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November 03, 2006
Unleash the sponsorless Crocker
By Mike Harper
At times people have described me as being "Chandler-like." You know Chandler Bing? He was a character on the television sitcom "Friends" and had a habit of making a joke out of everything. Chandler loved sarcastic jokes so much that his friends had a hard time determining what was a serious comment versus what was another joke.
On one episode, his friends challenged him to not make fun of anyone for an entire week. That’s right, a difficult task for some of us. But when his friend Ross started dating a girl with the last name of Hornswoggle, Chandler couldn’t hold back and lost the challenge. Sarcastically Chandler asked Ross, "What, are you dating a character from Fraggle Rock?"
My wife and I enjoy making each other laugh by coming up with this kind of stuff daily. So, when I stopped by to see what driver Erin Crocker had written about this week in her weekly contribution on another web site, my mind filled with all kinds of thoughts.
Needless to say, Crocker is in the need of a sponsor for next season. Crocker said, "It's definite that Betty Crocker and General Mills won't be coming back with us in 2007."
Personally, I think it’s a shame because I thought Betty Crocker sponsoring Erin Crocker was a great coincidence. I would think seeing your sponsor’s name that happens to be your name on the car and uniform is a neat deal. Don’t you think so Paul Menard?
Crocker went on to say about finding a sponsor, "I don't really want to see some underwear with my name on it when I'm at the racetrack, but Victoria's Secret, that's a great brand. I'm certain they wouldn't want me to do any modeling for them, but having them for a sponsor would be great."
In an effort to keep the peace, I will keep my mouth shut about her comments. But I figured I could provide a public service to Crocker and her Evernham Motorsports team by helping them out with some sponsorship ideas for their car.
The Oxygen Network Dodge: It’s no secret that Erin Crocker is a woman. And the Oxygen Network is dedicated to bringing women (and the men who love women) the edgiest entertainment on television. I didn’t say it, they did.
eHarmony.com Dodge: The company dedicated to building happy and lasting relationships would be a perfect fit for Crocker and the Evernham team. Just ask Jeremy Mayfield.
Clinique Dodge: Guys, its perfume and skin products not some strange Chinese food. Great products and a perfect Christmas gift for the wife.
HeadOn – Apply directly to the forehead Dodge: Do I need to say more?
KitchenAid Refrigerators Dodge: Stop it! It’s not what you think. Actually, the refrigerator is the 10th greatest engineering achievement of the 20th Century according to the National Academy of Engineering. The fact is Crocker holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Management Engineering. Cool deal! Get it – cool deal?
Feel free to throw out some recommendations!
On a serious note with no sarcasm involved, I believe Erin Crocker is a very talented driver. While I think she has fallen short of her NASCAR expectations, she has begun to show signs of improvement.
When she raced in the ARCA RE/MAX Series this season she did very well. Crocker finished in the top 15 every time she raced this season in ARCA with the exception of one race where engine problems caused a 36th place finish at Nashville. At Kansas, Crocker finished second behind 2006 ARCA champion Frank Kimmel, but beat out Steve Wallace, Blake Bjorklund, Justin Allgaier, Dexter Bean and Dodge Motorsports’ developmental driver Scott Lagasse.
My take on Crocker for next season – Ray Evernham should utilize the Dodge Motorsports driver development program and have Crocker run the full ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. I’m not saying remove her from NASCAR, but give her an opportunity in ARCA to gain additional experience, build her confidence by putting her in a position to win races and I’m sure she’d even be in the running for an ARCA championship.
It’s amazing what confidence building can do to the mind of a race car driver. Crocker can win in ARCA and when she does she’ll be a better race car driver because of it.
November 3, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
Now Harp that is some funny stuff!!!
Posted by: Mark | Nov 3, 2006 7:26:18 AM
Mike,
I'm not sure Boudreaux's wouldn't be an apt sponsor. She's always getting spanked...on the track that is (Ray won't tell about any other times). And, Allstate might be in the running since she's wrecked everything shes ever driven.
