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May 29, 2005
That's not what you say in polite company, is it?
Whoa, Pete. You're not from around here, are you?
Pete Rondeau, currently of Dale Earnhardt Inc., is being fairly outspoken about his differences with the management of that company. I find it refreshing and think that's the way it ought to be.
When bad things happen, too often a lot of people in NASCAR feel a need to look the other way. Even though the sport is supposedly outgrowing its Southern roots, they act as if they're at a party at Scarlet O'Hara's place when someone gets fired, or demoted or worse.
"Why, he was such a help to our team and we're grateful to him," they say publicly, while reaching for another mint julep or glass of iced tea.
Fiddle dee-dee.
Race teams aren't that much different from any other business in any part of the country. Most of the people where we all work, too, are on board with the goals. It's the how to get there part where things break down.
That's where the trouble starts, as it apparently did for Rondeau and his bosses.
Yeah, chemistry is important, no doubt about it. But where does candor come in?
May 29, 2005 in Racing | Permalink
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Comments
I hope Pete gets a good lawyer and sues DEI for everything it has, he deserves it for the way he has been treated this week. Mother Teresa screwed up big this time. I hope Dale Jr. hires his sister's husband, that way he can piss him off and then his sister won't talk to him. As a Gordon fan it is just great to see the schambles that DEI has become.
Posted by: Bob | May 29, 2005 1:41:54 PM
Seems like Theresa's non-signature renders the contract null and void. I don't think Pete has any basis for a lawsuit here. Through his own negligence (failing to receive a signed copy of the contract), he didn't know he didn't have a contract.
While I agree it's nice to see people speaking their minds, Pete's whining. You can't blame your own lack of performance on Tony Eury, who has a responsibility to see his own car perform well.
Posted by: Rick | May 29, 2005 2:34:01 PM
Do you think they may ever admit, that maybe the problem is the Driver?
What's this, The Crew chief doesn't talk to me enough? Most drivers don't want to be bothered, Just the facts please. Maybe they need to add another position, Baby Sitter, to Jr.'s Team
Posted by: Don | May 29, 2005 4:57:02 PM
This looks very sneaky on Teresa's part. I wouldn't want to work for her.
Posted by: David | May 29, 2005 5:06:46 PM
Clearly, it's the nut holding the wheel that needs adjusting most!!!!!
Posted by: Chris Frazier | May 29, 2005 6:33:27 PM
Don,
That is exactly what I would expect from you and all of the Junior bashers. Why is when other crew chiefs are fired you people never blame the driver? Oh yeah because you love to bash Junior so it is always his fault.
Posted by: Jon | May 29, 2005 6:34:05 PM
I think it depends on the state. If DEI's lawyers drafted the contract and pete signed it, there is at the very least an implied contract, since they actually put him on the payroll and had him fulfilling his part of the contract. There is clear intent here, and that may very well serve Pete in court.
I've heard DEI is not a fun place to work, that whenever anything goes wrong for Junior heads roll the next day, regardless of fault. I don't know if thats Junior himself (I doubt it is, honestly), but personally I think perhaps Theresa is out of her depths trying to run the team.
Posted by: Sarah | May 29, 2005 11:37:40 PM
Seems like DEI is falling apart at the seams -now Eury Sr is having a go at Junior. What next?
Posted by: David | May 30, 2005 5:22:41 AM
David,
I am sure Tony Eury Sr. will straighten out Junior or lay out the law for him to follow. Family is family, but business is business and if Junior can't follow the rules there are other drivers that would love to drive the car for DEI. I am a big fan of Junior, but if he doesn't figure something out he will be messing up a really good thing for himself and DEI.
Posted by: Jon | May 30, 2005 6:58:47 AM
Yeah, I knew that the Junior bashers (mostly Wonderboy fans) would have a field day with this one. Somehow or other this has gotten blown out of proportion and made to sound like Junior is to blame. I don't think so. Sure, I think Pete should have gotten more time to prove himself, but he wasn't enough of a take-charge guy, and I think Eury Sr. or Hmiel are the kinds of guys that Junior needs on the radio. I seem to remember that Brian Whitesill lasted, what, a whole two races after Evernham bolted before the 24 team got Loomis? As for the Mother Theresa comment that someone made on here, at least she hasn't been convicted of a felony like Hendrick. How many of you Jeffy fans know that???? Bet most of you bandwagon-jumping, ignorant sons of bitches didn't know that. Now, THAT's a dirty businessman.
Posted by: Ironman | May 30, 2005 9:02:24 AM
I hate to see that Pete got caught up in what is becoming a rash of problems for D.E.I. I think we're just starting to see the affects of Dale Sr. not being there.If he was ,the crew cheif change at the begining of the season would have never happened.Somebody needs to put Jr. in his place every once in awhile.(WE ALL NEED THAT AT TIMES IN OUR LIFE!)He's good guy,just a little to cocky for his own good sometimes.
