Now that NASCAR has made the decision that there will be no testing on any NASCAR sanctioned track for next season? Where and how will these drivers get there chance to work on a skill, that can only be honed while traveling at speeds in excess of 160 M.P.H.? Unlike Carl Edwards who felt that he could win a race, while simulating a move from some high tech video game. We all seen how well that move did not work, and then to tell the racing world that it worked on his T.V. one night while he was sitting around playing games with his friends!!! What was he thinking….?
NASCAR cannot be simulated on a Saturday night, when you have nothing better to do then to try and race your favorite tracks from the comfort of your own living room. If that was the case, I’m sure we would see an influx of video game drivers trying to qualify against the real world of racing, and probably more times then not…failing!
So now that Brian has called off testing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as well as the NASCAR Camping World East and West Regional Touring Series at tracks hosting any of those events are included in the 2009 policy. The suspension should save the industry millions of dollars, which we see in all the employees that are being let go that ran this side of the business.
Now does that mean that testing will no longer be allowed…nope? All it means is that the teams will have to find other tracks to test at that are not sanctioned by NASCAR….e.g.; Rockingham would be just one of many tracks that the teams could test at without any repercussions from NASCAR. How will all of this affect the smaller teams who can’t afford to test outside of their immediate areas? I’m sure that by the 6th or 7th week of the season, it will become more then evident by each ones performance during the race.
So once again, the smaller teams will be at the mercy of having to deal with whatever they bring to the track, will have to be sufficient. This is one area that NASCAR could, and should take a good hard look at, and maybe find some sort of solution so that the bigger teams don’t continue to gain an even bigger advantage.
Another scenario that will most likely be played out during the course of the season, will be more teams running the Nationwide series to gain what little information that they can from track to track. Since we have already seen that in the past, most of the cup regulars will run the Nationwide series on tracks such as Talladega, or Daytona to get more of a feel for the superspeedways, since they are only run 4 times out of the 36 week season.
Or this could also be another way for NASCAR to boost up the attendance problems that the series is having. NASCAR is already running a tight budget so they say, but they still have yet to lay off one employee even though most of the teams have already started letting employees go.
NASCAR already knows that when the cup regulars run in the lower series, the attendance figures rise by a few thousand fans. Then of course, we can’t forget how hard sponsorship is getting. Sponsors would rather take their chances on a cup regular, then an up and comer. You put all of this together, and it makes you wonder if the real reason to cut testing was to bring more top name drivers to the failing Nationwide series? Since the only way these teams can get any test, or track time would be to run in the lower series. With Brian France at the helm, anything is possible…..it makes one wonder??? Im Out
As another season is tucked away in some dark basement far, far away from modern civilization, not that it deserved to be forgotten, but it is what it is with the exception of a few bright spots. No need to break out those sunglasses just yet, because the glamour and glitz is just around the corner, and will arrive very shortly. But for now it’s all about…..ABC/ESPN!! The network deserves a huge thumbs up for at least trying to add some kind of excitement to the last race at Homestead. ABC went right into desperation mode once the cameras started rolling, and the first shout was heard, “We are on the air”!!
ABC used all of their mulligan’s, they dug deeper, and sweated profusely at a futile attempt to bring as much excitement as possible, on a day when any smart thinking fan knew the real chase was happening from the 3rd spot on down. ABC put a dime on a dollar trying to make the fans believe that the real chase was still between Carl and Jimmie. They showed lap after lap, and stat after stat trying to put Carl in a position to take the championship from Jimmies grasp. But as the laps wore down, it was more then obvious who was going to walk away the champion. ABC tried their hardest to break the rule of tradition, but tradition would have no part of it, and fought back, and once again prevailed.
No matter how hard ABC and Carl fought, tradition and the 48 team fought that much harder. Just when ABC thought they had tradition on the ropes, tradition gave them one final blow, and took over for good raising its arms in victory. Tradition knew that ever since the chase was brought into this grueling and ruthless sport. Never, and I mean never has the driver who was leading the points with two races left, ever walked away empty handed. The only time tradition ever looked back, was to see who was going to finish second.
