Motorsports FanHouse http://motorsports.fanhouse.com Motorsports FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif Motorsports FanHouse http://motorsports.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Drivers Under Pressure to Cash Inhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/02/12/drivers-under-pressure-to-cash-in/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/02/12/drivers-under-pressure-to-cash-in/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2009/02/12/drivers-under-pressure-to-cash-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Joe Nemechek (above) is renting a race crew for his pit stops and driving a hand-me down Toyota with no corporate logo on its hood with only the No. 87 on its doors.

A year ago the 45-year-old veteran was starting on the front row of the Gatorade Duel qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway, a shoe-in for the Daytona 500.

In Thursday's qualifying race, he's desperately competing for one of the four remaining starting spots in Sunday's Daytona 500 and he's doing it with a five-person team using equipment he got only three weeks ago.

But last place in NASCAR's Big Show paid $256,735 last year and that translates into tires and a new engine for Nemechek -- the lifeline to the next race for a driver who once drove for the famed Hendrick Motorsports team and is now trying to go it on his own.

"We've had fans send us a $100 check here, a $2,000 check. ... it's been crazy what's happening,'' said Nemechek, a four-time Sprint Cup winner.

"Fans are really wanting me to do well. And in this day and time, it means a lot. They like the underdog.''

And it's a crowded kennel this week.

A half dozen start-up teams with no sponsorship are vying for a spot in the Daytona 500. Several are like Nemechek, trying it out as an owner/driver. And their fate is tied to the two 150-mile qualifying races, which are typically unpredictable and high-action. It's a tenuous entry, but it could make all the difference to someone like Nemechek who has sponsor interest, but nothing on the dotted line.

Times are tough for the big teams, so imagine what it's like for these organizations.


"If they are able to get into the Daytona 500, that is a huge accomplishment for any race team, especially somebody who is underfunded or under-personnelled (sic)," said Clint Bowyer, who is driving for Richard Childress Racing. "If they can accomplish that, and there is a big group of them this year, not just one or two. ... whoever is in the show on Sunday, I think it is going to be awesome.

"I think there are a lot of teams that are going under right now and there is room for this sport to have some new ones. If some of those guys can make the Daytona 500, prove to a sponsor that they can make these races and be competitive, they might be in business.''

Nemechek has two top-10 finishes in the last six Daytona 500s, won a pole for the summer race here and boasts two wins in the Nationwide Series at the track. But none would mean more than making it on his own.

"It's always an uphill battle,'' Nemechek said. "But I'm having fun right now. We've gotten such great response from being here. Everyone in the garage seems to be happy we're here and real helpful. I've been trying to get all the favors I can to get this program going.

"People appreciate a good effort and we're swinging for the fences.''

Drivers Under Pressure to Cash In originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>fanhouseindaytonajoe nemechekJoeNemechekHolly CainThu, 12 Feb 2009 11:29:00 EST Johnson, Waltrip Take Daytona 500 Front Rowhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/02/10/johnson-waltrip-take-daytona-500-front-row/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/02/10/johnson-waltrip-take-daytona-500-front-row/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2008/02/10/johnson-waltrip-take-daytona-500-front-row/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Check out all of the NASCAR Fanhouse Daytona Speedweeks Coverage.

The start of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season has brought together two names that ultimately ended the 2007 season on the opposite ends of the spectrum.

Michael Waltrip will start alongside pole winner Jimmie Johnson for Sunday's 50th running of the Daytona 500.

Johnson, last year's Sprint Cup champion, drove a lap at 187.075 mph to secure his second-career pole for the season-opener. Waltrip, who finished 44th in last year's season standings, guaranteed his spot in the Daytona 500 with a lap of 186.734 mph.

Both laps were faster than the pole-winning speed in 2007.

While Johnson was excited to be on the pole for the season's biggest event, it was Waltrip that was nearly speechless about his effort. Exactly one year ago, Waltrip was facing the biggest storm of his career after his car was found to have an illegal additive in the engine prior to qualifying for the 2007 edition.

It would lead to a season that saw both he and his Michael Waltrip Racing team miss several races, fall out of the top-35, and lose sponsors for 2008. Somehow, his team trucked on and this time around at Daytona, all three MWR cars face a go-or-go-home situation if they want to make the event.

Waltrip, a two-time 500 winner, joined teammate David Reutimann and Joe Nemechek as the three drivers that guaranteed a spot in next Sunday's race based on time. The third MWR car with Dale Jarrett on-board will have to race his way into the race on Thursday during the qualifying races.

Nemechek's near pole-winning run was doubly impressive considering the team operates out of Denver, Colo. and has only been in business for three years.

