Ricky Craven Done With NASCAR After 2020

jws926

jws926

I need to think of something new for here
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From his Facebook post


Today I listened to a report that indicated 3M couldn’t support the demand of masks (1 of which I shipped to my Mom - a 2 time cancer-survivor) because their supply chain (China) couldnt meet their demand
for more than 2 decades I have had friends, colleges... shift their supply chain from to china because they could cut their costs by more than 50%
Folks,
There are no “free lunch’s”
Have you ever heard the old adage “save now pay later”
How about this one.... “You get what you pay for”
We are the greatest economy on the Planet.... because we create and produce the greatest product on the Planet!
We all get in trouble when we take short cuts - we all get in trouble & regret, “forgetting Where we came from”
I came from Newburgh Maine!
I grew up on a dairy farm, and although I despise cows because of the maintenance they require- because I wanted to Race Cars ... I acknowledge & appreciate a hard days work
I’m proud of where I came from, and I’m proud of the people representing my hometown.....
I’m equally proud of the company I work for today!
In the midst of this epidemic... several weeks into this adversity, FOX sent me (I’m assuming all employees) a letter indicating our insurance would be covered - regardless of circumstance! for the next 6 months.
I’ve been asked to work roughly 1 day per week until we get back to ordinary studio sequence.
to my knowledge.... no one has been laid off
We are the greatest economy - but more importantly the greatest democracy on this planet...
Fox is an example of the attitude & model that made this Country GREAT!
Lets work together to overcome this difficult set of hurdles.... and equally important, lets work hard, harder then ever before..... to never ever become dependent on another country to solve “our problems”
I’m not being Political.... I’m being Real!
As a testament to this, I want to share that this will be my final Season with NASCAR in any capacity.
NASCAR has been, and will be... a Love of my Life.
In the last 3 or 4 weeks, bumping up against “54”
I realized I’ve had my time!
I’ve not been in a Race Car since 2005... yet I’ved enjoyed 14 years of TV as a “NASCAR Analyst” since hanging up my helmet
There are people more qualified to commentate on todays NASCAR world than the 1995 Rookie of the Year & winner in each of NASCAR’s top 3 divisions (self promotion)
Kenny Wallace & I have been good friends for roughly 30 years... We competed together in Canada before we became buddies... we escaped with roughly $110k in an 8 day span in 1991 - winning back to back prestigious events from a huddle of a garage in NH... we built a bond that connects us for life!
Kenny retired because it was time......
I’m retiring at the end of 2020 because it’s time!
But I’d be lying if I didnt ad perspective...
In 1998 I lost my job as driver of the “Bud Car” in large part because of injuries sustained in that car at Texas Motor Speedway a year earlier.
I’ve shared with people close to me the depths of silence I experienced following that dismissal.
The last few weeks have had a similar affect, people lock up when they are scared....
Also,
To some degree, the circumstances surroundinding Kyle Larson contributed...
In September of 2019 Kyle Larson Competed in a “throwback scheme” of our car from my Rookie of the Year Season.
I was made aware of this when I landed in NYC following a vacation in Europe.
I was so excited upon heaing this - I changed my travel to travel directly to SC & immediatly reached out to Chip Gannassi Racing.
I also connected with my Son - Ev
We made it a Father Son weekend.
From start to finish... Chip Gannassi and his employees were outstanding....
Ev and I dropped off t-shirts, die cast, hats from 1995 Kodiak Season.
qualifying day... while standing at the car with my son, Kyle Larson appeared and hardly acknowledged us... its as though he had no idea the paint scheme existed.... It didnt bother me that he didnt appreciate what he was driving - it bothered the hell out of me that he didnt acknowledge my son.
Years earlier a PR person reached out to me asking if I would go to lunch with Kyle (his rookie season)
I said to myself - sure I will, as soon as Kyle reaches out!
PR people work far too hard to fill the gaps that exist among many of todays drivers.
A hand full of drivers land at NASCAR’s highest level without the sacrafice required to appreceiate the oppurtunity they are presented.
Challenge me on this... I promise to hit hard!
That Said.... I will always be a Jimmie Johnson fan & friend - because he is “real”
I could scribble 5000 words describing how Jimmie has accomodated me as an analyst.... he is a Professional!
I’m dissapointed in Kyle, in large part because I’ve been pulling for him from the time he came onto the scene, I recognized the talent.... he was & potentially is ? Worthy of the endorsement.
But his attitude must change!
I believe in second chances and I believe Kyle can contribute to NASCAR going forward.... providing... he realizes this - - - no-one is bigger than the sport... NO-ONE!
Like most people who experienced success... It took me years to learn and acknowledge humilty... but I did!

