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Will Work for Food
By: Dennis Terry
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I’ll be making the Labor Day weekend trip to California Saturday morning with Michael Waltrip’s 00 team and driver David Reutimann… hopefully! That all depends on qualifying results since Reutimann is not guaranteed a starting spot in the race.
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After getting axed from my 2007 team at JGR last week, the MWR guys offered me a week to week spot changing front tires for their Dominos Pizza/Burger King Toyota.
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Pizza and Whoppers!!! My 2007 season just might work out after all!
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Now, my new team is “probably” not going to make the Chase this year and we might not even qualify for all of the remaining 12 races, but they’ve got a super pit crew and a great program at MWR and I’m happy that I’ve got an opportunity to finish out the season with this team.
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With only 12 races remaining in 2007, it’s pretty tough to find a gig as a tire changer. All of the top teams have got their pit crews set by now and the smart teams aren’t making any changes heading into the Chase. Most of the teams not in the Chase are focusing on next year and not looking for anything new either.
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So, I negotiated a sweet deal for free Pizza and Whopper value meal coupons from MWR in exchange for taking care of their front tire changing needs.
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Last week was a tough week to say the least. We spent three days in the Michigan rain and when we returned on Wednesday I was summoned to a meeting with our Athletic Director and Crew Chief where I was told that my services were no longer need by Joe Gibbs.
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It was a “business decision” intended to strengthen the “future organization of the company”. This wasn’t a decision that was “performance based”, but a “business decision” with the intent of making the JGR pit crews “in-house guys only”.
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At any rate, as a contract pit crew guy I was out.
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The issue is, as a contractor, my contract was for the entire 2007 season. So, getting axed with a third of the season left was unexpected to say the least. JGR will pay out the remainder of my contract IF I DON'T get another job with another team, but I'm not the type to just sit at home on Sunday's either.
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It’s kind of like Home Depot coming to Joe Gibbs and saying, “Hey, we know that there are still 12 races left in our 2007 sponsorship contract, but one of the guys that works in the Home Depot head office is starting up a race team, so we’re going to sponsor him for the rest of the season. No hard feelings, this is just a business decision.”
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So, like a lot of other OVER THE WALL issues that Trent and I discuss on our blog, this one too has several angles. Do you think that NASCAR teams who sign contracts with pit crew guys should honor those contracts through the entire season??? Or do you think that as a “contract tire changer” getting the boot is just part of the business???
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Business is business especially in NASCAR and you can't take it personal. Although, there is a difference between good business and bad business, and where you draw the line between the two is always a matter of personal opinion.
DT
August 31, 2007 | Permalink
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Comments
JGR TO MWR? i would think that is not a good move. hope you find something maybe a little better than MWR. that whole business looks alot like something out of hollywood.from hero to zero. good luck..
Posted by: joe | Aug 31, 2007 11:40:44 AM
There have been situations where drivers have been let out of their contracts early but that has always been a negotiation thing. Seems to me like your contract should have provisions in it to protect you (as well as the team if you aren't preforming up to their expectations.)
I do know that I haven't been all that concerned as to whether David made the race week in and week out this year but that will change now. If for no other reason than your wife deserves at least a day off every week! LOL
Posted by: tiff | Aug 31, 2007 11:49:14 AM
I think they should honor the contract. They told you being released wasn't performance based, but a business decision. That says to me you held up your end of the deal, so you should get paid in full.
I just don't know why you'd shake up a top 5 team this late into the season. I think it was in 2004 they fired "Fatback" while the #18 car was 5th in points and they missed the chase. JGR just doesn't seem to be run that well. Ofcourse, any team that would take Chevy and switch to Toyota is stupid anyway.
Posted by: joe | Aug 31, 2007 12:09:48 PM
You must really be desperate to align yourself with Michael Waltrip Racing, a team that may not even have Toyota backing after JGR makes the switch.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Aug 31, 2007 12:10:52 PM
joe, JGR is not stupid to switch to Toyota. Chevy is stupid for not stopping them by making a better deal.
This has been common with Chevy for the last 20 or so years - they take a designated champion driver/team and treat the others in their fold as little more than blocking backs for the designated champs. That JGR has lasted with GM as long as it has is a little amazing because they're clearly not the designated champ (Hendrick is).