Johnson, Waltrip Take Daytona 500 Front Row originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 10 Feb 2008 19:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>DaleJarrettDavidReutimannDaytona500DaytonaSpeedweeksGeoffrey MillerSun, 10 Feb 2008 19:15:00 EST Nemechek Outspoken About Departure from Ginnhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/28/nemechek-outspoken-about-departure-from-ginn/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/28/nemechek-outspoken-about-departure-from-ginn/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/28/nemechek-outspoken-about-departure-from-ginn/#commentsFiled under: ,

This weekend in Indianapolis, ousted Ginn Racing driver Joe Nemechek is wearing his emotions on his sleeve:
"It's just a deal where you're a little disappointed only because of the promises that were made to you at the beginning of the year ... We accomplished a lot.

"Being locked in is a big, big deal. That's tough. And all of a sudden to see all the points just disappear is pretty tough. That is something I worked hard at. I had a lot of pride in it and all of a sudden it's gone. In this business, we're finding out you never know what's going to happen."
Nemechek agrees with most that the team's failures were sponsorship-related:
"I own my own Busch team. I've owned a Cup team. I know what makes these teams go ... The one area they failed was locking down enough sponsorship dollars to do it. If any one person has to keep forking out millions of dollars, it gets old pretty quick."
I'll bet it does.

Nemechek is driving the # 08 car in a one-race deal with E&M Motorsports in their first Nextel Cup outing of the season.
"I was coming no matter what, but I didn't know I was going to drive until Tuesday. ... It's better than sitting at home on the couch."
E&M plans to run several more races through the end of the season, but the team has already committed to driver John Andretti, who was unavailable this weekend. If I were E&M owner John Carter I might be rethinking that decision now that Nemechek is available--if he's interested in points, that is. Andretti has six DNQs this season to Nemechek's one. I'm not saying that I'm enouraging E&M to bail on their commitment to Andretti like Ginn bailed on their drivers ... I'm just saying.

Previously on Fanhouse
DEI Acquires Ginn Racing, Smith Out Cold?
Rubbin' is Racin': Fans v. Ginn Racing
DEI Ginn Merger 2007 and Beyond
Ginn Racing Downsizing to One Cup Team?

Nemechek Outspoken About Departure from Ginn originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 28 Jul 2007 16:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>allstate 400 at the brickyardAllstate400AtTheBrickyardindianapolis motor speedwayIndianapolisMotorSpeedwaytallglassofmilkSat, 28 Jul 2007 16:13:00 EST Ginn's Apparent Departure Not Too Surprisinghttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/25/ginns-apparent-departure-not-too-surprising/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/25/ginns-apparent-departure-not-too-surprising/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/25/ginns-apparent-departure-not-too-surprising/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

When Bobby Ginn bought MB2 Motorsports last season, the move was heralded as a way for the small team to compete with NASCAR Nextel Cup's big teams.

After all, Ginn was known as a real estate mogul with some deep pockets, and the guy promised to do everything possible to get into victory lane .

The season started incredibly for the new owner. He had already landed Ford-forever driver Mark Martin to pilot his No. 01 Chevy and he was inches from having a Daytona 500 victory.

His way of handling his operation was different -- especially after booting Joe Nemechek from his stable ride that he had consistently performed in. He kept Nemechek around in a No. 13 ride, but it wasn't the same, and for Nemechek, it really was a raw deal.

Ginn did dive in head first with his pockets. Not only did he start Nemechek's team, he had to manage Sterling Marlin's No. 14 and Regan Smith would be driving full-time Busch in addition to splitting time with Martin in the No. 01.

But all of that big action has seemingly caught up with the (former?) owner who has his own blimp.

Smith's Busch series team is gone. Nemechek and Marlin have lost sponsorship and have lost their rides. And now Ginn Racing seems to be folding by itself into another resource for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

I think a key point in the merger talks is that DEI will stay DEI with the addition of Ginn's resources, leaving you to believe that Bobby Ginn is getting so tired of racing and the costs associated with it if he can't even keep his name on the building.

And that really is a shame.

A shame for Nemechek, Marlin, and Regan Smith (who doesn't seem to fit into the Ginn-DEI merger, just a week after he was named a new Cup driver for the team). A shame for the employees of Ginn Racing who thought they had a good opportunity to work with a new, competitive race team pre-2007. And a shame for Jay Frye, the guy who sold his owning interest in MB2 to Ginn.

Did Ginn have the right intentions? Sure.

But intentions doesn't make you innocent in a court of law, or when you knock somebody out of a job. It all goes down as a failure.