Looking back in the long run…who actually benefitted the most from the 3+ hours it took to run the race??? Lowes and Office Depot ended up the big winners of the day. These two sponsors got more then their moneys worth when it came to the advertising dollar. ABC didn’t care that a NASCAR race consist of 43 cars, not just 2 with their sponsors names plastered all over their own hoods, that have paid good money to at least get some T.V. time? So maybe NASCAR is not to blame for the sponsorship woes that have been plaguing our sport. We all know that part of the blame is the economy, but why aren’t the other sports being affected as bad? Hmmm maybe its time to take the blame away from NASCAR and put it where it belongs, on the networks that choose which cars get the most exposure, because after all, they are the ones that make those decisions…not NASCAR. Im Out
Beneath the array of the brightly c o l o r e d paint schemes, one would think they just woke up in the middle of some far away garden oasis. Colors so vivid, and full of explosive vibrance, that it makes even the Rose Parade look like a black and white picture. Your eyes how they long to adjust to the beauty of the beast, which stands at just a stones throw away.
You begin to look around to see if anyone is watching, hoping to get that chance to climb between the twisted maze of steel bars that seems to be calling you by name. You already know that once inside, the world that you have dreamed, talked, and bragged about will take you by force, and whisk you away into a land that only the few who can handle it have conquered.
Your knees start to quiver as slowly step closer, and closer. You begin to feel your heart thumping harder, and harder as you look beyond the small side window that is quietly calling your name. You take a short peek inside to see the glistening metal eyelashes of the instrument cluster, as each gauge is about ready to come to life. You know that at any moment, you are about to enter a forbidden zone. A zone that you wished, and hoped would come a lot sooner then expected.
As your eyes, and your mind begin to wonder what exactly it is that takes place once the rock hard seat put its massive plastic arms around you, and holds onto you as the two of you become one. As you slowly lift your leg and gently climb inside, you are now ready to take your chances, and see for yourself what it is, that makes these drivers crave the feeling of traveling at speeds in excess of 180 miles-per-hour.
You adrenaline starts pumping madly as you reach over to push the start button. You know that at any moment, the massive 850 horsepower gas guzzling monster will be at your disposal. Your blood is boiling as the first rev from the starter brings the fire breathing dragon to life. The car around you starts shaking wildly as the veins in your body feel as though they are ready to burst as you rap the gas pedal, telling the engine that you are now in control. Your senses begin to speak in a foreign language telling you to get ready for the ride of your life.
As you sink back into the seat, all you see are the rays from the sun trying to peek through the Plexiglas windshield, gently whispering to the rest of the car, we have a rookie. This is the moment of truth, and there is no backing out once this sleek racing machine has you in her grasp. It’s that time to put the nylon covered safety restraints around your already shaking upper torso, and give you the feeling that you and the car are now one.
Just then your mind starts racing at the thought of letting the clutch out, and feeling the rush of 850 hungry ponies ready to explode out of the corral. The roar of the engine is so deafening, that you almost forget that this is your moment of glory, and no one is around to take it away. The steering wheel begins to entice you as you slowly wrap your sweaty, glove covered fingers around its smooth silky curves.
Your legs start to tremble as you feel the thunder of this Sunoco thirsty power plant, slowly make its way out of the concrete covered pit stall. You look ahead and realize that there are no other cars around to help you through your paces. For just a split moment, the racing gods are calling out for you to mash that pedal, and hold on for dear life, because you have just entered a zone that is beyond your wildest fantasies.
Is your mind playing tricks on you…or are you actually about ready to hit speeds that 60 years ago were unimaginable?? There is no speedometer to confirm what you believe, just the sound of the wind as it races through your tight fitting helmet. Oh…what a feeling that each NASCAR driver must have, has he makes his way around some the best tracks that America has to offer is the next thought that prances through your mind. Then all of a sudden, in the twinkling of an eye it’s all over. The rush of adrenaline is all gone in a matter of seconds; you begin to evaluate exactly what just happened!!!
