Fuelish Concerns

H

HardScrabble

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Included as ugly in a post concerning the Martinsville race was the snafu at the fule island which cost Kenny Wallace dearly. Since that time questioning has led to information that Unocal is in charge of the fuel island and furnishes the personnel to man it. Now it seems that NASCAR is conceding they cannot influence the outgoing sponsor and is looking at other means to rectify the situation. Add to this some rumblings that the fuel being supplied is of varying and unknown quality and IMO at this point the teams are likely more than ready to see Unocal hit the highway. The teams still need a decision soon as to who the new fuel supplier will be and what the specs of the new fuel will be.

Call it the Kenny Wallace rule. At Martinsville in April, Wallace's team was one of several that was unable to get fuel for its gas cans because one of the track's pumps was broken. Wallace lost two laps because of it. Richmond, like Martinsville, has fewer pumps than some tracks, so NASCAR allowed teams to start the race with three cans of fuel in the pits instead of two in case there was another problem at the pumps. . . .
 
I am probably way off on this one...I noticed this past race several commercails for Marathon Oil Company, for some reason when I saw them it reminded me of the fact that Unocal is out and Nascar is on the hunt for a new supplier. What else I find odd is that all my local Marathon gas stations are advertising the races on there outside signs, for instance all last week they had Richmond on and the time the race started.
 
Might be something to it. Very good observation!

Marathon - Ashland owns and operates the Valvoline brand of oils an such. Since Valvoline has been a major team sponsor in NASCAR for quite some time, there could be a desire to expand the realtionship. It might also be something to get more air time from Fox.....who knows.

I can't think of a racing fuel which is produced by Marathon, but they very well may have one in their portfolio somewhere.
 
My guess ...and this is just an un-educated guess at best.....is that Shell/Texaco will be the supplier next season. They have the resources and already have a relationship with Nascar.
 
Regardless of who has it now and who gets it, the fuel needs to be consistent at all times and places. If that can't be guaranteed, then the teams need to bring their own....that'll open a pandoras box. BUt, hey, if NASCAR can't guarantee the fuel quality they have already opend it.
 
DD, I have never heard of Marathon Oil before. Sunoco sponsored Terry Labonte back in the early 90's. They may get back into Cup. We don't have any Sunocos here either, but I think it would have to be a national co.
 
Originally posted by Tabasco@May 7 2003, 09:04 PM
DD, I have never heard of Marathon Oil before. Sunoco sponsored Terry Labonte back in the early 90's. They may get back into Cup. We don't have any Sunocos here either, but I think it would have to be a national co.
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Marathon/Ashland as HS stated owns/operates valvoline oil. I thought Marathon was national? It's hard telling who it will be.
 
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