Ray Evernham “Films” a Sequel
Monday, October 8th, 2007 9:57pm UTC
By Marc, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
Just as he did a couple months back Ray Evernham has “come clean” over his workplace dalliance with ARCA RE/MAX driver Erin Crocker.
Crocker competed at Talladega in Evernham’s Mac Tools Dodge finishing 18th and wrapped up the series’ Superspeedway Challenge Title that includes events held at Daytona, Nashville, Kentucky, Pocono, Michigan, Kansas, Gateway, Chicagoland and Talladega.
After the event Evernham said Crocker still is trying to put together a deal to run next season in the Craftsman Truck, Busch Nationwide or ARCA series.
“There could be some partnerships for her to run the whole ARCA series,” Evernham said. “We’re going to do everything we can to help her move on, and hopefully people will take her more seriously when she’s off on her own.”
Ok Ray, for the second time we get it. You’re sorry for being an asshat on the job and your sorry. As a result you’re attempting to make amends by assisting her in her job search for 2008 and beyond.
But I question his dedication to the job at hand. Look at what Ray provided for Crocker to compete with at Talladega:
“The car we brought was not a great car and not a great engine, and we didn’t have time to prepare or work on it,” Evernham said. “We knew we had to finish 20th or better, and we rode around the back and that didn’t work for us. And 40 laps to go, she had to get up there and race. It was pretty nerve wracking.“I hope that people take notice of the things she has done.”
Ray… what else did you have to do? It’s not like you had one, two or three cars in NASCAR’s Chase.
Granted last Friday there were still 7 events left in the NASCAR year and Dodge provides millions to GEM to compete in and that part of his operation should take priority.
I’ll also concede Crocker only needed to place 20th or higher to clinch the ARCA Superspeedway title, but still, wouldn’t it have been better to provide the best possible equipment to run during one of the premier events on the ARCA schedule?
I’m of the opinion Crocker could have had “people take notice” in a far more favorable light if she could have won at Talladega vice riding around the back.
Crocker’s job search equation breaks down this way; What would gain more press coverage, an ARCA Superspeedway Challenge Title or the first ever female winner in a major stock car circuit on one of the showcase ovals in America?
Something doesn’t compute.
Ray, you’re not even trying and Erin got screwed again! This time with her firesuit on!
Cross posted @ Full Throttle.
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Filed Under: Marc Boland, Nascar, Talladega, The Soapbox, The Way I See It
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By Marc, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday July 25, 2007
7:09pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
This is a follow on to a previous post at my other place of unemployement, Wishing You Were Brian France.
In it I opined many of the head honchos of America’s major sports might hold a bit of jealousy in their hearts for Brian France’s position based on the current scandals enveloping them recently.
This missive takes the opposite view.
Not withstanding France’s possession of “palm tree debris” and “sodas” while navigating condominium parking lots, NASCAR’s CEO has led a rather charmed life during his tenure. The sport is still number two and despite the slight down turn in viewership recently it remains the sport of choice for viewers on most weekends of the year.
Read this as a cautionary tale. Or if you so choose, pure BS. (a decision made while head is planted in sand)
Two of the current scandals on front pages from NYC to Kookamunga are a NBA referee’s ties to gambling and the NFL’s Bad Newz problem.
Both have a common thread, gambling. That connection is plain to see in the NBA’s case but I have seen some commentary that gives me an indication not everyone understands what drives the evil “sport” of dog fighting.
Without the ability to gamble on the outcome of dogfights the activity would be virtually nonexistent.
At this point I have no idea what NASCAR’s or ISC’s stance on gambling by its credential holders is. Obviously any illegal gambling would fall under the catchall of both the morals clause contained in every contract and Sections of The Mythical Rulebook 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing).
Beyond that I’m clueless. If anyone has heard or read of a more public stance by NASCAR officials drop the reference in the comment section.
I’m also unaware whether NASCAR has taken any preemptive action.
For example, the NFL allows FBI and other law enforcement personnel into the training camps to lecture teams on the pervasive nature of gambling and how easy it is to fall prey to the less than desirables that operate on the periphery of the industry.
I’m not sure if this policy is in effect for NASCAR, again if you know, straighten me out.
Before some of you may consider this as a “sky is falling” scenario, save it. It’s much better to assume the worst than wait until your view is obscured by “clouds” that have already fallen. Unfortunately, NASCAR has a habit of reacting, not acting on many occasions.
