NCTS Team Owner Left Distraught as He Faces the Harsh Reality Forced on Him by NASCAR and Their Stringent Policies

Financial sustainability has been a major talking point in NASCAR. While big teams in the Cup Series have plenty of sponsors to help them succeed in the sport’s premier competition, the story is quite different in the lower tiers. Even though it’s part of the sanctioning body’s three national competitions, the Truck Series doesn’t have the same audience viewership or financial backing compared to the other two, which has made the fight for survival an intense challenge over the years.

With NASCAR introducing more stringent policies, the cost of running a Truck Series race has increased significantly. Highlighting a harsh reality for 2025, Reaume Brothers Racing’s owner Josh Reaume has taken to social media to reveal the struggles being faced by teams in the competition.

Are NASCAR’s rules holding back Truck Series teams?

The Truck Series has always been considered a feeder source for the Cup and Xfinity Series. Typically, drivers would go from grassroots competitions such as the CARS Tour and ARCA Menards Series to trucks, breaking into the world of NASCAR by putting a foot in the door. From that point onwards, it was a matter of proving themselves and using their Truck Series opportunity as a stepping stone to achieve greater heights. When combined with a sustainable financial model, the sanctioning body can build a healthy ecosystem to churn out the best talent in the country and give them a platform to thrive.

Unfortunately, financial struggles have made it difficult for teams to give drivers the opportunities they deserve. Taking to X, RB Racing’s Josh Reaume shared a meme, highlighting the dire state of affairs in the Truck Series. When asked if he was expecting cuts in the field, the racer/owner replied, “Not that I’ve heard but I don’t expect full fields for all the races in 2025. The cost to participate has climbed.”

The 34-year-old went on to say, “Rules typically limit our ability to be creative in finding cost effective solutions. For instance next year, teams will be required to have non sponsor branded behind the wall fire suits. This is removing a sellable asset from teams.”

There are plenty of expenses Truck Series teams incur throughout the season. With full-time drivers competing in 23 races, a significant amount of money is spent traveling across the country for months on end. Moreover, tire costs, maintenance of the engines and chassis, as well as salaries being paid to racers, crew chiefs, and backroom staff also add up. Taking these factors into consideration, it’s no surprise that teams are looking for any income stream they can capitalize on, but NASCAR’s stringent rules are making it difficult to adopt cost-effective measures.

Moreover, with dwindling viewership numbers and ticket sales, sponsorships are also becoming hard to come by. To make matters worse, NASCAR is also competing against the teams for revenue, with Goodyear being the ‘official tire supplier’ for the sanctioning body, while teams are being made to pay thousands of dollars for multiple sets in every race. While some of that revenue eventually trickles down in the form of the winner’s purse, the benefit is only received by a fair few, while others continue to struggle under the weight of the organization’s policies.

As a result, it’s no surprise that Josh Reaume has publicly spoken about the financial stress teams are under ahead of the 2025 season. Although Reaume Brothers Racing does have a season to look forward to, with a famous face joining their ranks full-time in 2025.

Frankie Muniz to race with RB Racing full-time in 2025

After making four appearances in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2024, Frankie Muniz will transition to full-time racing next year, driving the No. 33 F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing. The 38-year-old didn’t have the season that he had hoped for, with his highest finish being 29th at the 2024 Kubota Tractor 200 at Kansas Speedway. However, the New Jersey native will hope to build on his performances and cement his place in Josh Reaume’s team going forward.

Sharing his expectations ahead of the 2025 season, Muniz said, “I’m incredibly excited to join Reaume Brothers Racing full-time in 2025. My longstanding relationship with Ford has been a game changer, and I am thrilled to help facilitate additional support allowing us to tap into their exceptional technical and engineering resources. I’m confident that this synergy will elevate Reaume Brothers Racing and help us achieve great things together. I can’t wait to get started”

The last time Frankie Muniz competed full-time, was in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023 where he finished the season in fourth place for Rette Jones Racing. The actor/racing driver secured 11 top-ten finishes, proving that he has what it takes to make the jump to the NASCAR Truck Series. The decision to take him on full-time ultimately rested on Josh Reaume, who enthusiastically said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Frankie to our team full-time and to expand our relationship with Ford Performance.”

Do you think Frankie Muniz will thrive in his full-time Truck Series role? Let us know in the comments!