On Tuesday, shortly after a Turner Motorsports press release confirmed our breaking news from Monday (Dollar General gone), we found out that Reed Sorenson had been bounced from Turner’s #32 Chevy. The exact reason for why he was given the boot isn’t clear, but performance can be ruled out. Sorenson has a win this season, sits third in the driver points, and is consistently the best performing Turner driver. So now, left with no ride for the remainder of the season, and no big money behind him, Sorenson’s future looks bleak.
It’s certainly been a few years ago, but if you might remember, there was a time when Sorenson was the hottest young driver in NASCAR. After winning two races and finishing fourth in the points in his first full season in the Busch Series, Sorenson was given a full time Cup ride in 2006 with Chip Ganassi Racing.
Unfortunately for him though, that 2005 Busch season was the best of his career. After four and a half seasons in the Cup Series, and some moderate Nationwide Series success since, Sorenson now finds himself without a ride.
Considering his past, and the fact that he doesn’t have a sponsor in his pocket, I’m wondering who, if anyone, will give Sorenson another shot. He clearly won’t get another decent ride in the Cup Series, though he has shown he can be competitive in good equipment in the Nationwide Series. But what NNS team that fits that description is going to put him in a race car?
Following the Dollar General press release, Turner announced that Brian Vickers will drive the #32 at Kansas and Charlotte. Who will drive the car beyond that isn’t yet known, but Steve Turner said they will continue to “evaluate their racing program.” For Sorenson though, barring some sort of last minute miracle, don’t expect to see him get in another car to protect his third place position in the points. His 2011 season is now shot, and the future doesn’t look much better.
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Filed under: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IRL, Indianapolis 500
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Filed under: Jamie McMurray, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing
The single biggest problem facing NASCAR teams that want to continue being NASCAR teams is the search for, acquisition of, and retention of sponsors. Without them, we don’t get to go play on the weekends. But as the economy continues to struggle, this proposition has become much more difficult.
Just this year alone we’ve lost longtime sponsors like DeWalt Tools and Jack Daniels. With more companies pulling out and the case for investment in motorsports more difficult to make, teams must find new places to look for potential sponsors and new ways to keep them happy.
One tactic some teams have employed through the years is to lure sponsors away from their competition. An example of this is Discount Tire. The national tire store chain first appeared in the NNS Series on a Chip Ganassi Racing entry; they later moved to Roush Fenway Racing. Now for 2010, Discount Tire is moving from RFR to Penske Racing with Brad Keselowski.
When a deal like this happens, often times it’s because a team promises similar exposure for a smaller investment. But in other cases, it could be the opportunity to work with a specific driver or the hopes of better performance. Either way, it can be an ugly situation.
I’ve seen some discussion over the past few days about Miccosukee moving from Billy Ballew Motorsports to Kyle Busch’s new truck team. To say that KBM stole the sponsorship from BBM or to suggest that it is somehow not right or fair for this to happen is wrong. Racing is a business and teams must do what is necessary to survive. In this instance, obviously KBM did a better job selling their team to Miccosukee, and the Indian tribe made the conscious decision to move. On the flip side, Miccosukee found better value for their money at KBM. As I see it, no blood, no foul.
The successful sponsorship formula has never really stopped changing or evolving since racers first started asking businesses for money. As we progress and move forward, expect teams to continue being creative with their marketing and sales plans. As we’ve seen in recent years the multiple sponsor approach is becoming the new standard.
Right now is as difficult a time to find sponsorship as any in the sport’s history. It’s a cutthroat atmosphere for teams and the team who can offer the most for the least is likely to come out on top.
We’ve still got a ways to go before the Sprint Cup season has ended and we crown our champion, but never fear if you’re looking for a good conclusion to a motorsports season we’ve got three this weekend.
The ARCA Re/Max, IndyCar, and Grand-Am seasons all come to an end this weekend; and all three are locked into tight battles between the top two or three teams. If you’ve been watching any of them this season you know what I’m talking about.
IndyCar Series
Wrapping up at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend, the IndyCar Series has been one to watch this season.
True the battle is between just two teams and three drivers, but it’s still been exciting.
The Target Chip Ganassi teams of Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti sit one, two in the points and have been that way for most of the season. In fact the two swapped points every week there for several weeks. They have a combined nine wins this season (Dixon leads with five) and are only five points apart, with Dixon in the lead.
Despite Dixon’s lead Franchitti has the better average finish of 4.9.
The only driver who has been able to keep up with those two is Ryan Briscoe over at TCGR rival Penske Racing. Briscoe has four poles and three wins on the season with an average finish of 5.6. He’s only eight points out of the lead.
Long story short it’s all going to come down to who finishes ahead of who. Considering the dominance of all three of these teams it is sure to be an exciting finish to the season. Check it out Saturday at 4 p.m. on Versus.
Grand-Am
Also closing out their season at Homestead-Miami this weekend is the Grand-Am Series. There’s not much of a points race going on in the Grand Touring Series, but the Daytona Prototype Series is a squeaker.
