NASCAR Is Ticked at No Shows

kat2220

kat2220

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New York no-shows
NASCAR annoyed with drivers who skipped ceremony
Posted: Tuesday December 6, 2005 4:22PM; Updated: Tuesday December 6, 2005 4:44PM


CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR officials are "extremely disappointed" in Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and other drivers who failed to attend the season-ending awards ceremonies.

"It was very disappointing to NASCAR and the entire industry that drivers did not show up for various awards," spokesman Jim Hunter said Tuesday. "It shows a lack of respect for the history and tradition of the sport."

NASCAR president Mike Helton plans to speak with the drivers who failed to attend last week's ceremonies in New York, Hunter said. The sanctioning body also is considering ways to ensure future attendance.

NASCAR has held its season-ending ceremonies in New York the past 25 years, handing out numerous awards during a weeklong celebration capped by a black-tie banquet in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria.

Gordon, who finished 11th in the standings, skipped the banquet because he was in Paris preparing to compete in the Race of Champions all-star event. Actor Will Ferrell, pretending to be Gordon, accepted the $1,075,386 payout -- which included a $250,000 bonus for finishing 11th -- on Gordon's behalf.

Gordon's absence was glaring because under NASCAR's new points system the 11th-place driver is awarded a spot at the banquet as a reward for being the highest finishing driver outside of the Chase for the championship.

Earnhardt, selected as NASCAR's most popular driver for the third straight season, didn't travel to New York to pick up his award. Also absent were Elliott Sadler and Kasey Kahne, who earned a combined $175,000 in secondary awards.

"The banquet is not just for the championship and the top 10 drivers," Hunter said. "It's for everyone that put NASCAR on the map, for all contingency awards and for all the sponsors who support this sport.

"Dale Earnhardt went to New York every year whether he won the championship or not. It meant a lot to him to represent the sport and we expect that from all our competitors."

It's not clear what NASCAR can do to force drivers to attend the ceremonies. Among the things being considered is revoking the contingency awards that Kahne and Sadler received and giving the money to the runner-ups.


OOOOOO, I wonder what Nascar has in mind for those naughty children. I sent them a note to please excuse Jeff. :bsflag:
 
yea, no crap. Jeff HAD A REASON to be gone..i believe casey mears was inside the top 25, so he couldn't have gone (him and JJ are the other notables who have rep'd)...so it they force the top 25 to show up, who's gonna represent nascar at paris? a bodine?
 
Jeff had a reason to be gone? He earned a spot at the banquet in his primary job. The 11th place spot that earned him $1million. That should have been first and foremost. I think it is disrespectful that drivers like Gordon and Jr did not bother to show. Many fans were in NY to see the celebrations and yet the most poplar driver wasn't.
 
Complete and total BS! Jeff Gordon was representing NASCAR as well as the U S of A in the Race of Champions. The New York City Hoopla was geared around the TOP 10, of which ALL were in attendance.
 
the 11th-place driver is awarded a spot at the banquet as a reward for being the highest finishing driver outside of the Chase for the championship.
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Sounds to me like 11th place was to be part of the celebration also.
Gordon could have found a way to attend both, and if would he have made it in the Chase you know he would have. To me it's more a respect thing than anything.
 
NASCAR is the primary job for most of these guys. If I am to receive an award from someone where I make my living, it is for darn sure that I am going to be there to accept it out of common courtesy.

You owe it to them, your team, your sponsor and your fans. To be there to represent them. It is the correct and proper thing to do.

It is not a big deal to hop a jet and show your face and then go back to what you were doing.

As for the contingency awards, they used to be part of the televised banquet proceedings. Now we get lame comedy and singing. Nascar should never have gotten rid of that part of the program. Even if is seemed boring at times, it was time for these other drivers to shine and get recognition.

It almost seems to be an attitude of if you don't get to be in the spotlight why bother showing. Maybe not in all cases.

But you do have to wonder.

Hey, this is the new NASCAR. I guess one night in the year makes no difference to some people.
 
To be honest here I am surprised at how many DO show up in New York City! As for the TV audience... Few if any new converts watch that show. The thing is by insiders and for insiders.
It is an AWARD ceremony! If the awardees have something more important to THEM to do that is their business.. The awards were WON and the winners should be able to receive the promised awards however and wherever they wish.
A fellow once told me what a horse show was. He said it was a bunch of horses showing their asses to a bunch of horses asses showing their horses.. I sort of feel thataway about most if not all awards ceremonies.. What the hell are they for anyway? Just mail em the money and be done with it.
I can see no gain in televising the ceremony! The only folks tuned in will be back next year anyway.. SO WHAT if some of the drivers found other things THEY would rather do? I am surprised that all that were there actually came in the first place..
It ain't the Oscar they are awarding!
Betsy
 
OMG, Betsy, I agree with MOST of what you said.