Way to start the weekend with a grin. Good post.
Posted by: Keith | Nov 3, 2006 8:00:02 AM
How about "Friendy's Ice Cream"? They are making a move into the south and both hail from Wilbraham Mass. Other local sponsors could be Smith and Wesson firearms or Top Flite golf products, both of these are Western Mass. comapnies.
Posted by: John K | Nov 3, 2006 9:48:40 AM
I predicted two months ago that Erin Crocker would lose her sponsors. She did a great disservice to all women racecar drivers. She was handed an opportunity to race and threw it away with both hands. Why did she OR Evernham think that Betty Crocker or Kellogg's, two of the oldest corporations in America, would sponsor someone having an affair with the married boss? These companies do not want their name dragged in the mud along with hers. IF she had shown that she was championship material, then she could have gotten away with it. But in NASCAR, prove yourself on the track, then do what you like. I don't feel that this woman deserves another chance. She'll never have my famiy or friends cheering her on as we know how difficult it is for a woman to get into the NASCAR circuit.
Posted by: Cind | Nov 3, 2006 9:53:08 AM
Cind,
Actually, I think Evernham did a great disservice to women drivers, and diversity as a whole, by even being linked to Crocker. I don't think Erin ever was or will be Cup material. However, now with the rumors, even if she did make it to Cup it would be a "slept with the boss thing." Sadly, maybe it's the skirt and not the recognized talent that gets a woman in a good cup ride. That's a reality today...but, maybe the next one will be smart enough to realize the microscope she lives under.
Posted by: Keith | Nov 3, 2006 10:18:30 AM
Have to jump in here, whether or not she slept with the boss is not important as far as potentinal drivng a race car/truck is concerned. But if you watch or watched the WoO on outdoor channel on WED nights you see that to even survive a winged sprint car race is simply amazing. Two years ago I would see EC make most of the A Mains and stay on the lead lap also one one. What I think we should remember is that she is not the only rookie driver out there and i'm quite sure the "rookie" status doesn't only apply to her on that team. As far as the first issue goes other than an off-hand statement by a disgruntled ex-employee I'm not sure there is any merit to the sleep with the boss theory, It seems Ray has spent alot of time around KKs pit lately, hope that doen't make him GAY now.
Posted by: DLQ20guy | Nov 3, 2006 10:53:17 AM
Of course she lost her sponsor.
Why on earth would a company whose main target demographic is women with families want a homewrecker at the face of their brand?
As for new sponsors -- that same demographic problem is going to crop up over and over. It would seem natural to pair a woman racer with women's products, but no company that targets women with families is going to want her.
Posted by: M. B. Voelker | Nov 3, 2006 11:04:07 AM
DLQ,
Actually, whether she did or not isn't an issue...The fact that it is perceived as she might have is. As for Crocker, A mains in Sprint shows she has spirit...It has nothing to do with the mind and talent needed in NASCAR. Read her own blogs...she can't even tell the crew how to setup her own car. They hired a driver for that. She doesn't know tight or loose...also, from her blogs. Spirit is wonderful...But, talent will get the first woman respect and acceptance!
Posted by: Keith | Nov 3, 2006 11:15:37 AM
Good grief, did we have to bring this up again? Now MBV aka 3KillerBs aka GoGregBiffle will start on her homewrecker rant again. I'm a woman with a family and couldn't care less who she or anyone else sleeps with. I watch racing for racing, not for the drivers' personal lives nor do I just buy a sponsor's products because they sponsor a driver. I don't care for Jimmie Johnson but still shop at Lowe's and I like Ryan Newman but don't use Alltel. I'm guessing most rational race fans feel the same way. Betty Crocker has the best brownie mix (the kind with the Hershey's chocolate pack) and I'd still buy that no matter who they sponsor.
