Hello front row, farewell phoenix

5/10/2013

PattyKay Lilley

 

I bid you welcome gentle readers, to whatever this column turns out to be in the end. I've looked over all the news and several places where fans gather to converse, and I really didn't find enough complaints from you to do a "Voice For The Fans" column, so this week, you get to read what interests me instead of what irritates you. The door isn't locked, but if you stick around, you might find something intriguing or interesting.  I'll do my best. Meanwhile, I suggest you try the chicken and don't forget to tip your waitress.  

 

First off, let's get Talladega out of the way. Those that have read me for any length of time know my opinion of that giant track... it should be plowed under and planted in tobacco as a tribute to R.J. Reynolds and better days in our sport. Mr. France does not agree, but then, what does he know? He's never been a race fan. No, really... even though he and sister Lesa own almost everything that Bruton Smith doesn't, he doesn't attend the races, and to my knowledge has never run a single race. Make what you want of that.

 

I'm guessing that no one needs me to tell him that David Ragan, the pride of Unadilla Georgia, won what well might be the longest race in Talladega history, when he crossed the Start/Finish line. The "Official" time of the race was 3:26:02, or just under three and a half hours. That, dear readers, is a bold-faced lie! That race came on FOX at noon on Sunday; the green flag flew around 1:19 and he crossed that finish line at sometime past 8:00 at night, making the Aaron's 499 the second race that weekend to be run in the dark... and the rain. Though I've heard comment to the contrary, FOX, in most markets, took a break from 6:00 to 7:00 for News. To all those that were screaming, cussing and tweeting on Twitter about "Where is my race?" get a grip and relax. That news break was a bonus and you didn't miss a single word that Darrell and Mikey had to say, and say, and say again... Good grief, wait to complain until you have something to complain about. I'm sure it'll be right along.

 

My congratulations to David Ragan, David Gilliland, team owner Bob Jenkins (No, not that Bob Jenkins... this one owns restaurants) and everyone connected with Front Row Motorsports. How often do we get to see two second-generation drivers... Ragan the son of independent racer Ken Ragan and Gilliland the son of West Coast racer Butch Gilliland... run one-two for a small and underfunded team struggling to make it from race to race, with or without sponsorship? Well done gentlemen, in every instance. Stand tall and proud! You beat the best and all the rest.

 

The race itself, as always, was a wreck-fest that succeeded in turning about half the field into a giant heap of scrap metal to be hauled away and repurposed into toasters or things equally exciting. The sheer cost of repair and replacement of cars, though thankfully not lives in this instance, is just staggering and cannot be justified by calling that contrived bunching up of cars traveling circa 200 mph while looking for a place to crash, a race. As I type, there has been no word on what, if anything, NASCAR will have to say about the comments of Ryan Newman, once the smoke had cleared on the late-race donnybrook that found the car of Kurt Busch flipping wildly several times and coming to rest on the windshield of Newman's car. If whoever it is that makes those decisions believes in God and justice, there will be no penalties issued to Newman. He could have said a lot worse. He could have said what I was thinking... which was probably close to what he was thinking as well. Until you've tried piggy-backing a 3200-pound car on your hood with an undercarriage in your face, don't judge those that have. Maybe, come fall, when we have to return to that place, I'll do my rant one more time and let my real emotions come out. We'll see... (Author's note: In its consistent efforts to be consistently inconsistent, NASCAR issued no penalties to Newman for expounding on the absurdity of flying cars choosing his hood as a landing field. Say anything you want; cuss at will; just don't say that new car ain't purty!)

 

Turning away from Talladega now, but staying with the aforementioned Kurt Busch for a bit, that lad announced that on Thursday, he will be returning to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he recently spent two days testing his #78 Furniture Row Chevy, this time to slip behind the wheel of an IZOD IndyCar belonging to Andretti Autosport. Kurt will be coached and assisted by team owner Michael Andretti.

 

Says Andretti, "I had the chance to get to know Kurt last year when we were working on another racing project. I respect his talent and am happy to give him the opportunity to experience the raw speed of an Indy car. It's a unique feel and perspective;  it will be totally different than what he is used to driving each week on the Cup circuit." Ahem... to the person  that told me last year what I was full of when I suggested that Andretti Autosport might possibly come to NASCAR... running Dodges... with Busch as the driver... I rest my case.

 

The initial test hasn't even happened yet, and already talk is in the air about Kurt possibly "doing the double", that is, running the Indy 500 and the World 600 on the same day. I'd say that is far down the road and doesn't require discussion today... but the thought is interesting.

 

Kurt's thoughts on it are these, "I am looking forward to this test and experiencing IMS at the speeds the Indy cars run," Busch said. "Let's see how the test goes, and then I can look at the opportunities that could be beyond this coming Thursday. Running the Indianapolis 500 would certainly be a highlight, and doing another 600 miles in a Cup car on the same day would make for a special weekend."

