You knew it was coming. Hendrick meets with NASCAR

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Hendrick meets with NASCAR to discuss on-track celebration
By Lee Montgomery, NASCAR.COM
August 8, 2004
09:43 PM EDT (01:43 GMT)

nascar.com



SPEEDWAY, Ind. -- Jeff Gordon didn't touch any Powerade bottles after winning the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, but he and his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team still might be in hot water.

After taking the checkered flag to win his fourth Brickyard 400, Gordon stopped at the yard of bricks under the flagstand.

He crawled out of his car, stepped to the driver's side window ledge and thrust his arms in the air.

Moments later, as the large crowd roared, Gordon's crew joined him on the track to celebrate the historic victory.

Gordon said it was a spur-of-the moment decision and had nothing to do with the recent controversy about drivers knocking plastic sponsor bottles of the tops of their cars.

"I didn't do that purposely, to go out there and cause that and stir that up and to make sure that Powerade bottle wasn't on my car," Gordon said. "I went out there because that's where I wanted to celebrate with my team.

"Too often these days, as big as the sport has gotten - and I understand that it wouldn't be as big as it is today and we wouldn't be able to race at this level without all the TV, the media, the fans and the sponsors - but to me, we take away so much from these victories when we pull into Victory Lane and it's all about getting the interview and it's all about the hat on, it's all about mentioning the sponsor.

"I want to just jump up and down and hang out with my guys."

A NASCAR spokesperson confirmed that Rick Hendrick was summoned to the sanctioning body's trailer to talk about Gordon's celebration.

Gordon's teammate, Jimmie Johnson, was fined $10,000 last week for placing a Lowe's logo in front of some plastic Powerade bottles after he got out of his car in Pocono Raceway's Victory Lane.

NASCAR president Mike Helton had warned the drivers a week earlier that they need to be respectful of other sponsors in Victory Lane. Johnson and Gordon both have contracts with Pepsi, owners of Powerade rival Gatorade.

Gordon, meanwhile, said his celebration had nothing to do with any beverage manufacturer.

"I just enjoyed the moment," Gordon said. "I didn't care. I will care (Monday) when we find out, but now I don't."

**************
I wonder how much he's gonna be paying NASCAR this week....
 
Let the hand slapping begin.


Funny thing I heard on "Pitbull" last night that the sign fell off Johnsons car last week, but a NASCAR official put it back on!!!!!! :XXROFL:
 
I wonder what happened to the official... Maybe they fined him and put him on 'probation' lol :lol: :lol:
 
That is some funny stuff. :D

Do you really think whatever fine they give him will hurt his checkbook?

I thought it was kind of ballsy to say what he did about it being 'all about the hats, sponsors, etc.'. I can really see that getting him in even more hot water for those comments. :huh:

Oh well, he doesn't deserve a fine, but I'm sure there will be one coming. The best part is that a points deduction wouldn't even hurt him much with the new playoff format. ;)
 
I noticed he wasn't long putting on his hat after he was done head butting half the crew with that Gazoo helmet.

One other thing, did anyone else notice all the security and how they tried to move him away from fence? Were people throwing stuff or something? NBC's post race coverage didn't really show much.
 
I can't believe how out of hand this has become. I wasn't able to watch the race (had to work :angry: ) but my husband watched and told me what had happened. I laughed and said "Good for Gordon, but you know Nascar wont stand for that", and sure enough they wont.
All of this over crap going on continues to make Nascar less interesting for me. :(
 
Originally posted by 4xchampncountin@Aug 9 2004, 08:16 AM


I thought it was kind of ballsy to say what he did about it being 'all about the hats, sponsors, etc.'. I can really see that getting him in even more hot water for those comemts.
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It's sorta hypicritical for him to say that with Johnson and their sign the other week.
 
Hooray for Jeff Gordon, Rick Hendrick, Robbie Loomis and the whole #24 crew!!