If she lost her sponsor it's because she wasn't performing. If her owner feels she isn't performing up to his expectations then he needs to get rid of her (ala Jeremy Mayfield). I'm sure Ray's expectations weren't that high with a new and unproven team. With Jeremy, that's another story.
Posted by: kat | Nov 3, 2006 11:34:32 AM
kat,
LOL, stop making sense!
Posted by: Keith | Nov 3, 2006 11:36:39 AM
Too bad M & Ms are already a sponsor. Seems fitting for the saying "Melts in your mouth, not in your hand" Well, maybe we should ask Ray Evernham about that. How about it Ray?
Posted by: San Diego Red | Nov 3, 2006 1:31:02 PM
She should drive the ashleymadison.com Dodge.
:)
Posted by: smithfan | Nov 3, 2006 2:27:07 PM
How about the Oprah magazine Dodge? You go girl!
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Nov 3, 2006 2:36:37 PM
I was think more along the the lines of the Midol Dodge!
www.midol.com
Posted by: Tbfka#5 | Nov 3, 2006 6:17:23 PM
Hey wuz here.
Posted by: Larry | Nov 3, 2006 6:38:19 PM
I think the playtex Dodge!
Posted by: Doug31 | Nov 4, 2006 12:17:36 AM
my goodness. 15th in the arca series races with the best$$$$ quipment? the experiment is over keep her at hom ray, also i think the yelly thing has run its course.
Posted by: rick rzepka | Nov 4, 2006 9:06:15 AM
You got the typical women's sponsor that man think of:
Oxygen
Life Network
Matengil
Cortex
Tampax
Couch-R-Us
Women's Day
May-tag Dishwasher
Playgirl
Baby Oil
Gerber
Pet Supermarket
Meat Packers Union
There is two would be a guts move:
Playboy
Hustler
OK. If you didn't figure out this was a joke post, you need to get a sense of humor.
Posted by: WBinCC | Nov 4, 2006 12:35:45 PM
Kat, the problem is that there aren't that many rational race fans. If there were then Jr. wouldn't be so popular. Ok, enough Jr. bashing.
As far as Crocker, I'm not sure how much her affair with Ray has to do with her losing her sponsor. I suppose it factored into her sponsors's decisions but I doubt it's the only reason. Ray's probably asking for more money than they're willing to give for a driver running who knows what next year. She's not going to run Cup next year, she may or may not run Busch and most of her races would be truck or ARCA. And with the fact that she never seems to get many laps in at the truck races, her sponsors probably don't feel like they'd be getting the most for their money. I think that more than anything has to do with her sponsors leaving.
Posted by: Ken | Nov 4, 2006 12:40:24 PM
Sacrete; Lord knows she's knocked down enough walls. Perfect for those quick concrete repairs!
Posted by: dr | Nov 4, 2006 7:06:53 PM
Jealousy will get you writers no where. Erin done a great job for the experiance she has. She has been an excellent tester for Everham Motorsports. Give her a little more seat time & she will kick some but soon
H. A. Grove
Posted by: H. A Grove | Nov 5, 2006 11:17:26 AM
Erin, H.A. Grove doesn't cut it as an alter ego.
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Nov 5, 2006 11:41:59 AM
Ray hanging out in KK's pit doesn't mean much when 90% of the time Erin is hiding behind/next to him. She's there, just not often seen on tv.
Posted by: a person | Nov 5, 2006 2:16:52 PM
How about Cheaters? You know, the TELEVISION SHOW? That seems like a perfect fit.
Posted by: Renée | Nov 6, 2006 1:19:52 AM
"Let those without sin cast the first stone."
Unless you are personally involved in this situation, your opinion or thoughts are unfounded. I have been on the other side of this type of situation and know the pain involved with it. I can tell you for a fact that people have morbid fascination with failure of others. They love a sex filled story of betrayal and pain. We wouldn't keep commenting on it if we didn't want all the juicy details. What does that say about us?
Posted by: WBinCC | Nov 6, 2006 9:19:08 AM
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