Posted by: max | May 30, 2005 9:56:39 AM
I'm sure all the JR fans will take this as bashing... but I'm not. DEI is scrambling right now... it's about the egos and the all mighty attitude that they deserve to be on top... It's no different that the crap that goes on over at Penske. Neither of these 2 organazations will get anywhere at the rate they are going.
Posted by: M Benson | May 30, 2005 10:13:23 AM
M. Benson it is bashing when say things like that without knowing all of the facts. Yes there are issues at both organizations but making assumptions as you are doing mean you are bashing both organizations.
The crew chief does have to take charge of the team and if he doesn't then there will definitely be trouble.
Posted by: Jon | May 30, 2005 10:38:19 AM
Jon... like I said... no disrespct but I don't think DEI 's problems lie only with the crew chief... just like Penkse's don't lie with only the drivers... that would all be too easy to pin the problems of these 2 camps on drivers and the CC only... lol Just for the record Jon... I like JR and Waltrip... not a die hard fan... but I'd like to see them both do good.
Posted by: M Benson | May 30, 2005 10:44:02 AM
I believe you M. I am Jr fan (my blinders stay on, LOL) and I do get pretty defensive of Jr. I do believe that there is something very rotten in both organizations and hopefully Tony Eruy Sr. can get it straightened out between the drivers and figure out what the other issues are within DEI as an organization. I think Penske has overlooked too much and needs to put his collective foot down and fix the problems between the #2 and #12 TEAM's. I don't see things getting better just because Rusty Wallace retires.
Posted by: Jon | May 30, 2005 11:10:50 AM
Well what Pete said is exactly what is going on there. When I was at DEI back last year right during when Slugger got fired, the guys on the #15 team, now #8 team said... they don't share information or work together at all...heck they are in completely different shops...a ways down the road actually. I think the biggest problem there wasn't Rondeau, but rather the lack of sharing information and the responsibility people have put on Jr's shoulders to perform well because of who his dad is and his sponsor and has very high expectations which could contribute to the problems at DEI.
Posted by: Amanda | May 30, 2005 11:44:02 AM
Amanda,
Maybe that is part of what Eruy Sr. was talking about when he said there are enough problems at DEI that they don't need the drivers at odds with each other.
Posted by: Jon | May 30, 2005 12:07:09 PM
When any organization has a lot of top management turnover, key guys leaving (or being shown the door), etc., it's a sign of an organization that has Issues. Sometimes that's good, sometimes it isn't. In the case of DEI, there's been a leadership vacuum since 2001. They've made do with makeshifts for four years but no really strong presence has emerged to lead the race team (Teresa Earnhardt is mostly an absentee owner, from what most of the DEI people have said in print). They're paying the price, both at the track and at the Garage Mahal. For the sake of all involved, I hope they get their acts together. NASCAR needs more than two strong teams to be competitive.
Posted by: Jo | May 30, 2005 1:25:51 PM
I believe that the DEI team babies JR. Have you ever noticed how he rarely takes blame for his team? He is the front man, the one holding the wheel. But whenever they have a bad day I rarely hear him say it was his fault. When he does take blame, he doesn't take it 100%.
He ran into the back of teammate Waltrip but post race, I didn't hear Jr say Sorry Mikey, my bad. I heard him half blame Mikey for it.
Posted by: Eddie Suarez | May 30, 2005 6:19:25 PM
Eddie,
Like Jr. is the only one that doesn't take full blame for a poor race day or a wreck that he may have caused. He wasn't blaming Mikey, he was trying to explain how he thinks it happened and just because you don't believe his explanation doesn't mean that is not how it happened. But I don't expect anything different coming for a Junior basher anyways.
Posted by: Jon | May 30, 2005 6:56:43 PM
my lord child never talk about family.
more ice tea julib - why yes and did you hear what's going on down at DEI - why yes mother seems that Jr is not happy with his new love and wants another. don't worry child cause mother will find him another.
yes they seem to go all out for little Jr - now please my child mothers will be mothers and you can not fault them for that.
miss theresa is only looking out for family and down here in the south family is family - but mother what about Jr step brother little mikey - well child that's another story for another day.
Posted by: speedracer | May 31, 2005 8:11:01 AM
Wow what a banner week for DEI, first they screw a crew chief and then one of the drivers wrecks the other one. Mother Teresa is going to be busy this week.
Posted by: Bob | May 31, 2005 2:24:02 PM
the best is yet to come and boy won't it be fun.
i am going to love seeing all you JR fans after richmond blame hmeil for JR not making the chase
Posted by: 16 | May 31, 2005 6:25:02 PM
16,
You are getting way ahead of yourself with your prediction of doom for Junior. There are still 14 races to go and a lot can happen. He will be there when the time comes.
Posted by: Jon | May 31, 2005 10:18:13 PM
Yeah your right Jon, he will make the chase because Nascar won't let their biggest "star" miss the chase. Don't know how they will do it, maybe it will be called the "Earnhardt provisional", by that I mean if your daddy raced in the sport you automatically get into the chase. Guess though that would include Kyle Petty and we can't have that can we??
Posted by: Bob | May 31, 2005 10:51:00 PM
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