That display on the famous Yard of Bricks after winning yesterdays Brickyard 400 was probably the best victory celebration we've seen in NASCAR for years and if Brian and his cronies in the marketing department have their way, will in all likeyhood be the last such exhibition.

After spending the biggest part of my life in and around racing, I fully realize that the sport needs the sponsors if it is to exist at the levels which NASCAR has reached. Money is the grease which makes the wheels go round and all that.

BUT, the time has come for the INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS to tell NASCAR that the Victory Lane Celebration is for the winning driver, owner, crew and THEIR sponsors.

PERIOD.

That is what all of those folks have worked so hard to achieve and for NASCAR to feel they can or should sell those few moments of a driver and teams' glory to some damn sports drink or whatever, shows exactly the mentality of the people who are now in charge in Daytona. (Did I say mentality? I must admit that sometimes recently I wonder if the folks in charge down at the Beach are at all familar with either the word or its meaning.)

And the rich get richer...

By selling a sponsorship to that one part of the sport, NASCAR is well on its way to completing its job of turning what used to be an exciting sports entertainment venue into something which, day by day, and event by event, is becoming the motorized edition of professional wrestling. They have succeeded in turning the circus into a complete marketing circus, with multi-millionaire drivers and owners as the animal acts while NASCAR and the sponsors direct the action and hold all the hoops.

Perhaps the time has come for those INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS to remind the owners of NASCAR exactly who and what it is bringing all of those sponsors and heavy change purses into the sport.

It sure as the devil isn't the France family's good looks and sparkling personalities.

OR maybe it is???

I sorta doubt it myself.
 
Well, 73% of the people voting (2929 votes) on thatsracin says there should be no fine or penalty. Mine is one of them.

"I'm sure I'm going to get in some kind of trouble over it," Gordon said as he sat with the silver trophy in front. "But you know what? Right now, I don't care."
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Well, Jeff, I care. As do others. If NASCAR is going to cater to the fans on G/W/C finishes and other such then they can darn well give us a car top free of PowerAde or any other sponsor not of the team's choosing...
 
HIP HIP HOO-RAY !! :cheers:

HIP HIP HOO-RAY !! :cheers:

HIP HIP HOO-RAY !! :cheers:

Three hearty cheers for boBs' observation on the stupid, idiotic, greedy, assinine, moronic attempt by NASCAR to once again, attempt to change the way things are done. For greed.

Some things are better left alone. Said that last week and things ain't changed from my perspective in one week. Brian France and Mike Helton must determine different parameters for Victory Lane sponsors. They have a myriad of choices.

Give Coke (Or Pepsi) their money back OR tell Coke (or Pepsi) they can no longer use another teams car for their props if the winning car is sponsored by a competitor.

To think NASCAR has the audacity to tell the parent company Pepsi (or Coke, whichever company it fits at the time) they must be allowed to place the Victory Lane sponsor product on the roof of the car OWNED by a team sponsored by the competition !!!!! First off, it ain't NASCAR's property !!!!

NASCAR should take a line fom the play, "My Fair Lady" and begin, "reviewing the situation".
NASCAR knows better than most the importance of a sponsor.
NASCAR knows better than most how hard it is in this economic time to secure and keep a sponsor.
NASCAR should understand the ramifications of putting teams in the uncomfortable position of using one sponsors car to advertise another sponsors product.
NASCAR is being foolish. NASCAR is being greedy and childish. NASCAR is NOT looking at the big picture.
NASCAR is moving higher up the ladder at being an entertainment only organization and is taking racing to a new low !!!!!!!!!!!

In any case, Jeff Gordon stopping on the track at the bricks was clever. Whether it was a manipulation or not is unknown.

Jeff Gordon deserved to stop and salute the partisan crowd for in his words, he doesn't hear cheers very often.

Along with the three cheers for boB and his post, give three more for Jeff Gordon and his entire group for a well-deserved win.
And three more for Jeff Gordon's latest entry in the Indianapolis and NASCAR record books.
 
