The plans for next year are for three cars: Mark Martin and a yet-to-be announced driver in the No. 01, Regan Smith in the No. 14, and Joe Nemechek in the No. 13. But only one of those vehicles -- Martin's U.S. Army car -- has sponsorship in place for 2008.
The odd man out appears to be Marlin, who turned 50 earlier this year. The former Daytona 500 champion would like to run a partial schedule next season like the one Martin is running now, but the prospects of doing that at Ginn seems dim.
"Sometimes thing happen for a reason, and you've got to step back and reevaluate where you're at, and it will make you better for a long time. I think that's where we're at," team CEO Jay Frye said. "We're backing up, we're evaluating where we're at, and that's going to help us better next year this time. Joe and Sterling's contracts are both up at the end of the year. If we continue like we are, what effect does that have? What do we do? What are we doing? Is that part of our future? Joe certainly could be. Sterling, probably not. If we have a part-time opportunity for him and we can put it together, great. Right now, I can't guarantee that's going to happen."
With the Busch team shut down -- right now, there are no plans to revive it -- Smith is losing out on valuable seat time. Frye said the team wants to get Smith in more Cup races, other than those he's splitting with Martin in the No. 01 car. How? "We're working through that, too," said Frye, also a minority owner of the team. "He's got to race every week, too."
Sponsorship would solve a lot of problems, but it's proven hard to find. Every week, Frye watches his three cars -- all inside the Top 35 in owner points -- make the race. And he watches other teams with big sponsors and better funding go home.
"We couldn't be more frustrated because of that," Frye said. "The sponsors that we have, they've been with us a long time. There's a reason. We provide a good value to them. It's a partnership. We're not just taking their money, not that other teams are. We're a good place to be, we think. You continue and continue, and it's like the twilight zone. Every week is the same thing. We do what we do, and others don't. I'm not knocking those teams, but it is what it is. How do we show that value to somebody? We're trying. Every day, we're trying."
"Unfortunately we did what we did a couple of weeks ago, and basically that was a derivative of, we grew so fast, and we just had to reevaluate where we were at people-wise," Frye said Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway. "Again, even at that point, we didn't know what we were going to do. Did we have enough, not enough? We didn't know where we were at. It became apparent we had too many [people]."
"The core group here is still here and will continue to be here," Martin said. "The 01 is sponsored for '08 and the driver lineup is set for '08 and the crew chief is set for '08 and I know the team members are the same ones who have been involved at that place for a long time. Don't forget this is the little team that could, and I expect it to get back to that. Trying to go through explosive expansion is a really tough thing to do, and for various reasons, [Ginn isn't] being as successful at expanding as quickly as they had hoped. Getting back to that core group and getting stronger, it's exciting for me in that respect."
Did I just watch Sterling Marlin's last NASCAR Nextel Cup race? Will Regan Smith be announced as the new driver of the 14 on Tuesday? While it sounds like Joe may still be with Ginn, it doesn't sound like Sterling will be. Stay tuned.
Possibly, but this quotes Fry as speaking today and was posted this afternoon. It indicates the sell of the 13 to DEI was exaggerated. But it does put Regan in the 14. So at the moment things look better for Joe at Ginn but the same for Sterling. Troubled.
OMG!! I think we did just watch Sterling's last race! I'm speechless and somewhat shocked. I knew this was coming, but i didn't think it would be so soon. I truly understand his reasons for wanting to scale back to part time, I have a new grandchild myself and they do have a way of making you want to spend less time working and more time with your family. He's been racing since he was like 17 or 18 years old, I have no doubt he's tired and MORE than ready to slow it down. It still doesn't make it any easier for those of us who love to watch him race. I wish him nothing but the best! Enjoy that grandson Sterling and let him enjoy you!!!
Where have you been? You sound like a Sterling fan of my own heart.
Tell me what convinces you. I don't want to necessarily be responsible for wrecking your NASCAR world.
Are you reading all sorts of articles like me and putting this together by reading the tea leaves like I am? Or are you letting me convince you? There are certainly many Sterling fans that disagree with me.
he'd look really good closing out the season in the 5 car falco...
not sure i like the new " you can't handle the truth" avatar falco. but each time you change it takes me a couple weeks to get used to it
Last edited by williamwilman on July 16th at 9:28 AM.
Kyle is not going anywhere. He is currently in "The Chase" and I know Kellogg's and CarQuest have to be loving that.
You would have been looking at IMUS for the last month or so, but I never could get his image to post. He must have been just too damn ugly for Fox Sports. He worked fine on Myspace and the Ginn Racing board.
Last edited by 14Falcons on July 16th at 12:08 PM.
"You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives.
You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.
We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!"
LOL. While Nicholson's character (Colonel Jessep)has flaws, there is so much truth in what he says. It takes characters like Jessep and 14Falcons to make #### happen. Without us, some damn uncomfortable items would never be discussed and the resulting difficult but necessary actions would not be taken. I would love to play the role of Jessep on stage sometime.
Last edited by 14Falcons on July 16th at 12:13 PM.
According to ESPN.com Ginn is maybe going to sell the whole enchilada to DEI (!) and they will fold the 13 and 14 teams. That is CRAZY how quickly Ginn's fortunes turned.
EDIT: It really doesn't jive with jayski's story that Almirola is going to split time in the 01 next year, because that would put Regan Smith totally on the outside, unless he drives Busch for DEI next year, or they split the 01 three ways.
Last edited by JayJayDean on July 16th at 2:04 PM.
Your right, the ESPN story doesn't jive with other things I am hearing. Almirola may be the person sharing the 01 with Mark next year. That seems to be consistent with what I am hearing. But it sounds to me Regan Ssmith will be in the 14. The ESPN story sounds like last weeks news.
Isn't it amazing that these "official" news sources can be so bad? You and I are definitely more reliable than some of these guys. Oh well, I still feel we will hear something tommorrow since Tuesday morning seems to be when NASCAR teams make announcements of this sort.
I have heard from a source that Sterling is saying, like he often does, don't believe everything you read. Well of course we don't do that. But there are at least likely to be elements of truth in these stories in my opinion.
Falcons: I am never out of order.. Just dis organized..Impossible. Falcons can't be right. Can he??? If so he will have a head the size of a watermellon
Shoo, that is some pretty rotten stuff right there. Roll call, is this deletable material or should I let the ignorant ####'s words stand as they are as self indictment?
"But all this must be suffered by those who profess the stern order of chivalry" Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 and six other occasions. Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
