Two NASCAR teams were dealt serious blows on Monday and Tuesday as both Jim Beam and Jack Daniels have announced that those companies are finished sponsoring race cars in the series. Robbie Gordon is losing Jim Beam and Casey Mears is losing Jack Daniels. These two high-profile loses raise serious questions about the health of the sport.

According to the Tennessean.com, Jack Daniels is leaving because they have seen the popularity of their product grow in places like China, Australia, and South Africa. Obviously, those are not hot-button markets for NASCAR viewership. That sponsor loss will probably reduce the Richard Childress operation by one team.

Jim Beam is also directing money other places, namely the title sponsorship of Kid Rock’s rock tour. Robby Gordon is the guy who will be suffering the loss of Jim Beam’s cashola. Being a smaller team operation Gordon may stand some chance of signing someone to fund his operation for the 2010 season.

It has been noted that the average team sponsorship has risen from 10 million dollars in 2004 to close to 40 million in 2009.