Reigning champs Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas are just 10 points back from leaders Jon Fogerty and Alex Gurney in third. Eight points back in second are Brian Friselle and Max Angelelli.
The CGR team of Pruett and Rojas has been solid this season leading a total of 406 laps, but they only have two wins to the Gainsco team’s four. The Suntrust Team of Angelelli and Friselle have a similar record to Ganassi and also have two wins.
Given that these three teams finished 1-2-3 in order the last time they raced, and all of these drivers are very competitive with each other, Homestead is sure to thrill. Check it out Saturday at 1 p.m. on Speed.
ARCA
Finally if you’re not into sports car or open wheel racing the ARCA Re/Max Series season also comes to a close this weekend at Rockingham Speedway.
Penske development driver Parker Kligerman and Eddie Sharp Racing’s Justin Lofton have been battling all season for the championship trophy.
Kligerman has eight wins, including a string of four in a row between Michigan and Kentucky earlier this year and last week at Kansas. He has an average finish of 5.2 this season and sits just 15 points behind Lofton.
Lofton has six wins this season, most recently at Salem Speedway. He was looking to make it seven last week, but Kligerman, who was in second snookered him on the restart. He has an average finish of 5.3 and has led an astounding 1,005 laps.
There are no guarantees we’re going to see a repeat of last season (Ricky Stenhouse wrecks, either on purpose or accidentally depending on your view, Scott Speed; Speed then wrecks Stenhouse; Justin Allgaier wins the championship), but this is another one that looks to be a great battle. These are two very talented, intense young drivers and it will be exciting to see what happens. Check this one out (not live) at 10 p.m. Sunday on Speed.
I hope you enjoy your weekend of racing. Oh and don’t forget there’s a Cup and Nationwide race this weekend too.
Say what you want about Chip Ganassi and Juan Pablo Montoya, they’re cut from the same cloth.
By that I mean both of these guys are straight shooters. Arguably that isn’t always a good thing. One thing is sure though, you always know what they’re thinking and feeling.
After the conclusion of the “regular season” at Richmond, Lee Spencer quoted a very animated Ganassi.
“I’m glad that (expletive) finally learned how to drive. I’ve been paying him for three (freaking) years.” When asked if he was surprised that three of his former drivers, Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray and Reed Sorenson, are auditioning for jobs, Ganassi was still on a roll: “I don’t know, for years people have been saying how s***** my team is.”
“I’m glad that (expletive) finally learned how to drive. I’ve been paying him for three (freaking) years.”
When asked if he was surprised that three of his former drivers, Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray and Reed Sorenson, are auditioning for jobs, Ganassi was still on a roll:
“I don’t know, for years people have been saying how s***** my team is.”
Personally I wish she would have used the preferable AP style for expletives (first letter of the word and then hyphens for each of the letters). I’d like to know exactly “what” finally learned to drive. This quote though is classic Ganassi: passionate and honest.
During interviews if he doesn’t want to talk about something, or just flat out won’t talk about something, he’ll more than openly tell you not to waste your time asking the question. There are many reporters out there that have been on the receiving end of this. While he can certainly be difficult, he’s honest; and to be honest with you I kind of like that.
And how about Montoya. This is a guy who is known for speaking his mind to the press. If he’s pissed off he’s going to tell you. If you don’t believe me check his radio audio from the Brickyard this year: “I swear on my wife and kids!”
Or how about when ESPN/ABC’s Vince Welch asked him about some troubles with Kasey Kahne after the race at Pocono, and Montoya chastised him for trying to create a conflict that wasn’t there.
The best though, and you may have missed this, is the walking out of the interview before it ever began.
Let me set this up. Montoya was doing satellite interviews for NASCAR during the little New York trip last week. He was apparently told the interviews would be done at 5 p.m. Without fail Montoya held them to that. With one interview to go, and the little hand on the 5, as a random sports anchor got ready to interview him, Montoya said he was done, took off his mic and left.
As a side note check out the video if you can. The sports anchor at this Fox station in Sacramento, clearly put off by Montoya walking out on him, goes on a tirade against NASCAR. He starts off by saying he isn’t going to make a ‘federal case’ of the situation and then goes on to do just that. He says NASCAR’s popularity is waning and says the money is leaving and stuff like this is probably the reason why. Needless to say it was a little more than pitiful this guy created a story about not getting a story (don’t get me wrong, I would have been pissed too, but get a grip). The moral of the story is, Montoya hates fans in Northern California. I digress.
This too is classic Montoya. He has very set expectations of situations and you better be prepared to meet those expectations or he’ll let you know (often colorfully) he isn’t happy. Juan just recently got a new PR person, and I’ll tell you, I don’t envy her.
All the above said, I think it’s refreshing Montoya doesn’t conform to a polished image. He’s like the Tony Stewart of old. I think it’s good for the sport, though not always good for those covering the sport.
Good or bad, these two guys are a match made in Heaven. They’re passionate about and committed to their sport and while they’re upbringing was worlds apart, they’re actually very similar. And good or bad, no one will ever accuse them of playing coy.
P.S. You can probably add Felix Sabates to the above list. He’s generally not afraid to speak his mind either.