When Rick Hendrick started his racing team, NASCAR wasn't there to nudge and give anything he needed to be successful. The same goes for Jack Roush, Ray Evernham, Robert Yates, and fill-in-the-blank-here-with-a-NASCAR-owner.So what, Ray Lewis, made you feel so entitled that you can blame your failure to produce a racing team on NASCAR?
Lewis, a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, told FOX Sports Radio all about his terrible misfortunes.
"Well, whatever policy they have, we hit a lot of walls. Because it takes huge sponsorships, it takes huge commitment, from so many different people in the NASCAR world who actually put so much into the NASCAR world."Really? NASCAR isn't easy to get into? Wow, thanks Ray. Next time I think about turning my weekly paycheck into a NASCAR Nextel Cup team, I'll think twice. I mean, my checks look really similar to yours that are part of a seven-year, $50 million deal.
Just move the decimal like three spots to the left.
Apparently, Lewis thinks that NASCAR has this silver plate of car parts, garage space, and a Fortune 500 company waiting for anyone who wants to race. Someone must have told Ray that NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program just gives that away. He must be used to a silver plate, especially remembering how he got himself out of murder charges in 2000, and avoided the civil lawsuit by paying off one of the victim's family.
"So whatever program they have in place, it might be in place, but it definitely did not help us through the process that we were trying to go through."I'm not going to deny that Ray might not have gotten the most help. I have a feeling, though, that Lewis just simply realized that NASCAR isn't all about watching your car go around in circles while sitting in suite eating shrimp cocktail. It's a cutthroat sport, and ownership isn't easy -- just like the sport that Lewis plays in.
NASCAR bids you adieu, Mr. Lewis. And good luck with the quagmire that is open-wheel racing.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-10-2007 @ 10:01PM
Tim said...
Gee Whiz...... Malcom Durham strikes again... the boy is only 5 years too late!
Been a long time since Bootleggers were racing each other on the weekends... get over it!
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4-14-2007 @ 12:08AM
Tim said...
it was my comment concerning Malcolm Durham...but I said 50 years late since the bootleggers got together to race their cars
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4-10-2007 @ 10:41PM
The U will be BACK! said...
It is simply amazing how some of you "writers" cannot say anything about Ray Lewis without bringing up "Murder" charges. he was never charged with murder because people who were actually there (You know those pesky people we call witnesses) said he had nothing to do with the actual murder.
That being said, you are attacking Lewis for simply stating that it wasn't easy. And for you to assume that Lewis thinks NASCAR ownership is only about eating shrimp in a luxury suite is quite ASSININE. He is no idiot, as I am sure he did a little more research about NASCAR than you obviously did about HIM.
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4-11-2007 @ 9:38AM
frank peterson said...
It's obvious that Mr.Lewis' knowledge of Nascar is from a window.The amount of money and and know-how to start your own Nascar team is tremendous.Not only do you have to have $15-20 million just to get the team off the ground, you have to keep pumping money into it, while you try and cover more money needed,and sponsers only pay so much.Mr.Lewis call Robby Gordon, owner-driver of the #7 car.Gordon has been in auto racing his whole life, and at 36, has owned indy car teams, and this is his second attempt at running his own Nascar team.He's keeping afloat with midocre sponsership money, and has invested millions of his own into his team.The only reason he can keep going, is he know's racing, on and off the track.he has the racing knowledge to cover many of the issues that come up.So he's doing pretty good.Ray Lweis even with partners, and hired Nascar talent, would not last 2 years.There have been may that have tried, belive me.
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5-11-2007 @ 2:09PM
Jake Hermance said...
Ray Lewis was charged with murder, 2 counts. He Plea Bargained to a misdemeanor and turned states evidence against the other two defendants.
He then settled out of court to the Civil suits against him. One of which was for $1 Million paid to the daughter of one of the victims.
The other was an undisclosed amount.
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