Danica Patrick on NASCAR schedule: 'We don't have any lives'

Greg said:
Everone I have ever known that races had no other life. From Go Karts to Late Models it is an all consuming 24/7 passion. There are simply too many possessed freaks out there that will destroy anyone who isnt as committed.

And we need a 46 to 48 race schedule.
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With cup, X and trucks I think they have that covered. If cup would do 2 races each weekend it would be easy to fit 50 races in a schedule
 
My thoughts:

1) the schedule is too long. Would love to see it shortened, if for no other reason than to lengthen the off-season planning time. 2.5 months that sandwich the "no one cares anymore, everyone is in holiday mode" month of December is really tough, especially on the sponsorship side. It might as well be just over a month of time, since most people want to discuss things "first week of January."

2) I have zero sympathy for drivers when it comes to this topic. Zero. Zippy. None. Danica is entitled to her opinion, but if she ever expresses that opinion in my presence, I will look her in the eyes and tell her that she's a spoiled brat. They live charmed lives. At least many of them do. She especially.

3) I have all the sympathy in the world for the crews, especially the hauler drivers and guys who work on the cars all weekend (the short sleeved folks). Many of them make little money and work 100+ hour weeks. When they talk, I listen.
 
Allenbaba said:
My thoughts:

1) the schedule is too long. Would love to see it shortened, if for no other reason than to lengthen the off-season planning time. 2.5 months that sandwich the "no one cares anymore, everyone is in holiday mode" month of December is really tough, especially on the sponsorship side. It might as well be just over a month of time, since most people want to discuss things "first week of January."

2) I have zero sympathy for drivers when it comes to this topic. Zero. Zippy. None. Danica is entitled to her opinion, but if she ever expresses that opinion in my presence, I will look her in the eyes and tell her that she's a spoiled brat. They live charmed lives. At least many of them do. She especially.

3) I have all the sympathy in the world for the crews, especially the hauler drivers and guys who work on the cars all weekend (the short sleeved folks). Many of them make little money and work 100+ hour weeks. When they talk, I listen.
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A man I respect (@Allenbaba ) saying things that are hard to hear. You have the inside track so to speak. I do think she and any of the drivers have it good. NASCAR has provided a lot of doors to her. Other sports say the schedule is too long, baseball, etc. I agree with you about the short sleeved folks as well...a shorter season would give them more off time with their families. We know spotters for instance, are not millionaires necessarily like the drivers are whom they guide.

Danica wants to win, but Id love to see her drive some Xfinity races and truck races as well....
 
Allenbaba said:
My thoughts:

1) the schedule is too long. Would love to see it shortened, if for no other reason than to lengthen the off-season planning time. 2.5 months that sandwich the "no one cares anymore, everyone is in holiday mode" month of December is really tough, especially on the sponsorship side. It might as well be just over a month of time, since most people want to discuss things "first week of January."

2) I have zero sympathy for drivers when it comes to this topic. Zero. Zippy. None. Danica is entitled to her opinion, but if she ever expresses that opinion in my presence, I will look her in the eyes and tell her that she's a spoiled brat. They live charmed lives. At least many of them do. She especially.

3) I have all the sympathy in the world for the crews, especially the hauler drivers and guys who work on the cars all weekend (the short sleeved folks). Many of them make little money and work 100+ hour weeks. When they talk, I listen.
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So Harvick was full of a **** when he called out his crew and said they make lots of money? Guessing you are talking about the shop guys.

And I would bet she was talking about the season is too long for everyone involved not just the drivers. I mean, that just sounds like common sense to me.
 
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Mr Excitement said:
So Harvick was full of a sh!t when he called out his crew and said they make lots of money? Guessing you are talking about the shop guys.

And I would bet she was talking about the season is too long for everyone involved not just the drivers. I mean, that just sounds like common sense to me.
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Yes, the short sleeved guys are the ones turning wrenches and whatnot.


The athletes that fly the raceday express on Saturdays or Sundays to pit for the heavy hitters do pretty well afaik.
 