Posted by: Mike Daly | Aug 31, 2007 12:12:58 PM
Maybe I don't understand as I have never been a contract employee before, but don't they have to honor the contract by paying you for the full season? If not, then what the hell good is a contract?
I hope you make it to KC this year. I enjoy your stories about Denny cakes at our local Waffle House! lol
Posted by: KS 24-48 | Aug 31, 2007 12:13:36 PM
Daly,
I meant they are stupid for taking a dominant car(Chevy) and going to an unknown in the CUP series(Toyota). They are will be the lead team for Toyota, but with the success they've had the GM, I think it's a stupid move. They have produced three championships in GM cars, I don't think they were sucking 'hind tit to anyone, including Hendrick.
Posted by: joe | Aug 31, 2007 12:59:39 PM
I would think, if you signed a contract
with JGR, they would have to pay you for
the full season. Take your contract and
contact an attorney. Good luck and I hope
you find a team better then MWR.
JOE
Any team that would take Chevy and switch
to Toyota is stupid. I totally agree, JGR
has got to be STUPID, what are they think-
ing. They have won three championships with
Chevy and Pontiac. Toyota must have offered
JGR a ton of money and now they are just
like NASCAR, greedy.
Don't know a lot about this but doesn't
G.M. sponsor Tony Stewart at the race track
he owns? This will create a problem for
Stewart. With JGR going to Toyota, G.M.
will not continue to be a sponsor for Tony
Stewart. Hope some of you know more about
this then I do, any comments.
When Tony Stewarts contract is up at JGR,
I don't see him staying with Toyota. Denny
Hamlin, maybe, yes. I wonder if Kyle Busch
would have signed with JGR if he knew they
were going to Toyota. Greedy NASCAR is
pushing so hard for a top team to move to
Toyota so they will be competitive and more
$$$$$ in NASCAR's pockets.
I am a Chevy fan, Tony, Denny and Kyle when
you move to Toyota, I will no longer be
a fan of your's.
Posted by: Angel | Aug 31, 2007 1:48:24 PM
Tell Gibbs that Jesus spoke to you and said he has a "purpose" that involves you staying.
You'll be employed there for life.
Posted by: darklordpapa | Aug 31, 2007 1:53:50 PM
Didn't you say that JGR would have paid you if you didn't take another job? I think I would have took the money, enjoyed a long vacation and took my time getting set up next year with a good team. The faster that you can let the resentment toward JGR go, the better you will be. It's hard making good decisions when resentment clouds your vision. Good luck.
Posted by: Mims | Aug 31, 2007 2:17:50 PM
JGR going to Toyota, what a stupid move.
They are winning with a Chevy, what more
do they want. Toyota must have offered
JGR a ton of money and now, he is just as
greedy as NASCAR. When Toyota come in to
NASCAR, none of the top teams would switch
to Toyota but as they say "money talks".
Hope my driver, Tony Stewart decides to
stay with Chevy. Maybe, this is what RCR
is waiting for, Richard is going to start
a fourth team.
Angel - "Take your contract and contact an
attorney".
Good idea, you should be paid for the
entire season at JGR. I hope you find a
better job then with MWR. Be a "go getter"
and don't give up hope.
Posted by: Race Fan | Aug 31, 2007 2:24:43 PM
DT Welcome to the Toyota family! You'll be suprised how good it is at MWR, aside form the qualifying issues et/al Dvaid runs well at Cali, so you WON't be sitting around! only 4 cars will go home, I miss working in the race shops, But never Knowing what might happen next was too unerving...I thought about going to MWR, Good Luck I'm sure Ty will treat you right!
Posted by: Fan #5 | Aug 31, 2007 2:27:31 PM
The key to the contract is this line.."JGR will pay out the remainder of my contract IF I DON'T get another job with another team" If Trent doesn't work he will get payed by JGR. This is common in contracts that have an "end date". For example, radio dj's Opie and Anthony were fired a few years back with 2 years remaining on thier contract. They could not reach a buy out aggreement and didn't want to lose the money they were supposed to get paid, so they stayed off the air during that time. When the contract expiered, they signed on with XM Radio. It is really Trents choice..stay home and get paid, or go to the track and get paid by someone else.