NASCAR knows better than most the importance of a sponsor.
NASCAR knows better than most how hard it is in this economic time to secure and keep a sponsor.
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With NASCAR's stance on liquor sponsoring Burton's car but them having no trouble letting the sponsor put up signs at the track are you sure these are true statements. Or, does it point out the hypocrisy that is NASCAR? :(
 
might be a template change coming, nascar will probably have them start racing with the bottles on the roof, no word if youll be fined if it falls off in a wreck. cant believe this is even an issue.
 
Originally posted by barelypure@Aug 9 2004, 05:53 PM
NASCAR knows better than most the importance of a sponsor.
NASCAR knows better than most how hard it is in this economic time to secure and keep a sponsor.
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With NASCAR's stance on liquor sponsoring Burton's car but them having no trouble letting the sponsor put up signs at the track are you sure these are true statements. Or, does it point out the hypocrisy that is NASCAR? :(
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Good point BP.

What is proven is NASCAR does in fact know the importance of a sponsor.
NASCAR has not wavered on getting and keeping a sponsor as in the current situation of selling Victory Lane advertising rights to Coca-Cola.

HMS, and Roush Racing are sponsored by Pepsi Cola. NASCAR has banned Pepsi sponsored teams from dismantling Victory Lane sponsor props from Pepsi sponsored cars.
IE, NASCAR is protecting their turf.

Remember the old saying, "don't do as I do, do as I say".
It is the mantra of NASCAR.

How can an organization so dictatorial be considered hypocritical ???
I guess anything is possible, but it is all beyond me. Hell, I'm nothing more than a mere human being of humble origin. Jest a simple ole country boy growing old and trying to make it through life. :rolleyes:
 
I really do not like to bash either people or the organizations which they might represent. Normally I feel that there are other, more appropriate ways to get a point across.

However, the recent rulings, changes, and actions of those in power in NASCAR make me wonder; actually I've been taking time to give the whole thing some serious thought; just what sort of neck exercises Mr. Helton and the Mr. France the younger perform daily.

Whatever they are doing, it must be working because neither of them has had their head fall through their a**hole and break their neck yet.
And it would seem that with most of those recent rulings being expelled from that lower extremity, surely it must be stretched large enough to allow just such a fatal accident to occur.
Yep, it's got to be some sort of exercise to strengthen those neck muscles.

(Please excuse the language, but it seemed to be the best way to express myself.)
 
Have you seen the Matt Kenseth is a robot commercial? Is that a prophecy?
 
Great post, boB!!!!!

And as for those "officials" and Cops, they were trying their best to herd Gordon and his crew to Victory Circle where the celebration could be made NASCAR proper with the dreaded ole Powerade bottle!!! LOL That's just what NASCAR wanted to talk to Rick and Jeff about.

I loved the "seeming" spontaniety of the celebration on the track!!!!!!! And I really think it was just that!!! Spontaneous!!!!!
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If Jeff is smart, he'll stick to the "I was celebrating bit." He didn't take any more time under the flagstand pumping up the crowd than most guys spinning donuts. Everybody else came to HIM.

Then it's up the officials to prove 'What Jeff was REALLY thinking'. That isn't going to hold up in ANY court.

I think we're getting close to 'suited' responses from BOTH sides if they don't cool it.
 
hendrick motorsports needs to get there act together, if they keep this up i'm sure coca-cola will look into other series, IRL? for sponsership.
 
indyracing,

I think you have that backwards; Hendrick Motorsports seems to have their act together just fine. From my point of view it is NASCAR which needs to get their act together.

The actions with potential sponsors (refusing to allow liquor companies on a car but taking that same company as an "official product" at one of ISC's tracks), some of the changes in rules and the interpretation of others lately and all this garbage about their Victory Lane sponsor is pushing the teams just a bit too much.

When a team has worked their hearts out to get a win at this level of competition, that team and THEIR sponsors deserve the moment of glory in Victory Lane. For NASCAR to tell those team members and their sponsors that some other company, who had absolutely no part of the victory, will be given top billing in THEIR celebration is simply commercialism, marketing B.S., or whatever else you care to call it, gone completely out of control.

