Full Throttle

Full Throttle’s Quote of the Day, really isn’t ’cause it isn’t posted each day. It’s more like FT’s Quote that Happens to Tweak my Fleeting Interest in the Next Nano-Second.

In that light, I offer DEI’s Max Siegel marking his second anniversary as DEI’s president of global operations following a report he’s leaving DEI:

“This has been a great opportunity and I have always been committed to doing what’s in the best interests of the sport and the company. I am currently in discussions with Teresa about how I can have the most positive impact on the future of DEI.”

Well then, it’s settled, glad you see it my way. Don’t let the roll-up garage door smack you in the ass one way out

Siegel’s two year reign as president of global operations has been the worst in DEI’s history. In two years “Garage Mahal” has turned into a museum, Dale Jr. has left and more time (and presumably cash) has been expended on the “Number 3/Senior Legacy” than race operations.

The final indignity under Siegel’s watch is the merger of DEI and Ganassi, two mid-pack teams looking to make something, anything happen.

It’s like mixing the colors gray, and gray. The end result is nothing new, just more gray.

DEI fans, and fans of the sport can hope it all turns around but the opinion here is the less Max Siegel, the better.

UPDATE: In related news, also from the always infamous sources; “Bobby Labonte in the No. 8, Juan Pablo Montoya in the No. 41, Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 1 and Aric Almirola in a part-time role.”

Geesh, whats an up and coming Cuban-American race driver to do, Aric is screwed no matter which way he turns?

Think not? Consider this:

As a member of JGR’s driver development program he was aced out by a late arriving Denny Hamlin at Milwaukee in 2007. He got the “win” but none of the glory, as Hamlin took over on lap 59 of that event while Aric had left the track. Presumably disgusted by the turn of events.

That presumptive mind-set was re-enforced by Almirola leaving JGR for DEI and under the supposed tutelage of veteran Mark Martin.

He ran 5 2007 events after the DEI/Ginn merger and started 2008 as “co-driver” of the #01 with Martin. In what was billed as “teacher, teaching young driver” tuned into more like “Aric Chief Relief Driver” as Martin drove in 24 of the 36 points races to Almirola’s 12 starts.

And now, if this report is true, an obviously talented driver gets the shaft again and must run a part-time schedule.

Somehow a Roseanne Roseannadanna quote comes to mind: “It just goes to show ya, it’s always something”