A Voice for the Fans ~ The Sound of Silence
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Author’s note: When this was written on Wednesday morning, everything within was true. On Wednesday evening, the NASCAR America gang have either learned something I don’t know or are just milking a story that has ceased to be one. You be the judge.
I bid
you welcome gentle readers, and of course, that same warm welcome extends to he
or she assigned by NASCAR to keep an old lady honest on this warm, muggy
September day. So… where to begin? Of course, I had a column all planned and
about ready to roll with it, but then it hit the fan Tuesday afternoon,
September 4, 2018. I guess I’ll start by saying that your scribe doesn’t much
care for what’s going on in the world of NASCAR, that once flourishing sport,
second only to the NFL in viewership. You
probably don’t need me to tell you that Furniture Row, NASCAR’s reigning
Championship team, announced that it will close its doors at the end of the
2018 season, even as that team is in a fight for whatever it’s called this year
that passes for a Championship run in the final ten parades of the year. Oh,
and wouldn’t it be the epitome of irony if that team were to win a second
Championship this year? If that should be the case, I’d like to put in my bid
to be speech writer for the presenter of the Monster Energy trophy and
Championship ring. Last year’s presenter didn’t need a speech writer, he just
threw it at Martin and waddled off stage. This year’s will need something far
cleverer than, “Congratulations on winning another NASCAR Championship. Don’t
let that door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!” All
joking aside, it’s a sad situation, and the person it’s saddest for is Barney
Visser. As a team owner, Barney gave it his all, building that team from
essentially non-existent to Championship caliber, supporting it and sponsoring
it for several years with his own money and by his own company. Earlier this
year, 5-Hour Energy, primary sponsor of the #78, announced they would not be
returning to NASCAR in any capacity in 2018. That company is struggling to keep
their caffeine-laden shot of bitter water alive in a battle with several other
larger purveyors of energy drinks, not the least of which is Monster Energy
Drink, the reigning series title sponsor, through 2019. Despite
the fact that NASCAR is healthy and growing, according to what we were told when
last we heard a peep from that entity, the reigning Championship team could not
locate, never mind land a sponsor that wanted to buy into the obviously
struggling sport. Left without choice, as he could no longer afford to keep
pouring dollars into his own team without any assistance, and the additional
pressure of Joe Gibbs Racing raising the cost of “Alliance” to a number that
was beyond his reach, Barney Visser took to the microphone Tuesday afternoon
and told the world at large what was going on and why he was leaving. "This
is not good for anybody. The numbers just don't add up. I would have to borrow
money to continue as a competitive team and I'm not going to do that. This was
obviously a painful decision to arrive at knowing how it will affect a number
of quality and talented people. "We've
been aggressively seeking sponsorship to replace 5-hour ENERGY and to offset
the rising costs of continuing a team alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing but
haven't had any success. I feel that it's only proper to make the decision at
this time to allow all team members to start seeking employment for next year.
I strongly believe that all of our people have enhanced their careers by
working at Furniture Row Racing." And…
within an hour or so of that announcement, another came from JGR, stating that
Daniel Suarez, the youngster they rushed into the seat of Gibbs’ #19 after the
rapid and unexpected departure of Carl Edwards, is now out of that ride, while
JGR has signed Martin Truex and crew chief Cole Pearn to run the #19. Oh, and
the remaining sponsorship that came from Bass Pro Shops also moves with them.
That didn’t take long at all. Once Visser made the announcement, the sharks
were circling immediately, and the speculation mills were working overtime with
wild rumors. There’s
an old saying that this scribe has employed several times over the years, and
once again it applies so well here, not to NASCAR this time, but to Coach Joe
Gibbs. “Some species eat their young.” Nice move Coach! Raise the price until
they can’t pay, then kick ‘em when they’re down. If I were Martin Truex, I’d be
grateful for the ride, but I’d sure want a bodyguard to watch my back. Carl
Edwards saw it coming and beat a hasty retreat from the sport and from JGR.
Matt Kenseth wasn’t as clairvoyant as Carl and wound up odd man out to make
space for Erik Jones, an up and coming star with a cute smile and great
personality. Ironically, when there wasn’t room for Jones at JGR the preceding
year, it was Barney Visser that provided a second team for the youngster at
Furniture Row Racing until Joe could “make room” for him by not renewing with
Matt, a past Champion and still winning races. There’s a bonafide case of “But
what have you done for me lately?” that rings of sarcasm. And
NASCAR? What does the sanctioning body think or have to say about losing its
reigning Championship team? As has become customary of late, nothing is
forthcoming from the parent organization. Not a word. Understand, not a word
from Brian France is a good thing, and this scribe prays we’ve heard the last
garbled sentence from those lips, but there are many others that could and have
spoken for the sanctioning body, yet no one steps forward. All we hear are
references to Jim France being a quiet man, and that’s all fine and dandy, but
he’s stepped into a sport that is fighting for its life and if he’s the HMWIC
(Head Man What’s In Charge), then it’s his place to lead that fight. Along
with Jim (Interim Chairman and CEO), we have Steve Phelps (COO), Steve O’Donnell
(Executive Vice President), Brent Dewar (President), and let’s not forget Mike
Helton (Vice-Chairman)… and of course, Lesa France Kennedy (CEO of ISC and
NASCAR Vice-Chairwoman). Where are these folks? At some point, the head in the
sand posture will have to end, as problems don’t disappear merely because they
are denied or ignored. At this juncture, I’m reminded of some words from an old
Simon and Garfunkel tune, “The Sound of Silence.” People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
Fools, said I, you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
Well
gentle readers, this was originally going to be a column about the changing of
the Indianapolis race date and using it as a send-off to the “play-offs.” This
Sunday will be the 25th running of the Brickyard 400 at the hallowed
grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 1994, the race saw 86 cars in
line to make a qualifying attempt, and race day saw some 350,000 in attendance.
I recently saw someone’s estimate of last year’s “crowd” stated as 35,000.
Granted, it will be a bit cooler in September than it was in July or early
August, but after losing 90% of its audience over 25 years… is this really the
best race with which to close the “regular season?”
Oh, and
then there’s this little factoid… The Indianapolis Colts are playing their
opening game at home, just across town. Who makes these decisions? The cleaning
crew that comes into the offices on the weekend? Once upon a time, in a
different fairy tale, NASCAR could have and did stand toe to toe with the NFL
and the two co-existed nicely together, with neither infringing upon the
territory of the other. Then came the idea that we should be more like the NFL
or maybe even the NBA… Playoffs, Sweet-16, Final-4; the downturn began and is
still spiraling in that direction today.
There
was a small glimmer of hope this past week. Word has it that Lucas Oil Raceway,
aka Indianapolis Raceway Park, is about to invest millions of dollars in
updating and renovating the old track in an effort to attract higher divisions
of racing… such as NASCAR! Of course, there has been no comment made by the
many silent lips listed above. Just whistling past the graveyard, hoping not to
disturb those resting there.
I had a
lot of boring numbers set aside concerning Indy, but I came to an executive
decision that it was more important in the scheme of things to address the
demise of our reigning Championship team, than to play numbers games over a
25-year period. In other words, you were saved!
Time
now for our Classic Country Closeout, and this week we’ll be hearing some music
from my earliest childhood memories, on radio, not TV. This is early days of
Flatt and Scruggs Grand Ole Opry TV show. Can’t hardly beat those Foggy
Mountain Boys for some great bluegrass music! Let the banjo and the fiddle
begin to sing!
Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling.
It looks so good on you!
~PattyKay