Let's face it, an actor who makes millions per picture has a life too. Does anybody bi*#h when they are a no show (not even a film clip) at a big AWARDS show? NO! Music Awards are the same. Would YOU boycott a film or a song or a play just because the artist was not in attendance at an awards show?
June Bug and Jeff DO have a life, and some others should get one of their own.
 
Lap3forever By mentioning the Oscars I had reference to the nominated coming to SEE who was the winner.. Meaning the votes are not publicized till the very moment.. Getting one of those is like crossing the finish line first.. The glee! The joy of the moment is right there at the time.. These NASCAR ceremonies are loooong after the fact. The only thing that might be in question is the exact dollar amount each will receive.. But who won is already established.
Betsy
 
If the drivers are a bit miffed at all the freaking rules NASCAR has bestowed on them----maybe forgetting to attend things like the awards banquet are the only means of voicing their displeasure.

Dang sure can't say anything to the media----or anyone else without a fine.

I am a bit fed up with all the high handed rule making---and the fact a driver can't say what is on his mind.

But, I am an old school fan----I kinda thought duking it out in Turn Four was a pretty good way to work out tension. ;)
 
I guess I'm surprised at the differences in this thread. I can understand why NASCAR is ticked at the no shows, but I'm not sure I understand why fans might be ticked as well.

Season ending banquets are the norm for the racing circuits and for most, if not all, it's just as Betsy says, a show for the performers and their closest friends. NASCAR's Cup banquet was always that way for years until ESPN began to televise it. In those early days, fans at home would miss different things because of commercials as the agenda of the banquet was not geared towards the television viewer. That all changed when NASCAR got the big TV contract and now the banquet is all part of the show, not for the insiders now, but is geared for the home fans, just the opposite of what it always was before. So, because this is now televised for the fans at home, NASCAR expects it's participants to play along. I'd look for a change in the contracts after this year to make it mandatory for certain people to show up at the show.
 
Betsy said:
A fellow once told me what a horse show was. He said it was a bunch of horses showing their asses to a bunch of horses asses showing their horses..
Click to expand...
ROFLMAO. Have to remember this one.
 
Season ending banquets are the norm for the racing circuits and for most, if not all, it's just as Betsy says, a show for the performers and their closest friends. NASCAR's Cup banquet was always that way for years until ESPN began to televise it. In those early days, fans at home would miss different things because of commercials as the agenda of the banquet was not geared towards the television viewer. That all changed when NASCAR got the big TV contract and now the banquet is all part of the show, not for the insiders now, but is geared for the home fans, just the opposite of what it always was before. So, because this is now televised for the fans at home, NASCAR expects it's participants to play along. I'd look for a change in the contracts after this year to make it mandatory for certain people to show up at the show.
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I'm not sure nascar can force the drivers too show up....they arent employed by Nascar....the only thing nascar can do is fine them and take points away.....which would be freakin crazy to do...what year would you take points away from? would you start the next year in the negative?

Nascar needs to stop trying to control people they do not employee.
 
See I didn't even know Jeff and Lil'E didn't show up. Why? I don't watch that crap. I'm pretty sure that if Jeff's sponsors had wanted him in NY he would have been there. The same with Jr. But, hey make them sit out the Daytona 500 as punishment. I'll bet everyone shows up the next time, or not. But, I still won't know as I still won't be watching...
 
This Buds For Me said:
I'm not sure nascar can force the drivers too show up....they arent employed by Nascar....the only thing nascar can do is fine them and take points away.....which would be freakin crazy to do...what year would you take points away from? would you start the next year in the negative?

Nascar needs to stop trying to control people they do not employee.
Click to expand...

While it's true they are not employees of NASCAR, they do have a contract in a sense to get their NASCAR credentials each year.

I think it real simple, "No shows" (without prior permission) don't get the checks being handed out.
 
Here's an article from SpeedwayMedia that I think says a LOT!


They who cast the stone.....

