Illegal Fuel Additive Chief Hired to Pump New Life Into BDR

Now that NASCAR has lifted the indefinite suspension of David Hyder, team owner Bill Davis has no qualms about picking up the crew chief who was in charge during Michael Waltrip Racing's "Intake Gate":

"My opinion is he served his time with NASCAR, and they've reinstated him and that's all I need. I certainly don't think I'll ever know what happened in Daytona, nobody does. But the penalty was assessed and he's served it. He deserves the opportunity to go back and work."

Davis told the AP that he's been trying to bring Hyder on for years but didn't have the right position. Now he does. Next week, Hyder starts his new gig as crew chief for Jeremy Mayfield, who has qualified for only four races this season. Davis hopes that Hyder can pump some ~~illegal fuel~~ energy into the struggling #36 team:

"I've been everything you can think of -- sad, mad, angry, frustrated -- anything you can call it or everything you can call it. We just didn't expect to struggle with that deal."

By "that deal," I assume Davis means being far outside the top 35 in owner points and failing to qualify for races.

It's that time of year ... almost a third of the way through the season, halfway through the race to the chase ... time for teams to assess where they're at. During this phase, crew changes tend to come before driver changes--Dale Jarrett and Greg Biffle are also trying new ones on. Something better click pretty quick for this #36 team or Mayfield himself is likely to be the subject of the team's next silly season headline.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-03-2007 @ 11:07PM

ART T. said...

I GET A CHARGE OUT OF THESE KEYBOARD JOCKEY'S, THEY NEVER TURNED A WRENCH OR FOUGHT A RACING BUDGET, OR EVEN DONNED A RAING UNIFORM, BUT THEY HAND OUT THE DIRTY DIGS WITH PERFECT EXECUTION.
THE PROBLEMS IN NASCAR STARTED A LONG TIME AGO, WHEN R. PETTY LANDED THE STP SPONSERSHIP, AND THE GAZILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR THAT WENT ALONG WITH PEDDELING THE GARBAGE THAT GRANATELLI HAD FOR SALE. I BLAME GUYS LIKE HIM FOR RUINING A GREAT SPORT, JUST AS STIENBRENNER RUINED BASEBALL.
HYDER SAT OUT HIS SENTENCE, LET IT GO MR. SPORTSWRITER, GET A REAL JOB, WHY DON'T YOU GET A CREW CHIEF JOB AND SEE IF YOU CAN GIVE A DRIVER WHAT HE NEED TO WIN WITHOUT TWISTING THE RULES A BIT.

5-27-2007 @ 6:10PM

mikeymike said...

Art –

Agreed, NASCAR has changed over the years and not all for the good. BUT, with today’s technology “keyboard jockeys” are more prevalent than a "grease monkey".

TGOM’s job is to write a story as commentary with his personal opinions, not necessarily facts. This creates controversy and allows knuckleheads like us voice our opinions, as you so well put, “a keyboard Jockey” (love it)

Yes, there are a lot of people who have an opinion about something that they really have no experience in. Experience is not running a rental car for a few laps. Experience is running a Super Stock, Late Model or even Bomber at a local track. I believe this would change most of their opinions about teams, drivers and rules.

Look in your NASCAR rulebook (for those who actually have one) and count the number of times it refers the rules as “guidelines” or my personal favorite, “if not specifically allowed, then it is not allowed” (what the F*&# is that!?!?) With the competition of the caliber it is now a 1/10th of horsepower and a .001 of a second makes the difference. You have to bend the rules until you find the limit. Rules were being broken long before the media made such a big deal out of things. I can’t remember the number of times fans have let the track after the checkered flag and the winner actually came in last. I personally went from 5th to 3rd one night…after the checkered flew.

And, Art if Petty had not done it someone else would have. Then we would have…. maybe “King Art”?? That would explain the derogatory statements aimed at Richard and Andy. (just ribbin ya)

All that said; it’s nice to know that there are still REAL NASCAR fans out there.

5-27-2007 @ 6:20PM

As Tom Cruise said; "I've watched it on TV, ESPN has excellent coverage"

5-27-2007 @ 7:34PM

Carol Sifers said...

Question????
Could races be sorted of fixed by the tire thing? it seems the Golden Boys never have the problem. How can someone as good as Jeff Gordon just all of a sudden,go bad. thanks Carol

5-28-2007 @ 10:17AM

Gail Mastin said...

My husband and I have followed Jeremy Mayfield for several years. Good luck.

