2022 Silly Season

ChexOrWrex said:
Sorry, by signed I meant resigned to take the 2021 option.
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That's not accurate terminology, and they mean two very different things: a new contractual agreement vs. the exercising of an existing option to extend. In part it is an important distinction because it answers the "Why did Penske put in an option then?" The options for 2021 and 2022 were part of the original agreement. Penske exercised the option for 2021 while simultaneously announcing publicly that 2021 will be his final year in the car. I agree that there is some slight contradiction in one or two statements made since, but the bulk of the organization's statements and actions don't support a narrative that DiBenedetto was misled.

ChexOrWrex said:
Matt talks about how he was told that September 2021 was decision time for Penske but he got the “decision time” news a few months earlier than what he was initially told.
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If true, informing DiBenedetto earlier would be favorable to him and allow him more time to find another ride. If the option was an obstacle (seems like it was an obstacle because DiBenedetto was hoping in vain that the team would reverse course and exercise it, not because Penske was warning him to not contact other teams), having it removed earlier is helpful.
 
gnomesayin said:
That's not accurate terminology, and they mean two very different things: a new contractual agreement vs. the exercising of an existing option to extend. In part it is an important distinction because it answers the "Why did Penske put in an option then?" The options for 2021 and 2022 were part of the original agreement.
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Yeah, I know. I said that a few posts ago. That his original contract had 2021 and 2022 options in them - not sure if you saw that already stated. I fully understand the basics of the contract.


gnomesayin said:
Penske exercised the option for 2021 while simultaneously announcing publicly that 2021 will be his final year in the car.
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Except thats not how it played out. It was stated that he would not be with the #21 car, but not that he would be a free agent. Brad’s leaving shook the organization up and Matt still had the option of staying with Penske, just not with the #21 team. There was speculation for weeks about Penske moving drivers around or even adding a fourth car. Everyone was shocked that Harrison Burton was announced to come to Penske’s Cup team along with Cindric, making Matt a free agent.

gnomesayin said:
If true, informing DiBenedetto earlier would be favorable to him and allow him more time to find another ride. If the option was an obstacle (seems like it was an obstacle because DiBenedetto was hoping in vain that the team would reverse course and exercise it, not because Penske was warning him to not contact other teams), having it removed earlier is helpful.
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While this other side of the coin is true, it’s still good to have kept your word as an owner. If it’s September and by this, I assume it’s to see if the #21 team can return to the playoffs (remember Matt gave this team their first playoff birth since 2017), then stick to September. If Matt keeps rolling off solid finishes, and maybe wins before the season ends, thats a pretty ****** way to go out IMO. Money talks.
 
Old Kid said:
It's another R-F mini-series drama. :laugh:
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Mini-series? When this started, Bart and Homer were still filler material on Tracey Ullman's show. 60 Minutes was only 30 because Sunday was a school night for Mike Wallace. "Game of Thrones" had just graduated to its first high chair.
 
Snappy D said:
I hate to say it because this is a discussion board but I am so sick of the Di Bendetto topic....especially after Roger said initially it was always supposed to be "one more season." If Matt was good enough he would be in that seat next year, I would imagine he would have changed Roger's mind. He's not good enough. He's a career jobber, a mid pack driver at best. Every year it's the same thing with this guy, this topic hijacking a silly season thread for someone who has proven countless times he might win 1 race in his career at best. There are at least 50 other drivers I would take over him if I were building a Cup team... I'd even take the corpse of Dale Earnhardt before I took Reddit/internet's Driving Champion. He's not good I am sorry. This horse has been beaten more than the Points System Horse
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Would be interesting to see your list of 50 drivers.
 
DIDIT said:
Would be interesting to see your list of 50 drivers.
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I can PM them to you if I decide to do it. I’m not going to clutter this thread up further, it’s flattering you want a list...I think I’m going to sit down and really think about it
 
Snappy D said:
I can PM them to you if I decide to do it. I’m not going to clutter this thread up further, it’s flattering you want a list...I think I’m going to sit down and really think about it
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The most relevant question is, is Harrison Burton one of the 50? As so often is the case, I think this whole deal is a lot more about money than ability and potential.
 
