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5 Unanswered questions from ‘dega

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

April 30, 2007 9:12 am CDT 6 Comments

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After being taken to task by the Charlotte Observer’s David Poole for my stance on the whole Jeffy/Flag deal; I’m looking for help with these five questions. Let us know your opinion on…

The Buzz ON PIT ROW is:

Does a DEI buyout of Robert Yates Racing pave the way for Junior’s exit ?

The Fast Lap wants to know:

1) Does the Green, White, Checkers overtime need to be adjusted; especially at restrictor plate tracks?

2) If DEI and RYR merge, which car manufacturer will win out?

3) Does Tony Stewart doing the side step shuffle after his meeting with NASCAR surprise you?

4) Should Jeff Gordon’s beer can shower, force NASCAR to re-think its "coolers in the stands" policy?

Let us know how you feel about these questions or anything else that happened at Talladega last weekend. If we like your comments we could use them on the air during Tuesday’s show. Leave us a comment on the blog or call the show–toll free at 1-877-502-8255 between 5-7pm edt on Tuesdays.

If your radio market does not air any or all of ON PIT ROW– tell them they should and listen to our show on www.racetalkradio.com Thursdays from 7-9pm et.

photo: cumberlink.com

Filed under: Car of Tomorrow, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Nextel Cup Series, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, The Fast Lap, Tony Stewart

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Earnhardts going through same pain as many small businesses

by Charlie Turner

April 26, 2007 12:20 pm CDT 4 Comments

The battle for controlling interest in Dale Earnhardt Incorporated has been one of the major stories of this sporting season. I feel an obligation to comment on what I see and read and hear. I am not comfortable doing this. I feel like I’m butting in to a family argument.

My family has owned small businesses. My mom and dad did and I have, as well. I have no doubt that the following statement from Dale Junior is in fact true.

"If my dad was alive, a lot of things would be different, a whole lot," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I don’t like to get hypothetical. I think he would be pretty proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish."

When $55 million only buys you 51 percent, are we still talking about a small business?

Here’s a different question surrounding the same problem. When it only takes $55 million to buy a 51 percent controlling interest, are we talking about a big business?

This is in my opinion, a small business problem and a common one. It is a small business problem because of the small number of individuals involved. The dollars are incidental. The problem is dealing with ownership succession. I am not anything close to expert on this subject. I hope that our friends, the professors at the View from here: The business of NASCAR blog will take this story on and break it down for the lay crowd.

Matt of The Catfish Show has a take some possible outcomes of the deal. He thinks maybe this opens an opportunity for the Earnhardt sibs to partner up with a big-time investor, ala Roush-Fenway and move the team up a notch or two and obtain control.

That should be one of many interesting options for those that Dale Sr. and Theresa, together, intended the company to transfer to. Instead, it may be one of the only ways that the children of the owners can secure what was probably intended to be theirs all along.

Here is where I get uncomfortable. I blame this on Dale Sr. He and Theresa should have had a plan in place to deal with this possibility, and with racing drivers as we know, early, unexpected death is much more likely than your average grocery store owner.

Succession plans are more than written agreements or statements of what the original owners or owner group intend to have happen if one or all die or are otherwise unable to function. There are many differences between these plans and a common last will and testament. The key factor, and the one that is causing the main problem now, is that succession plans, properly executed, are FUNDED.

Whatever value that Dale Sr. and his partners would have set for the transfer of control of the company to anyone else, presumably the Earnhardt children, would have been funded - typically by life insurance or maybe the agreed sale of certain assets.

Small business is tough. Small family businesses are real tough. This should not be an issue and it will probably get messier before it’s over. They almost always do.

The picture is one of Rob Ijbema’s great works.

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Bidness, Nascar Legends

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The Busch Series, a modest proposal

by Charlie Turner

April 25, 2007 2:37 pm CDT 6 Comments

Do you think that the France family has real guts?

I was standing in the infield of historic Toledo Speedway Saturday night and during the 100 lap break in the ASA Late Model Challenge race, while looking at the nicely prepared, very NASCAR-like, Fusions, Monte Carlos and Dodges I thought about the Busch (soon to be something else for 30 million sponsor bucks) Grand National Series.

NASCAR tells us that the Busch (step right up, only 30 million dead presidents) Series is the second most popular racing series in North America. Hard to argue. As the opening act for the second largest spectator sport in the U.S., the audience is attentive.

There may be - I said MAY BE - some cracking in the foundation however. Reports of falling TV ratings. Many events failing to sell out, when sellouts had been the norm. Worries of overexposure and dilution of the product. And the races are just too darn long. So say some.

We spoke last night ON PIT ROW with David Poole, one of the best writers and observers of the NASCAR scene. We started on race length and ended on the Busch Series. One of Poole’s points was that the top two series in the France portfolio are too similar. Too often, the Busch is a dress rehearsal for the Cup race. We agreed that maybe shortening the Busch races - making them more sprint - like in nature, might be a good thing.

