Musgrave is still really pissed off!

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Parkfan

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Enough: Musgrave says he's about had it


By Mike Mulhern
JOURNAL REPORTER

Talk about an angry man. Ted Musgrave is mad as hell, and he's not going to take it any more.

When last seen, at Homestead in late November, Musgrave had exploded after losing NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series championship on a disputed call in the final miles and said, "Throw away the rulebook. From now on I'm going to be the dirtiest (expletive) driver out there."

Musgrave showed yesterday that he didn't mellow over the winter. Musgrave makes no bones about his feelings - anger at NASCAR officials which he said has been growing over the past year.

So it's no more Mr. Nice Guy.

"What are they going to do - take away my birthday?" Musgrave said yesterday during NASCAR's pre-season Truck tour.

"They've taken championships away, they've taken races away. There's not much else they can take. So let's give it back and see."

Musgrave, once a Winston Cup tour regular, isn't angry only about his loss in last season's Truck-tour finale. He's also angry that his crew then vanished in the off-season, lured away by rivals.

"Two guys stayed, but everyone else is gone," he said. "Even my crew chief might go to a competitor. My notes could just as well be on e-bay. The whole Truck Series has my notes. It will be like racing myself out there. and the toughest guy will win.

"Championships don't mean nothing to me any more. I've had it. We've changed the sign over the shop to Mad Dog Racing.

"It's all been building," Musgrave said. "At Las Vegas (last March) they made a bad call, pulled me in the pits under green and said I had a lug nut loose. All five were tight, but they never gave me my lap back under the caution like they should have. And then in the inspection line throughout the year we had problems.

"When I quit NASCAR I'm going to write a book, and when I publish it I know I'll never get back in the garage, because I'm going to tell the whole story."

This is the kind of guy NASCAR needs on the Nextel Cup tour, to liven things up in a plain-vanilla garage.

"NASCAR wants WWF-on-Wheels," Musgrave said, referring to the wild antics of the World Wrestling Federation. "OK, I'm ready to go.

"What the hell happened - they tamed down Tony Stewart, so somebody needs to come back in and rile him back up. But I don't have enough money to go Cup racing and pay all the fines. If I had more money, I'd talk more."

But Musgrave has been around long enough to know a driver can't beat NASCAR.

"Oh no, I'm not there to beat NASCAR," he said. "And I'm going to be as nice as I can to all my fans like always, do all the autograph sessions.

"But I'm not going to take any stuff. And if I'm supposed to do some special testing (for NASCAR), bull; I'm not doing that anymore.

"I didn't show up at Talladega, did I? Andy Houston went down there instead. That was a NASCAR test. But I was busy."

Musgrave's new attitude isn't just showmanship. He has been a rather polite driver through his career, but he has clearly undergone an attitude adjustment. And when the Truck tour opens at Daytona with a Friday night under-the-lights race in three weeks, Musgrave could provide fireworks.

"I've just had it. And it's not just the stuff that's gone on during the season, it's even in the off-season," he said. "I know it's 'part of racing,' but when people come in and steal your guys and your notes and your crew chief, everything but you yourself and your equipment, that's blackballing a guy..and right from behind.

"It's a dirty deal. So why should I sit back and smile about it?"

The Vegas race is the only CTS race I missed all year, so I can't comment on that. But dang, what happened to the guy who could have won a cup race at Darlington but instead choose to race DJ clean and finish 2nd? I will still pull for Ted after Steve but I"m not liking his new attitude, and he needs to realize if he even tries to do what he says NASCAR will probably end up suspending him.
 
Well, Ted's pissed off attitude matches pretty well with Jimmy Smith's attitude...of course, as I've said many times, five trucks at Miami Homestead...seems like NASCAR wasn't the only one taking championships away. While I have respect for the man, especially after racing and battling cancer, it seems pretty sad that he's relegated himself to this rowdy rebel guy who wants to act all upset about something when he belongs to a racing organization that, in my opinion, set out to do the same thing to others.
 
Well I agree he shouldn't have had 5 trucks at Homestead, especially because the drivers in the filler trucks were not good at all( except for Tyler Walker), and I can't see how they would've beat Brendan. But I disagree with all of those who say Marty Houston wrecked on purpose to take Gaughan out. I don't think much of of Jimmy Smith because of his off the track actions, although that pales in comparison to Rick Hendrick getting leukemia when he's going to be prosecuted in federal court and magically recovering when he was pardoned.
 
