If you follow us on twitter, you may have seen me point this out over the weekend (NASCAR Scene writer Jeff Gluck beat me to the punch with a post about this incident on his blog). During the regular press availability for the Chase contenders this weekend Juan Pablo Montoya got a surprise scolding from a reporter.
The reporter, who identified himself as Michael Morales from American Forces Radio and Television Service, Voice of America and Radio and TV Marti was clearly agitated about not being able to secure a one-on-one interview with Montoya.
Here is what ensued:
MM: Micheal Morales, the American Forces Radio and Television Service, Voice of America as well as radio and TV Marti. I want to tell you this in English because I want everyone to understand what we have been going through with you. In the past with Adrian Fernandez, Carlos Contreras, Felix Sabates, the Spanish language media didn’t have any problems getting a one-to-one interview. You came to NASCAR with a different attitude…the attitude is whenever we tried to get an interview with you on a one-to-one we are always denied, you are not available… JPM: (Montoya interrupts) I’m not in charge of making… MM: May I finish please? May I finish. This is something that you must understand, Spanish language media is also important, especially for you, OK? JPM: So what’s the question? MM: The question is was it you or was it your people? JPM: I don’t make the decisions. They tell me where to go and what to do…I don’t make the decisions of what interviews to do they think which… MM: (Morales interrupts) That’s not true. JPM: …interviews are worth doing and which ones are not, you know what I mean? There’s always a value… MM: So we’re not important? JPM: I don’t know? Is USA Today more worth it for Target than a small latin interview? I would think so. And there is certain amount of time you always spend with the media and I think there is time always spent with…I do, myself being Colombian, I try to do a lot of interviews…Diego’s beside you and I do a lot of interviews with them and they cover a lot of Colombian media. NASCAR brought some Colombian media and Latin media to Daytona, so because you haven’t got an interview I wouldn’t assume everybody didn’t.
MM: Micheal Morales, the American Forces Radio and Television Service, Voice of America as well as radio and TV Marti. I want to tell you this in English because I want everyone to understand what we have been going through with you. In the past with Adrian Fernandez, Carlos Contreras, Felix Sabates, the Spanish language media didn’t have any problems getting a one-to-one interview. You came to NASCAR with a different attitude…the attitude is whenever we tried to get an interview with you on a one-to-one we are always denied, you are not available…
JPM: (Montoya interrupts) I’m not in charge of making…
MM: May I finish please? May I finish. This is something that you must understand, Spanish language media is also important, especially for you, OK?
JPM: So what’s the question?
MM: The question is was it you or was it your people?
JPM: I don’t make the decisions. They tell me where to go and what to do…I don’t make the decisions of what interviews to do they think which…
MM: (Morales interrupts) That’s not true.
JPM: …interviews are worth doing and which ones are not, you know what I mean? There’s always a value…
MM: So we’re not important?
JPM: I don’t know? Is USA Today more worth it for Target than a small latin interview? I would think so. And there is certain amount of time you always spend with the media and I think there is time always spent with…I do, myself being Colombian, I try to do a lot of interviews…Diego’s beside you and I do a lot of interviews with them and they cover a lot of Colombian media. NASCAR brought some Colombian media and Latin media to Daytona, so because you haven’t got an interview I wouldn’t assume everybody didn’t.
They went on to exchange a few more words before the moderator cut them off. (EGR has posted the videos from the weekend press conference here. The exchange starts at the end of video one and continues onto the beginning of video two).
Let me start off by saying I hope this guy was OK with being blacklisted by the team, because he is never going to get a one-on-one with Montoya after that; and deservedly so.
I think what some don’t understand (this gentleman apparently) is as a PR person for a team, you can’t approve every one-on-one media request you get, especially if you have a popular driver (oh and the drivers aren’t handling the requests). How many media requests do you think Dale Jr.’s and Tony Stewart’s PR people turn down in a weekend? It’s a lot. It is simply impossible to grant every local and national media outlet what they want.