I propose that NASCAR take a more radical step. The ARCA RE/MAX Series, also for very NASCARish looking stockers runs races on two dirt tracks, as well as a full compliment of paved short, medium and super-speedway length venues. This is the most diverse racing series that I can think of at the moment.

But I don’t want NASCAR messing with the ARCA RE/MAX niche.

I want to try taking a page from the European touring car series. For say, six Busch races per year - races on the front end of double-header weekends with the Cup Series, make the Busch race a Dual 125 format. All cars run a 125 mile race, followed after a suitable break, by a second 125 miler. Points could either be awarded equally for each race’s results or cumulative finishes could determine placings for championship points.

Nobody wants to mess up a good thing –especially billionaires. I believe that tweaking the Busch Series in this way would enhance the interest for fans, promoters and the teams.

Of course there is also the new sponsorship opportunities for the Twin Buck and a Quarters. Just think of the possibilities; The Tidy Bowl Twin 125s is my favorite, so far.

Filed under: ARCA Remax Series, Busch Series, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Toledo Speedway

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Responsibility

by Charlie Turner

April 24, 2007 10:38 pm CDT 7 Comments

Did Tony Stewart flip us all off at Phoenix?

It sort of feels like it, no?

As with everything that happens in NASCAR anymore, there are diametrically opposed opinions on the question.

Apparently, Stewart was upset after (during?) the race in the desert Saturday night. I presume he was frustrated at not being able to keep up with Jeff Gordon toward the end of the race and having to settle for second place. Probably he was frustrated with the CoT and it’s pushy, tough to pass with nature. But we don’t know. Tony took a powder.

4ever3 takes Tony’s defense. David Poole takes him to task.

Here’s what I think. Tony Stewart is not Kyle Busch. He is a two time Nextel Cup champion and no kid. Tony has a responsibility to his fans, his sport and the sponsors, promoters and the media that cover them. He stated last week that he would like to retire from Cup racing as soon as he has enough money. Thanks to all of the above, NASCAR will provide him with the means to make whatever size pile of cash he deems adequate to go driving dirt cars into the sunset. But he really should do his part. Every time he’s asked.

Picture credit: MSNBC

Filed under: Nextel Cup Series, Tony Stewart

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5 Questions that need answering

by Charlie Turner

April 23, 2007 8:14 am CDT 2 Comments

This week’s edition of ON PIT ROW will include our views on the following:

The Buzz ON PIT ROW is…

Was Jeff Gordon’s flag waving a tribute to, or a slap in the face to Senior’s memory?

The four corners of The Fast Lap ask…

1. All 3 CoT races have been good, entertaining races. Should they go full time in 2008?

2. Should NASCAR look at changing the length of Cup races?

3. Should the France family be forced to sell either NASCAR or International Speedway Corp. because of a conflict of interest?

4. Talledega or Daytona–which do YOU like better?

Let us know how you feel about these questions or anything else that happened at Phoenix last weekend. If we like your comments we could use them on the air during Tuesday’s show. Leave us a comment on the blog or call the show–toll free at 1-877-502-8255 between 5-7pm edt on Tuesdays.

If your radio market does not air any or all of ON PIT ROW– tell them they should and listen to our show on www.racetalkradio.com Thursdays from 7-9pm et.

photo: jayski.com

Filed under: NASCAR & the Media

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Jeff Gordon defames Senior’s memory

by Charlie Turner

April 23, 2007 7:30 am CDT 6 Comments

I must be living in some sort of a parallel universe or something, but I find the entire Jeff Gordon "tribute" to Dale Earnhardt Sr. appalling. I seem to be in the minority on this as most of the stories seen after the race, including Charlie’s blog entry, talk about what an honor Jeffy was bestowing on Earnhart. What a bunch of hooey!

Jeffy carrying A Dale Sr. flag around on his victory lap looked like a faint attempt at trying to win over the late Dale Senior’s fans as his own.

The only thing these two had in common is that when they were racing together, half the fans loved each and the other half hated them. That didn’t leave a lot of fans for the other forty-some drivers to share. But few fans would ever say, if pressed on the matter, "I’m a Earnhardt and Gordon fan." NEVER! There may have been fans of both in the same house–usually dad would be a big Intimidator fan and mom would love Jeffy because he was so cute.

That is why I believe the whole flag carrying deal was so tacky and disgusting. Jeffy had just tied one of the, if not THE, greatest Cup driver in history. I took it as a cheap grandstanding move to say, "look at me, I tied the greatest, now I am as good as him." I found it deplorable and sickening.

I never thought I could feel any less respect for Jeff Gordon, but i dislike him now more than ever.

Photo: www.freewebtown.com

Filed under: Jeff Gordon

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