NASCAR’s No Speakin’ ze Evil Policy
Well, if NASCAR thought they could quell the bruhaha over drivers speakin’ ze evil about the new car and NASCAR officiating they were only partly right.
They forgot to add to the “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” dictum (more commonly known as the STFU clause) a caveat for talking trash about your own team and floating conspiracy theories.
Enter one Ryan “Rocket Man” Newman winner of this years Daytona 500 and not much else since.
Newman was in Florida Tuesday on a promotional tour of Kennedy Space Center where he received commemorative green starter’s flag that flew aboard shuttle Atlantis last winter.
While there he talked to Florida Today’s motorsports writer Mark DeCotis including his contract status.
While offering no direct quotes DeCotis claims Newman has pinned the blame for his poor performance on the Penske engines being provided to the #12 Dodge. If true, and I have no reason not to believe it, I wonder what that does for potential contract negotiations that he says has a deadline to resolve?
Trash the boss and ask for continued employment, doesn’t sound too smart, but that’s just me.
Newman also had something to say about the new car (again no direct quotes provided) DeCotis describes it as “his unhappiness with NASCAR’s new race car.” I guess if called on the remark by NASCAR he can say “who me,” claim plausible deniability and point fingers at DeCotis.
Finally a Newman quote is provided, and it ain’t pretty. It relates to the fuel-mileage victory by Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Michigan and Junior’s goose the gas and coast past the pace car maneuver.
“It’s a known no-no,” he said of Earnhardt coasting past the pace car as he attempted to save fuel. “Based on the conversation we have in drivers’ meetings almost every weekend . . . it’s a known factor, do not pass the pace car whether it’s under caution or coming to pit lane or whatever, do not pass the pace car.”
“My point is we’re told one thing, and the people that tell him not to do that are the people that let it go. That’s called preferential treatment.”
And there you have it, black helos, crash helmets with tin-foil liners and favors passed to NASCAR’s “favored son” all rolled up in a neat little package. The only thing missing was a whine about a “debris” caution that cost him a win Sunday instead of a miserable 42nd place, but that was preempted by the aforementioned, and alleged, piss poor engine department at Penske.
I’ll make a bet right now, the Rocketman will be seeking employment somewhere outside the Penske organization for the 2009 season. And it won’t be at Roush, RCR or Hendrick, and that future is none to bright.
Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Auto racing, Daytona, Motorsports, Ryan Newman, Penske Racing South, Full Throttle
Who would have thought that the Penske driver in contention for the win near the end at Michigan would be Sam Hornish Jr.?
I don’t think whining about his team will hurt him too much though. If whining, complaining, moaning and griping were hot air, the roof of the NASCAR garage each week would lift off the building and float out into space.
That won’t be the only reason Ryan will be shown the door at Penske.
A career that includes a single year of productivity and many that haven’t will be the ultimate decider.
What is it with drivers in the 12 car? First Mayfield, now Newman. I always thought of Newman as a Buddy Baker type with an engineering degree. Perhaps it is because Baker was his mentor, but I think his driving style is very similar. I disagree with the assertion that Newman is gone after this year and my only reasoning is that Penske is a traditionalist and Newman got Penske his first Daytona 500 win. If Newman didn’t get bounced while in the midst of his feud with Rusty, I don’t know that he’ll leave except on his terms.
Marc, where would you put Penske on the Dodge pecking order? I’d say they’re somewhere behind Evernham and maybe Ganassi and ahead of Petty.
Behind Ganassi?
You’re smokin’ that whacky tobaccy again? The only team behind Ganassi is Petty. You’re right about one thing, Penske ia tied to tradition and winning which is exactly why Newman is gone, he’s been with one of the top teams in the sport and hasn’t done dog squat since his 8 win season.
Well, Marc, who does Penske go after? All the big free agents are getting scooped up. Also, aside from Kahne catching lightning in a bottle the past few weeks and oh yeah, Newman winning Daytona and Montoya more than likely taking Sears Point or the Glen, what do they have to show aside from a few almost won’s?
As for Newman, it seems that once Borland started trying to become a brand ala Evernham or Knaus, that’s when the 12 started going to crap.
Their development driver Billy Wease who’s running in Camping World West, USAC and ARCA RE/MAX Series.
They don’t need another “name” or big paycheck Penske needs to move a kid into the picture and under the wing of Busch.
What’s the matter Joe, getting tired of reading McLaughlin’s unadulterated BS and decided to walk on the reality side of racing for a change of pace?
I can’t see a bunch of Billy Wease shirts being sold. Why the hell do you think Penske got Hornish out of open wheel? Roger is a businessman first and foremost. Wease is not a brand, a Castroneves is. Helio will go stock before Wease does mark my words.
Dude, get over it. Is it acceptable to read different racing sites and comment? Damn you sound like the girl jilted at prom.
I like the stuff you put out there as well as the feedback.
Yeah, that’s it Joe, near the top of owners list of things to check off in selecting a driver is how many T-shirts he can sell.
Riiiight, in your dreams.
tell me marketability is not one of the primary deciding factors in any owner picking a driver.
You’re living in a dream world if you think differently.
What… I have to repeat myself Joe?
Lets see, team/driver compatibility, driver ability or potential to become a winner, sponsor/driver compatibility, cost of contract all come far before any thoughts of damn t-short sales, that BTW, most contracts are negotiated in a way the DRIVER gets the majority of the cash from the sales.
believe what you want, but I see Ryan Briscoe or Helio getting the 12 ride before Billy Wease
Buwawahahahaha!!!
now you’re sounding like your boy Matt.
how pathetic.
We’ll se who laughs loudest.