2014 Silly Season Thread

I think that TRD is looking to increase its winning potential--not just provide a ride for up and comers. Having said that, you idea does make sense. I thought it was interesting that they didn't go after Furniture Row more aggressively with Truex Jr. went there. There was a reason that they were happy with 5 teams this year, and that reason was expansion on either the MWR side, JGR side....or perhaps both. I say there is an outside chance that we will see both Biff and Carl in a Toyota next year.


I read something earlier this year that stated that there might not be much room to grow with TRD right now. That they are just able to provide what they can to current team, but if JGR or MWR are looking to grow might get a little tough. So it is about to get interesting for sure.
 
Although the speculation for both Bif and Carl have centered around MWR and JGR, it is interesting that the Jamie McMurray and Ambrose are both in contract years as is Mears. Thinking that Petty could be a destination for Bif. This really is all about how the dominoes fall. Who blinks first?


I believe very good chance Jamie stays put. He has an awesome relationship with CGRwFS. and lets face it who will Chip get to replace him? Chip aint getting Edwards, and if Chip had a choice between McMurray, Biffle, or Ambrose he goes McMurray 100% of the time.
 
I read something earlier this year that stated that there might not be much room to grow with TRD right now. That they are just able to provide what they can to current team, but if JGR or MWR are looking to grow might get a little tough. So it is about to get interesting for sure.

Six cars is comfortable, but there is easily room for eight. No question they will get JGR what they want. If there would be any "give" it would be on the MWR side, but it won't be a problem. Carl toured TRD during the last round of negotiations. I think that what you might have read is TRD's desire to not just provide motors/support, but to make sure that they can react to their teams' issues in a timely fashion. They don't want to get so big that they cannot provide the people support in a way consistent with the vision of the company.
 
Although the speculation for both Bif and Carl have centered around MWR and JGR, it is interesting that the Jamie McMurray and Ambrose are both in contract years as is Mears. Thinking that Petty could be a destination for Bif. This really is all about how the dominoes fall. Who blinks first?
Ambrose did an interview with Ford last week that made it sound like he's pretty much sticking with RPM next year.

http://racing.ford.com/series/stock...2014/05/ambrose-seeks-first-oval-victory.html

Jamie will probably stay with CGR. He's running much better than the punishing points system indicates; he's 13th in driver rating versus 23rd in points right now. CGR has Dylan Kwasniewski as a development driver in Nationwide but he's nowhere near ready at the moment, and Chip himself said Dylan is at a minimum of two or three years away from Cup.

I like Mears but I fear that Brian Scott may wind up in the #13 next year.
 
I predict....just my thoughts nothing behind it. Only changes will be. 6 bayne, 13 scott, 16 no team, 19 Edwards in 4th JGR car , 21 ???? Still dont have a clear idea. 33 ty dillon part time, 66 Biffle in 3rd MWR car, 99 no team, RPM switches to Toyota. And a few misc secondary team changes. Leaving 30 full time strong teams I.E from Hendrick to HScott and everyone in between.17 chevys 9 Toyotas and 4 Fords. ROUSH is defunct after 2017 because apparently the organization is run like s*** !!! sincerely a disgruntled Ford Racing fan.
 
I predict....just my thoughts nothing behind it. Only changes will be. 6 bayne, 13 scott, 16 no team, 19 Edwards in 4th JGR car , 21 ???? Still dont have a clear idea. 33 ty dillon part time, 66 Biffle in 3rd MWR car, 99 no team, RPM switches to Toyota. And a few misc secondary team changes. Leaving 30 full time strong teams I.E from Hendrick to HScott and everyone in between.17 chevys 9 Toyotas and 4 Fords. ROUSH is defunct after 2017 because apparently the organization is run like s*** !!! sincerely a disgruntled Ford Racing fan.
19 as a number for the 4th JGR car makes sense, though they've ran 02 and 81 in the past when fielding a 4th car.
 
19 would seem to make since a little bit more..it's more marketable than the other numbers and it keeps the no.9 in it which for the part time fan might be easier to associate Carl with, kind of like JR. And the 8 to 88.
 
If Penske really wants to expand to a 3 car team, he'd be wise to put some effort into picking up Edwards. Look what Kenseth, Harvick, and Logano did with a new team? Hell, even Kahne went out and earned a few wins with his switch to HMS. Kurt even got himself a W in SHR.
Doubt Brad and Carl would EVER be on the same team
 
Doubt Brad and Carl would EVER be on the same team
You should read Brad's blog about that feud. The reasons behind it, and now that it's over. Brad states in his opinion that Carl is the best driver in NASCAR.
 
