Release Surprised Spencer

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Release has Spencer scrambling for 2003
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive November 8, 2002
9:30 AM EST (1430 GMT)




AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Jimmy Spencer, who is driving this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway in both the NASCAR Busch Series and Winston Cup Series, was shocked this week when Winston Cup car owner Chip Ganassi fired him.

Jimmy Spencer
Spencer handed release

Spencer's 2002 Stats





Ganassi said in a statement Tuesday that he and Spencer "agreed about what would happen if the results were not what either of us were happy with."

Spencer said he was blindsided by the owner's move.

"I didn't decide nothing -- Chip's the one that made the decision," Spencer said Thursday. "It caught me off-guard, altogether.

"He said it is a mutual agreement but I don't believe that's the truth -- but he is the owner of the team."

Spencer spent no time crying over the decision by the owner to attempt to void the final year of Spencer's contract to drive the No. 41 Target Dodge, following the season's final two races.

An avid golfer, Spencer cancelled a Wednesday tee time in Phoenix to travel to the SEMA show in Las Vegas to begin shopping for another ride.

"Right now we're seeing what's going to happen for next year," Spencer said. "I have a two-year contract with him and we have to discuss it further what we're going to do.

"It's one of them deals where you don't have time. When there's only two races to go in the season that's not a lot of time to do anything."

Spencer did not seem overly concerned that a seemingly season-long "Silly Season" has left little remaining in the way of quality Cup rides.

"Who knows what's going to happen?" Spencer said. "It's a long winter, even though it seems like it's not."

Spencer did not much want to discuss particulars about his season with Ganassi, but he alluded that his cars were not well tailored to his driving style.

"I said some things a couple months back about how we needed to make some changes," Spencer said, "and there were no changes made to the 41 team. For me to say anything else just wouldn't be wise."

Returning to Finch's Busch program in 2003

While Spencer at this point will be in Ganassi's cars at least at Phoenix and Homestead, he already plans to run a limited schedule of Busch Series races in 2003.


Spencer has won three Busch Series for James Finch in the last two seasons. Credit: Autostock
"We're going to run again for James Finch and Yellow Transportation, without a question," Spencer said. "We had a chance to win four or five races and we let them slip away. We didn't win but one, but we've got two left."

Spencer wants to limit his schedule to about 18 Busch races but Yellow may want to do more races.

"I'm really looking forward to next year and running a limited schedule again," Spencer said. "We need to just try and not have as much bad luck as we had this year and hopefully luck will be more on our side and we'll win a lot more races next year."

In 21 Busch starts this season Spencer has a win, two top-fives and eight top-10s. For Ganassi, he has two top-fives and six top-10s, with a best finish of second at Bristol in March. He failed to qualify for two races.
 
Look out Chip...Jimmy Spencer never forge...aww screw it.
 
How couldn't it be a surprise? He's done horrible except for a couple races, I agree with Ganassi.
 
I'm not the least bit surprised about it either. But I figured I'ds post the article anyway, so I could see how you folks would react. ;)
 
I think Spencer should try to make that #1 car a full-time ride if he can't get a Cup ride. I think he'd actually make a good run at the BGN title if he had the opportunity, but obviously Cup is his main objective.
 
It was probably a surprise to Jimmy because Chip had told him that he'd be back for 2003.

IMO, that was kinda low of Ganassi - letting Spencer go so late in the season that his opportunities for next year are slim. However, that's the way the racing business goes.
 
I think the surprise was that Jimmy felt there had been no prior discussions. And I'm not sure surprised is the best word, but whatever.

Jimmy will likely catch on somewhere. Though he has never been among the elite of WC drivers, how many drivers are?

Jimmy has been a fairly solid top 20 points finisher for the majority of his career. And he can drive.He is also good for an interesting interview and has some great quotability.
 
I like Jimmy's stand up-act!! I'd like to see him show Kurt a little more about life too!!LMAO!!:P
 
I think Jimmy will find a ride......since it's so late in Silly Season, he may have to settle for a part time ride at first. But, he's good enough to bump a "hot shot" young gun from a car after a few races. I'm not giving up on him........in fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Jimmy doesn't wind up with a very good season in a couple years. If nothing else, he will fill that empty spot for fans......the person people just love to hate!!:D
 
Jimmy needs to settle FullTime in the Busch series with his #1 Yellow car. He can prove himself all over again, and catch the eye of some top car owners.
 
You didn't exactly have to be Miss Cleo to see that one coming:o
 
Am I the only one who was surprised by Spencer's release??

Didn't think I was that nieve. I think it was a little cold to release Spencer so late in the season and after he had elluded to the fact that Spencer's ride was safe for 2003.

And I have to wonder about the differences in the 40 and 41 teams. Is Spencer that bad a driver?? Sterling led the points for more than half the season. One would argue that Spencer is not the driver that Sterling is but then exit Sterling and enter McMurray and boom McMurray wins a race, qualifies well in the 40 car. So is Spencer not only a worse driver than Sterling but also McMurray??? I'm thinking no. Something else is amiss.
 
