'Big hit on our budget': How increased fuel prices affect NASCAR teams

As gas prices rise across the United States and around the world in the wake of the Iran war, NASCAR is feeling the effects. 

In order to get from race to race, teams use 18-wheelers to drive to each event. Hauler drivers are the unsung heroes of the sport, putting on hundreds, if not thousands of miles to ensure their teams' cars are getting to the racetrack. 

But as diesel prices increase — they reached $5.50 a gallon on average in the U.S. on Thursday, per AAA, while regular gasoline is at $4.08 a gallon — teams are feeling a strain on their wallets. 

Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice detailed how rising fuel prices and other economic factors impact his organization in a Thursday interview with SirusXM NASCAR Radio and noted that upcoming race weekend in Rockingham, N.C. — close to NASCAR's hub in Charlotte — is good from a financial perspective.

Fuel prices affecting NASCAR teams

According to AAA, diesel prices have increased by $1.73 from where they were a year ago at $3.77 a gallon. 

"It's been big," Rice said of the impact of increasing fuel prices. "In January, we spent a lot of money on fuel running parts here, there doing all that. Now, we have a group text called the 'Traveling Group Text' for Kaulig Racing."

Rice says the individuals in that group text plan their trips and try to be efficient in regard to how many trips they make. 

"I was talking to our truck drivers and saying, 'Hey, watch fuel prices. You're going to Rockingham, do you need to fill it all the way up? Keep your eye on that. Look at places you can fuel a little bit cheaper. Every dollar matters when you're talking about the Truck Series."

Kaulig is in the midst of its first season running five full-time entries in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series while also putting two full-time Cup Series entries on the racetrack. 

"The fuel prices have really put a big hit on our budget," Rice said. "But it is what it is. We have to budget for certain things. But the fuel prices have been tough."