Obviously, though, Ginn didn't seem to understand that he couldn't just run cars with his resort names on them and expect to make a nice return. Sponsorship didn't happen for the team's non-Martin cars, despite having success in Busch Series and quality drivers in the Cup Series.

Something wasn't right at Ginn Racing, and it's hard to put a finger on what. It is easy, though, to say that the new owner had something to do with it because MB2 was an organization that managed to make ends meet for a long time.

Ginn has blamed the financial problems on growing too fast, and yeah, that's right.

But you've gotta believe inexperience was a heavy factor, too.

Ginn's Apparent Departure Not Too Surprising originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Geoffrey MillerWed, 25 Jul 2007 00:50:00 EST Rubbin' is Racin': Fans v. Ginn Racinghttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/21/rubbin-is-racin-nascar-fans-v-ginn-racing/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/21/rubbin-is-racin-nascar-fans-v-ginn-racing/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/21/rubbin-is-racin-nascar-fans-v-ginn-racing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ginn Racing's decision to cut veterans Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin was "sponsor driven." I suspect that the majority of fans accept that. That doesn't mean we to have to like it. And we don't:
Both Marlin and Nemechek are among the most popular drivers in the Nextel Cup garage. When word of their firings became public yesterday, internet message boards lit up with comments critical of Ginn Racing. Ginn's own Fan Forum was shut down late Tuesday, after fans clogged it with scathing criticism of the team.
Where is the respect for our elders?
It's hard not to be critical of a team firing two veteran drivers maintaining position in the top 35 in owner points in the middle of the season. But the move is far from surprising--with change in ownership usually comes a change in key personnel.

Bobby Ginn could have fired Marlin and Nemechek when he first took majority interest in MB2 Motorsports. Apparently, it took him a year to determine that the future of his company lies not in experience of aging leftovers, but in the promise of youth.

The team is at least grateful:
"We appreciate everything that Joe and Sterling have done for us. They have been a class act."
Whoop dee doo.

Is Ginn a class act?
NASCAR fans aren't the only ones mad at Ginn. Investors of Ginn's real estate ventures have filed a class action lawsuit alleging they were misled and defrauded in property purchases:
[The lot owners] say they are entitled to and they are demanding rescission of the contracts and that Ginn repurchase the properties and reimburse them for all carrying costs.

The plaintiffs believe all Ginn affiliated entities were set up and run for the exclusive purpose of raising money from unsuspecting purchasers, like plaintiffs, for the benefit of Ginn and its affiliates.

The suit further alleges that Ginn created a complicated maze of companies to be used in marketing, soliciting and promoting properties to potential purchaser in order to avoid scrutiny of U.S. regulators.

According to the suit, Ginn, at the same time, perpetuated a "ponzi scheme" in which returns to investors were not financed through the success of the underlying business venture, but were taken from principal sums of newly attracted purchasers such as plaintiffs.

These are just allegations, of course, but it's not just one person saying it ... it's 99 of them saying they've been had. I've suddenly become quite skeptical of the way Ginn does business. What about you?

NASCAR has sold out
Regardless of Ginn's business practices, the inability to secure sponsorship for Nemechek and Marlin underscores a bigger issue of how dependent upon marketing the sport has become. But we knew that already. Oftentimes the NASCAR community benefits from the emphasis on marketing. Not this time. Or so it seems today. The future is still bright for Regan Smith and Aric Almirola.

What others are thinking
Ginn decision a shame
Kyle Petty and Harry Gant's 2 Cents about Ginn Racing
You have to feel for Marlin and Nemechek
Change is hard, if inevitable

Previously on Fanhouse
Almirola Bails on Gibbs, Headed to Ginn
DEI Ginn Merger 2007 and Beyond
Ginn Racing Downsizing to One Cup Team?

Rubbin' is Racin': Fans v. Ginn Racing originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 21 Jul 2007 01:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>aric almirolaAricAlmirolabobby ginnBobbyGinntallglassofmilkSat, 21 Jul 2007 01:33:00 EST Almirola Bails on Gibbs, Headed to Ginnhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/17/almirola-to-leave-gibbs-for-ginn/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/17/almirola-to-leave-gibbs-for-ginn/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/17/almirola-to-leave-gibbs-for-ginn/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Update: Official Release Almirola grateful to Gibbs, Nemechek released ...

A month ago, Aric Almirola denied wanting to leave Joe Gibbs Racing, despite being unhappy about the team giving his first win to his teammate, Denny Hamlin, at Infineon:
"I'm under contract at JGR. I have a long history with them. I've been there since I was 18 years old. I started racing late models with them, and they've become like family to me. I see our relationship growing."
I guess he meant growing apart.