NASCAR has operated close to the gambling industry for a number of years. Holding events in Las Vegas is the most visible manifestation of that but there have been a few instances of race teams having secondary sponsors of casinos and the like.
Nothing wrong with that. It’s the scumbags, lowlifes, and at the risk of getting a knock on my door by “Guido,” The Mob types that orbit around legal gambling where the problem is.
Gambling on NASCAR is becoming big business. Select your search engine of choice and enter “NASCAR Gambling,” if you have any doubts. (Gordon & Johnson are co-favorites at 5/1 to win the Allstate 400)
(Speculation alert: What follows is pure fantasy but very plausible)
Despite the fallacy of NASCAR personnel being rednecks with IQ’s somewhere south of the Great Apes the majority are highly educated and that has led many of them to be very large fans of their alma mater’s basketball and college football teams.
Say, for example, a pit crew member of the #011 Adult Diapers Chevy gets into heavy debt to his bookie betting on his alma mater’s football team after a 2 and 10 season.
“Bonaventura the Bookie” is becoming increasingly upset with the several thousand dollar marker owed since late November and goes to said pit crew member in mid-January with an “offer he can’t refuse.”
Pay up, or sabotage the current betting favorite #011 Adult Diapers Chevy during the Daytona 500. Failure to comply will be at the risk of three broken legs. (the “third” being the most important to this young stud)
From there it’s easy to envision a dropped jack at the most inopportune time sending the #011 from first to 32nd, introducing a “slow leak” in a tire during a stop (don’t think something similar can’t happen? Think again.) or other performance degrading activity.
It’s all too easy for a single crew member to make a driver go from hero to zero in the span of a few laps. There’s a small margin between the two, a margin closed with such ease to be almost laughable.
NASCAR Nation has its share of caution flag/team favoritism Conspiracy Nuts, the last thing NASCAR needs is anything that even smells of a races outcome being altered for the sake of bets made on an event.
It goes without saying if it ever happens Brian France will wish he weren’t Brian France.
As said earlier, this is a cautionary tale but one that should, and better, be taken seriously by France and the ISC (and it’s share holders). If they have ignored the problem (something they have a habit of doing) mores the pity, they deserve the same treatment the NFL and NBA are getting now.
UPDATE: Hardly a surprising comment from Greg Biffle who has made plain his animal rights advocacy: “Just put him in prison and tell the general public, just give them all the details of what they do with those dogs,” Biffle said. “How they steal people’s dogs out of their front yards and use them for bait dogs and let other dogs kill them. There’s all the horrifying stories. You look at all the pictures on the Internet of the dogs, just maimed, mangled. It’s horrible.”
Nothing I can add except this, the NFL, and NASCAR better look at the gambling that fuels the cock fighting “industry.”
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Filed Under: Marc Boland, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Soapbox, The Way I See It
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By Tim Spencer, Thunder Lounge
Tuesday February 20, 2007
1:27am UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
Who is disappointed the most as the Daytona 500 winds down could very well be a slue of people, car owners and drivers as well. From bad finishes to just being taking out or being nipped at the finish line it what was the closest finish in NASCAR history at Daytona since the introduction of electronic scoring. Daytona had it all.
Probably the two most noted was the deal with Mike’s Toyota and Harvick pushing a fender in front of Martin for the win. We all know those two events have been put all over the press.
Toyota found out that Daytona was for the big boys. The highest finishing
Toyota was that of Dale Jarrett who finished 22nd. His team owner managed to take a car that had not seen the track until the Duel and finish in the 30th spot.
Dave Blaney finished the day in 34th after flying down pit road to miss the being of one accident and cause another as he exited pit road and slammed into Schrader who was another innocent by stander taking out do to someone else’s carelessness. The final Toyota of Reutimann ended the day in 40th. Add to that Waltrip is starting the season in the hole in points! Not to good of a day for the first race with the Toy’s.
How about Tony Stewart?? Think he had what he would call a disappointing day? He finished dead last after being taken out by Kurt Busch. Busch managed to return with his way ward Dodge run enough laps to move in front of Stewart and Kyle Petty. The sad part is that Busch and Stewart had by far the top cars of the day. Busch still led the most laps while Stewart led the second most laps.
How about all the cars that were trashed while trying to race back to the finish because NASCAR didn’t put out the caution on the final lap?? I’m sure there is a bunch of upset drivers and owners with that. Take for example, David Gilliland who spent part of the day a lap down and then got the luck dog to work his way back to the top five. Only to be knocked out in the last lap to finish eight. While eight is nothing to complain about for a rookie who was running in the top five to be caught up in someone else crash makes it a little disappointing. Matt Kennseth would also be another who was running well into the top ten when it broke loss and finished 27th.
