A Voice for the Fans ~ The Sound of Silence

 

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