Appreciate your family & friends... acknowledge the people that reached out to you during tough times.
“Weak times expose Weak people”
We are closer to the end of this Craziness - than the beginning.... I truly belive this!
But there is tremendous work to be done.
Think...... what can I do to help ?
Think.... how can I make a difference ?
Most of all.... please remember the words I shared with you after recognizing a life long dream of winning at Motorsports highest level (Martinsville 2001)
“Tough Times don’t last..... but Tough People do”
stay safe, stay hungry, stay allegiant to your Country
 
Good read -- but piling on Kyle Larson by way of unsolicited opinion from a Driver peer, seems a bit much.

If Kyle dove into a Florida alligator pond and saved Martin Trues Jr's cat, he'd be covered differently. The Craven Kid story wouldn't be offered, and if it were it would be considered petty -- like a "Clown didn't make my kid happy" Circus tale...
 
I don't get what Larson did "contributed" to Craven's decision. Craven goes off on a soap box rant that is just as unprofessional as what he says Kyle did to him and his son.
 
My opinion on this is Ricky just kicked a guy when he was down. No reason to bring up the incident between Ricky and Kyle now, that should have been handled in private between the two men and not in a "retirement speech". Whatever I guess since Ricky is into cheap shots... allow me, he was a jobber as a Cup driver and I actually kind of found it amusing he was analyst since he really didnt contribute much to Cup besides his one or two wins, I found it as amusing as Matt Millen being an analyst for NFL games. See Ya Ricky, I really didnt even know you were missing at this point.
 
The whole Larson thing was weird. I mean if this whole Larson uttering a work on IRACING never happened, does Rickey mention it? No

Just really random

The funny thing is I thought Ricky would be a great dribver, he had back to back good years in 93+94 in Busch serues but looking at his stats, they weren't THAT great
 
Ricky's cup career was derailed by the injuries
 
Meh. I don't like Ricky Craven as a TV guy because he makes it "all about him" to an irritating degree. He always weaves into his commentary how he alone is able to say what he says because "been there, done that."

He had one great moment... at Darlington... but I won't miss him. Just my $0.02.
 
Stream of consciousness --

Or maybe a dream sequence of his thoughts that just awkwardly flows from past loosely connected and disconnected events...
 
I like how mike joy pointed out it was a lengthy post like buckle your seat belt
 
It was an entertaining read but very unprofessional for a retirement speech. He's ranting about all kinds of stuff unrelated to each other.
 
Larson might have thought that throwback scheme was jinxed. Ricky with his two cup wins was lackluster at best. One win more than Trevor Bayne.
 
Ventisca said:
but piling on Kyle Larson by way of unsolicited opinion from a Driver peer, seems a bit much.
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I don't agree here....Ricky is a non-piler oner.....and pretty much as fair as they come. His perceptions of Larson before last Sunday are telling. Maybe he should have said something at the time, but Ricky isn't that guy either. I think he is adding context to who the guy is. The kid had no reverence for the sport, and loved telling us about it. That attracted some, and pissed off some who spend thousands to watch him do something that he doesn't give a **** about. No more.
 