Your body goes into a frenzy at the thought that the worse is about to happen. Oh no how can this be happening to me is what your mind is trying to tell you!!!!! In just a few short seconds it will all come to an abrupt halt. Time will continue as you roll around looking for something to grab onto….but you just can’t find it. All you can hear is the annoying buzzing in your ears. You begin to scream in an agony and pain…why me!!!!!! As you slowly open your eyes to make sure everything is alright. It is then that you realize it was only a dream……Im Out
Whenever your heart and soul collide, many beautiful things can be produced from such an explosive moment. We as individuals take in what we feel will benefit us the most, and we try to filter out all the bad so that it doesn’t have that chance to overshadow the joy from that special moment. As our season is all but a distant memory, and next season is slowly creeping upon us.
Now is the time as for us as individuals to make our own pit stops, and evaluate what memories we will cherish about this past season. Because in our own hearts and minds, there will be those that will stand out, since each one of us had a different agenda coming into the 2008 season. Most of us put some very high expectations on our drivers, and as we witnessed some were met with flying colors, and far exceeded what we ever thought was imaginable, and of course…. there were those that fell short according to the standards that we set as fans.
But what made it all good at the end was that we followed our own paths, which we layed out before us. We chose our driver, and just like in marriage, we chose them for better or for worse. Because we all know that there can only be one big winner, but we also know that there are many small winners. And all the winners whether big or small, are what we reflect on in the off-season. It’s kind of funny how we hear the term, “Why did NASCAR deviate from grass roots racing”?
When in all reality, out roots started from the first day that we set our own eyes on a sport that we love so dearly. That’s where we gauge in our own eyes, and not the eyes of someone else what a tremendous, or a disappointing season this past year really was. NASCAR is a very high energy game of cat and mouse, which has more ups and downs, then our stock market today. We have all experienced the highs and the lows, the good and the bad, and most of all…..the thrill of victory, along with the agony of defeat.
In defeat came the growing pains, the pains of watching your favorite driver give it his all, only to fall short. In victory came the bragging rights, and you were able to hold your head up high, and let the rest of the racing world know that your driver was the best out there for that week. So as the end of the 2008 season is almost history, its time to look ahead to next season, and get ready for the same emotional rollercoaster ride that it has been for the past 60 years. NASCAR will take to the asphalt and concrete jungles around America, in hopes of bringing us fans more and more excitement as well.
So as each one of us takes our memories and heads to the basement to rejuvenate for next season. As we gas up and get 4 fresh tires so that we too are ready to run the race. Take the time to cherish those special moments that you and your driver shared for the past 36 weeks. Relive them in your mind, because they are yours, and no one else’s. Im Out
As the 2008 season is almost behind us with the exception of the awards banquet, and most of the teams are already looking beyond the horizon to next season. With all the issues, and expectations that usually arise at this time of the year. NASCAR fans have to be wondering, where exactly our sport is headed next season???? Since most of the off-season talk, usually surrounds which team each driver will race for? Most of the major players such as JGR, HMS, and RCR have already made their moves for next season, by acquiring who I’m sure they felt would most benefit their teams, and make a run at next season’s Sprint cup championship!!!! This week we’ll take a look at JGR, and see just how well they stack up for the upcoming, 2009 racing season?
JOE GIBBS RACING DRIVERS JOEY LOGANO, KYLE BUSCH, DENNY HAMLIN
By far this is the youngest team that will take to the track next season. The oldest of the three is 28 year old Hamlin, who has only been in the series for 3 years. Even with the acquisition of 18 year old Joey Logano, who will take over the #20 Home Depot sponsored race car? What this team will be lacking big time, is some sort of guidance from an older, more mature race car driver who knows how to handle situations as they arise. Joe can’t expect Zippy to play father figure to the three of them, especially since Kyle himself is only 23 years old, and Zippy will have his hands full with Logano trying to teach him the ropes.
Denny with his outbursts that he has when things aren’t going his way, is not who you want around, especially when he starts with that,” I quit” attitude. Then you throw in Kyle’s, I’m better then everyone else’s attitude, and all it spells is disaster for the JGR camp. Which one of these drivers can at least try to be a role model to the younger Logano???? Joe has really dug himself a big hole, one that he might get lost in, and never find his way out!!!!!