Allenbaba said:
I have zero sympathy for drivers when it comes to this topic. Zero. Zippy. None. Danica is entitled to her opinion, but if she ever expresses that opinion in my presence, I will look her in the eyes and tell her that she's a spoiled brat. They live charmed lives. At least many of them do. She especially.
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:cheers:
 
Mr Excitement said:
So Harvick was full of a sh!t when he called out his crew and said they make lots of money? Guessing you are talking about the shop guys.

And I would bet she was talking about the season is too long for everyone involved not just the drivers. I mean, that just sounds like common sense to me.
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Again . I think some folks might be happier if we dropped the pretense and made this thread about Danica hate . Likely Allen would look ANY driver in the eye and call them a spoiled brat for complaining , but it is true , the season extremely intense , with too little time to build new teams and sponsors before Daytona . Dropping the silly exhibition races would be a super start.
 
ted@economy said:
Again . I think some folks might be happier if we dropped the pretense and made this thread about Danica hate . Likely Allen would look ANY driver in the eye and call them a spoiled brat for complaining , but it is true , the season extremely intense , with too little time to build new teams and sponsors before Daytona . Dropping the silly exhibition races would be a super start.
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This thread is about something dumb that she said. Stop white knighting for freaking once.
 
DUN24 said:
This thread is about something dumb that she said. Stop white knighting for freaking once.
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Nothing dumb about what she said and it's been said by many other drivers as well. The season is too long for everyone involved. Ted's opinion of dropping the exhibition races is a good idea IMO.
 
The schedule is good.

If someone in the game can’t hack it, get out.
 
Mr Excitement said:
Nothing dumb about what she said and it's been said by many other drivers as well. The season is too long for everyone involved. Ted's opinion of dropping the exhibition races is a good idea IMO.
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What any other drive is bitching about regarding their schedule is dumb. They literally have a dream job. Racing is life. Racers are supposed to be down to race as much as possible.


My god.... I think I found something to like about Kyle Busch:confused:
 
ted@economy said:
Again . I think some folks might be happier if we dropped the pretense and made this thread about Danica hate . Likely Allen would look ANY driver in the eye and call them a spoiled brat for complaining , but it is true , the season extremely intense , with too little time to build new teams and sponsors before Daytona . Dropping the silly exhibition races would be a super start.
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I am going to see if TRL can block you from reading any thread with Danica Patrick in it as it will be for your own good. Allowing you to read anything with her name in it is like leaving an addicted gambler in a casino by himself with a fat roll or giving an alkie the keys to a brewing company.
 
DUN24 said:
What any other drive is bitching about regarding their schedule is dumb. They literally have a dream job. Racing is life. Racers are supposed to be down to race as much as possible.
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And they do race as much as possible including pimping their sponsors 24/7. Also ,you may have missed the part where she said she's OK with it. But as usual, posters who don't like DP blow everything out of proportion.

I think if you reduced the schedule, it would make a big difference. We just don’t have any lives. This is it. Which is OK –
 
Mr Excitement said:
And they do race as much as possible including pimping their sponsors 24/7. Also ,you may have missed the part where she said she's OK with it. But as usual, posters who don't like DP blow everything out of proportion.

I think if you reduced the schedule, it would make a big difference. We just don’t have any lives. This is it. Which is OK –
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The sponsor and media obligations have made things extremely difficult. I'd agree. I'm more talking about drivers that have mentioned reducing the schedule or shortening races. It's not about DP. The only ones bitching about Danica are Danica fans... As usual lol.
 
DUN24 said:
What any other drive is bitching about regarding their schedule is dumb. They literally have a dream job. Racing is life. Racers are supposed to be down to race as much as possible.


My god.... I think I found something to like about Kyle Busch:confused:
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I think it would be normal for drivers and many others affiliated with Nascar to want a shorter season as you would miss out on a lot of life that people consider normal. However everyone knows prior to signing on what the season entails and if it doesn't suit them they are free to pursue other things.