Doubt Brad and Carl would EVER be on the same team
I don't see this happening either. I know it's been a few years since their feud, but Carl and Brad REALLY hated each other while it was going on. As I've said before, it would be similar to Gordon & Bowyer or KyBu & Harvick as teammates. I know Carl and Matt weren't the best of friends at RFR either, but I think going to a 4th JGR car would make more sense for Carl should that opportunity present itself.
 
19 as a number for the 4th JGR car makes sense, though they've ran 02 and 81 in the past when fielding a 4th car.

Not seeing RPM to Toyota given that TRD wants to keep space for a total of no more than 8 cars. If JGR goes to a 4th and MWR to a 3rd, there would not be room for RPM, and RPM doesn't want to go Toyota without TRD.
 
True or the could go to to Chevy as a RCR satellite team like the others because apparently chevy has infinite money and resources for their teams. It just kind of sounds like RPM is moving no matter what from their interviews. Dont know why Ford and Toyota have all these restrictions in abilities and GM doesn't.
 
True or the could go to to Chevy as a RCR satellite team like the others because apparently chevy has infinite money and resources for their teams. It just kind of sounds like RPM is moving no matter what from their interviews. Dont know why Ford and Toyota have all these restrictions in abilities and GM doesn't.

If you listened to Jack Roush when Toyota entered in 2007, they were supposed to out spend everybody and make a mockery of the sport. I don't think that it is so much a manufacturer thing as it is a builder thing. How many clients you can take on is dependent upon your resources. In GM, you have a couple of big time builders. Ford and Toyota have one each.
 
That's probably true and a good point. I'm just to what the manufacturers are spending each year in sponsorship costs and tech support.
 
I wonder who the Wood Brothers turn to now. Hornish might want a decent part-time Cup ride, although it will probably go to another RFR development driver.
If the rumors of Brian Scott going to the 13 car next year are true, I think Casey Mears might make a good replacement for Bayne. Mears has kind of run his course in Cup, so perhaps he could run full time NW in the #6 next year and do part time duty for the Wood Brothers in the 21.
 
I could see that happening but they would need to secure funding for the 6 car....maybe GEICO since nationwide will be gone and if they love Casey and want more bang for there buck.
 
I could see that happening but they would need to secure funding for the 6 car....maybe GEICO since nationwide will be gone and if they love Casey and want more bang for there buck.
I believe this is Nationwide's last year sponsoring that series, is it not? I guess they'd have to go before GEICO could sponsor a car in that series.
 
Yes it is the last year and they are moving to the 88. Brings up another ? Who is going to sponsor that series, I have not heard anything.
 
Title sponsor limiting other sponsors is something that needs to end, right now. Teams are having enough trouble finding sponsorship as it is and yet Sprint wont allow AT&T, US Cellular, Verizon, Boost Mobile, etc., all of whom would throw money at drivers, to sponsor cars. It is bull**** and needs to stop.

When NASCAR negotiates it's next sponsor contract, that is something that has to be in the wording..."SPONSORSHIP OF THIS SERIES WILL NOT LIMIT ANY POTENTIAL SPONSOR OF A DRIVER OR TEAM".
 
Title sponsor limiting other sponsors is something that needs to end, right now. Teams are having enough trouble finding sponsorship as it is and yet Sprint wont allow AT&T, US Cellular, Verizon, Boost Mobile, etc., all of whom would throw money at drivers, to sponsor cars. It is bull**** and needs to stop.

When NASCAR negotiates it's next sponsor contract, that is something that has to be in the wording..."SPONSORSHIP OF THIS SERIES WILL NOT LIMIT ANY POTENTIAL SPONSOR OF A DRIVER OR TEAM".
Agreed. One of the most bizarre things I've seen is when Verizon was sponsoring the 12 car a few years back and they weren't allowed to put their name or logo anywhere on the car. To no one's surprise, they didn't stick around long.

Anheuser-Busch must not have cared as much about that kind of thing. I remember Kenny Wallace running a car sponsored by Red Dog Beer (remember that stuff?) in the Busch Series, even though it was a product of Miller Brewing. I also seem to remember Mike McLaughlin running a few races in the BGN series in a Coors sponsored car.
 
I remember the red dog car. Also remember the Robby Gordon incident with verizon and motorola they had take off the motorola stickers. Because of nextel/sprint
 
That would have been like Lowe's not allowing teams sponsored by Menard's or Home Depot or Northern Tool and Equipment to have their sponsorship shown at races at Charlotte Motor Speedway when they had the naming rights to the track.
 
2009_NSCS_David_Stremme_car.121124737.jpg
 
I agree, the title sponsors need to keep their mouths shut. Look at how many various tobacco brands sponsored Winston Cup rides over the years.