Every team needs a veteran driver, especially since JGR has Logano who I’m sure Kyle, and Denny can’t be to happy with especially with all the press that he has recieved. The one positive that team has going for them, is what Zippy was able to do with Smokes career. If Kyle can win a few races, and show some maturity, maybe this volatile looking situation will never materialize, but it sure has the makings of an explosion waiting to happen. This is the time when either Kyle or Denny needs to take the bull by the horns, and decide that they want to mature, and be the team leader. I know this will be one of the most watched teams once the 2009 season gets started.
One of the biggest things on everyones mind has to be, “Did Joe make the right decision in bringing Logano up this quickly”? And how will all this play into the future of JGR as a team? Joe still has one seat open, and maybe as the season progresses, he just might find that veteran driver if the three youngsters just can’t seem to gel together. Another thing has to weigh in on the shoulders of J.D. and company. What happened to Kyle at the end of the season? Is this a problem that just might plague JGR in the future years, or was it just a one time incident?
There will be alot of unanswered questions that will have to be addressed before the beginning of the 2009 season. But once they find the answers, and put that winning formula to use out on the track….this will be one exciting team to watch. JGR just might be the future of NASCAR, showing that youth is what it will take to win races. I’m Out
As the 2008 season is about to be put in the archives, along with all the other previous seasons before. This had to be one the most explosive, as well as a prelude to what we can expect in the upcoming years as far as NASCAR is concerned. How many of us fans will take the time to look back and ask ourselves, “Did I get what I expected out of NASCAR this season”??? That is a question that only you as an individual can answer. There will be no two answers alike, just like there will always be the debate that NASCAR does need some kind of overhauling.
Nothing in life is ever perfect, because for one…the world we live in is far from perfection. Take a good look around at what is going on in this country that we call,”America”! The American dream as it was once known, is no longer a dream, but a distant vision that is probably far out of reach!! So far out of reach, that we should count ourselves lucky to still have sports in this wonderful land that we all call home. The price tag that each athlete has put on themselves is astronomical, and that goes for our sport too. The trickling effect in one way or another will have an impact on each, and every one of us who chooses to follow a sport that was labeled as, “The last of the great family orientated sports”!! NASCAR is no longer about the fans that have chosen to pour their heart, and their soul while expecting to get a good return on their investment.
But instead, it has become one of the biggest money pits next to legalized gambling. What used to be a relatively fun and economical way to spend a weekend…has now become one the most expensive ventures, which any family could ever imagine. Prices have risen to a point, that it is no longer feasible for the average blue-collar family to attend more then one or two races a year. That is unless both the husband and wife work, or if they don’t mind paying the high price of interest that each one of those plastic cards charges. You as the fan have to sit back and think…when it will ever become affordable to sit back in the stands, and root for your favorite driver without the distraction of knowing that your wallet will be a few pounds lighter when you leave….. Scary thought isn’t it???
NASCAR just like anything else in life comes with a price tag, and with its slow but steady rise in popularity, those are usually the consequences. NASCAR operates on a budget, just like any amusement park or movie theatre. Their expenses, just like our everyday expenses have to be met, it’s just there are a little higher….hmmmm or maybe a lot higher! And it is starting to slowly take affect by all the rumors of teams having to cut back, and lay off employees. So it’s not just happening in the towns that we live in, but also in the wonderful world of NASCAR racing. Doesn’t it kind of seem odd, that this is the only sport that is feeling the affects of a shaky economy? I haven’t heard that the NFL is going to make any roster cuts, or that the NBA is going to shorten their schedule because of the high price that their athletes are making. As a matter of fact, the Los Angeles Clippers just opened up a 50 million dollar, state-of-the-art practice facility down by the beach in Playa Vista, where the average home sells for in the millions, and this is not one the top 10 teams in the NBA!!
The Dallas Cowboys just spent 1.3 BILLION dollars to build themselves one the most modern, up-to-date stadiums to just play 8 games a season in!!!!!! WOW that’s a lot of green paper just to play in for only 8 weeks???? The New York Yankees will also be moving into a new stadium for the next MLB season. If NASCAR is the second most watched sports show in America…why are they in dire need of having to make such drastic cuts to its budget???? Not even the NHL is losing money, and they get no National T.V. air time, at least not here in Los Angeles. NASCAR also races 36 weeks a year, compared to the NFL’s 16 week schedule, or MLB’s 162 game schedule, and they are still only 3rd on the totem pole behind NASCAR.
