Michael Knight | Special for azcentral sports

What is it about NASCAR that Jimmie Johnson, the winner of 83 races and a record-tying seven Monster Energy Cup Series championships, finds "scary"?

No, not the 200 mph speeds. Not racing two inches from other drivers in next Sunday's TicketGuardian 500 at ISM Raceway (formerly Phoenix International Raceway).

It's the danger represented by another number: 76.6.

That's the average age of the eight team owners fielding almost half the maximum Cup Series lineup of 40 cars. Combined, they won 29 of last season's 36 races.

Rick Hendrick (drivers Johnson, Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, William Byron) and Barney Visser (Martin Truex Jr.) are 68. Richard Childress (Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman), 72. Jack Roush (Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.), 75. Joe Gibbs (Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez), 77. Richard Petty (Darrell Wallace Jr.), 80. Roger Penske (Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney), 81. Glen Wood (Paul Menard), 92.

“None of them will officially retire because they’re workaholics," Johnson said. "But age is up there for all of them . . . we have a generation of car owners that could all retire or stop racing at the same time.

“That’s scary.”

Adam Hagy/USA TODAY Sports

Age irony

The issue is gaining traction at a slippery time in NASCAR's 70-year history.

With the retirements in recent years of stars Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards -- and last November's Phoenix winner Matt Kenseth rideless after being replaced by Jones -- NASCAR is in a race with other forms of entertainment to make its next generation of drivers household names.

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Byron is 20. Jones, 21. Elliott, 22. Bowman (from Tucson), Blaney and Wallace, 24. Kyle Larson, 2017's breakout sensation with four victories, is the "senior" among this group at 25. None are yet ticket-selling celebrities like Earnhardt and Gordon.

Drivers and owners separated in age by a half-century is more than a coincidence. It's consequential.

Some teams have struggled to remain financially viable as the $20 million annual corporate sponsorships of the mid-1990s-to-2000s have receded in the wake of declining TV and at-track audiences. Young drivers actually reduce costs because, while full of potential, they can't command the mid-single/low-double-digit million-dollar salaries of proven winners.

Assessing the true value of racing teams is a notoriously complicated endeavour. It must count not only physical assets and the talents of contracted drivers and crew chiefs, but also souvenir sales and what a winning image translates to in dollars from companies marketing products and services and pursuing business-to-business relationships. Forbes estimates the top eight teams were worth an average $158 million last year, a two percent drop. Hendrick, valued at $325 million, topped the list with 2016 revenue listed at $180 million and operating income of $9 million.

The ability to pay the bills and concerns about estate planning, however, have made uncertain the future of at least a few legendary teams.

Succession plans

The "what will happen when ... ?" question is a sensitive, but increasing frequent, one. Some teams asked by azcentral sports about a succession plan either didn't respond or declined to answer. A few owners offered brief comments during news conferences before last month's Daytona 500.

Team Penske (Ford): The most forthcoming was Penske. The champion sports car racer-turned-billionaire retail automotive and truck leasing entrepreneur has translated on-track wins to business success.

Penske said sons Roger Jr. and Greg, "are very interested" in participating in the team's long-term future. Both have car dealership management experience. Roger Jr. raced while Greg was president of Penske-owned tracks since sold to ISMR parent company International Speedway Corp. Tim Cindric, team president since 1999, has an ownership stake in Team Penske.

"In my business we look at succession every year," explained Penske during a January interview before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, where he debuted his new two-car Acura team in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

"I’ve had to spend the majority of my time the last 10-15 years building a business. What I’ve been able to do is build a team of people, headed by Tim, and we have key guys in every one of the disciplines (series).

"This is a key for us as a company because racing is a common thread for us. It builds our brand. People like to win. It develops a real mission throughout our company. As long as it’s economically feasible, we’re going to stay."

Scottsdale-based Discount Tire, plus Miller Lite, Shell-Pennzoil, Menards, DeVilbiss, Alliance Truck Parts and Fitzgerald Glider Kits are among the major corporate sponsors of Penske's Ford Mustangs.

Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet): Ricky Hendrick, the record 12-time Cup owner titlist's son, was expected to eventually take control but he died with family members and others in a 2004 airplane crash. The management structure was re-organized last year under Hendrick's son-in-law, Marshall Carlson, who is team president.

Another force could be Gordon, whom Hendrick has long considered to be like a son. The four-time Cup champion has had ownership in Johnson's No. 48 team since it was created and Byron recently let it slip that Gordon has also bought into the No. 24 team. Gordon is in the final year of his contract as a Fox TV broadcaster.

"I think our deal is in good shape for the future," said Hendrick.

