Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie

5 Unanswered questions from 'dega

After being taken to task by the Charlotte Observer's David Poole for my stance on the whole Jeffy/Flag deal; I'm looking for help with these five questions.  Let us know your opinion on...

The Buzz ON PIT ROW is:

Does a DEI buyout of Robert Yates Racing pave the way for Junior's exit ?

The Fast Lap wants to know:

1)  Does the Green, White, Checkers overtime need to be adjusted; especially at restrictor plate tracks?

2) If DEI and RYR merge, which car manufacturer will win out?

3)  Does Tony Stewart doing the side step shuffle after his meeting with NASCAR surprise you?

4)  Should Jeff Gordon's beer can shower, force NASCAR to re-think its "coolers in the stands" policy?

Let us know how you feel about these questions or anything else that happened at Talladega last weekend.  If we like your comments we could use them on the air during Tuesday's show.  Leave us a comment on the blog or call the show--toll free at 1-877-502-8255 between 5-7pm edt on Tuesdays.

If your radio market does not air any or all of ON PIT ROW-- tell them they should and listen to our show on www.racetalkradio.com Thursdays from 7-9pm et.

photo: cumberlink.com

Earnhardts going through same pain as many small businesses

The battle for controlling interest in Dale Earnhardt Incorporated has been one of the major stories of this sporting season.  I feel an obligation to comment on what I see and read and hear.  I am not comfortable doing this.  I feel like I'm butting in to a family argument.

My family has owned small businesses.  My mom and dad did and I have, as well.  I have no doubt that the following statement from Dale Junior is in fact true.

"If my dad was alive, a lot of things would be different, a whole lot," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I don't like to get hypothetical. I think he would be pretty proud of what I've been able to accomplish."

When $55 million only buys you 51 percent, are we still talking about a small business?

Here's a different question surrounding the same problem.  When it only takes $55 million to buy a 51 percent controlling interest, are we talking about a big business?

This is in my opinion, a small business problem and a common one. It is a small business problem because of the small number of individuals involved.  The dollars are incidental. The problem is dealing with ownership succession.  I am not anything close to expert on this subject.  I hope that our friends, the professors at the View from here: The business of NASCAR  blog will take this story on and break it down for the lay crowd.

Matt of The Catfish Show has a take some possible outcomes of the deal. He thinks maybe this opens an opportunity for the Earnhardt sibs to partner up with a big-time investor, ala Roush-Fenway and move the team up a notch or two and obtain control.

That should be one of many interesting options for those that Dale Sr. and Theresa, together, intended the company to transfer to.  Instead, it may be one of the only ways that the children of the owners can secure what was probably intended to be theirs all along.

Here is where I get uncomfortable.  I blame this on Dale Sr. He and Theresa should have had a plan in place to deal with this possibility, and with racing drivers as we know, early, unexpected death is much more likely than your average grocery store owner. 

Succession plans are more than written agreements or statements of what the original owners or owner group intend to have happen if one or all die or are otherwise unable to function. There are many differences between these plans and a common last will and testament.  The key factor, and the one that is causing the main problem now, is that succession plans, properly executed, are FUNDED.

Whatever value that Dale Sr. and his partners would have set for the transfer of control of the company to anyone else,  presumably the Earnhardt children, would have been funded - typically by life insurance or maybe the agreed sale of certain assets.

Small business is tough.  Small family businesses are real tough. This should not be an issue and it will probably get messier before it's over.  They almost always do.

The picture is one of Rob Ijbema's great works.

The Busch Series, a modest proposal

Do you think that the France family has real guts?

I was standing in the infield of historic Toledo Speedway Saturday night and during the 100 lap break in the ASA Late Model Challenge race, while looking at the nicely prepared, very NASCAR-like, Fusions, Monte Carlos and Dodges I thought about the Busch (soon to be something else for 30 million sponsor bucks) Grand National Series.

NASCAR tells us that the Busch (step right up, only 30 million dead presidents) Series is the second most popular racing series in North America. Hard to argue.  As the opening act for the second largest spectator sport in the U.S., the audience is attentive.