There is some resentment towards NASCAR, because of the way the sanctioning body spends their part of the millions of dollars that flow into their organization. Unlike most other sports, NASCAR doesn’t have franchises, and all the teams are viewed upon as independent contractors. So because of that, teams are free to go and come as they please. So you would think that Brian would at least have some kind of loan program to help out the struggling teams, kind of like a welfare system. But instead what it boils down to is again the old cliché….only the strong will survive, and we know what teams those are!!! Since NASCAR is considered a form of entertainment, they are exempt from a lot of tax laws, and that’s why they can still go over their budget without the worry of losing money by season’s end. Because in the end, no matter if they break even, or lose a little, the Government is right there to pick them up. But who is here to pick up the teams that are losing money????
Then of course there is always a kicker….Brian comes up with a really smart plan to help out the owners. He suspends all testing for the 2009 season, and in essence all it does is take jobs away from those employees who were involved in that part of the program. So if there is no testing….no need for the extra employees. What really seemed even stranger is….that while all the teams are cutting back employees because of the economy??? Why hasn’t the sanctioning body made any announcements that they too are cutting back?? Good question…because they’re not!! Yup NASCAR has no current plans for any staff reductions. Does that sound surprising?? NASCAR was built around NASCAR. Not the other way around, because each team knew the consequences of playing high stakes poker with an organization that prides itself on how they are running the sport. Im Out
Im not good at writing these kinds of posts. But can you please keep my dad in your prayers. He has a blockage on one of his main aeortas behind his heart. This condition is so rare, that his heart doctor doesnt think he can find a surgeon to do the procedure, and if they do find one, all it would take is one piece of plaque to come loose, and he wouldnt make it. Right now the doctor doesnt want him driving, or doing anything strenuous because he is at a high risk to have a stroke. He is 78 years old, and stronger then most men his age. This news has come to a complete shock to me and my family. Thanks.........................Sal aka 3Fan
Greatness….Dominance….Dynasty, doesn’t the three of them sound good together? Well they should, because what the #48 team has shown in the last three seasons was nothing short of putting these three words together, and exemplifying what true champion’s Jimmie Johnson, and Chad Knaus really are. Of course, you can’t forget all the time and hard work that each crew member put into these championship years to make all of this happen, because after all, they win as a team, and they lose as a team, that’s what made this team so special….
GREATNESS
Was being able to watch Jimmie and the 48 team step up their game when they really needed to, especially early on in the season when Chad had a plan, and not once did they ever deviate from it, or second guess themselves. They stuck through all the bad press, they stuck through all the adversity, they stuck through watching Kyle Busch dominate the first 26 races of the season, but most of all they stuck through everything that Carl Edwards threw at him during the chase, winning 3 of the last 4 chase races to put the heat on Jimmie and company. Greatness, is being able to put his name next to Cale Yarborough as the only two drivers to win three championships in a row.
DOMINANCE
This was the explosive season that Jimmie, and his team had while enroute to their third championship in a row. Not only did the 48 team take winning to a new level, but they also showed what patience, and good teamwork will get you in the end of a long season. The 48 team dominated every aspect of the sport, and took NASACAR to whole new level this season by slowly picking apart, week after week each different aspect of the sport. They showed how good pit strategy, fuel mileage, and most of all, continuity plays a big part in dominating a sport that is not so easily dominated. Dominance was the way they approached the 36 week season, and took each race, and each track, and methodically broke them down to their advantage.
DYNASTY
When you put the words greatness and dominance together….dynasty is the finished product. Dynasty is the highest level that can be achieved in any sport, and this is the bar that only the great teams can set for those around them. Words cannot explain the impact that this team has had on the sport, since they first came in back in 2002. Jeff Gordon seen something special in this driver, and he took a chance that Jimmie would be the champion that he had seen. Now he along with Rick Hendrick, are able to reap the fruits of all the hard work that went into putting this team together. The dynasty has just begun, and the 48 team is sitting on top of that plateau, they are the king of the mountain….but for how long?
