FWIW, I only recall Bigland acknowledging the NASCAR effort
after the Penske team was within a few races from winning the title. And probably because he was
asked, not something out of his own volition.
Maybe he has a new-found appreciation? Maybe it was always there? Maybe he was just saying it because the brand was winning and wanted to feign support for a few more weeks? As with everything lately, only they know for sure.
I'm not sure this helps/hurts the motorsports situation - they'd still need to get past Marchionne & Co. to do anything. I'm sure this is not their primary concern at the moment, for better or worse.
I do think/presume anything we see will be a start-from-the-bottom effort (trucks, NNS) - then again, there were various scenarios in which they could've done that this year to "preserve" their spot in the sport, so to speak, but alas - nothing.
If anything motorsports-centric changes, it'd likely be the Hart/Huntington Supercross sponsorship, imo.
I do welcome Kuniskis with open arms (he's a NY man, so that helps a bit...) and wish him and Bigland well in their new positions. I think they'll both shine with their new respective brands product-wise, at least.
Anywho, we are no closer to finding a NASCAR solution than where we were on March 1st, 2012. It will likely continue to be this way for the near future.
As far as I'm concerned, my (baseless) bet is, has been, and will continue to be until proven otherwise, that five years from now, Dodge/SRT/whatever they're called at that point, will make Penske the offer they should've back in late 2011... along with Petty or whatever. And they'd
still need to find an engine builder/program...
Norm, if I could +2 you on your last point, I would.