It is odd, but probably a bit harder in racing. Then again, I've seen some remarkable performances when big money was on the line. I still remember when Jeff Gordon won the Winston Million and roughed up Jeff Burton to win it. Burton said something to the effect that people don't do anything different in those situations. Probably why Gordon won the million, all those titles, and Burton did none of that.
One other comment from Jordan Bianchi's article about Tyler Reddick really pissed me off...
Didn't piss you off when Hambone poached Reddick from RCR though right?
None of those other owners ask 23xi or FRM to take this on. Not all of them were in favor of having the anthill kicked. Don't expect gratitude for a self-imposed battle no one else asked them to fight.
I doubt he was loyal to anyone besides his bank account.
He jumped on one after he was poached by Hamlin....no honor among thieves. Pretty sure he would have done it again if the money was right.
No, I wasn't chapped about that, but "poached" isn't the right word for that deal. That was just an impending free agent signing with another team for a better situation. I don't see any dishonor there, do you?
I'm comfortable relying on the contemporaneous media reports and numerous garage insider reports that essentially all the owners wanted and felt they deserved a better deal, but caved due to obligations to sponsors plus the risk of losing the charters they did have. In other words, they felt entrenched and bullied so they settled. When 23XI & FRM didn't settle, those other teams were getting a free ride with substantial upside and negligible downside. Reports were that they were highly supportive of what MJ, Hamlin, and Jenkins were doing, without actually contributing anything to the effort. And every team owner gladly signed the revised charters that the Plaintiffs secured from Mr. France. To me, it's unseemly and underhanded to take advantage of 23XI's battlefield uncertainties, by trying to poach their star driver who was still under contract through 2026. YMMV.
Perhaps you should share your insight with the well-regarded journalist who just reported otherwise. BTW, 23XI guaranteed to all employees that the paychecks would continue through 2026. If the paychecks stopped, of course every employee would be looking around... I never said otherwise.
As a matter of fact I do, that is why I commented on your beautification of young Reddick and Hamlin. Hamlin came to Reddick before he had talks with Childress. I call that poaching. If you remember Reddick ran for Childress for almost a year and a half after after Hamlin signed him and the deal was made public.