5-28-2007 @ 1:18PM

Goodyear brings close to 1.5 million dollars worth of tires to each Cup race, not to mention Busch and trucks. I really think its time for NASCAR to end the monoply sponsorships. Goodyear brings close to 1.5 million dollars worth of tires to each Cup race, not to mention Busch and trucks. I really think its time for NASCAR to end the monopoly of “series sponsorship” in NASCAR.

The crews and drivers have voice their concerns over the compound of the tire that Goodyear is bringing to Charlotte in the past. The teams concerns seem to SAFTEY. Still Goodyear was allowed to bring the same tire.

Its simple math;

Driver = 1 car & approx 1/50th of the competition field
Car owner = no more than 4 cars & approx 1/12th of the field
Fans = seriously most fans watch racing for the crashes (it is sad but true)

GOODYEAR = $100,000,000 worth of tires sitting in warehouses across the country.
GOODYEAR = PAYS NASCAR for the “sponsorship” 15 to 30 million per year. + a %
GOODYEAR = Sells over $2 million worth of parts & labor at a single Cup race… then you have revenue from the BUSCH race, the CRAFTSMAN truck race, every NASCAR sanctioned short track across the US. It’s mind boggling. And that’s just “parts & labor”

Souvenirs, hats, shirts, jackets……….. Who Sponsored Who

I’m just bitter because I believe teams should have more choices in their sponsorships and with NASCAR “locking in” or should I say “locking out” several major Motorsports manufactures sponsorships can be limited. Example: you won’t see “T-Mobile, MCI or any other wireless provider on any Cup car while NEXTEL is the series sponsor.

When Dale had his accident, it was reported as seat belt failure. Bill Simpson was very adamant that his belts did not fail. Even to the point that his own company (publicly held) fired him...sorry he resigned and sued NASCAR. He did ok though … IMPACT! Racing.

In short as Art put it;”AND THE GAZILLIONS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR“ the big dollars now run NASCAR (it is sad but true)

5-28-2007 @ 1:46PM

rainbo4x24 said...

i dont think it is right for him to be reinstated this early he was at MWR and now since he was fired from there nascar wants to do this. this is why alot of race fans are fed up with france and all the stupid idiots that runs one of the best sports in the country.if they want to be fair then he needs to set out the rest of the year because that wa sa major thing and have they reinstated the other guy at MWR no not that i know of is this fair to MWR no so lerts be fair about this they do one they need to do the other

6-06-2007 @ 9:45PM

Art said...

To MikeyMike, and all that replied to My rant. Mike, I get Your point, and Yes "KING ART" has a great ring to it, I came a nats hair away from locking down a Sunoco sponsership, but when they started telling Me what to do, before they wrote the first check, I decided to go it alone, for the next 20 years I hammered out 10 auto repairs a day to satify My racing addiction, of course I kick myself in the britchs every day for not keeping My big trap shut, that is at least until I got into the drivers seat. That being said, at least I did it My way as Sinatra says it. Unfortunatly, all that I have to show for My effort is, several broken bones and ribs, torn cartalige in 13 joints, nerve damage in My back and arthritus everywhere, oh I forgot to mention asbestos poisoning. but thats the way it goes, I did have a lot of fun destroying the great body that the good Lord gave Me.
I'm thinking of creating a blog of My own, restricted to Guys and gals (there are a few) that have wrenched on autos on a daily basis for at least 20 Years, but I have a feeling that I would be talking to Myself, that might not be to bad either, some of the best conversations I have are with Myself anyhow, LOL.
In closing, I see one of the replies (rainbo4x24), want to see Waltrips boy sit out the rest of the Year, I think thats just plain dumb, by his name I think that He is A Gordon fan, Jeff's been caught with His hand in the cookie jar before, how would You like to see Him sit out for half a season, with no chance to win the Championship?, and no income?.
Like MikeyMike said, and He is correct, every team, tweaks the rules just as hard as they can, that is what You have to do to stay competitive, or Your Driver, like Jr., threatens to leave Your sorry A**.
One more thing before I go, How sad is it, when Your 9 year old Daughter comes to You and says, "Daddy, why did You cheat?". Thats what M. Waltrip had to hear from his kid, how freakin sad is that. Inspection should be done in private, behind closed doors, violations should be kept secret, peoples lives are at stake, this whole Damn world has become heartless and cruel, and two more things before I go, anyone that goes to the races to see crashs, should have an accident with the end of My arm, as several of them have through the years. When I go to the local track, I can't sit with the street squirrels, I just end up in a fight with one jackhole or another. Ya'll have a great day.
" King Art "