StandOnIt said:
Larson might have thought that throwback scheme was jinxed. Ricky with his two cup wins was lackluster at best. One win more than Trevor Bayne.
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You cut the drivers you like a lot of slack. Ricky is pure class. Larson, well....has defined himself.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
“its as though he had no idea the paint scheme existed.... It didnt bother me that he didnt appreciate what he was driving”

Ricky acting like his paint scheme is the Blue Deuce or something. What a pompous hack.
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I went back and looked at Larson’s Darlington throwback scheme from last year. TBH if you hadn’t told me it was a 1995 Ricky Craven throwback scheme, I probably wouldn’t have known right away. When I think Kodiak car, I think either Rusty Wallace or Ken Schrader, not Craven. Ricky drove that car for two years and didn’t have any notable success in it. And to be fair to Larson, he was probably still wetting his bed and eating his boogers when Ricky drove that car.
 
ToyYoda said:
I went back and looked at Larson’s Darlington throwback scheme from last year. TBH if you hadn’t told me it was a 1995 Ricky Craven throwback scheme, I probably wouldn’t have known right away. When I think Kodiak car, I think either Rusty Wallace or Ken Schrader, not Craven. Ricky drove that car for two years and didn’t have any notable success in it. And to be fair to Larson, he was probably still wetting his bed and eating his boogers when Ricky drove that car.
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But he never asks, "Why this scheme?" Ever? On a throwback weekend....when, well, you are throwing back?
 
DIDIT said:
I don't get what Larson did "contributed" to Craven's decision. Craven goes off on a soap box rant that is just as unprofessional as what he says Kyle did to him and his son.
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Ricky was responding to Larson's lack of respect for the sport. It was this lack of respect that gave all of us insight into Larson's character which pretty much sucks. He was able to mask it with cute flippant BS all of the time, and hide behind his potential which was becoming smaller and smaller as time went by. He was about ready, however, to revitalize that potential in one of the sport's most cherished rides until he made the mistake of letting all of us know one element of what makes him, him.

Ricky can be criticized for his timing and delivery, but what I like about him is that he doesn't care what people think. He is going to tell you his perception, and in this, he isn't wrong.
 
ToyYoda said:
I went back and looked at Larson’s Darlington throwback scheme from last year. TBH if you hadn’t told me it was a 1995 Ricky Craven throwback scheme, I probably wouldn’t have known right away. When I think Kodiak car, I think either Rusty Wallace or Ken Schrader, not Craven. Ricky drove that car for two years and didn’t have any notable success in it. And to be fair to Larson, he was probably still wetting his bed and eating his boogers when Ricky drove that car.
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Theres a solid chance Larson had next to 0 input on that scheme. It’s all from the sponsors. Hell, I’d be surprised if most drivers even knew what they were racing from week to week. All the ****pits are the same color.

Edit: this board’s censorship filters are next level incompetent.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
Theres a solid chance Larson had next to 0 input on that scheme. It’s all from the sponsors. Hell, I’d be surprised if most drivers even knew what they were racing from week to week. All the ****pits are the same color.

Edit: this board’s censorship filters are next level incompetent.
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I totally agree about the drivers input. I realize having 20+years experience in the racing industry and being around race car drivers on a weekly basis doesn't make me an expert but I think it gave me enough in site to know a little bit about how it works. Most racecar drivers are hired to drive a race car, help sell merchandise by autographing the merchandise, and promoting sponsors products "commercials and meet and greets". They don't usually have input in what sponsorship wrap or paint scheme will be on the car they will be driving on any certain weekend and as you said may not even know what is on the car until they get to the track. Their driving suit and team shirts are usually in the hauler for them when they arrive at a track. Most drivers don't even go to the shop except for Mon morning team meetings, to sign merchandise, or get fitted for any changes in the car like the seat, pedals, steering wheel, or any other things essential to the drivers comfort. Most sponsorship deals or special wraps and paint schemes are pretty closed lipped until all of the contract ink is dry and there is a press release.
 
I respect Craven and I believe he has a lot of intellectual integrity.
Most everyone I know has a had an off and pointless moment, even the people I respect most.
Even more I can look at some of the things I have posted and see how ridiculous or silly they were or at least missed the point at the moment.