Recently I heard a speaker talking about how many Americans think being a work-a-holic is a great thing but the speaker said all it shows is that they have a life that is way out of balance. If you are on a Nascar team and you are working 80-100 hours per week on a regular basis shame on you for subjecting yourself to that kind of life. There is nothing wrong with hard work and long hours but if the extra long hours are normal you need to examine what you are doing, IMO.
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
I think it would be normal for drivers and many others affiliated with Nascar to want a shorter season as you would miss out on a lot of life that people consider normal. However everyone knows prior to signing on what the season entails and if it doesn't suit them they are free to pursue other things.

Recently I heard a speaker talking about how many Americans think being a work-a-holic is a great thing but the speaker said all it shows is that they have a life that is way out of balance. If you are on a Nascar team and you are working 80-100 hours per week on a regular basis shame on you for subjecting yourself to that kind of life. There is nothing wrong with hard work and long hours but if the extra long hours are normal you need to examine what you are doing, IMO.
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It's very tough for people that work back in NC. Especially small teams. No doubt. If NASCAR ever did shorten or condense the schedule, I would hope it would be for them, not the drivers. Jmo.
 
Everybody agrees, this is an easy thread. the season is too long and the tracks are wrong.
 
I find it incomprehensible that a driver, any driver, gets blasted for expressing an opinion. Yes, the drivers sign up voluntarily for
the whole season. Yes, they are quite handsomely compensated for their work. But, it has to be a grind. We don't know
for sure just what extras they are required to do during the season. I'm sure sponsors require their presence at functions --- probably
more than we realize.
I sympathize with the blue collar members of the teams --- the guys "back in the shop". They are the ones that do the grunt work
of keeping a team going.

I'm sure everyone that works for a living has complaints about their job. Why do some think that drivers do not have that privilege?
 
Skoalbandit33 said:
I think it would be normal for drivers and many others affiliated with Nascar to want a shorter season as you would miss out on a lot of life that people consider normal. However everyone knows prior to signing on what the season entails and if it doesn't suit them they are free to pursue other things.

Recently I heard a speaker talking about how many Americans think being a work-a-holic is a great thing but the speaker said all it shows is that they have a life that is way out of balance. If you are on a Nascar team and you are working 80-100 hours per week on a regular basis shame on you for subjecting yourself to that kind of life. There is nothing wrong with hard work and long hours but if the extra long hours are normal you need to examine what you are doing, IMO.
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Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather keep my day job and race weekends instead of dealing with all the **** that comes along with being a NASCAR driver. It takes a different kind of person who can deal with wacko fans/haters, the media,and pimping their sponsors 24/7 or stressing about even having a sponsor. No, thanks.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
I find it incomprehensible that a driver, any driver, gets blasted for expressing an opinion. Yes, the drivers sign up voluntarily for
the whole season. Yes, they are quite handsomely compensated for their work. But, it has to be a grind. We don't know
for sure just what extras they are required to do during the season. I'm sure sponsors require their presence at functions --- probably
more than we realize.
I sympathize with the blue collar members of the teams --- the guys "back in the shop". They are the ones that do the grunt work
of keeping a team going.

I'm sure everyone that works for a living has complaints about their job. Why do some think that drivers do not have that privilege?
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Good question and a great post.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
I'm sure everyone that works for a living has complaints about their job. Why do some think that drivers do not have that privilege?
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I tend to agree. But you get into a circular argument in which it's stated that she has the right to express her opinion, and fans have a right to express their opinion of her opinion, and so on. She is a public figure and a large portion of her income is dependent on the attention of the public, so she's open to criticism.

However, as much as I always enjoy allenbaba's insights, I really do, I didn't get the impression that she was seeking sympathy here. To me it came off as her stating facts rather bluntly. She would prefer a shorter schedule such as she was accustomed to with Indy Car. She imagines that the long NASCAR schedule causes some drivers to retire earlier than they would with an easier one. It's easy to read into that it will probably cause her to stop sooner. Those are pretty straightforward statements about her decision making process.