Posted on December 8, 2005

By Shannon Poe




Apparently, the end of the 2005 Nextel Cup season did not bring about the end of silly season. At least not as far as the dictatorship known as NASCAR is concerned. Not even a week after the Nextel Cup Awards Banquet ceremonies in New York City, NASCAR is at the front of the news this week commenting upon them.
The AP wire reports that NASCAR is “extremely disappointed” that Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and others did not attend the prestigious awards held annually at the famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel. In its 25th advent at this locale, NASCAR honored the Champion Tony Stewart, and the remaining 9 Chase contenders including 7th place Rusty Wallace in his Last Call closing season. Several other annual awards were also presented throughout the course of the evening.

It is being widely reported that NASCAR President Mike Helton will be speaking with drivers that failed to appear at this function; although attendance is voluntary presently. NASCAR will be looking for ways to “encourage” drivers to attend in the future. Encouragement from NASCAR usually involves money, points, or overwhelming pressure. Given the choice, I’d take my chances with the mafia. Encouragement and NASCAR are words that should never be placed in the same sentence, let alone a similar idea or thought. The awards ceremony is not open to the general public; fans of racing are not able to get tickets. It is by invitation only to drivers, members of the press, and those providing entertainment in conjunction with the event.

The question is who is invited to the awards ceremony? I discovered through another column that, by default, the top 25 drivers in the point standings post-season are invited to the festivities. Only the top 11 are invited to appear onstage for speeches. This year, Jeff Gordon was the 11th place finisher, and sent in a taped acceptance speech that I felt was very well executed. Gordon apologized for his absence and explained to viewers and those in attendance he was in France representing the United States and NASCAR in racing related activities. (i.e, the Race of Champions event hosting drivers at the top of their game in several respective automotive sports) Is that a good enough excuse for the dictatorship? You would think so!

Dale Earnhardt Jr won the award for Most Popular Driver. This award is voted on and decided solely by the fans of Nextel Cup racing. Earnhardt Jr. also sent in a taped message, but that was never aired on the public broadcast of the awards ceremony. Apparently the 90 second piece was edited down to 10 seconds and shown only to those that attended the National Motorsports Press Association Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast. This event is also held annually at the Waldorf Astoria on the morning of the Banquet. Additionally Dale Earnhardt Jr posted a journal entry on his website thanking his fans personally for their continued support, and expressing his deep appreciation for the honor. I found that to be quite admirable, and above and beyond any call of duty. His fans honored him with over 1 million votes which made him the recipient of this award for the third consecutive year. Also of note is while DEI has offered no formal explanation for Earnhardt Jr’s absence in New York City this year, there was a death in the family this past week. A very tragic death; some respect should be shown to the family in this time. Because attendance is not “mandatory,” but by invitation, there is no reason any driver or corporation in NASCAR should be forced to offer explanation for their lack of appearance.

Elliott Sadler and Kasey Kahne and the #9 team are two other entities who won contingency awards, but did not attend. These awards could potentially be stripped from them. That fact has been highlighted by NASCAR; there has been some comment on the possibility of bequeathing these attributes to runners up in the categories. How ridiculous! It’s like “the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away” in the new millennium of racing. In a court of law, once you give a gift, you relinquish all ownership of said gift. I cannot fathom how this award may be removed when there is no rule at present broken. I, for one, will be outraged if they remove awards from the above drivers who served the sport well in the past year, and achieved these merits with hard work, dedication, and true competitive spirit.

Shame on you NASCAR for once again creating a controversy over something this ludicrous. Spokesman Jim Hunter was quoted as saying “Dale Earnhardt went to New York every year whether he won the championship or not. It meant a lot to him to represent the sport and we expect that from all our competitors.” Well, I have a news blast for you, Mr. Hunter. Listen up, and listen well. Dale Earnhardt was only out of the top ten twice in all his years of racing. He finished 12th in 1982 and 1992. His attendance was a given under the criteria of invitations. The era that featured an outspoken driver; one that the France family and NASCAR dared not toy with is long gone. This is why so many long time fans of this sport are dissatisfied, fed up, and considering abandoning continued viewer ship. How dare you cast Dale Earnhardt’s memory in our faces, and in your agenda to apply pressure to current drivers in the sport? I am far from appreciative of this calculated move to garner more press for your award show that was lacking in direction from the start. At the end of the day, all 10 Chase contenders were present. What do you really have to complain about? Get over it.
 
