Chad Blount's car owner paid drivers to withdraw

P

Parkfan

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From Jayski
So..why did Blount and the #66 make the race at Milwaukee? The field at Milwaukee last week was set per owners points/the rules book [past winners, race attempts and qualifying draw]. No matter how #66 team owner Wayne Jessel figured it out, he was not able to get driver Chad Blount in the race as it was their first race of the season [no owners points of race attempts] and they hadn't drawn a high enough position in qualifying [34th]. Jessel convinced the teams of #52-Brad Teague [10 attempts, 43rd owners points, 2nd in qualiying order], #70-Morgan Shepherd [4, 53rd, 21st], #97-Kenny Hendrick [3, 73rd, 11th] and #67-Brad Mueller [actually #66 was in better position then this team also attempting it's first race and was 45 in qual order].....to withdraw from the event and ensure his team a spot in the race [starting 43rd and finishing 40th]. No one would comment, but it reportedly took a low five-figure range to seal the deals..(Winston Cup Scene

This really annoys me. I hate it when these drivers only drive till the first pit stop and park it, so they can make money, and if they're willing to sell their starting spots, they shouldn't even be racing.
 
sounds like bribery to me, which could get some teams in trouble. a real shame if they get away w/ it.
 
Without teams filling the field, there would be short fields. Then the fans would complain about not having 43 cars in the field. True some teams do enter, run ten laps and pull out, something that has existed since the formation of NASCAR. It is a known fact in every form of racing there are participants encouraged to enter to fill the field.

As for bribery, didn't Darrell Waltrip pull a similar stunt several years ago after buying out Carl Long, driver for Mansion Motorsports because they beat Darrell on time in qualifying and Darrell was out of provisionals ??

If a guy is willing to spend five figures to pay other race teams for a starting position, there is nothing wrong morally or lawfully or in the NASCAR rule book that violates the process. It has been going on since racing started. Nothing has changed. There are teams trying to make a living racing cars, and most of them bring two cars to the track, one to race and one as a backup. If the field is not full, why not take the backup car off the truck and enter it ?? Why not take home some extra money. The same teams who race every week should have this advantage. When sponsorship money in the Busch Series becomes plentiful again the teams entering to run ten or twenty laps for a better payday will be reduced. Until that time comes, there will be "field fillers", a necessary part of the system. :D
 
It was a big deal for the Miller High Life deal so I guess they did what it would take to get the car in the show!
 
Unfortnatley this is how sports are done these days. :(
 
I believe you are very well mistaken Whizzer. Darrell Waltrip missed the field that year and Kmart (DW's sponsor) offered Carl Long sponsorship if Darrell could drive. Carl was honored to have Darrell drive his car, and it ended up being a good deal for both teams.

I personally don't believe that situation is anything like what has happened in the busch series here. Bribing teams to withdraw is different than offering teams money so your driver can drive in the race.
 
:dual9mm: When I read something like this I start to feel cheated!!! I don't not care for the "Provisional System" that is in place now... Yes I do understand if a top team has a bad qualifying run it does save them... But on the other hand it would make them a better team if it wasn't the case. More of the total package thing... But when a better team is sent home and a team that has a slower car is let in it gets to me... I want to see the best not someone who is going to drive around for a couple of lap and hear DW/Benny make up some bs excuse for that team and why there day is done... JMO
 
Originally posted by rpmallen@Jul 5 2003, 05:05 AM
I believe you are very well mistaken Whizzer. Darrell Waltrip missed the field that year and Kmart (DW's sponsor) offered Carl Long sponsorship if Darrell could drive. Carl was honored to have Darrell drive his car, and it ended up being a good deal for both teams.
I personally don't believe that situation is anything like what has happened in the busch series here. Bribing teams to withdraw is different than offering teams money so your driver can drive in the race.
Click to expand...

I'll believe I am mistaken when someone can explain what the diffference is between the sponsor or the team owner paying off the other teams for a starting position.

It is not bribery as there is no legal issue, no moral issue and no NASCAR issue involved here. This is not the first incident on record of one team buying out a starting position from another team. The fact is, Darrell Waltrip DID NOT make the race and it makes no never mind whether Waltrip or K MART made the buy out. The same holds true in the circumstance of Wayne Jessel buying the starting position for his team.

So in your opinion, the difference between "Bribing teams to withdraw is different than offering teams money so your driver can drive in the race" is........................................what??? :blink:
 
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