The co-founder and manager of European operations for Fortress Investment Group, Kauffman acknowledges the obvious: It's more efficient economically to run a four-car operation and share costs than to run a single-car operation. Nor has he missed the apparent trend toward consolidation in the stock car racing business, where mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships have dominated the headlines.

"It seems like that's the trend," he said. "I think that having this four-car limit (per organization, as mandated by NASCAR) is probably a good idea, or they would just consolidate into a very small number, so I think that puts some parameter on it. Whoever came up with that idea — I think that was a good idea.

"There's definitely an economy of scale. I'm kind of a numbers guy, and we've been through the numbers. ... You want to get to a three- or four-car team, because you'll have the most benefit."

Would it be too far-fetched to speculate that Waltrip and Ganassi might benefit by joining forces in some way, each bringing two teams to the table? Asked whether he might find a deal with Ganassi intriguing under the right circumstances, Kauffman deflected the question.

"That's a highly speculative, theoretical thing," he said. "We just wanted to have breakfast with Felix and Chip, more than anything. We have a lot of common friends down in the North Carolina area. ... I think getting MWR on the right track and solidifying our position on the grid and improving our performance — that's job one, two and three."

Kauffman asked rhetorically whether the group would have met openly if they were talking about a deal.

Probably not.

Then again, maybe so — if only to be able to ask that question.