There may be - I said MAY BE - some cracking in the foundation however.  Reports of falling TV ratings.  Many events failing to sell out, when sellouts had been the norm.  Worries of overexposure and dilution of the product.  And the races are just too darn long.  So say some.

We spoke last night ON PIT ROW with David Poole, one of the best writers and observers of the NASCAR scene.  We started on race length and ended on the Busch Series. One of Poole's points was that the top two series in the France portfolio are too similar. Too often, the Busch is a dress rehearsal for the Cup race. We agreed that maybe shortening the Busch races - making them more sprint - like in nature, might be  a good thing.

I propose that NASCAR take a more radical step.  The ARCA RE/MAX Series, also for very NASCARish looking stockers runs races on two dirt tracks, as well as a full compliment of paved short, medium and super-speedway length venues.  This is the most diverse racing series that I can think of at the moment.

But I don't want NASCAR messing with the ARCA RE/MAX niche.

 

I want to try taking a page from the European touring car series.  For say, six Busch races per year - races on the front end of double-header weekends with the Cup Series, make the Busch race a Dual 125 format.  All cars run a 125 mile race, followed after a suitable break, by a second 125 miler.  Points could either be awarded equally for each race's results or cumulative finishes could determine placings for championship points. 

Nobody wants to mess up a good thing --especially billionaires.  I believe that tweaking the Busch Series in this way would enhance the interest for fans, promoters and the teams.

Of course there is also the new sponsorship opportunities for the Twin Buck and a Quarters.  Just think of the possibilities; The Tidy Bowl Twin 125s is my favorite, so far.

Responsibility

Did Tony Stewart flip us all off at Phoenix?

It sort of feels like it, no? 

As with everything that happens in NASCAR anymore, there are diametrically opposed opinions on the question. 

Apparently, Stewart was upset after (during?) the race in the desert Saturday night.  I presume he was frustrated at not being able to keep up with Jeff Gordon toward the end of the race and having to settle for second place.  Probably he was frustrated with the CoT and it's pushy, tough to pass with nature.  But we don't know.  Tony took a powder.

4ever3 takes Tony's defense.  David Poole takes him to task. 

Here's what I think.  Tony Stewart is not Kyle Busch.  He is a two time Nextel Cup champion and no kid. Tony has a responsibility to his fans, his sport and the sponsors, promoters and the media that cover them.  He stated last week that he would like to retire from Cup racing as soon as he has enough money.  Thanks to all of the above,  NASCAR will provide him with the means to make whatever size pile of cash he deems adequate to go driving dirt cars into the sunset.  But he really should do his part. Every time he's asked.

Picture credit: MSNBC

5 Questions that need answering

This week's edition of ON PIT ROW will include our views on the following:

The Buzz ON PIT ROW is...

       Was Jeff Gordon's flag waving a tribute to, or a slap in the face to Senior's memory?

The four corners of The Fast Lap ask...

      1.   All 3 CoT races have been good, entertaining races.  Should they go full time in 2008?

      2.   Should NASCAR look at changing the length of Cup races?

    3.  Should the France family be forced to sell either NASCAR or International Speedway Corp. because of a conflict of interest?

     4.   Talledega or Daytona--which do YOU like better?

Let us know how you feel about these questions or anything else that happened at Phoenix last weekend.  If we like your comments we could use them on the air during Tuesday's show.  Leave us a comment on the blog or call the show--toll free at 1-877-502-8255 between 5-7pm edt on Tuesdays.

If your radio market does not air any or all of ON PIT ROW-- tell them they should and listen to our show on www.racetalkradio.com Thursdays from 7-9pm et.

photo: jayski.com

Jeff Gordon defames Senior's memory

I must be living in some sort of a parallel universe or something, but I find the entire Jeff Gordon "tribute" to Dale Earnhardt Sr. appalling.  I seem to be in the minority on this as most of the stories seen after the race, including Charlie's blog entry, talk about what an honor Jeffy was bestowing on Earnhart. What a bunch of hooey!

