The Spin Out Zone – The Triple D’s – Double Dipping Drivers Get Bumped

Hold on – here is the bump and the SPIN OUT!

Before I begin the SPIN, I have to spill my guts about a few issues. I really
wasn’t going to say anything, but no one seems to be talking about it.

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that every since the Harvick /
Biffle incident, NASCAR been very successful in keeping driver emotions out of
the eye of the media? I heard Jeremy Mayfield and Jerry Nadeau had WORDS after
they visited the infield care center at Pocono. I also saw a small video clip of
Jerry sitting in a golf cart and Jeremy pointing his finger at him expressing
his feelings. I don’t think Jerry’s response was "HEY J-E-R-E-M-Y!"

We never saw it on TNT and I ask WHY? Was it TV timing issues? Or has the
media felt the strong arm of NASCAR and they’ve stopped showing it? I feel that
this sport needs to bring back the passion and rivalry. Kurt Busch fumed Jimmy
Spencer and Robby Gordon but nothing has transpired. Robby Gordon and Dale Jr.
also showed a bit of spark, but again, nothing but a FIZZLE. We can’t count on
Harvick, cause he has used up his allowance of pointing fingers and jumping over
cars. Our only hope for a driver rivalry is NOW the Mayfield / Nadeau show! Or
will NASCAR stop this one too? Next year there is some hope because Biffle and
Harvick will be on the same track again and it should be a fun one to watch!

ON ANOTHER ISSUE, what is up with Steve Park? Holy Toledo, what a spectacular
crash! I was in total shock and thought the worst, but to my relief Steve
climbed out and walked away. However, when Steve came out of the infield care
center and started complaining about how hard it was to get out of the car and
how NASCAR should fix it. I flipped! HEY STEVE, you are FREAKING ALIVE my
friend! NASCAR has come so far in protecting drivers and to step out and
complain about not being able to get out of the car made me realize that NASCAR
will never make these drivers happy! Yes, I understand it was uncomfortable but
even if the car was bigger, you still would have had a hard time getting out
BECAUSE your were tipped on your side, buckled into a seat and you had all the
safety equipment on. Steve walked away from a tremendous crash so that tells me,
something is working!

THE SPIN OUT!

Folks, I am teed! Did you see Robby Gordon’s ankles during the rain delay at
Pocono? It happened after a motorcycle accident prior to this weekend’s race.
Robby Gordon and his #31 team spent Saturday riding motorcycles and jumping
hills at a local motor park and ski resort. Due to his two sprained ankles, he
had a hard time racing Sunday and the RCR team had to cancel testing at Watkins
Glen on Monday and Tuesday. Why would an owner or a sponsor allow drivers to
participate in extracurricular activities that could cause physical risk? Makes
no sense!

If I am Cingular Wireless and I have invested MILLIONS into the #31 team
including the DRIVER and he goes out and does something as STUPID as jumping
motorcycles during the season, I’d look at other ways of spending my money! That
tells me MY TEAM, MY DRIVER is not dedicated to achieving the ultimate Winston
Cup goal, WINNING!

This brings up a similar topic, Winston Cup drivers that find time to race in
other series.

Look at Steve Park and Johnny Benson. Both are Winston Cup drivers and both
got injured during a race that meant NOTHING! I can think of over 13 drivers
including Jeff Burton and Tony Stewart that constantly find themselves double
dipping into other racing series. And these are two drivers racing for a Winston
Cup Championship!

I know what people say, "They are racers." THEN RACE! Good grief
you made it to Winston Cup so RACE Winston Cup. I am not the biggest fan of Jeff
Gordon, but I never hear him out racing other series. Heck, he even turned down
IROC and he keeps WINNING championships. He dedicates his time to his team and
it has worked.

When drivers look at the ingredients that made Jeff Gordon the 2001 Winston
Cup Champion, YES they’ll find a top-notch organization. YES, they’ll find great
race day set-ups. YES, they’ll find a relationship with Robbie Loomis that
gelled and YES, they’ll find a sponsor that has stuck around for YEARS. Don’t
you think he has done all of this because he spends TIME, (not out racing during
the week) with his Winston Cup team making his time well spent? Testing,
building relationships and marketing his sponsor. He is DEDICATED to his Winston
Cup team. And, he is solely dedicated to his sponsor. He takes no chances with
other racing series, a lesson that every double dipping Winston Cup driver
should learn!

Home Depot, CITGO, Target, M&M’s and many, many other sponsors are
spending BIG BUCKS on Winston Cup, the teams and their DRIVERS. They market
their product through those drivers and if Ken Schrader gets hurt running at
Pevely, M&M’s just lost out, his Winston Cup fans lost out, his team lost
out and Ken Schrader lost out. See ya M&M’s! Coincidence?

I understand they’re racers, but rest assured NASCAR is changing. It’s going
to get even harder to win a race. Look at how ONE YEAR changed Steve Park’s
life. He went from having a secure seat and one of the series best drivers to
NOW everyone questioning his driving ability. But I am telling you folks, if a
sponsor is seeing their driver putting on the "ALL ABOUT ME" attitude
by racing in other cars 1 or 2 times a week or risking it all for a fun day
jumping motorcycles, they may find themselves walking alone. These double
dipping drivers are most importantly risking their health, risk hurting their
team, risking MILLIONS of sponsorship dollars and they risk racing in the
Winston Cup Series.

This weeks SPIN OUT goes to – Double Dipping Drivers!

Dip once, shame on you. Dip twice, shame on me!

(Me would be the owners, sponsors and the fans!)

Until next week, happy bumping!