Richard Childress Racing (Chevy): Childress went from small-budget driver-owner to fielding the car for six of Dale Earnhardt's seven championships. After several lean seasons, Childress had two victories last year, and grandson Dillon won last month's Daytona 500. Dillon's father, Mike, is a team executive and mother, Tina (Childress' daughter) manages his winery.

"She can run it better than me," said Childress.

Wood Brothers (Ford): Their family tree essentially covers the history of NASCAR.

Glen, a winning driver, founded the team in 1950. He and brother Leonard are in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Leonard and three other brothers invented quick, choreographed pit stops. Glen's children, Eddie, Len and Kim now co-own the team with their father: Eddie is president, Len vice president and Kim chief administrative officer. Eddie's children, Jon and Jordan, handle business development, public relations and marketing.

"There were times it looked like it wouldn't last," said Len Wood, "but it's very important to our family to be a part of this sport."

The Woods' get their cars from Penske.

Roush Fenway Racing (Ford): Roush admitted more than a year ago "I can't do what I'm doing today for another 10 years." His partner is Boston Red Sox principal John Henry and Roush said that affiliation with Fenway Sports Group gives the team "plenty of depth. As long as . . . we're able to make a viable business out of it, I'm sure the people that will follow me and will manage the affairs after my passing, they will look favorably on the involvement."

Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota): The Super Bowl-winning coach's plans took a blow three years ago when son J.D., officially team co-chairman, began treatment for what was described as "symptoms impacting areas of brain function." Another son, Coy, is vice chairman and chief operating officer. Their stated intent is to keep the team "in the Gibbs family, hopefully for generations."

Furniture Row Racing (Toyota): Owner Barney Visser underwent bypass surgery last November following a heart attack. That prevented him from attending the season-finale where Truex clinched the championship. Visser is back at the tracks this year.

Richard Petty Motorsports (Chevy): Petty, who retired after the 1992 season with a record 200 wins, might be in the most tenuous position.

Petty's driving success largely came with the team founded by his father, with a brother building his engines and a cousin serving as crew chief. Son Kyle raced before becoming a TV commentator. Grandson Adam, NASCAR's first fourth-generation driver and considered the family's racing future, died at 19 in a 2000 crash.

At times, under various ownership iterations, the team has appeared to be on the brink of closing. Petty's current partner is entrepreneur Andrew Murstein, whose Medallion Financial Corp. reportedly manages over $1 billion in investments. RPM moved into a much smaller shop last winter, cut back to one (not fully sponsored) entry, and negotiated an arrangement to get cars and engines from Childress.

Petty has tried to laugh-off these problems. "I guess when my toes turn up, I'll still be at a racetrack somewhere," he said recently. "I got about 25 people with the name Petty on the end of it. They'll be here for a while."

NASCAR watching

NASCAR is engaged to an unprecedented extent on strengthening teams' financial health to pave the way for the next generation of family members and encourage current Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series owners to move up. A few years ago it established 36 "Charters" which guarantee those teams a starting spot in every race and new revenue streams. Still, some think consolidation is coming.

"I don’t want to minimize the need to pay attention to that (age), said NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton. "Our reliance on having healthy teams is paramount.

"What we’ve seen evolve among that group of owners is them establishing operations that will be able to sustain themselves, not unlike football, basketball and baseball franchises. These teams are maturing correctly. They’re sustainable models that will keep those organizations' doors open. It’s on us to make sure all the elements are right for them to be able to do that."

ISM Raceway President Bryan Sperber is among those pondering what will happen.

"I don't know how you couldn't wonder what the transition is going to look like," he admits. "Those are big shoes to fill. These guys are titans, not just in the garage area, but in the landscape of American business."

Race week

Friday

10 a.m. Gates open.

10 a.m.–4 p.m. // Pre-Race Pit Pass Access Hours.

10:35 a.m.–11:25 a.m. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 1st practice.

12:05 p.m.–12:55 p.m. NXS 1st practice.

2:05 p.m.–2:55 p.m. NXS Final Practice.

3:15 p.m. MENCS Qualifying (multi-vehicle / 3 rounds).

Saturday

10 a.m. Gates open

10 a.m.–1 p.m. Pre-Race Pit Pass Access Hours.

10:05 a.m.–10:55 a.m. MENCS 2nd Practice.

11:05 a.m. NXS Qualifying (multi-vehicle / 3 rounds).

12:30 p.m.–1:20 p.m. MENCS Final Practice.

1:30 p.m. Driver Introductions.

2 p.m. DC Solar 200, NASCAR Xfinity Series Race (200 laps / 200 miles).

Sunday