No official announcement has been made, but according to Dave Moody, Aric Almirola has asked to be release from his contract with JGR and David Caraviello confirms the move to Ginn.

I understand that some fans, including the Fanhouse's own Geoffrey Miller, were quite passionate about Almirola getting robbed of his first win by his own team and called on him to leave the team immediately. But really? Almirola knew he was the fill-in driver for that race. Yeah Hamlin was late, but it was his car and his race to run. Everyone was on the same page going in.

As Almirola himself said, he has a long history with Gibbs. I certainly wish him the best whatever decision he should make for his future, but I sure hope he considered more than just one bad day at the office before making a career-move like this one.

Almirola's plan is to head to Ginn Racing to split the remainder of the 2007 season in the #01 with Mark Martin, with Regan Smith moving over to the #14 taking over driving duties for Sterling Marlin. The plan presumably eliminates the idea of a full-blown Ginn / DEI merger, but I imagine the #13 is still in play.

Almirola Bails on Gibbs, Headed to Ginn originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>aric almirolaAricAlmirolaginn racingGinnRacingtallglassofmilkTue, 17 Jul 2007 17:10:00 EST Ginn Racing Downsizing to One Cup Team?http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/08/ginn-racing-downsizing-to-one-cup-team/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/08/ginn-racing-downsizing-to-one-cup-team/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/07/08/ginn-racing-downsizing-to-one-cup-team/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Apparently, Bobby Ginn's attempt to attract sponsorship for Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin didn't produce the results he was looking for.

A few days ago, the team announced several layoffs in the shop citing too fast of growth and a need to re-evaluate. They did not confirm or deny any additional forthcoming layoffs.

This afternoon, a source is telling me that tomorrow Ginn Racing will completely shut down the #13 and #14 teams, both of which are in the top 35 in owner points. This info has not been confirmed with team officials.

Damn. I thought funding wasn't supposed to be an issue with this team 'cause Ginn has all this money?

If true, what a shame for both drivers. Of the two of them I feel the worse for Nemechek because he already got kicked off the priority team and now stands to lose his job on this one. Nothing against Mark Martin and Regan Smith, I get what Ginn was trying to do and it's been successful. Good for them. But Nemechek got the shaft in the deal. And now he stands to get it again.

If this comes to fruition, I hope the other owners look out for Nemechek and Marlin. It's really going to suck if they aren't able to continue running for points this season. Such is the life of a veteran in NASCAR these days, huh?

Update 07.09.07 - I don't have a full update, but a source has confirmed today that TJ Majors, spotter for the #14 team has been let go. Majors is a good friend of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and also spots for the #88 NAVY Busch team. Hmmm. Can't very well have a driver on the track without a spotter.

Update #2 - From the sounds of this press release, doesn't look like anything has changed with the #14 team.

Ginn Racing Downsizing to One Cup Team? originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>ginn racingGinnRacingnascarsterling marlinSterlingMarlintallglassofmilkSun, 08 Jul 2007 19:09:00 EST Jeff Gordon On the Pole at Bristolhttp://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/03/23/jeff-gordon-on-the-pole-at-bristol/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/03/23/jeff-gordon-on-the-pole-at-bristol/http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2007/03/23/jeff-gordon-on-the-pole-at-bristol/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Jeff Gordon will be out front on Sunday when the cars of tomorrow take the green flag.

All four manufacturers have at least one car starting inside the Top 10.

Toyota drivers A.J. Allmendinger (Red Bull Racing) and Jeremy Mayfield (Bill Davis Racing) both made the field for the first time in five attempts. Brian Vickers also made the field for his third race of the season.

Michael Waltrip Racing's #55 (Waltrip) and #00 (David Reutimann) both failed to qualify. Dale Jarrett qualified the #44 on time and still maintains two championship provisionals.

Top 35 bubble driver Paul Menard (DEI) failed to qualify, as did Kevin LePage (0-5). Joe Nemechek and Johnny Sauter both failed to qualify for the first time in 2007.

Food City 500 Starting Lineup

Jeff Gordon On the Pole at Bristol originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 18:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>bill davis racingBillDavisRacingbrian vickersBrianVickersbristolbristol motor speedwayBristolMotorSpeedwaybud pole awardBudPoleAwarddale jarrettDaleJarrettdavid reutimannDavidReutimannjeff gordonJeffGordonjoe nemecheckJoeNemecheckjohnny sauterJohnnySauterkevin lepageKevinLepagemichael waltripMichaelWaltripnascarpaul menardPaulMenardred bull racingRedBullRacingtoyotatallglassofmilkFri, 23 Mar 2007 18:58:00 EST