glad it’s over.”

The complex battle was over charters – basically race team franchises – which are controlled by NASCAR. Jordan, who co-owns a team with driver Denny Hamlin (23XI Racing), claimed the charter system is unfair, amounting to a NASCAR monopoly.

However, Hamlin testified he is paid $12 million a year to drive for a team owned by former NFL coach Joe Gibbs, plus earning an additional $3.5 million as Jordan’s team partner.

NASCAR said drivers like Hamlin and their teams have gotten rich under the charter system, while team owners claimed they are struggling. Under the compromise, team owners are granted more charter benefits while NASCAR retains control of the sport.

Spencer is not sure if that’s good or bad.

“Some of it needs changing,” he said. “I don’t like the playoffs, for example. I liked the old points system, where the champion was determined over the course of the season. On the other hand, I blame the owners for the costs getting out of control. Some teams are spending around $40 million per car.

“When I was racing, you could run a full season for around $100,000. One year I had a chance to drive for Richard Childress (who later fielded cars for Dale Earnhardt) if I could come up with a $25,000 sponsorship – which I couldn’t.”

Spencer drove most of his Cup races for team owner Roger Hamby, who often bought used tires from better-financed teams.

“We did what we could with what we had to work with, and we raced because we loved it,” Spencer said. “Now it’s all about money – for NASCAR, the drivers and the owners — and it has turned off a lot of fans and hurt the sport.

“Some of the best times of my life were when I was racing, but those days are long gone, along with the NASCAR I used to know.”