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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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I'm a Jr fan. no matter what happens this year. So if it makes you feel like a big and better person to bash him, knock your socks off. But this comment was totally uncalled for "Jr. was handed a gift that day at Daytona when his father left this earth" and yes there was more to it comment, but this was more then enough. What kind of comment was that? What freaking gift did he get, the lose of his Father, his mentor, the person he trusted most, yeah, he sure as hell got a lot handed to him. All the problems at DEI, that no one seems to be able to handle, an Uncle who stabbed him in the back, no partner, oh Mikey, joke! The pawn to save the NAPA contract and give Tony Jr the biggest boost in his life, because he wasn't going anywhere with POP's in the way. Yep, Jr sure did get alot the day his Father died. His father's company going to Teresa and nothing to his 3 other children, but as employees. It's not Dale's co. anymore, it's Teresa's co. And when she decides she's done, she can sell it to the highest bidder, see if Sr.'s kids can afford to buy it or hold on to as the silent chairperson. When she passes on it can go to Taylor period or she can divide it, that's her decision. So, yep your right, Jr sure as hell got a lot that day in Daytona. Just the worst day in his life.
Posted by: anterry8 | Jun 27, 2005 5:25:45 PM
I am first and foremost a NASCAR fan and Jeff Gordon is the driver I cheer for (although I like several of the other drivers as well, Dale Jr. included). I take exception to being referred to as a "bandwagon-jumping, ignorant son of a bitch" by Ironman. He is the one who is showing his ignorance by talking that way. If you stop to think about it, does it really make sense to call people you don't know "ignorant sons of bitches"? All racing fans should be able to cheer for their favorite driver without being called names. Maybe it's time for someone to grow up!
Posted by: Maxine | Jun 5, 2005 7:37:15 PM
"Since the CC change Jr has slipped back... not UP." No s***, Sherlock. At the risk of stating the obvious, Jr gave up a top-five team and took on the team whose crew chief was still trying to figure out where the DEI bathrooms are. Most of his fans (the real ones, not the bandwagon beer-throwers) expected that this would be a building year. I'm disappointed that Rondeau didn't work out, but it wasn't terribly shocking. It was pretty clear that he and Jr just didn't click, for whatever reason. The #8 car finished well, at times at least, but it was excruciating to listen to them on the radio. What was DEI supposed to do, keep Pete and just write of the rest of the year?
It does seem like the situation was handled badly, and I hope Pete and DEI can resolve it. But I don't see Pete as a victim, and I don't see Jr as the bad guy. This stuff happens with every team at one time or another.
Posted by: Sara | Jun 2, 2005 10:01:47 PM
M,
It would have been funny to see Bobby do it, but that would just open a new can of worms (having Hendrick drivers after him, yeah I know more hate )for Bobby that he has been able to avoid.
Posted by: Jon | Jun 2, 2005 7:37:05 PM
Speaking of intentionally hitting.. bumping.. what ever... I think Bobby should have put JJ in the wall for the win!
Posted by: M Benson | Jun 2, 2005 4:53:30 PM
I don't know where you all get your info... BUT Mother T as you call her is a VERY smart business woman... and lets not forget that DEI is NOT the only team to ever have problems... they all do at one time or another. And I'm not bashing here.. JON! lol... but when I mentioned egos before... it was not only meant about the drivers... but the individual teams themselves. They had some BIG changes over the winter... improvements can't happen overnight or even in 11 races with the kind of changes they made. Since the CC change Jr has slipped back... not UP.
Posted by: M Benson | Jun 2, 2005 4:51:26 PM
DEI can be the best of the best.
BUT as long as they hire family, friends and so forth they are going to have these types of problems.
First rule in buisness is you don't hire your family or buddies.
Jr needs to dig deep and come out of it.
DEI needs to sell to someone who will run it like a company not a welfare program.
Mother T needs to get out of racing and back to playing house.
Jr just needs a time out or a year off.
Posted by: speedracer | Jun 2, 2005 1:17:34 PM
I still think Richard Childress should buy out DEI. He obviously is a smart business man who has been able to get through bad times without damage. He's got three drivers who all get along. He can straighten out DEI. He kept Earnhardt Sr in line for years he can do it with Jr.
DEI is in shambles. Now I understand Martin Truex Jr looking elsewhere.
Posted by: 19Jay12 | Jun 2, 2005 12:23:41 PM
If it isnt in writing or completed, its not worth nothing! Rondeau may have a point that it was implied and such n such but it comes down to the fact that he really didnt have a completed contract. Same goes for Childress' lawsuit, it wasnt complete so the insurance company shouldnt pay out.
Now as far as things at DEI go, something is up. Jr's team has been struggling and the fact of the matter is its a combination of CC and Driver. Jr needs to do some selfexamination to see what he needs to change, a CC is only half the equation, driver is the other. BTW, what is up with all the Jr fans tossing unopened beer cans over the fence after JJ's win at Charlotte. Poor poor sportsmanship to say the least.
