Associated Press

Paul Menard leads the field through the tri-oval to start the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway Saturday night.

NASCAR chairman Brian France says he doesn't see franchising as a way to help NASCAR teams that are struggling financially.

The current economic downturn and the woes of some teams and auto manufacturers are leading to questions about the sport's health. One team shut down earlier this week and pessimists in the garage forecast more problems before the season ends.

Only 45 cars attempted to make Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. That's eight fewer cars than attempted to make the Daytona 500 in February and this race a year ago.

Chip Ganassi Racing laid off about 70 employees earlier this week when it shut down Dario Franchitti's team. Ganassi cited lack of sponsorship as the reason.

That's after BAM Racing, which made nearly half the races last year, left the circuit in the spring, although it hopes to return later this month at Indianapolis. Jacques Villeneuve's effort disappeared because of lack of sponsorship after failing to make the Daytona 500 in a second car for Bill Davis Racing. Davis said Saturday that the car will have sponsorship next year but declined to reveal details.

A year ago, car owner Bobby Ginn nearly won the Daytona 500, then was out of the sport about six months later. Ginn released about 30 employees before the merger with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and about 90 more lost their jobs after the merger.

With the economy struggling, where teams find money is becoming the question. The idea of franchising, similar to other pro sports where teams share some revenues, would seem to help, but France says that's overlooking other aspects.

"This idea of what value does a team owner who has paid their dues and been in NASCAR a long time really have ... is kind of being answered by the investments by the various private equity firms that came in,'' France said, noting how Petty Enterprises, Roush Fenway Racing and Gillett Evernham Motorsports have been among the teams to add partners in the last year.

"If we thought franchising would add more owners than subtract or make the competition better ... we would, of course, look at it, but it doesn't necessarily do any of the above. It's just something that at this point that we don't think is in our best interest.''

Ganassi admits he's "not standing around waiting for a handout from NASCAR.''

The top 35 rule, in a way, provides some a form of franchising because teams know if they're locked in the starting field based on car owner points. Even that doesn't guarantee success. Both the cars of Scott Riggs and J.J. Yeley fell out of the top 35 earlier this season. Both failed to qualify for Saturday's race.

Ty Norris, vice president of business development for Michael Waltrip Racing, wonders if there's a way to protect current owners.

"A lot of owners have put their life savings in this,'' Norris said.

J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, admits there are barriers to making franchising happen but there could be some value to it.

"I would love to find a way to make that so where if you're here and you invest for a while you've got something to sell,'' he said.

NASCAR admits mistake

Series officials admitted they erred where they put Carl Edwards in the lineup late in Friday's Nationwide race. Edwards got knocked off the track and went into the grass, missing a scoring loop embedded in the track to help determine the order. NASCAR put Edwards behind another car that he had passed before the incident.

Series officials announced in the drivers' meeting that in similar situations they'll review videotape to determine a car's proper position.

Pit stops

The introduction of the Car of Tomorrow to the Nationwide Series is at least a year away. The car could make an appearance late in the 2009 season but will more likely run in 2010. ... Denny Hamlin's victory in Friday's Nationwide race gave Joe Gibbs Racing its 100th NASCAR victory.