I am not a fan of Danica, but I don't think that if Kevin Harvick or Jeff Gordon made the exact same comments, that the reaction would be similar. I say Jeff Gordon because I strongly suspect he would have stuck around for another couple years given a lighter schedule. They would just be seen as stating the truth about themselves and their lives.
 
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Skoalbandit33 said:
I am going to see if TRL can block you from reading any thread with Danica Patrick in it as it will be for your own good. Allowing you to read anything with her name in it is like leaving an addicted gambler in a casino by himself with a fat roll or giving an alkie the keys to a brewing company.
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LOOSE TIRE ON PIT ROAD !
 
I don't feel sorry for the whiners in the least bit....... They are young...... chose to be in this profession and should have researched the time involved before jumping in. When I was their age, I was working more hours a week than they are and enjoying every minute. And I guarandamnedtee you I wasn't making millions a year. If (insert name here) thinks they are overworked for the amount of salary he or she makes........ Then hit the door Jack and don't let the screen door hit you in the a$$........ Don't look back either because ain't no one ever gonna' miss your whiney spoiled butt........
 
R Clarence said:
Yeah. They’re kept in a brief case full of third “tear” teams…..
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Bad%252BJoke%252BDinosaur.%252BTrying%252Bthis%252Bmeme%252Bout....hope%252Byou%252Blike%252Bit_a5a6d7_3641112.jpg
 
kymartin6 said:
I don't feel sorry for the whiners in the least bit....... They are young...... chose to be in this profession and should have researched the time involved before jumping in. When I was their age, I was working more hours a week than they are and enjoying every minute. And I guarandamnedtee you I wasn't making millions a year. If (insert name here) thinks they are overworked for the amount of salary he or she makes........ Then hit the door Jack and don't let the screen door hit you in the a$$........ Don't look back either because ain't no one ever gonna' miss your whiney spoiled butt........
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Well, nobody ever drove me to school when it was ninety degrees below,
We had to walk butt naked through forty miles of snow.
Worked in the coal mine twenty two hours a day for just half a cent,
Had to sell my internal organs just to pay the rent!
"When I Was Your Age", "Weird Al" Yankovic
 
TexasRaceLady said:
We don't know for sure just what extras they are required to do during the season.
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Speak for yourself there madam. The forum has a direct link to the insides of NASCAR with @Allenbaba & he even has no sympathy for Danica or other drivers complaining about not having a life.

And to reiterate the point some people are making here - all drivers including Danica have the ability & right to complain about their work load. Nobody is saying they should be silent on the topic. It just comes out as out of touch, and as Allen put it "spoiled brat"-like.

Some perspective on the people they are entertaining every weekend is needed from time to time, in my opinion.
 
TexasRaceLady said:
I'm sure everyone that works for a living has complaints about their job. Why do some think that drivers do not have that privilege?
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In my opinion, two reasons.

The justified reason is that everyone in the sport at the upper levels knew the hours and commitments involved before they got into it.

The unjustified reason it probably jealousy, either of the participants' lives in the sport or of the money many of them make.
 
Mr Excitement said:
Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather keep my day job and race weekends instead of dealing with all the sh!t that comes along with being a NASCAR driver. It takes a different kind of person who can deal with wacko fans/haters, the media,and pimping their sponsors 24/7 or stressing about even having a sponsor. No, thanks.
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Hey, somebody's gotta do the accounting, maintain the building, and operate the CNC machines.
 
Apparently Star Wars one-liners arent welcome here :confused:

Although I cant be surprised.
 
I believe this is representative of today's cup series. Very few of the drivers had to "pay their dues" on the local level and work for the opportunity that most racers only dream of. It's viewed by them as their right, not the privlege we all know it to be.

Any driver racing in top notch equipment and yet still hovering outside the top 20 should be concerned about getting more practice. Not less! There is no substitute for seat time.
 
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