Shannon you wrote good! Maybe carrying it a bit farther and talking about just who the audience of the show is might shed even more light on how silly the NASCAR complaint is.
The stupid part is nobody watches the show that is not a PURE fan or insider. Converts from another sport made by this show would total NONE!
Casual tube watchers flipping channels and stopping on this one would total NONE. Part time fans stopping by to see what is going on and STAYING on the channel would total NONE.
I call myself a fan and it is hard for me to watch the boring speeches. I find myself looking for another channel that might be more entertaining during the event.
In fact I would be just as happy if the dollar amounts were posted on the NASCAR site and there were no event at all..
Perhaps having modern event with only TAPE cuts of the top eleven's cars on the track showing their best racing wrecks, roll-over's, and other exciting side-by-side racing of the year and no speeches might be faster moving and more entertaining for the casual fan?
Betsy
 
I have never yet watched that spectacle. Sorry. Not interested. And I don't watch racers playing golf, playing poker, appearing on talk shows, etc, etc. And I don't care one bit what they do in their private lives.

Racing. That's what I want to see. Period.
 
As a racer i like the idea of an awards night. But the nascar one is a little over board, i recored it but i just wanted to see Kurt Bush's speech.
 
I find it interesting that the CTS and Busch Banquets are NOT televised.
 
Gordon Had Approval To Miss Banquet
In his first public comments since being criticized by NASCAR for failing to attend the year-ending Awards Gala, four-time Cup champ Jeff Gordon fired back Friday, saying NASCAR gave its blessing for Gordon to skip the dinner at New York’s Waldorf=Astoria so he could compete in an all-star race in Paris the following day. Gordon, who was in the Big Apple Friday for a promotional appearance, said that NASCAR initially had no problem with him missing the Champions Week festivities.

“I was in a unique situation where I was 13th or 14th in points, got invited to go over to Paris for that event [the Race of Champions], which I missed out on last year,” Gordon told the Press in an exclusive interview. “I agreed to go, not expecting to be at the banquet for 11th or any other position. And when the conflict came up, I talked to the higher-ups in NASCAR, and they told me, ‘Hey, we understand. You’ve got a commitment and you can’t be here this year.’”

Since instituting the top-10 Chase for the Championship two seasons ago, the 11th-place driver has been recognized at the Awards Gala as the highest finishing non-Chase competitor. Gordon’s comments Friday sharply contradict those of NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter, who said Tuesday that that the sanctioning body was “extremely disappointed” in Gordon, along with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and other non-Chase drivers who failed to show.

“I’m pretty disappointed in some of the things that were said,” Gordon said. “I understand that they want to get as many drivers there [as possible], and being a past champion, I want to be there as the champion. But I also want to be there to accept any award that I can.” But Gordon then added, “I feel like they’re asking a bit much out of the drivers when they already have a 38-week schedule, and they’re not very considerate towards us when it comes to the schedule, for them to automatically expect everyone to be at the banquet.” NASCAR has said in the future it may consider sanctioning drivers such as Gordon, Earnhardt, Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler, who each failed to attend this year’s Gala. Penalties could include forfeiture of their season-ending bonus money.(Long Island Press)
 
I't nice to know that Jeff thinks he sucks enough that he wouldn't be in 11th position.
 
**** said:
I't nice to know that Jeff thinks he sucks enough that he wouldn't be in 11th position.
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HEY !!! Integrity is a virtue and it seems Jeff was being honest in recognizing the reality of the situation by thinking his finish for 2005,was far below his standard with no expectation of climbing out of the hole. There is a possibility Gordon surprised himself with the recovery to eleventh after the crappy year to that point.

About attending the award ceremony, the story is, Jeff Gordon did have NASCAR's permission, blessing, or whatever term those who question the situation might choose to call it, but in the long run, NASCAR screwed up by not only reversing themselves but by making it a publicity stunt in the process. Any other time they take those assumed to be in violation of NASCAR policy or decorum into the lil red trailer and all discussions are private. This was definitely NASCAR's BAD !!!!!!

IMO, Jeff should have attended the banquet yet after review of the facts as they have come out, find Jeff Gordon was invited to participate in the International Race of Champions as the representative of NASCAR and the United States and accepted.
Gordon informed NASCAR and got their approval.
If anyone is to blame for anything here, it is NASCAR.
NASCAR usually invites drivers they wish to chastize into the red trailer and there is little fan fare after the fact.
This time, NASCAR took the issue public creating controversy and who better to create this controversy for NASCAR than the two most popular drivers in the sport, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon.
The entire thing stinks of being a publicity stunt for and by NASCAR with no qualms about who they insult, degrade or pit against one another as long as it serves their purpose.
Once they told GTordon he was off the hook, they turned around and criticized not only Gordon, but the others who failed to attend. This was bad judgement and should have been handled privately, just as NASCAR does all other issues they contend with.
 
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