 

Only John Andretti, Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon have ever accomplished that feat... to date. Recalling that in 2011 Kurt professed to have an ardent interest in drag racing and actually made it to the first round of Pro-Stock eliminations in the Gator Nationals, only to be take out by Erica Enders... I guess I'll wait for a bit before getting too exuberant over him doing the double any time soon.  

 

Next, we come to something I found only this morning, and it makes me very sad. Independent team owner James Finch, owner of Phoenix Racing, which formed in 1989 and began racing Cup on a part-time basis in 1990, has announced that due to lack of sponsorship, he will make this year's Brickyard 400 on July 28 the last race for his Cup team. In the current 2013 season, Finch has fielded a car in every race, share-driven by A.J. Allmendinger, Austin Dillon and Regan Smith. After Talladega, Finch sits tied for 13th in owner points, only 3 points out of 12th (Joe Gibbs #20), which is Chase territory. He is tied at 276 points with Richard Childress (#29) and 7 points ahead of Michael Waltrip (#56). Gentle readers, those are some of the best cars in the sport, and James Finch's car is right there among them, though the best he can do is spotty sponsorship on a very low level. What is wrong with this picture?

 

On Monday, Finch stated, "I'm contemplating finishing up this year, and I don't know if I want a sponsor. Sunday was my 776th start in NASCAR between the Nationwide and Sprint Cup. That's a lot of weekends. I'm considering pulling the plug later in the summer." On Sunday, his #51, with Regan Smith behind the wheel, survived to finish a very respectable 6th place at day's end.

 

"I have not been able to get the right amount of funding, the economy is pretty bad, and a lot of people don't want to do it. I'm getting kind of burned out. I think it is time for me to do something else."

 

You see, gentle readers, the problem is that with or without sponsorship, be it small or large, the bills keep right on coming. Payroll has to be met, light bills have to be paid... all of the things we face at home, but on a much grander scale. Without sponsor help, all that is coming right out of James' pocket.

 

"I don't want to lose everything I've got trying to outrun people," says Finch. "I can't do that. It's time to do something else and go from there. I've still got some cars I haven't torn up. And I don't want to build any new ones."

 

At 62, Finch is feeling his age, but looking around NASCAR, team ownership has no age limit. One has only to look at Jack Roush, Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Roger Penske and others to know that in many cases, older is better... more seasoned and sage, one might say. Still, James says, "I started with all my friends, and now I'm racing with a lot of their sons. Austin Dillon, he's a little kid who drove for me (twice this season). I remember when he was born." He has a valid point there.

 

Thinking back, I'm reminded of when Junie Donlavey left the sport. His departure left a gaping hole where once love had been. The same thing happened when we bade farewell to Bud Moore. As each old soldier takes his leave, something more goes out of racing. Call it love; call it structure; call it camaraderie; call it what you will, but where will we be when it's all gone? And the end is nearer than we might think. All those names I mentioned are not young men... and no one lives forever.

 

But there is hope... I think. Back in 2010, James announced that his team would hit the auction block, but evidently, when that time came, he had serious misgivings and cancelled proceedings. Phoenix Racing came back with renewed vigor in 2011 and ran every race of that year and last year. So far, the #51 has made it to the starting line of every race in 2013. Maybe, just maybe, as the Brickyard 400 draws closer, James might find it in his heart to have another change of heart... redundant, yes, but it's what I mean to say. Or... even better... a sponsor out there might take a closer look at how well James can make a team run on almost nothing, and decide to invest a little more than nothing and see what the man can do with real funding.

 

NASCAR... Brian France and all concerned, you need this team in NASCAR... more than they need you; things today are quite the reverse of when you could glibly say that to any owner or driver. In today's world, you DO need your teams, and this man provides a good team with good cars and good drivers. You can ill afford to lose him. For heaven's sake, help the man! Don't worry about setting a precedent or folks thinking you've turned soft and kind. No one will make that mistake. Do it for your bottom line. What is better for racing, Phoenix Racing or some field filler that starts and parks? Think it over very carefully before answering. You really do need James Finch... and the more of him you can find the better off you'll be.

 

Did you hear the fans cheering this past Sunday Mr. France? Fans all over the country, that had sat through a rain delay of Biblical proportions, were absolutely thrilled to watch the kids from Front Row Motorsports cross that Finish line ahead of all the better-known names backed by big money. I promise you, they feel the same about James Finch's team, Phoenix Racing. Do not let it die. If you do, you will regret it Sir.

 

** Late Breaking News... as I was about to sign off, the decision of Appellate Chairman John Middlebrook on the Penske penalties was announced. All fines and point penalties were upheld, but suspensions were reduced from 6 weeks to 2 weeks. I concur; thank you Mr. Middlebrook, for your fair and considered judgment. Now back to our regular column, already in progress.

 

Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling. It looks so good on you!