My thoughts exactly needles!! But, everyone thinks Spencer is some big dolt who doesn't know squat about racing.....so they tend to jump on the band wagon and say "Yeah, I saw that coming". Yeah, right.:(

I didn't see it coming either........so I guess I'm niave too. But, it didn't surprise me either.....just consider who the team owner is.:(
 
I don't think Jimmy is a bad driver at all. But, he hasn't been producing anything at all. That can only go on so long before you have to make a change. It seems a lot easier to replace a driver than to replace a whole crew. Especially if you are not completely sold on that driver's abilities. I don't know what else they have tried, but this seems to be a logical step.
 
Thanks DE that makes me feel better.

I feel that Spencer can do well if given the right conditions. But there are fewer and fewer opportunities available.
 
But not about three weeks after the owner assured both the driver and the NASCAR fans that Jimmy was safe for now! That just shows that Chip is treating the symtoms, not the problem! Either that or he out and out lied about Jimmy's safety with the team a few weeks ago........either way, it ain't going to help the 41 team next year. No matter who he puts in the driver's seat.
 
In this day and age of instant gratification car owners expect immediate results but that doesn't always happen. Sure Newman and Johnson have done just that but they are in the minority of cases. Even Gordon took more than half a season to get things figured out with Loomis and began to have better finishes.

This was Spencer's first year in the seat and granted the results were poor but I'd be interested to see what steps Chip took to improve that team. My guess is not much. My hunch is the 40 team received his full attention. Yes it's cheaper to change the driver than the whole team but who is Chip going to get now. I doubt the 41 car does any better next year.
 
New breed in NASCAR for sure.......some good, some bad.:) Honesty and loyalty works both ways. Drivers (and teams) to owners and owners to drivers (and teams). We'll be seeing lots of "surprises" in the coming years......and all these "new breed" drivers will either excell or fall on their faces. Without loyalty going both directions, the JJ's, Ryan's and Jamie's will excell only if they are loyal AND their team owners are loyal back. I say, Jamie is on the shakiest ground!:(

Jimmy was loyal to Chip.........but it didn't work both directions. Now Jimmy's looking for a job. But I think pretty soon, Chip will be looking for a buyer of his team. Just my two cents.
 
Originally posted by DE Wrangler 2
Jimmy was loyal to Chip.........but it didn't work both directions.  Now Jimmy's looking for a job.  But I think pretty soon, Chip will be looking for a buyer of his team.  Just my two cents.
Click to expand...

Your 2 cents sounds about right.

The Chipper is a JERK. I hope Jimmy gets a new ride soon, but he does dang well in that #1 Yellow car to pick up attention from WC owners again. Just look at his overall resume.
 
Anybody read the article where Jimmy said why the car wouldn't go?


He simply stated that Chip came to him some time ago and asked what the car needed. Jimmy told him what changes he wanted in the setup. GANASSI NEVER MADE THE CHANGES, then fires Jimmy because the car won't go.

Physician, heal thyself I guess.

Chip Ganassi wants to fill WC up with open wheelers I guess. I hope Jimmy gets something decent and...well....acts like Jimmy Spencer everytime he gets around one of Chip's cars.
 
Originally posted by TN-Ward-Fan
Anybody read the article where Jimmy said why the car wouldn't go?


He simply stated that Chip came to him some time ago and asked what the car needed.  Jimmy told him what changes he wanted in the setup.  GANASSI NEVER MADE THE CHANGES, then fires Jimmy because the car won't go.

Physician, heal thyself I guess.

Chip Ganassi wants to fill WC up with open wheelers I guess.  I hope Jimmy gets something decent and...well....acts like Jimmy Spencer everytime he gets around one of Chip's cars.
Click to expand...

The Chip should be sent to the RED TRUCK for "Stupidity detrimental to Nascar" AND A HUGE FINE for stupidity.

I'll supply the donuts this week and next, but for Jimmy ONLY!
 
Originally posted by kat2220
The Chip should be sent to the RED TRUCK for "Stupidity detrimental to Nascar" AND A HUGE FINE for stupidity.

I'll supply the donuts this week and next, but for Jimmy ONLY!
Click to expand...


Unfortunately, stupidity is only annoying, not illegal. If NASCAR fined everyone for stupidity, the points fund would be out of sight.


I think we should all go next week, just to show our support for Jimmy. Just think, millions of donuts for him and none for Chip.
 
I'm really feel bad for the Spencer fans but truthfully I'm not a Spencer fan at all. So no tears here. Just speaking what's on my mind.
 
That's OK, nascat. You can speak your mind here on the forum. I'm not all the crazy about Jimmy either, but I do feel bad when anyone gets dumped from their ride.
 
Jimmy wasn't getting the job done. I can't blame Chip for dropping the dead weight.

It's too bad for Jimmy, but Chip doesn't race for 25th.

<HR>

"Chip Ganassi wants to fill WC up with open wheelers I guess."

I wasn't aware Marlin and McMurray were open wheel standouts.
 
I didn't hear the alleged vote of confidence from Chip you guys are refering too, so I will have to plead ignorance on this one. But, I'm sure Jimmy will end up in a nice ride next year. Nascar is still a pretty tight fraternity (driver's and owners at least). I'm kind of pulling for the guy to get a chance in a good ride for a change. But, I'd like to see that happen for several people like Casey Atwood, Ron Hornaday, etc.
 
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