One of my favorite cars of the 90s...

camel1.jpg
 
Something I just thought of....was Camel owned by RJ Reynolds? I remember Winston cigarettes replacing Camel on the 23 car in the late 90s.

Either way, there were multiple other competing brands that ran in the series for many years. Skoal, Kodiak, Copenhagen, etc...there's no way they were all owned by RJ Reynolds.
 
To be fair, if a company is spending the kind of money Sprint does then you would expect some exclusivity to go with it. So while its never good that a potential sponsor is turned away, I'm much happier having Sprint pay for the naming rights than having Verizon or AT&T sponsor some backmarker for 20-25 races a year.

Sprint is spending in the range of 75-100 million a year for the naming rights and they should get some benefits for that. AT&T and Verizon were free to pony up an offer to sponsor the series too, but that the business world it's competitive out there, and to the victor go the spoils. It's kind of amusing too, because it's not like R Gordon and Stremme were putting those cars in Victory lane or getting much air time.
 
To be fair, if a company is spending the kind of money Sprint does then you would expect some exclusivity to go with it. So while its never good that a potential sponsor is turned away, I'm much happier having Sprint pay for the naming rights than having Verizon or AT&T sponsor some backmarker for 20-25 races a year.

Sprint is spending in the range of 75-100 million a year for the naming rights and they should get some benefits for that. AT&T and Verizon were free to pony up an offer to sponsor the series too, but that the business world it's competitive out there, and to the victor go the spoils. It's kind of amusing too, because it's not like R Gordon and Stremme were putting those cars in Victory lane or getting much air time.
Burton and Keselowski drove those cars too. They weren't great at the time but still decent enough to be on TV. No wonder Verizon took everything over to IndyCar. Speaking of which, did anyone see Verizon's IndyCar commercial during the 600? I thought that was hilarious.

Sprint gets enough for what they pay (naming rights, in-race mentions and graphics, Midway displays, Miss Sprint Cup, etc.) already that I don't think a competitor sponsoring a driver or two is going to kill them.
 
^^Agreed. A team sponsor gets very little time on tv Maybe a mention here and there and when the car is passing someone, leading. Victory lane is the only time the team sponsor shines with the obligatory thank you.

Sprint is guaranteed exposure every week no matter what.
 
Not seeing RPM to Toyota given that TRD wants to keep space for a total of no more than 8 cars. If JGR goes to a 4th and MWR to a 3rd, there would not be room for RPM, and RPM doesn't want to go Toyota without TRD.
Ok, so let's dig deeper here.
Let's say RPM goes to another manufacturer (which I hope they do)...where will RPM's shop be? And even deeper than that...who will move into the existing RPM shop next door to Roush?
 
Burton and Keselowski drove those cars too. They weren't great at the time but still decent enough to be on TV. No wonder Verizon took everything over to IndyCar. Speaking of which, did anyone see Verizon's IndyCar commercial during the 600? I thought that was hilarious.

Sprint gets enough for what they pay (naming rights, in-race mentions and graphics, Midway displays, Miss Sprint Cup, etc.) already that I don't think a competitor sponsoring a driver or two is going to kill them.

I agree that it wouldn't hurt them one bit, but I also don't think it's unreasonable for them to demand exclusivity either. I mean they're spending 4-5 times more than the biggest team/car sponsors are each year. They've made a bigger financial commitment to the sport than any other company (outside of the manufacturers), so I have no issue with them asking their competitors to not show up on Sunday.
 
It is pretty unreasonable, actually. It is a form of monopoly. And it actually hurts the sport because it takes an entire industry out of the sponsorship pool, and a very high profile industry with deep pockets at that.
 
It is pretty unreasonable, actually. It is a form of monopoly. And it actually hurts the sport because it takes an entire industry out of the sponsorship pool, and a very high profile industry with deep pockets at that.

Except it doesn't, those telecom companies are all able to sponsor cars/drivers/teams in any of the other NASCAR sanctioned series if they so choose. They chose to leave the sport entirely, which says a lot about their interest in the sport and it's fans. Sprint is paying more than any other company, so I don't see a problem with it.

Gone are the days of companies sponsoring 36 races a year and begging to give their money away. They all want value and exposure and I would say that it's a good deal for both parties. The teams are having to work a little harder to find sponsorship these days, but the HMS,JGR,Penske etc are still doing quite well. Now some are struggling no doubt, see Roush, but I don't think letting some telecom companies into Cup would change a thing.
 
i feel if let's say alltel was a sponsor the year before sprint took over and they were planning on staying as a sponsor after sprint took it over, they should be allowed, just as long as they didn't miss a year and then try to come back in. i wouldn't own a mom & pops hardware store and allow lowes to advertise in it.
 
Back
Top Bottom