If NASCAR wishes to sell that part of the program, fine. But to make this big a deal out of the whole situation, to fine teams for knocking a damn big, ugly plastic bottle off the top of their car or for putting a sign for a team sponsor in front of that bottle, is taking valuable exposure away from the companies who have paid the bills for that win.

Sure, Poweraide or whomever have paid for that time, but my point is NASCAR should work some other sort of promotion instead of incrouching on the winning driver, team and the companies who have paid to get their car into Victory Lane and NASCAR is quite quick to point out that the drivers and teams are independent contractors.

While the drivers and teams have become quite wealthy because of NASCAR, that works two ways. Without those drivers and teams, NASCAR has no product to sell to its sponsors.

Stop and think of the impact on NEXTEL CUP racing if a team the size of Hendrick Motorsports simply said tomorrow that they have decided to leave NASCAR and move to some other form of motorsports. Then what happens if Joe Gibbs Racing, Ganassi and Penske follow suit.
Suddenly, NASCAR has a pretty lean looking field for its premier series every week doesn't it?

I have to wonder how they'd do trying to sell their top of the line circus to all those official whatever sponsors if they had no real circus to sell.
Hey, maybe they could simply run computer simulations for television, simply tell all the fans and sponsors its the real thing and no one would ever be the wiser?
 
Thank you, boB! I couldn't have said it any better! No, really, I couldn't have! ^_^ I just wish that NASCAR would/could read what you have written!
 
Props to Inside Nextel for showing Daytona where Lil'E stopped at the finish line to celebrate with his crew and fans. (I had forgotten about that). A precedent was set and nothing was done to him. Gordon didn't do anything different. It wasn't his fault that by the time he made his way to VL the TV cameras had gone away. And, really celebrating on the track does bring the driver closer to the fans. This may be a wave of the future...
 
Originally posted by barelypure@Aug 10 2004, 07:38 AM
Props to Inside Nextel for showing Daytona where Lil'E stopped at the finish line to celebrate with his crew and fans. (I had forgotten about that). A precedent was set and nothing was done to him. Gordon didn't do anything different. It wasn't his fault that by the time he made his way to VL the TV cameras had gone away. And, really celebrating on the track does bring the driver closer to the fans. This may be a wave of the future...
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Quite frankly, I prefer this type of celebration! It's more real, and exciting, and most importantly, I believe it's for the fans!

I've seen shots of the stands from victory lane, and they are getting empty. But the stands were still PACKED when Jeff was celebrating on the bricks!
 
The best Victory Lane is at Michigan. It's between pit road and the the track. Fans can actually see the celebration and be part of it.

I hate VL at Texas. You can't see diddly from the stands.
 
Originally posted by TexasRaceLady@Aug 10 2004, 02:18 PM
I hate VL at Texas. You can't see diddly from the stands.
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Me, too! With the way that they have all of the fencing up around VL at Texas, you can't see even the slightest speck of a person. Not to mention that it is ssoooooooooooooo far away from the stands! You can't even see much of anything with a GOOD pair of binoculars! :(
 
Originally posted by barelypure@Aug 9 2004, 12:53 PM
NASCAR knows better than most the importance of a sponsor.
NASCAR knows better than most how hard it is in this economic time to secure and keep a sponsor.
Click to expand...

With NASCAR's stance on liquor sponsoring Burton's car but them having no trouble letting the sponsor put up signs at the track are you sure these are true statements. Or, does it point out the hypocrisy that is NASCAR? :(
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Actually there is no hypocracy with the sponsorship of the tracks. The tracks are used for more than NASCAR events and they have the right to post any sponsors they like. If NASCAR doesnt like it; they can have that particular sponsor covered for live NASCAR races, but thats up to NASCAR and the Tracks!
 
While technically you are correct you must stop and realize that the folks who own some of the tracks are also some of the same ones at the top in NASCAR. So it is the same folks saying no to hard liquor sponsoring drivers while at the same time holding out their hand for that same money...
 