Not to mention as a PR person you have a commitment to the company (either the team or some of these people are directly employed by a sponsor) to get a sponsor as much exposure as possible. That means the USA Todays and the ESPNs get first dibs at interviews, no matter how many times you’ve asked for one.
Also part of this big media game is forming relationships with the individual PR people. It’s always helpful for them to be willing and happy to take your phone call; or answer an e-mail you’ve sent them. Sometimes if they can’t help you one weekend, they can squeeze you in during the week, or during the next weekend. Along with this is the amount of people who make these requests at the last minute. The PR people put together schedules very early in the week and if you’re not on it, you’re probably not getting an interview that weekend.
Another thing to consider is that Juan has had three PR people in the last two seasons. It’s difficult for someone to come into a new position and know who requested what, where in past seasons. Juan’s present PR person has been on the job for a couple of months. If he’s swamped with other media and sponsor commitments (oh yeah he’s there to race too), they’re probably not going to be able to make time for you. It’s that simple.
I commend Montoya for maintaining his cool and really showing some class during a very uncomfortable, very unprofessional incident. As Jeff Gluck pointed out, this incident “lends some insight into his personality…“
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.
Filed under: Juan Pablo Montoya, Sprint Cup, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing
Montoya Talking Big Picture at Infineon originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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There has been much speculation over the last several weeks regarding where Martin Truex Jr. will race in 2010 and beyond. This speculation has been fueled mostly by Truex’s own comments on a possible move, which started at the Talladega race in April. The turmoil surrounding the DEI/CGR merger, and the lack of performance from the EGR teams this season appears to be a big motivator. Since 2008, Truex has been rumored to be leaving DEI/EGR for Dale Jr.’s Cup team (that never materialized), Stewart-Haas Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, Penske Racing, and most recently Michael Waltrip Racing.
Mike Mulhern was the first to break the news about Truex’s possible defection to MWR, and his story pondered whether the deal was actually already done. Since Mulhern’s article first appeared we’ve heard that the deal isn’t necessarily done but that NAPA is very interested in securing Truex. But there has yet to be an announcement from either side about the future and after talking about it initially, Truex has now become reluctant in answering any media questions regarding MWR and 2010.
Stepping back now from the rumors and speculation, I’m curious about what team would be the best fit for Truex moving forward. I’ve got to believe that a possible move from EGR to MWR would only be driven by a more lucrative contract. I say that because neither team appears to be better then the other in terms of performance and potential. Truex and his teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, currently sit 19th and 15th in the points, while MWR cars are 11th, 18th, and 32nd respectively. The lone bright spot for MWR and a possible selling point for Truex has been David Reutimann and his Coke 600 win. But the win in a rain shortened 600 on a Monday had more to do with lucky strategy than it did with actual team performance. So jumping from the #1 team at EGR to the #55 team at MWR appears to be a lateral move at best.
The other wildcard in this situation is Truex’s long time sponsor, Bass Pro Shops. There was much talk earlier this season after EGR shut down the #8 team that Bass Pro had an out in its contract if either Truex didn’t have two team cars, or his performance wasn’t up to par. This appears now to be false, and according to press releases from 2007 and EGR’s Steve Lauletta, Bass Pro is signed through 2010. This would certainly rule out the possibility of Bass Pro Shops following Truex to MWR, SHR, or any other team.
Only time will tell where Truex ends up for the 2010 season and beyond, but I’m of the opinion that Truex will indeed jump ship. I feel like he’s had one foot out the door since the walls started crumbling at DEI, and I’m surprised he’s waited until now to possibly make a move. Usually, drivers who aren’t interested in a move to another team don’t become the topic of so many rumors. And if he wasn’t interested in moving, it’s very easy to put down the rumors and speculation and just say “I like where I am, I’m staying.”
On top of that, his performances this season have been less than inspired, and chances of a big contract brought to you by NAPA or possibly a better ride elsewhere may be enough to lure him away.