A big congratulation goes out to a team that has worked hard trying to achieve their goals. They have shown that dreams are meant to come true, with hard work and dedication. What we fans have witnessed in the last 3 years, is something special that may only come once every 30 years, since it was 30 years ago that Cale Yarborough put his name in the record books. Now along with Cale, Jimmie Johnson will also flock the pages along with one of our great drivers of all-time. NASCAR racing…you gotta love it! Im Out
As the 2008 season is already coming to an end, and most of the teams are already looking beyond the horizon to next season. With all the issues, and expectations that usually arise at this time of the year. NASCAR fans have to be wondering, where exactly our sport is headed next season? Since most of the off-season talk, usually surrounds which team each driver will race for? Most of the major players such as JGR, HMS, and RCR have already made their moves for next season, by acquiring who I’m sure they felt would most benefit their teams, and make a run at next season’s Sprint cup championship!!!! This week we’ll take a look at RCR, and see just how well they stack up for the upcoming, 2009 racing season?
RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING DRIVERS KEVIN HARVICK, JEFF BURTON, CLINT BOWYER, CASEY MEARS
First off, what the heck was Richard thinking by acquiring Casey Mears instead of Scott Wimmer? Richard would have been better off by just leaving the seat empty, and hoping that some miracle would drop out of NASCAR heaven into the race car…..which we all know, that will never happen. I don’t see any positives that Casey brings to the team besides his last name……which we all know that his uncle Rick was one of the best Indy car drivers of his time. Hmm it makes you wonder if maybe Uncle Rick had something to do with his arrival at RCR, since Rick, and Richard are old time friends?
But then who knows how well his grandson Austin Dillon will fare coming up through the ranks Maybe Casey was hired just to keep his seat warm for when he is ready to take on the stars of the NASCAR world??? Once again, RCR will have veteran driver Jeff Burton coming off another good year. This is Jeff’s 14th year in the cup series, and father time is slowly creeping up on him. How many more good seasons are left in the veteran driver….I guess only time will tell? But by the looks of things, the young guns are desperately trying to take over the sport, and slowly pushing the veteran drivers to the side.
Clint Bowyer who it looks like is about to win the Nationwide championship. This is only Bowyers 3rd full season in the cup series, last year he finished 3rd behind Gordon in the point standings, and right now he is sitting 6th in points, on the verge of making it to the stage for the 2nd time in his 3 year career. Bowyer has a very promising career ahead of him; he is slowly developing into RCR’s top driver, if he isn’t already there. Bowyer has been overshadowed by the rest of his teammates, but little by little he is breaking out, and will be force to be reckoned with in the near future.
What has happened to Kevin Harvick? He doesn’t look like the same championship material he was when he first came into the series……maybe he has too much on his plate with his truck, and Nationwide team? Or maybe he just plain and simple doesn’t have what it takes to win a championship…ala Mark Martin?? Kevin needs to decide if he wants to be a team owner, or a race car driver, because it’s starting to show in his finishes in the Sprint cup series. If Kevin can put that same enthusiasm into his driving like he has in running his teams, he could probably reach NASCAR stardom at whole different level. Sure he has made the chase the last 3 years, missing the first 2. But making the chase, and being a factor in the chase are two different things.
RCR hasn’t been the dominant team like it was back in the 80’s, and early 90’s when the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. put RCR on the map, winning 6 championships, the last one was 14 years ago in 1994. Which one of these drivers can take over the role and put Richard back on top of the podium? Jeff came close back in 2006, even leading the points at one time during the chase, but then he faltered with bad finishes during the second half to finish 7th in points while Harvick finished 4th. That was also Bowyers rookie year; he was runner up to eventual winner Denny Hamlin for rookie of the year honors. RCR has no back-up plan in the Nationwide series since Scott Wimmer was let go, and Burton has taken over the driver duties as Bowyer’s teammate. Time is of the essence in NASCAR racing, and its time for the RCR drivers to step up their games, and to really push themselves to get Richard that 7th championship that has eluded the team for 14 years…..I’m Out
First it was Bobby Ginn…….and along with Bobby Ginn came, the #1 car with drivers Mark Martin, and Aric Almirola. Gone was the #13 car with Joe Nemechek behind the wheel. Theresa Earnhardt made an announcement on July 27th, 2007 that shocked the NASCAR world that DEI, and Ginn racing would merge, and become one race team running under the name Dale Earnhardt Inc. The DEI fans were furious that she would tarnish her late husbands’ name, by taking on a controversial business venture especially since she had denied her step son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. 51% of the company that her, and her late husband Dale Sr, had started together back in 1996.