Nitro,

I think you've missed the point on this liquor sponsorship deal.
The Jack Roush #99 team had secured a primary sponsorship deal with a certain liquor company, which NASCAR refused to allow.
Then in a press release only a matter of days later, ISC announces that certain liquor company will be the "official liquor" of one of their tracks.

Now NASCAR is telling the drivers and teams that they MUST leave promotional items of the Victory Lane sponsor on display, even though the driver and team may have contractual obligations to competitors of that sponsor.

I can understand NASCAR selling the sponsorship rights to Victory Lane and have no problems with that at all.
I do have problems with the attitude of Mr. Helton and Mr. France the younger and their methods of handling the whole deal. It is past time for some of these marketing people to realize they are dealing with real people and not just some numbers on paper; but as long as the money continually flows in, I don't honestly see anything of that nature coming to pass.
 
wcs-2002-win-tm-0101.jpg


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Anyone want to take a stab at the signficance of those photos to this conversation?
 
The only things that I can think of are 1) rival beer companies or 2)rival teams

If not correct, then WHAT??? :blink:
 
Originally posted by majestyx@Aug 11 2004, 03:27 PM
The only things that I can think of are 1) rival beer companies or 2)rival teams

If not correct, then WHAT??? :blink:
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Look closely at the Miller Lite car between the front wheel and the "door".

Look colsely at the Coors Lite car between the front wheel and the "door".

You will see a Budwesier (a rival company) contingency sticker.

Competing sponsors have been a fact of life in NASCAR for a long, long time. Heck, as exampled above, they have even peacefully co-exitsed. Miller and Coors even allow their cars to run a contingency sticker from Bud.

I think it is sad that the pit crews from the Pepsi associated cars can't get the reward Powerade offers the crews. Heck if Miller and Coors can live with a contingency sticker from Bud being on their car every second of every race, why can't Pepsi do the same? Why can't Pepsi live with the bottle being there for a few minutes in victory lane?

So, my question (which is really rhetorical and I don't expect an snwers from anyone here) is, who is pushing the conflict involving Powerade now? Is it Pepsi? Is it the drivers taking independent action?

I also wonder how some of the drivers of the past would have handled the situation.
 
It looks to me that both cars have Bud as secondary sponsor...

...small stickers behind front wheel well.

I think. Kinda blurry. But I could see that as a sligt conflict! :D
 
Originally posted by TonyB+Aug 11 2004, 03:27 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (TonyB @ Aug 11 2004, 03:27 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-majestyx@Aug 11 2004, 03:27 PM
The only things that I can think of are 1) rival beer companies or 2)rival teams

If not correct, then WHAT??? :blink:
Click to expand...
Look closely at the Miller Lite car between the front wheel and the "door".

Look colsely at the Coors Lite car between the front wheel and the "door".

You will see a Budwesier (a rival company) contingency sticker.

Competing sponsors have been a fact of life in NASCAR for a long, long time. Heck, as exampled above, they have even peacefully co-exitsed. Miller and Coors even allow their cars to run a contingency sticker from Bud.

I think it is sad that the pit crews from the Pepsi associated cars can't get the reward Powerade offers the crews. Heck if Miller and Coors can live with a contingency sticker from Bud being on their car every second of every race, why can't Pepsi do the same? Why can't Pepsi live with the bottle being there for a few minutes in victory lane?

So, my question (which is really rhetorical and I don't expect an snwers from anyone here) is, who is pushing the conflict involving Powerade now? Is it Pepsi? Is it the drivers taking independent action?

I also wonder how some of the drivers of the past would have handled the situation. [/b][/quote]
Dueling posts!

:D

So my questions would be:

Do Rusty and Sterling get any $$ from Bud?

Do Jeff and Jimmie get $$ from Coke?
 
Originally posted by Splunge@Aug 11 2004, 04:33 PM
So my questions would be:

Do Rusty and Sterling get any $$ from Bud?