So I am not going to remember Cravens passion for going after a self-inflicted but wounded Larson. It is an agree to disagree moment for me and the patience one needs for surviving and maintaining sanity.

I would rather remember Craven's incredible win at Darlington and the greater self-interest story of the man who overcame the misfortune injury a few years earlier. He is s good guy.
 
Wow I think the only thing missing from that retirement announcement was "O look squirrel! "
 
I see, he was asked by a PR guy to go to lunch with Kyle (which the PR guy would have set up) but wouldnt go until Kyle "reached out" to him but then gets miffed when Larson doesnt give him attention at Darlington. Who's being childish here?
 
Not to turn this into a Larson discussion but Craven DID go there. I defended Larson because I felt like he got a super-raw deal but the more I think about it the more I'm thinking he's not worthy of being defended for anything really. I know when he got bumped into the wall by Hamlin at autoclub speedway earlier this year then Hamlin made that stupid video in a grocery store bumping Larson with the cart and both laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world and nothing at all. That ticked me off at the time. One of those incidents where Larson has that flippant attitude about the sport of Nascar and just does not really GAF about it other than the meal ticket part.
 
10-4 said:
Not to turn this into a Larson discussion but Craven DID go there. I defended Larson because I felt like he got a super-raw deal but the more I think about it the more I'm thinking he's not worthy of being defended for anything really. I know when he got bumped into the wall by Hamlin at autoclub speedway earlier this year then Hamlin made that stupid video in a grocery store bumping Larson with the cart and both laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world and nothing at all. That ticked me off at the time. One of those incidents where Larson has that flippant attitude about the sport of Nascar and just does not really GAF about it other than the meal ticket part.
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You may not agree, but your post reminded me of the many instances where some stick n ballers over the years would act arrogant like they were god's gift to whatever ball or stick they were using. It isn't a good look and Nascar drivers with a lick of sense need to learn from Larson's example. It goes all the way back to big Bill. You need Nascar but Nascar doesn't need you. You can't get away with that for long in Nascar. And my personal opinion and I believe other's also who see that there are more drivers than Larson that act like Nascar needs them and not the other way around.
 
10-4 said:
Not to turn this into a Larson discussion but Craven DID go there. I defended Larson because I felt like he got a super-raw deal but the more I think about it the more I'm thinking he's not worthy of being defended for anything really. I know when he got bumped into the wall by Hamlin at autoclub speedway earlier this year then Hamlin made that stupid video in a grocery store bumping Larson with the cart and both laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world and nothing at all. That ticked me off at the time. One of those incidents where Larson has that flippant attitude about the sport of Nascar and just does not really GAF about it other than the meal ticket part.
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I'm not defending Larson's racist language - that doesn't deserve a defense - but you are assuming the Hamlin/Larson grocery store hijinks occurred *after* the Fontana race. That's a far-fetched assumption IMO. How many cup drivers make a grocery run on Sunday evening after the race? I'm jus' sayin'.
 
LewTheShoe said:
I'm not defending Larson's racist language - that doesn't deserve a defense - but you are assuming the Hamlin/Larson grocery store hijinks occurred *after* the Fontana race. That's a far-fetched assumption IMO. How many cup drivers make a grocery run on Sunday evening after the race? I'm jus' sayin'.
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It did happen right after the race. They both confirmed it. Hamlin, Larson, and Stenhouse were sharing a house that weekend and they went shopping a few hours after the race. Stenhouse is the one who was holding the camera.
 
LewTheShoe said:
I'm not defending Larson's racist language - that doesn't deserve a defense - but you are assuming the Hamlin/Larson grocery store hijinks occurred *after* the Fontana race. That's a far-fetched assumption IMO. How many cup drivers make a grocery run on Sunday evening after the race? I'm jus' sayin'.
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Birds of a feather flock together. Never a fan of Hambone, he can pile up his check mark shoes and take a flying leap off of them as far as I am concerned. The way Chip reacted when he saw the clip, I couldn't see how he wasn't mad at Larson, besides Hamlin for pulling that crap.
 
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