And now here she is at it again, but this time with Chip Ganassi Racing. And once again she is being put out there as the bad person…… but is this really a true statement?? How bad is the situation that she put herself in, that some fans have gone as far to say that Dale Sr. is turning over in his grave? For all we know, he probably is, and not for the reasons that most think he is….but instead to applaud her on a job well done!!!! How can anyone knock a person for trying to keep their business afloat….especially if you’ve never owned one yourself??? And even if you do, don’t you try your hardest to keep if profitable?
Why is it every time Theresa Earnhardt tries to do something that any other business person would do, the daggers start flying, and she is tried and convicted, along with being put on a stake burning like some evil witch???? Is that a fair way to treat a person who is just looking out for her company’s best interest? NASCAR is a business…….and to me, that was very good call on her part. Do you realize how much money Ganassi is worth? Not only that, but the experience that he has in running a first class racing operation? Look at his Indy cars teams. He is the only person that ever gave the King Roger Penske a run for his money, in a sport that Roger dominated for so many years.
Maybe Ganassi hasn’t shown much promise in the NASCAR series, but maybe this is what the both of them needed to be competitive?? But oh no……not by all the so-called, NASCAR analysts that flock the pages of our wonderful community. It’s always easy to jump on the, “we hate Theresa” bandwagon because of what happened with Dale Jr. But for those of you who haven’t realized that he is not coming back….get over it! Theresa has moved on, so why shouldn’t the 30 or 40 thousand fans that still cry and complain that it was her fault he left!!!! Its more then obvious Dale Jr has accepted it, so why not the rest of you??
Its funny that a lot you so-called fans of Dale Jr were quick to bad mouth him because he went to HMS, but once he got the win at the Bud Shootout, how easy it was to forgive him, and how you all came back praising him for the move that he made. Just like Dale, Theresa also realizes that changes need to be made, and she is not one to sit around and wait for them to magically happen. Instead she is taking the initiative to do what she can to save her company, and if it means a merging with Ganassi racing…why not!!!! I never heard one word of complaining when George Gillette, and Ray Evernham merged, instead the NASCAR world praised the move. Or we can look back to when Jack Roush, and Fenway Sports Group merged, not one fan ever said that Jack was ruining his race team.
The problem is that to many of you have already labeled Theresa as, the bad evil wicked stepmother, and from here on out, anything she does is wrong. Did she actually tell Jr that he had to leave, and find another team to race for?? He left on his own because he didn’t get his way, and why should have he gotten his way???? After all it was her, and Dale Sr that started the company, not Dale Jr, Dale Sr, Kelly, Kerry, and Theresa. Dale Jr was to busy out having fun at his daddy’s expense. So don’t blame her for wanting to keep what was rightfully hers. It’s too bad that because of that, a lot of you still hold a grudge that in reality is senseless. NASCAR right now is going through some difficult times, and we as the fans, if we are sincere as we say about the sport, now is the time to for us to stand up, and try to be little more supportive, instead of looking for any little thing to pick on,and driving a death stick into the sport.
Merging will probably be the future of NASCAR if the economy keeps going down. This will probably be the only way that a lot of the smaller teams will be able to survive, and if that’s what it take sobeit……. just as long as we can turn on our TV’s on a Saturday night, or a Sunday afternoon and be able to watch a race. At least try to give these teams some credit for not just calling it quits. Next season will be a trying time for our sport, but with the continued support from the fans, and a more positive attitude…… it will survive. Im Out
I am a Nascar fan from Cali hoping to bring a diffrerent perspective to Nascar. And if not. At least I tried. I also love football, baseball, golf and basketball. I try to attend as many races a year as I can. Ive been to Kansas,Infine on,Phoenix,Ve gas,Californi a just to name a few. Ive been a fan going on about 20+ years. There is nothing like short track racing at Irwindale on saturday nights. Also love to watch and attend drag races. Of course John Force is my favorite driver. Im also a fan of Tony Schumacher. Maybe someday to be able to write about Nascar.