Guess I'll be adding whatever number car gear and diecast Kurt drives next year to my 97, 2, 22, 51, 78, 41, and 1 collection.

My favorite was the 78 that seemed such a good fit for Kurt. Not sure why it didn't work out for him to stay.
 
Formerjackman said:
The most relevant question is, is Harrison Burton one of the 50? As so often is the case, I think this whole deal is a lot more about money than ability and potential.
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As of this moment in time no. But im not emotionally attached because Matt was never promised next year. It was always supposed to be “One Final Year” and was communicated as such from owner to driver. Roger went in a different direction...no harm no foul in my view.
 
Snappy D said:
I can PM them to you if I decide to do it. I’m not going to clutter this thread up further, it’s flattering you want a list...I think I’m going to sit down and really think about it
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Maybe start another thread. I think it would lead to some very interesting discussions. For example, would someone like Buddy Koifoid be on the list because of his potential. You don't need to answer, just wondering.
 
DIDIT said:
Maybe start another thread. I think it would lead to some very interesting discussions. For example, would someone like Buddy Koifoid be on the list because of his potential. You don't need to answer, just wondering.
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He’s been making his name in dirt with aspirations towards Cup, but would you put him in a Cup car right now?
 
Snappy D said:
As of this moment in time no. But im not emotionally attached because Matt was never promised next year. It was always supposed to be “One Final Year” and was communicated as such from owner to driver. Roger went in a different direction...no harm no foul in my view.
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The other side of the coin is that Matt D has been clicking off some good numbers lately, and everybody who's anybody knows he is looking for a ride. Penske did him a favor IMO, he could have like many other owners say little until the end of the season to tell the driver he isn't coming back next year.
 
StandOnIt said:
The other side of the coin is that Matt D has been clicking off some good numbers lately, and everybody who's anybody knows he is looking for a ride. Penske did him a favor IMO, he could have like many other owners say little until the end of the season to tell the driver he isn't coming back next year.
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If Penske REALLY wanted to do him a favor, he could help engineer a soft landing spot for Matt. Rick Hendrick has done that more than once with drivers that didn't quite work out on the A team. I guess part of what bugs me is that some act like Matt's tenure with the 21 was a failure. He made the playoffs last year, and if they had changed crew chiefs three months ago, he would probably make it this year. There are several teams that would LOVE to trade places with where the 21 has been the last two years.
 
Formerjackman said:
If Penske REALLY wanted to do him a favor, he could help engineer a soft landing spot for Matt. Rick Hendrick has done that more than once with drivers that didn't quite work out on the A team. I guess part of what bugs me is that some act like Matt's tenure with the 21 was a failure. He made the playoffs last year, and if they had changed crew chiefs three months ago, he would probably make it this year. There are several teams that would LOVE to trade places with where the 21 has been the last two years.
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he already did that with the 21 ride. For some buying him his own team wouldn't be enough
 
wi_racefan said:
I thought he did that by giving him another year in the 21 to build his brand?
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What BETTER option did Roger have than leaving Matt in the 21? It's not like Roger was turning down Kyle Busch or Chase Elliott so Matt would have a ride this year.
 
