The Spin Out Zone – Robert Yates Racing Gets Bumped
A full year has passed since the tragedy of September 11, 2001 and I would
like to take a moment to share my feelings about how NASCAR helped ease the
pain.
As I watched Monday Night Football this week, Madden and Michaels spoke about
how football brought America back to the day to day activities from 9-11.
Sitting there I couldn’t help but to challenge their remarks because in my eyes,
excluding the love of family and friends and singling out a specific sport,
NASCAR did so much more for our country during the healing process than
football.
From patriotic cars and pre-race prayer to inspiring words from drivers and
owners, NASCAR proudly took the weight of the country and gave 100%. Last
weekends pre-race show was an example of what one sport can do in illustrating
unity at the highest level. To everyone associated with NASCAR, including the
"FANS in the stands" at Richmond that did an AWESOME JOB spelling out
GOD BLESS AMERICA and creating the beautiful flag from color cards, THANK YOU!
Hold on – here is the bump and the SPIN OUT!
QUICK BUMPS
TERRY LABONTE: Terry, you’re 23rd in Winston Cup points, you have two
teammates in the top 5, and I am sensing CHANGES may be-a-comin!
ROBBY GORDON: Why does it seem like I’m constantly BUMPING Robby? I am
sure Johnny Benson and Robby won’t be having dinner anytime soon thanks to
Robby’s demonstration of the o’l BUMP in the WALL and run. On Robby’s web site
he said "I’m not sure what we’re doing wrong to have everything go against
us each week but it’s just very disappointing. We have strong cars each week and
have been qualifying very well. Circumstances out of our control just seem to
keep getting us." HELLO ROBBY, the circumstances that you’re referring to –
uh it’s YOU! I had a great email a few weeks back and the gentleman said,
"Tony Stewart may need anger management but Robby Gordon needs stupidity
management classes." JUST MIGHT BE TRUE, and Robby you can sign up by
pressing STAR 411 on your Cingular Wireless phone!
CHIP GANASSI: Chip did you let Felix back in the WAR ROOM? I know
owners are looking for the next Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson, but Jamie
McMurray? Hope I am wrong, but Chip you had no patience with Jason Leffler, so
what makes this any different?
THE SPIN OUT!
Something’s brewing at Robert Yates Racing and it smells SOUR! First, from
out of the blue, Ricky Rudd starts talking about retirement. Then behind the
scenes, Yates was talking to Elliott Sadler, followed by sponsorship questions.
We hear Texaco Havoline is getting out of NASCAR and then we hear they aren’t
paying enough dollars to deserve a top team. But when the smoke finally cleared,
Rudd doesn’t retire, he moves over to the Wood Brothers and Texaco Havoline
stays in NASCAR and moves over to Chip Ganassi. In the meantime, Robert Yates
finds himself with Elliott Sadler and M&M’s.
Many are left asking what happened to cause the downfall of a relationship
between owner, driver and sponsor. Well, easy answer, MONEY! Robert wanted more
GREEN and M&M/Mars is willing to pay it. Robert gave up a long-standing
relationship with Texaco and gave up a top 10 driver to help fund is
organization. So, who walks away the winner? Unfortunately, we won’t know until
NEXT YEAR.
Last weekend after the Richmond race, Ricky Rudd and a Robert Yates R&D
Specialist found themselves at odds over something. Speculation is that Mr.
R&D Specialist took exception to some of Rudd’s comments about the engine
department. During a visit to the Totally NASCAR set on Monday Ricky said,
"I had no warning at all that this guy was going to get violent. I’m
sitting there having this conversation, and the next thing I know, he sucker
punches me out of the blue without changing facial expressions, without heated
argument. All of a sudden, we’re talking. Next thing, out of the blue, he just
throws a right hook and just about lays me out."
In retaliation, Ricky throws a water bottle and nails the R&D Specialist
square in the face. Then the two are separated. On Tuesday, NASCAR announces
fines and Ricky finds himself on probation until the end of the year.
My first thought was that of disbelief. Why in the world would someone from
the shop go after the guy who basically puts bread his on the table? AHH, could
Mr. R&D have done what Robert and Doug Yates wanted him to do? Was the
frustration of the organization placed on the shoulders of the R&D Dude to
take car of business? A Yates spokesman said that it was a "family
matter" so maybe it was – internal discipline.
As of Tuesday night, Yates has not thrown out any fines. Mr. R&D has not
been terminated for sucker punching their Top 10 driver. So, what else is there
to say? This entire situation from the start, going back several months ago, up
to today has gotten UGLY!
Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds weighed in on the issue during their latest
edition of SPEED MAIL. A FAN asked, In light of Saturday night’s altercation
between a crew member and Ricky Rudd, do you think it’s time for Ricky Rudd to
leave Robert Yates Racing since he is not going to be there next year?
Hammond said, NO, Ricky should stay. Larry Mac said, YES, Ricky should move
on. I have to agree with Larry Mac, sorry Jeff! But when you look at the big
picture, who are the players? Elliott Sadler is the current driver for the Wood
Brothers and Ricky Rudd is the current driver for Robert Yates. Next year,
Elliott will drive for Yates and Rudd will drive for the Wood Brother. You’re
going to SWAP them next year, so do the deal and SWAP them NOW! Elliott is doing
nothing for the Wood Brothers, he’s 25th in points and keeps wreaking cars. Rudd
isn’t happy and I am certain he’s ready to leave NOW. Texaco is the big looser,
because they would get stuck with Sadler and loose 16 positions in the point
standings not even to mention the current embarrassment they are going through
and the loss in marketing dollars.
The big question would be, if Rudd moved to the Wood Brothers and finishes in
his current point standings position – 9th, does the money for finishing in the
top 15 go with the driver or to the owner? Because, if it went with the driver
YATES will never give Rudd up until next year. Because remember, it’s all about
the money!
This weeks SPIN OUT goes to – ROBERT YATES RACING – Proving MO MONEY, MO
MONEY, MO MONEY makes the world go round!
Until next week, happy bumping and GOD BLESS AMERICA!