As far as getting "let go" goes... after all the changes they made earlier in the year, did it really surprise you. They are obviously screwed up and trying to find the scape goats.
Posted by: Modman75 | Aug 31, 2007 2:31:58 PM
Sorry DT brain faid on who I was talking about LOL
Posted by: modman75 | Aug 31, 2007 2:32:54 PM
Did anyone ever think that even though DT coulda sat on his ass for the rest of the year and got paid, a TRUE professional will ALWAYS find a way to keep his skills sharp and maybe show JGR what a mistake they made, plus there are always pit crew scouts on the lookout for hotshot guys for next year. It seems in this day and age a contact ain't worth the paper it is written on. It appears I won't be at the track, I'll watch the race at my place near the beach as apposed to sweating it out in 100+ heat, besides, my pass hookup didn't work out anyway.
Posted by: Spike | Aug 31, 2007 3:06:08 PM
It cracks me up to hear the backseat driver section here start up the "stupid move" comments from JGR. Did some lugnuts here get the details of the deal with all the terms and amounts?
If not, then don't show you're a knucklehead by commenting. I don't know the details either, but I can't imagine that JGR just decided to switch for the heck of it.
At present, GM is the lead-dog in NASCAR. Toyota is not afraid of putting money and engineering behind their product.
And by the way, Hamlin just signed an extension and The Pumpkin is working on one, too. Can't wait to laugh when I hear: "Yeeehaw, that Toyota of Tony's sho is fassssst!"
Posted by: PaulB | Aug 31, 2007 3:08:54 PM
When I was a NASCAR noob, I became a Tony Stewart fan because he was fast, and he drove a Pontiac Gran Prix like I did, and because he is a great "character".
Now I like Tony because he's fast, and a great "character".
But I've always liked driving Toyotas - best cars in the world. Wednesday night might be time to head to a dealership!
Posted by: JWSmoke | Aug 31, 2007 3:29:50 PM
When purchasing my first NASCAR driver hat, I asked my buds which they would hate least - Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart.
They all yelled "Stewart"!
Posted by: JWSmoke | Aug 31, 2007 3:31:08 PM
DT you ve been in the business longer than I have and we see this happen all the time. Get all you can get and make your deal for next year. I know you and I know you got somthing else going on for next year. If not, call me. Holla
Posted by: trent | Aug 31, 2007 3:34:55 PM
DT, can you go back to the 12 team and reunite with Trent? After the sluggish pit stops Saturday night, the 12 team may need some help. Anyway, good luck.
Posted by: keith12 | Aug 31, 2007 5:34:01 PM
DT,
So we all want to know.....Are you a Brooklyn style or Philly Cheese Steak kinda guy?
Posted by: Mike J | Aug 31, 2007 6:18:06 PM
it's always good to cheer for a foreign company.
what's next...
go china, kick our ass some more... ??
Posted by: exile | Aug 31, 2007 6:45:44 PM
I would take JGR up on the offer of not finding work. They should at least have a severance package for them letting you go.
As far as the Toyota goes I think that the big 3 have brought this all on them self. They have been ripping us all off for years and all we are told is buy American, meanwile they send work out of the United States to Canada and Mexico to avoid having to pay out such large taxes. Toyota at least has desided to keep everything in the US and pay the US taxes that the other 3 should be paying as well.
I think that pandora's box has been opened now and it dont look good for the big 3.
Go Tony.
Posted by: Toyota Man | Aug 31, 2007 7:25:06 PM
DT,
Well you know how it is some contracts differ. I signed stating if I was let got the contract had to be honored, and most of my guys have the same, even if we take another job do to "business decisions".
10-1 DT you can thank DH for that. I will shut up now.
Posted by: Kurt2 | Aug 31, 2007 7:36:39 PM
I'm not a fan of MWR but I'm proud you get to finish out the season doing what cha love! Changing tires and eating! :) Works for me!
And Woooohoooooo! We'll be watching you on Sunday cause David made it in!!!!
Posted by: darlene | Aug 31, 2007 8:00:34 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
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