The Spin Out Zone – Travis Carter & Hideo Fukuyama Get Bumped

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

I’m just a FAN who expects the best from NASCAR’s top racing series, but this past weekend had to be one of Travis Carter’s most embarrassing weekends as a Winston Cup car owner. I know his world came crumbling down after Kmart pulled his two car operational sponsorship earlier this year, but before the end of last Sunday’s race, we all witnessed a NASCAR owner’s worst nightmare – publicity stunt, gone bad!

Japanese driver Hideo Fukuyama found the attention of drivers, owners, FANS and media when he arrived to race the unsponsored #66 Ford Taurus at Dover Downs last weekend. He saw more airtime than most of the NASCAR regulars and like many FANS, I found myself semi curious to see how he would respond to America’s need for speed. To be honest, I didn’t like they way he made the race. Not that I am a big Brett Bodine fan, but Brett (a Winston Cup regular) found himself going home because he could not qualify based on his time, BUT Mr. Fukuyama didn’t make it on his qualifying time either. He made the race because of Travis Carter’s owner points and it put him in the last starting position. If Ward Burton and Jerry Nadeau wouldn’t have wrecked or Bobby Labonte and Todd Bodine dropped out due to mechanical problems, Mr. Fukuyama would have finished last as well. He only ran 243 of 400 laps and he went out of the race registering transmission problems. He was lapped numerous times and slowed many of the drivers down including Kenny Wallace and Dale Jr.

The Dallas Morning News reported earlier this month that Travis Carter wanted to give Fukuyama the chance because if he could prove himself, it could lead to possible financial backing from Toyota. The Dallas Morning News went on to say that one of the BIGGEST issues with the Japanese driver was the language barrier because he speaks little English. Obviously after seeing Mr. Fukuyama this past weekend, the Dallas Morning News should retract the language barrier statement and add that he has several BIG issues that include a language barrier and stamina. He also seems to get lapped, A LOT!

My argument really isn’t with Mr. Fukuyama, rather with Travis Carter himself. With limited options to save his organization, I think Travis had little choice as he basically is trying to wine and dine Toyota and other foreign interest. Not that the method is wrong, because in today’s business culture, you have to KISS the area where the “sun doesn’t shine” of those that feed you to ensure survival. But after this past weekend, the #66 and #26 car owner proved that he is down to a few choices. What’s irritating as a FAN is that I want to see the BEST drive in the top series. Maybe Mr. Carter should move down to build up. Instead of competing in the Winston Cup Series with drivers that don’t have the talent to win a championship, move to the Busch Series and look for new talent and build a relationship with a sponsor. Start over, look for chemistry and find a driver that is willing to grow with you. In regards to his #26 ride, Discover Card is secured for the rest of this year, however Mr. Carter is attempting to extend the relationship into the 2003 season. I truly believe the Discover Card sponsorship is a great fit for NASCAR. However, I am concerned as a FAN that sponsorships will leave the sport because we tend to settle on drivers.

The new younger generation has seen criticism from those looking for respect or wanting the young guns to go through the trials and tribulations as some of the older drivers faced. It’s not that way anymore. We live in the PLAYSTATION ERA where age and experience does not matter as much as it used too. I hate to say it, but Jimmie Johnson has 3 wins this year as a rookie, but yet how many Winston Cup regulars have not seen their 1st win or even their 2nd win?

I think it would be FAIR to say NASCAR has 4 different types of drivers:

1. The passionate, fire in the stomach, want it all driver.
2. The everyday nice guy driver who is a racer but the equipment may not be there to assist him/her in winning a race driver.
3. The, I grew up knowing nothing but NASCAR whose dad, uncle or brother drove in NASCAR and I should get a chance at it because I have potential driver.
4. The, I won in lower racing series guy who is comfortable driver around collecting a paycheck until my sponsor or owner cuts me loose only to look for my next team driver.

You can very easily go down the Winston Cup point list and put a driver in one of the above categories. If you are an owner, you know what I am talking about and if you are a sponsor, you really know what I am talking about. So, here goes Travis Carter trying to “IMPRESS” potential sponsors AND he is in the middle of negotiations with Discover Card attempting to retain them with what?

I am still willing to give Mr. Fukuyama a chance and I guess Travis Carter is going to give us that opportunity 2 more times. I guess I am the type of FAN who wants to be dazzled. But I am here to tell you, one major reason we loose good sponsorships in our sport is because some owners settle with what they get for drivers, while others hire CAT 1 type of drivers and find success.

This weeks SPIN OUT goes to – TRAVIS CARTER AND HIDEO FUKUYAMA.
Uhh, Travis you might want to tell Hideo that the accelerator is on the RIGHT.

Until next week, happy bumping and GOD BLESS AMERICA!