Jeffy carrying A Dale Sr. flag around on his victory lap looked like a faint attempt at trying to win over the late Dale Senior's fans as his own.

The only thing these two had in common is that when they were racing together, half the fans loved each and the other half hated them.  That didn't leave a lot of fans for the other forty-some drivers to share.  But few fans would ever say, if pressed on the matter,  "I'm a Earnhardt and Gordon fan."  NEVER!  There may have been fans of both in the same house--usually dad would be a big Intimidator fan and mom would love Jeffy because he was so cute.

That is why I believe the whole flag carrying deal was so tacky and disgusting.  Jeffy had just tied one of the, if not THE, greatest Cup driver in history. I took it as a cheap grandstanding move to say, "look at me, I tied the greatest, now I am as good as him."  I found it deplorable and sickening.

I never thought I could feel any less respect for Jeff Gordon, but i dislike him now more than ever.

Photo: www.freewebtown.com

Jeff Gordon and the Earnhardt legacy

Great race last night.  Maybe the best of the young season.  And a semi-popular driver won.  Sorry 24 fans - you're only semi-popular if only half the people love you, and the others wished you had cronic dysentary.

Jeff Gordon's win number seventy six ties the late Dale Earnhardt's career total and as tribute, Gordon did a victory lap while holding a big number three flag out the window.

This was a classy thing to do and Gordon and Earnhardt fans, often not  one and the same, responded with  enthusiasm. 

Fans are fans and fanaticism often breeds contempt but Dale Sr. and Gordon always seemed to have a mutual respect for one and other.  Gordon's early career respect for Sr. was more natural and understandable given the stature of Earnhardt  at the time.  But I still remember a champaign toast and wink from Earnhardt during the NASCAR awards banquet for Jeff's second championship.  There was something in his eyes, and the little crooked mouthed grin, that said to me, "You got me this time, but we aren't done."  And they weren't.

So last night was fitting.

I wonder.  Ten years Fifteen years from now, if Denny Hamlin or Carl Edwards or Mika Hakinen manage to tie the great Jeff Gordon in total wins, will the same or a similar show of respect be shown?

Picture credit: REUTERS/Robert LeSieur

Never has more been said of one who has done less

Michael Waltrip  has a new crew chief.  He, presumably, also has a new Toyota Landcruiser.  Mikey has the sympathy of every writer and broadcaster on planet NASCAR - except for the one's who hate him. He trails Aric Almirola by 67 points to exit the cellar of the Nextel Cup Series - and he needs only 28 to be less than zero.

It's really hard to put a positive light on this season.  Still, by most accounts, his popularity is intact.  In a post with the most hilarious headline I've seen this year, One Bad Wheel tells us of Michael's merchandise selling momentum.

It’s Michael Waltrip larger than life. Right here in the #55 NAPA trailer doing his comedy shtick. Signing hats, diecasts, babies and breasts faster than a Matt Kenseth pitstop. It was a sight to behold.

He'll have more time to sell this weekend, 'cause in qualifying last night for the race in Phoenix, in a brutal looking performance, the #55 team did nothing to change the points picture. It was uglier than a splitter on the Mona Lisa.

Many voices are calling for Michael to hire a different driver as the solution to the 55's woes.

Jeff Hammond, of Fox fame - and a guy who's forgotten more about running a successful race team than probably anyone commenting on this deal actually knows - told us Tuesday, that he believes Michael should hire a general manager to run the team - so that Mikey can concentrate on the driving.

Here' my question. Why don't the #55 and the #44 - DJ was marginally less miserable than Waltrip last night - go copy the set-up in the #00 car. Bolt for bolt.  The Domino's Camry has been consistently the best out of that stable and was again Thursday.  This strategy worked at Martinsville, (or was it Atlanta - senior moment) for Chad Knaus and the #48 team. They're pretty good.

Then maybe they could get Dale Junior as a closer. Oh, sorry, wrong sport.

