Incureable Heartburn For Bill Davis Racing
Friday, March 23rd, 2007 6:50am CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
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There’s a rumor circulating around the garage that the #36 team fielded by Bill Davis Racing may be the first team to shut its doors. Wow. I’m “shocked”.
OK, not really. With just 4 races in the books, and on the morning of qualifying for race #5 at Bristol, this may shock some people. A team giving up already? So soon? Is it really? With 4 down, and no starts to show for it, there is no doubt that it is taking its toll not only the team but the sponsors as well. BDR isn’t the only one feeling the pressure, either. Michael Waltrip Racing is feeling the heat too. Reutiman has been the lone hope of the organization, as he’s been the only one to put the car in the show based on speed. Dale Jarrett’s used 4, soon to be 5 most likely, of his allotted 6 Champions Provisionals already, and is only 18 points from not being in the show.
Back to the BDR issues.
Bill Davis has insisted to his team this week to keep their heads up even if the sponsor (360 OTC) were to walk out, and that their jobs are safe. Bill Davis insists that he’s committed contractually with Toyota to field 2 teams, and that any other rumors in the media are false. He goes on to say that if the team were shutting down, they would find out from team owner Bill Davis and not through the media. Keep that in mind for a minute.
You know, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Something is going on, but the question is what. Is Toyota going to make up the funding difference if the sponsor walks out the door? Teams take money to run. Before you get into the science of it, you have to get cars to the track and people have to get paid. Logistics alone don’t come cheap, believe me on that one, and then you have all the science and manufacturing of it as well.
What about Dave Blaney? His points situation isn’t looking too good, 39th in Owners at 43 points out of 35th, and if he doesn’t pick it up this week at Bristol Bill Davis will find he has 2 teams trying to get in on speed at Martinsville. So what if that team meets the same obstacles that the #36 team is facing? CAT’s used to being in the show, and you can’t say they’re going to be too pleased if their not being in the show becomes a habit.
Is Toyota willing to fund a team out of its own pockets, a team that is struggling and has yet to make a race at that, just to save face and keep its push alive? Or would it make more sense to use those resources elsewhere to push other teams in its stable ahead?
People always comment about Toyota and how deep their pockets are. Now it’s time to see how long their arms are.
Oh yeah, by the way, if I were a member of that team, I’d be watching my mailbox and inbox. Bill Davis is known for his method of “telling” someone their no longer employed.
Filed Under: Bill Davis Racing #36, Bristol, Drivers, Jeremy Mayfield, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Teams, Tracks
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