Formerjackman said:
What BETTER option did Roger have than leaving Matt in the 21? It's not like Roger was turning down Kyle Busch or Chase Elliott so Matt would have a ride this year.
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There's plenty of other options its not like Matt's a top tier driver himself. Austin showed plenty of promise last year in Xfinity and if it wasn't for the new car coming next year I'm pretty sure Matt wouldn't even have a ride this season

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wi_racefan said:
I thought he did that by giving him another year in the 21 to build his brand?
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What BETTER option did Roger have than leaving Matt in the 21? It's not like Roger was turning down Kyle Busch or Chase Elliott so Matt would have a ride this year. I would also be curious what the realistic expectations have been for the 21 car the last two years as far as the Roger is was concerned and how close Matt came to meeting them. I kind of think Roger got stuck with Matt due to Paul Menard, and nothing short of him going deep into the playoffs both years was likely going keep him from being replaced as soon a Roger found somebody he would rather have in that car. As I said, I get the impression this has very little to do with Matt's performance, and more to do with the fact that he wasn't Roger's guy. I mean no ill wishes to Harrison Burton, or the Wood Brother, who I love, but I will have trouble holding back the smile if this experiment doesn't end well.
 
Formerjackman said:
What BETTER option did Roger have than leaving Matt in the 21? It's not like Roger was turning down Kyle Busch or Chase Elliott so Matt would have a ride this year.
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Roger thought Harrison Burton was a better option. Case closed, done deal.
 
wi_racefan said:
There's plenty of other options its not like Matt's a top tier driver himself. Austin showed plenty of promise last year in Xfinity and if it wasn't for the new car coming next year I'm pretty sure Matt wouldn't even have a ride this season

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Austin Cindric.....also a better option.
 
wi_racefan said:
if it wasn't for the new car coming next year I'm pretty sure Matt wouldn't even have a ride this season
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What? After the 2020 season, Matt had some of the best stats on gaining positions on a restart, earned 3 top 5s and 11 top 10s, gave WBR their first playoff birth since 2017 and finished the season out at P13, which was their best points finish since Blaney finished P9 in 2017. Before that, you have to look all the way back to 1995 to find a better points finish than P13. Penske had obvious reasons to pick Matt back up for the 2021 season, none of which includes a Next Gen car that has been delayed for a season.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
What? After the 2020 season, Matt had some of the best stats on gaining positions on a restart, earned 3 top 5s and 11 top 10s, gave WBR their first playoff birth since 2017 and finished the season out at P13, which was their best points finish since Blaney finished P9 in 2017. Before that, you have to look all the way back to 1995 to find a better points finish than P13. Penske had obvious reasons to pick Matt back up for the 2021 season, none of which includes a Next Gen car that has been delayed for 3 seasons.
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Doesn't matter WBR racing is a Penske operated team and Austin is a Penske developed driver. Like I said if it wasn't for Penske wanting to start Austin from scratch with the new car he'd already be in the 21 this year.

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wi_racefan said:
Like I said if it wasn't for Penske wanting to start Austin from scratch with the new car he'd already be in the 21 this year.

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That doesn’t make any sense. Penske has put Austin in a Cup car this season 6 times and he will start again this week. If they wanted him to have a fresh start with a fresh car, why would they put him in a old car Cup seat for 20% of the schedule?
 
ChexOrWrex said:
That doesn’t make any sense. Penske has put Austin in a Cup car this season 6 times and he will start again this week. If they wanted him to have a fresh start with a fresh car, why would they put him in a old car Cup seat for 20% of the schedule?
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"Austin has made great strides in recent years and he has become a consistent winner and a true championship contender this season.

"He will continue his natural progression and get some Cup Series experience in 2021. That will help him prepare for a full season in 2022 with the new NextGen car, racing the #21 Ford Mustang for Wood Brothers Racing."

What does he get out of a full season in a car that will no longer exist? Have him run a few races to get used to racing around those guys in the cup series
 
wi_racefan said:
"Austin has made great strides in recent years and he has become a consistent winner and a true championship contender this season.

"He will continue his natural progression and get some Cup Series experience in 2021. That will help him prepare for a full season in 2022 with the new NextGen car, racing the #21 Ford Mustang for Wood Brothers Racing."
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Ok, this makes sense though. This is how a lot of upcoming rookies get experience. What you said about Penske waiting to start Austin from scratch in the new car being the reason as to why he’s not already in the #21 doesn’t make any sense.
 
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