Do Jeff and Jimmie get $$ from Coke?
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The Bud sticker is a cotingency program... if Rusty or Sterling were to win a pole they would get the pole $$$s as well as being elligible for the Bud Shototout.

Note that the Petty cars do not run the Bud sticker due to a promise Richard made his mother and are not elligible for the $$$ or Shootout.

Also note that if Jeff or Jimmie were in the Powerade contingency program, the dollars would not go to them. The Powerade contingency program has the $$$ go to the crews.

But the real point was that the people to blame in this aren't the drivers or NASCAR. Miller and Bud are bitter rivals. Just watch their current ads on tv. Yet they stil manage to coexist in the NASCAR environment. It is a shame that Pepsi chooses to ban the crews of their sponsored and associated cars from being elligible to win the contingency dollars.

Again, I don't know what really spurred the drivers to attack the Powerade bottle on the cars. I don't know that it was an instruction from Pepsi or if they are simply choosing to do it on their own. It just sturck me as very interstign that Bud, Miller, and Coors can actively coexist in the NASCAR world while Pepsi and Coke can't seem to do the same thing.
 
In 2001, when Jr won the Pepsi 400, in winners circle he disdainfully swept the Pepsi product off the top of his car. His crew was already prepared to place the Bud cartons on the top to replace the Pepsi stuff. NOBODY said one darn thing then. So. now, since the sponsor is a NASCAR, or ISC one, you cannot do that?????????????????????
Somehow I think I smell a double standard there.
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This is on speedwaymedia.com

P R E S S R E L E A S E


Posted on August 11, 2004

Hendrick Motorsports Statement -- R. Hendrick & J. Gordon

RICK HENDRICK & JEFF GORDON

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 11, 2004) - The following are statements from Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon regarding Hendrick Motorsports' Brickyard 400 victory Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

RICK HENDRICK, OWNER OF HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS: (ON WINNING SUNDAY'S BRICKYARD 400 AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY.) "Sunday's Brickyard victory was one of the most special moments I've ever experienced in this sport. I really wanted to win that race and kiss the bricks to honor my father. It was an unbelievable feeling for all of us.

"Nonetheless, I owe an explanation to the George family, along with everyone at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The celebration was emotional, and it was fun to acknowledge the fans like that, but it became obvious that we had unintentionally disrupted the Speedway's program by not driving to Victory Lane after the checkered flag. Speaking for everyone at Hendrick Motorsports, I personally called Mary Hulman George on Monday to apologize for any actions that may have been perceived as being disrespectful."

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Rick Hendrick's father, Joseph R. "Papa Joe" Hendrick Jr., passed away July 14. He was 84.)

JEFF GORDON, DRIVER OF THE NO. 24 CHEVROLETS: (ON THE POST-RACE CELEBRATION.) "I can't adequately describe how emotional Sunday was. When I got out of the car, it was my intention to get back in and drive to Victory Lane after waving to everyone in the stands. Our team certainly would not disrespect any procedures on purpose, and I truly apologize to everyone at the Speedway for any problems we may have caused. It was a classic case of being caught up in the moment. I plan to support NASCAR's Victory Lane protocol going forward
 
It was the same a few years back when Gaterade use to give drivers $10,000 or something like that if you were leading at half way and had the sticker.
 
Good thought to pay critical attention to the decals present, make note also of the ones absent. Note how many are on the #2 and how many on the #40 ???

Budweiser lives in harmony with Miller and Coors as a result of the benefits that are the direct result of that sponsorship. The Bud Pole and the Bud Clash events are filled with prestige and offer rewards.

The teams can choose to ignore this participation.

Powerade does not require a sticker on all cars and offers only teams sponsored by Coca-Cola the benefits of the Powerade Drive Thru contest.

Therefore, no team should be required to have the Victory Lane sponsor placed on the winning car without the team owners approval. It should be a choice just as it is their choice to participate in the various contingency programs or display the stickers.

.
 
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