Is Jimmy Spencer dissing the Earnhardts really Imus like?

Well apparently, they don't call Jimmy Spencer - Mister Excitement - for nothing.

I gotta admit, I missed this deal on Sunday and the first that I really heard about it was when I got the fast lap questions for this week's ON PIT ROW, Tuesday morning.  If you too have been living in an Earnhardt free zone, Shawn Courchesne has a recap...

Spencer’s explosion went like this.

• “The thing is that Teresa Earnhardt gave Dale Jr his opportunity to race. She's the one that told Dale, her husband, Senior, let's give him a shot. Uh, Kelly Earnhardt Elledge, I, I'm shocked she kept her middle name. I mean you're married, you know, why keep Earnhardt? I think her ego is so big, I think she's backing Teresa and [DEI president Max Siegel] in corners. She's not a good negotiator. I think she, if she worked for anybody else they'd probably fire her. But because she's working for Dale Jr. and it's her sister, I think that she's using ego to control this direction. And I think that Dale needs to be careful about that, because that Dale if he makes the decision to leave DEI, there's a lot of true Dale Earnhardt Sr. fans that will lose respect for Dale Jr. That's the one thing that Dale Sr, I don't think Dale Jr. needs to leave the organization. I think there's more to it. I think Max Siegel is a heck of a negotiator, but the thing is I don't like what Kelly is doing, putting them in corners."

I have read this several times.  Here's my two bits.

1. It reads stupid.  I can't clearly tell what point Jimmy was trying to make.  Maybe he's preparing to write his masters thesis for his agent's degree.  Grade - fail.
2. Jimmy did work with senior, I believe.  He may actually have some insight into the start of Junior's career that is not public knowledge.  But he has no credibility to reveal this news and no corroboration.  He was acting as a journalist and he should remain, use shackles and muzzles if needed, a color man.
3. Professional race drivers - or any pro athlete for that matter - should not comment on how fans will respond to a situation, like reaction to Junior leaving DEI.  Driver/athletes are not fans.  They don't think the way fans think.

4. The whole statement was pretty thoughtless and has the potential to stoke up the fires of any number of individuals with or without chips on their shoulders, within the NASCAR community and without.

I did get a chance to see and hear Don Imus' statements.  I am not a social commentator and I won't pretend to be one.  Imus was everything that Jimmy was with the added qualities of viciousness and arrogance.

Speed might go either way on this. They could fire Spencer or give him the proverbial second chance.  My guess is, if they like his work generally, he stays.  If his bosses are not ratings happy, this gives them an out.

With Imus there was only one decision to make. And they did.

Picture credit - Orlando Sentinal

Five things to bring to the Tony Stewart retirement party

Tony Stewart wants to retire.

So who doesn't.  I personally I think Tony just let his emotions get the better of him Sunday after his second spin of the day took Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kyle Busch and himself out of the Samsung 500.

I believe that Stewart dislikes NASCAR Cup style racing. He has said as much.  His comment about wanting to retire as soon as he has enough dough tells me that; there is so much cash available to successful Cup drivers, it's hard to say  when. He would, I think, rather race sprint cars or dirt late models for his vocation. They are just more interesting and challenging to drive.  Nextel Cup has become, and maybe has always been, too dependent on fortune - and the complicated balance of unspoken traditional rules with relentless pressure from the 500 pound money gorilla.  And for all the talk of nuance and skill, Cars of Tomorrow and Yesterday, the actual racing is pretty basic.  Go fast-turn left...mostly.

So if Tony Stewart, Nextel Cup Champion, decides to do a David Pearson, take the following to the party.

    1.  Your sense of disbelief

    2.  Ear plugs and hip boots. You know its going to be long and deep.

    3.  The rear wing off the #42 car, knocked off during a show of respect for Juan Pablo, at the last CoT race at Phoenix.  I'm sure Smoke would gladly autograph it for you.

    4.  Dale Jr, new 51% owner of DEI & Company, a $25mm sponsor and a contract.

    5.  Tony George. Just to see him beg.