Hey, Parkfan, just so you know, Rick Hendrick still suffers from Lukemia. He didn't mysteriously recover from anything. :angry:
 
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

cry me a river Ted, nastycar didn't take anything from him, he never had to begin with
 
I guess Brian Vickers is the "bigger man" in this type of situation. He was the beneficiary of this particular rule here at the Texas race, but he managed to move on. I certainly hope that Musgrave puts this situation behind him. He certainly doesn't need to have road rage on the track!
 
Maybe it is just me but I think it's great that Ted is saying what is on his mind. I cannot wait for that book to come out.
 
Originally posted by majestyx@Jan 22 2004, 08:38 AM
Hey, Parkfan, just so you know, Rick Hendrick still suffers from Lukemia. He didn't mysteriously recover from anything. :angry:
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He has been in complete remission for quite some time. Though it's not known if it was a full recovery it very well could be.
 
Originally posted by Parkfan+Jan 22 2004, 09:09 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Parkfan @ Jan 22 2004, 09:09 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--majestyx@Jan 22 2004, 08:38 AM
Hey, Parkfan, just so you know, Rick Hendrick still suffers from Lukemia.&nbsp; He didn't mysteriously recover from anything. :angry:
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He has been in complete remission for quite some time. Though it's not known if it was a full recovery it very well could be. [/b][/quote]
Remission and recovery are completely opposite. His lukemia is in Remission. He will have it for the rest of his life tho'.
 
Originally posted by majestyx@Jan 22 2004, 09:11 AM

Remission and recovery are completely opposite. His lukemia is in Remission. He will have it for the rest of his life tho'.
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Remission -- Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer or other disease. When this happens, the disease is said to be "in remission." A remission can be temporary or permanent.
 
I applaud Ted Musgrave for speaking out,just hope it doesn't carry out onto the racetrack,although a Person could understand how He feels,this is certainly not the first time that a driver has been screwed over by NASCAR's officials :eek:
 
24 he didn't get screwed by nastycar (you won't see me defend the greedy bas... often) he broke a rule and they called him on it. Just like vickers at TX. do i like that rule NO but it has been a rule for a long time if you break it and get cought you gona pay the price.
 
Originally posted by de7xwcc@Jan 22 2004, 12:51 PM
24 he didn't get screwed by nastycar (you won't see me defend the greedy bas... often) he broke a rule and they called him on it. Just like vickers at TX. do i like that rule NO but it has been a rule for a long time if you break it and get cought you gona pay the price.
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oh :eek: I didn;t really see the event,probably shouldn't have commented on it ;)

Thanks for the correction :huh:
 
Him speaking his mind is one thing, but him saying he is going to be a dirty driver is another thing. How many ripped on Harvick or Busch for the same statement.

He says what are they going to do take away my birthday, well if you drive a little to dirty and they know it, They will take your ride away. If he doesn't believe them he can ask Harvick about it.
 
Originally posted by majestyx@Jan 22 2004, 08:38 AM
Hey, Parkfan, just so you know, Rick Hendrick still suffers from Lukemia.&nbsp; He didn't mysteriously recover from anything. :angry:
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Doesn't change the fact that he is a crook & got away with it though. ;) Only in America!
 
The way I see it.... the 62 should of won the Championship last season. Jimmy Smith pulled a 'jackass like move' and entered what? 5 trucks? Look at what happened... Brendan wrecked and lost the championship!
If that's not being out for someone, then I don't know what is..

Anways, back to the main topic...
I like the way Ted is tellin' it like it is, but he better be careful. 'Dinoforthe3' made a good point in his last post not to tease NASCAR. If they see it and don't like it, they'll pull you out of the car. Ask Jimmy Spencer that, too. It'd be best for Ted to do his talking on the track, not infront of a mic.
 
Originally posted by 17_Fan+Jan 22 2004, 12:16 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (17_Fan @ Jan 22 2004, 12:16 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--majestyx@Jan 22 2004, 08:38 AM
Hey, Parkfan, just so you know, Rick Hendrick still suffers from Lukemia.  He didn't mysteriously recover from anything. :angry:
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Doesn't change the fact that he is a crook & got away with it though. ;) Only in America! [/b][/quote]
I wonder how much money he bribed them with?
 