Posted by: Rory | Jun 2, 2005 11:55:55 AM
In the future, I see Teresa Earnhardt selling DEI to Paul Menard, or at least selling a significant portion of it. DEI is in shambles because of the people they got running it - Eurys, Gilmore, Hmiel. They need somebody with the some business sense and people skills. Instead, they have people who start throwing hammers at each other when things go bad.
Posted by: Chad | Jun 2, 2005 11:15:53 AM
Ironman - Uh, Brian Whitesell finished the 1999 season as Gordon's crew chief. His first two races - they won, at Martinsville and Charlotte. And don't give me this "Well, Ray set the cars up before he resigned." Gordon wasn't winning in Ray's cars before he left.
Posted by: Chad | Jun 2, 2005 11:10:18 AM
It's funny to read all of the Junior bashers on here saying that Junior never earned anything that he got. Obviously, they don't know that their boy (Wonderboy) once showed up at a job interview with a Gameboy and a racing magazine in his briefcase. Wow, that's hard work there. Oh, and here's something else for all of you ignorant new Jeffy fans: where we you when he sent his teammate (bet you don't even know which one or what year) barrell-rolling down the backstretch at Talladega?????
Posted by: Ironman | Jun 2, 2005 10:55:47 AM
It's funny to read all of the Junior bashers on here saying that Junior never earned anything that he got. Obviously, they don't know that their boy (Wonderboy) once showed up at a job interview with a Gameboy and a racing magazine in his briefcase. Wow, that's hard work there. Oh, and here's something else for all of you ignorant new Jeffy fans: where we you when he sent his teammate (bet you don't even know which one or what year) barrell-rolling down the backstretch at Talladega?????
Posted by: Ironman | Jun 2, 2005 10:54:30 AM
It's funny to read all of the Junior bashers on here saying that Junior never earned anything that he got. Obviously, they don't know that their boy (Wonderboy) once showed up at a job interview with a Gameboy and a racing magazine in his briefcase. Wow, that's hard work there. Oh, and here's something else for all of you ignorant new Jeffy fans: where we you when he sent his teammate (bet you don't even know which one or what year) barrell-rolling down the backstretch at Talladega?????
Posted by: Ironman | Jun 2, 2005 10:54:03 AM
Now to say either one of them meant to cause them to spin is impossible to say, but the intent to hit them that caused the spin is undenyable since Edwards admitted to hitting him and we can see Vicker's was trying to get Bliss out of the way and he hit him squarely from behind.
Posted by: Jon | Jun 1, 2005 8:10:41 PM
Edwards said he was trying to push Jarrett ahead (that means he did it intentionally) and Vicker's did hit Bliss intentionally to get him out of the way.
Posted by: Jon | Jun 1, 2005 8:01:48 PM
admitting a mistake doesn't mean they did it on purpose. Correct that in your dictionary and then come back.
Posted by: 48fan | Jun 1, 2005 7:41:09 PM
Jimmy Johnson isn't a better driver than Dale Junior I am sorry he hasn't done anything that Junior hasn't done. Why do fans have like only the drivers you all think they should? I wouldn't be a fan of any of the Hendrick drivers if you all paid me. I do like Tony, Harvick and Ryan for that matter but I am a Dale Earnhardt Junior fan first and foremost and I really don't care if any of you understand why.
I chose my favorite driver like many other fans did and I really don't care what you think. I don't need my favorite driver to win a bunch of races (72) to make him my favorite.
Drivers make mistakes on the track and hit someone and cause a wreck, but I guess some of you have nothing better to do than attack Junior just because he made a mistake. At least he didn't do it on purpose like a couple of other drivers did (Edwards admitted he did and we know Vicker's did in both weeks races). Why is you think it is ok for them to do it and yet you slam Junior for making a mistake and clipped Waltrip trying to make a pass.
Posted by: Jon | Jun 1, 2005 7:29:45 PM
my prediction is RCR will buy out DEI
Tony Stewart will leave Joe Gibbs and join the newly formed RCR.
Then you have
Tony - Jr - Kevin
and add a couple more drivers like
Clint Boyer & Martin Truex Jr.
Richard Childress knows now he needs a multiple car team and with drivers like that he would be unbeatable.
Hey a man can dream can't he.
PS - Has anybody ever just figured that what was put upon Jr might be more then he can take. Think about it - week after week you are excepted to win - that's alot of presure to put on one persons back.
Posted by: speedracer | Jun 1, 2005 5:18:37 PM
MBenson,
Penske Racing doesn't seem to be doing so bad right now. 4th and 11th in points. Even Kvapil is running better.
As for DEI, they are in a mess. I have nothing against them but ever since Dale Earnhardt Sr passed away, that company has fallen apart. My prediction is within the next couple of years, Richard Childress will buy out DEI.
Posted by: 19Jay12 | Jun 1, 2005 4:49:34 PM
now children let's play nice.
everyone has their reasons for the driver they back.
hell even Jimmy the punk Johnson has his fans.
Jr. was handed a gift that day at Daytona when his father left this earth.
Question is will he F--K it up.
Only time will tell.
Thats not bashing thats reality.
Posted by: speedracer | Jun 1, 2005 4:00:11 PM
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