How about the fans?? I bet there are several fans that are disappointed and that would even be without the big wreck at the end. A true fan of racing would agree that the race was disappointing just from the standpoint that the race was only about 40 laps long rather than 200. It was definitely one of the most boring races that I’ve ever seen at Daytona. Let’s hope that July brings a better race, for the fans and for the drivers.
And That’s The Way I See It!!!
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Filed Under: Damn Good Points, Daytona, Guest Authors, Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip, Michael Waltrip Racing #55, Nascar, Richard Childress Racing #29, The Way I See It, Tim Spencer, Tony Stewart
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By Tim Spencer, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday December 6, 2006
9:02pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
[thumb:364:l:s=1:l=x] Another year has closed out and the questions and concerns have been flying about if the chase is fair and should there be a different format. Complaints start with the usual that we are afraid to race the Chase contenders in the final ten races and should the points of the Chase contenders be kept separate. A new and improved Chase that would make it a shoot out until the end and a season to remember is what we all are looking for.
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Filed Under: Features, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Chase, The Way I See It, Tim Spencer
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By Tim Spencer, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday November 22, 2006
11:11am UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
[thumb:364:l]What a disappointing end to a season that flew by. Jimmy Johnson who was at one point counted out of the race for the championship claimed the top honors on Sunday. For that his team is to be recognized and congratulated on. Not to take anything away from Johnson or Greg Biffle who won the race, but the TV coverage was the worst of all time. After all of NBC’s debacles with their coverage this season, we entered into Homestead wondering if it could get any worse.
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Filed Under: Features, Guest Authors, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Chase, The Way I See It, Tim Spencer
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By Tim Spencer, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday October 4, 2006
3:08pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
[thumb:364:l:s=1:l=x]As we wave goodbye to Toto and roll towards the Tide we have come to the beginning of the end. Now with 30% of the Chase complete we will begin to see the battle at Homestead start to emerge. Another week passes and the drama of the Chase has continued to play out. Speaking of out, Kahne and Busch may now be thanked for playing the game and accept their parting gifts.
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Filed Under: Features, Guest Authors, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Chase, The Way I See It, Tim Spencer
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By Tim Spencer, Thunder Lounge
Tuesday September 26, 2006
8:40pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
[thumb:364:l:s=1:l=x]Week number two of the ten week shot at the title has come and gone. Not only has it come and gone, but it has left a couple of the contenders scratching their heads and wondering exactly how it went so wrong from the beginning.
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Filed Under: Features, Guest Authors, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Chase, The Way I See It, Tim Spencer
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By Tim Spencer, Thunder Lounge
Tuesday September 19, 2006
3:31pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
[thumb:364:l:s=1:l=x]Week one of the Chase for the Cup has already started shaping up. Yep, I’m by no means a Ford fan, but sometimes you just have to say “That’s the way I see it†and let the dice roll. Which owner has the best shot, I would like to say RCR has the best shot, but I just don’t think it’s there yet. Kasey Kahne is in the lone Dodge so if he goes looking for help where might he find it? The person who would most likely offer the most help would be Denny Hamlin. However, I don’t see it coming down to any of them. I would have to put the combination of Mark Martin and Matt Kennseth in the front spots.
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Filed Under: Features, Guest Authors, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Chase, The Way I See It, Tim Spencer
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By Tim Spencer, Thunder Lounge
Tuesday September 12, 2006
3:01pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
[thumb:364:l:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-way-i-see-it/]We’ll it’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to let the keys flow, but that’s more Luke’s fault than it is mine. So this week we’re going to touch on a few items, and as always they’ll be the way I see it.
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Filed Under: Features, Guest Authors, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Chase, The Way I See It, Tim Spencer
Trackback URL for: The Chase, Current Competition, And Stewart Watching The Show
By Tim Spencer, Thunder Lounge
Tuesday August 22, 2006
5:21pm UTC
Published on Thunder Lounge.
[thumb:364:l:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-way-i-see-it/]With Bristol on tap for this weekend it is a fine time to make mention of this. Unfortunately Luke stole a little bit of my Thunder with his rant on the whole Edwards/Dale Junior scuffle last Saturday but my point goes deeper.
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Filed Under: Features, Guest Authors, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Way I See It, Tim Spencer
Trackback URL for: Handle Your Business, But Do It Wisely