Did any of you consider who wrote this article? The writer isn't exactly a trusted source , so i wouldn't put much credence in it.
 
Originally posted by Mopardh9@Jan 22 2004, 09:25 PM
Did any of you consider who wrote this article? The writer isn't exactly a trusted source , so i wouldn't put much credence in it.
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If you think he made up those quotes you can read the entire interview here.
 
Originally posted by Dinoforthe3@Jan 22 2004, 05:51 PM
Him speaking his mind is one thing, but him saying he is going to be a dirty driver is another thing. How many ripped on Harvick or Busch for the same statement.

He says what are they going to do take away my birthday, well if you drive a little to dirty and they know it, They will take your ride away. If he doesn't believe them he can ask Harvick about it.
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One difference is when Harvick and Busch spoke they followed through.

Since there has been no opportunity for Musgrave to act on his "threats" we don't know if he will push the envelope or not. No question he will be on the NASCAR radar.

My guess is, he won't be an anal cavity unless pushed first. OR, he will change from being "Mr. Nice Guy" to the type of "driver who makes things happen" when the opportunity is presented. There are plenty who adopt this style yet are not penalized. All Musgrave has done is create a bad image before proving he is worthy of it.

For the final race of the CTS, Jimmy Smith took a page from the Richard Childress play book of a few years ago. There was no violation of the rules. The same conditions were in place for any other teams to take advantage of the situation.

As for Rick Hendrick, yes he is a thief, crook, con-artist, take your pick. He did and still does have leukemia. This is a disease that never really goes away and the treatment is excruciating. In seeing him at races, he has good days and bad days and you can tell the difference. He is not faking it.
As for Hendrick buying his way out of the criminal charges and subsequent presidential pardon, doubtful anyone will know how much that little "courtesy" cost, but remember who granted the pardon.
 
hea whizzer,
when did RC enter 5 trucks or cars in a race, i think i remember back in 90 maybe 91 he entered a second car at Atlanta when the points were tight but can't remember him ever entering 5
 
Originally posted by de7xwcc@Jan 23 2004, 04:10 PM
hea whizzer,
when did RC enter 5 trucks or cars in a race, i think i remember back in 90 maybe 91 he entered a second car at Atlanta when the points were tight but can't remember him ever entering 5
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My post read:
"For the final race of the CTS, Jimmy Smith took a page from the Richard Childress play book of a few years ago. There was no violation of the rules. The same conditions were in place for any other teams to take advantage of the situation."

After re-reading the post, not sure why the question about Childress using five entries.

Childress has used multiple entries in an attempt to gain an advantage during a points race. The number of entries used is not the issue. The idea is.
Smith took the page (the idea) from the Richard Childress NASCAR Winston Cup Series play book and applied it to the Craftsman Truck Series in an attempt to gain an advantage as was intended when utilized by Richard Childress at an earlier time.
Smith was being a Richard Childress copycat.

In the final analysis, it is doubtful either of them are the only ones to try a deal like this in an effort to gain an advantage. There is nothing wrong with it. They both conformed to the rules.

Some of us think it is alright and others disagree. Why ???
 
I think Rick Hendrick used this one year at Atlanta to. When the green flag flew Jack Sprague was sitting on pit road with the hood up for a few laps.
 
Originally posted by Whizzer@Jan 23 2004, 03:17 PM

Some of us think it is alright and others disagree. Why ???
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I think it's all fine and dandy that it followed the rules...personally, I think when you've fielded a certain number of cars all year long, and then, when the points get tight, you enter, say, 5 cars, it just says that maybe you don't have enough confidence in the skill of your driver in the points chase. Though I would have loved to see Brendan win the title, i was also curious as to why there was a #61 truck out there that day too...at leat there weren't 3 more, otherwise, you would have had 1/3 of the field from two teams trying to prevent 1 guy from the other team from winning. It's shame it couldn't have been a race between, say, the top five cars or something, instead of loading up the field with friendly fire (which they all did)...out.
 
The #7 truck entered in the race had ran the complete last half of the season for Jimmy Smith , so in actuality, he only entered two extra trucks.
 
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