Merry Christmas, Elliott Sadler! Santa Claus, or Out Clause?

There are times when humor and irony are so overwhelming, that one cannot help but laugh. So it was today, for me, as I returned from a day of shopping, to discover an article by Marty Smith at ESPN.com, blaring out the title of "Sources: Gillett Evernham putting Allmendinger in Sadler's No. 19 Dodge" In this article, Smith reports that multiple sources have reported that Sadler was given notice before Christmas that he was being replaced by AJ Allmendinger, in the #19 Dodge at Gillett-Evernham Motorsports.

There were many, who after seeing AJ's performance in the last few races of 2008, commented that AJ was doing better than both Sadler, and the latest Budweiser poster boy, Kasey Kahne. Out of five races at the end of the year, "The Dinger" scored 3 Top 15's, with a 4th finish at 16th. Sadler, in the same 5 races, in equipment that was considered to be better than the 10 car, and with a familiar crew and team, scored his highest position at 25th!

Now really, it is easy to see that GEM would be courting AJ with everything up to and including Roses and Chocolate! AJ took a car, crew and equipment that have had a history of spotty finishes, and started giving CONSISTENT results. AND he was finishing better than the supposed stars of the GEM stable!

Where does the humor and irony come in? Check it out, and decide for yourself!

• May 2008, AJ and Sadler had an on-track incident at the All-Star Race at Lowes Motor Speedway, leaving a frustrated Sadler to refuse to use AJ's name and referred to him as "Whatever his name is!" (Later, after Elliott and AJ supposedly made up, AJ's puppy bit Sadler. Smart Puppy!)
  

• Sadler's Technical Director Rodney Childers, has scampered away to join Micheal Waltrip Racing, joining former Sadler TD Josh Brown!Sadler, over the last few years, has run through several TDs/Crew Chiefs. Regular listeners to the Sadler Scanner report consistent whining about the car, with the TD always placating Sadler to make him feel better. This has been a pattern stretching back into the Pre-Yates days, when Michael McSwain reportedly left Yates after his first test with Sadler, saying they would never get along. (Check out 'Witch Hunt' by fellow blogger One Lugnut Short, for the 'Sadler Crew Chief Report!)
  

• Sadler himself invoked an 'out clause' from his contract to leave Robert Yates Racing mid-season 2006. He left for the 'greener pastures' of Ray Evernham's team, leaving Yates scrambling. When it became known at about the same time that Dale Jarrett was leaving Yates also, taking his UPS sponsorship with him, it left RYR in disarray, with Robert never able to recover and retiring at the end of 2007.
  

• The above linked article states that some of Sadler's sponsors were reported to being shocked and wanting to leave with Sadler. Really now...how tiresome! We heard the same thing when Sadler abandoned M&M's! For some reason, Sadler has a reputation of being a "Sponsor Favorite!" Yet in 2006, M&Ms/Mars, who was widely reported to being ready to leave with Sadler, exhibited great loyalty in staying with Yates, and indeed sponsoring both Yates cars in 2007. M&M's likely never regretted that, not only because of poor results from Sadler in 2007, but because it left them open to sponsoring the 18 car of Kyle Busch, who won 8 times for the Mars company in 2008. I don't really think any of Sadler's current sponsors, once over the shock, will regret this move anymore than M&M's/Mars.
  

• Sadler is reported to be a 'fan favorite' also. Yet, during 2006 and 2007, his fan club members were reporting heavy-handed restrictions on his fan forum, a sparse fan pack that included expired Tylenol, and very little of the promised Driver interaction on the payed fan club forum. It didn't get much better in 2008, at there have been no updates to the site since the off-season. Indeed, it is a few short days away from the New Year, and there is yet any information on Fan Club membership for 2009. Many former fans are still feeling disgust over previous shenanigans of Sadler and his entourage.
  

• And one more irony on this whole 'rumor?' Marty Smith, the writer of the 'sources said' article is the same one that released the information early in the 2006 season, that Sadler was bolting to Ray's team. Marty knew about it months before Sadler made his proclamation of I am leaving Yates, but I have not personally talked to anyone about a job' (paraphrased) and yet a week later he was driving the 19. Marty seems to have an 'in' with Sadler.

• AND, for regular listeners of Sirius radio, we know that Sadler has been a no-show quite often for his weekly radio interview slot. AJ makes it on time, every time! And, he is far more enjoyable to listen to, in my humble opinion!

With all that I type, I find that I still have to remind myself that this is still a rumor only. However, Marty Smith has a lot of 'Credibility Points' and I think this will be interesting to watch as it unfolds. But with every sober reminder, I then find myself giggling hysterically, as I mutter about grass being greener, and 'Out Clause is the cousin of Santa Claus!'

Jeremy Mayfield is probably giggling hysterically, too!

Miscellanea from the Marbles!

Post Lowes!

Bruton does not Gamble! (much!)

Is there anyone who doubted that Bruton Smith would hold the trump card in the face-off with the City of Concord? One does not become a billionaire unless one is ruthless, hard-charging, and can 'deal from the bottom of the deck.' I for one, cannot understand the mentality of people who buy houses within a stone's throw of a racetrack, an airport, or a military base, and then have the gall to complain about the noise.

Talented but in bad equipment-a Tale of Two Drivers.

Elliott Sadler migrated last year into a new car, new sponsor and new owner. He is currently sitting 26th in points, by far the worst status of his career since the year 2000, when he finished 29th in points. His average finish is 25.4. His worst average finish is 26.7, again in the year 2000. The year 2000 was Sadler's second year in Cup.

David Gilliland is currently sitting 3 spots behind Sadler, in 29th. His average finish is..... 26.7. David is in his .... second year. 29th, 26.7, second year....hmmm...some similarities there! Ahh, but David did not have a full year in year one, where Sadler appears to have missed a race in his second year.

What is the difference between the two? Sadler has 7 years experience in a Cup car, Gilliland has 1 year. One is a veteran driver in bad equipment, the other is a newbie driver in bad equipment. I find it curious that the veteran driver gets sympathy and support, while the new driver gets slammed repeatedly on various boards. Interesting indeed! And this is the same equipment that the veteran driver refused to drive anymore!

Speaking of David Gilliland

... and his team mate Ricky Rudd. (Welcome back, Ricky!) Those of us listening to the scanners for both of RYR's drivers heard a huge difference in the tone of conversation. For the first time all season, I heard what sounded like a love-fest between David and his crew chief, Todd Parrot! Todd was taking David's suggestions, and implementing them. David was giving good feedback, free from hearing the abrupt 10-4 in response. Todd even complimented David on his driving, more on Saturday than I have heard all season long. From what I have read from Rudd fans, they were experiencing something very similar on the #88 scanner.

I would like to think that both drivers, both crew chiefs, and both teams 'found something' in the way the cars were built, and the way they communicated. However, I heard David, during a red flag, comment that HE needed to talk to Jack about his top ten car. Hmmmm....Did Jack have a surplus of Car of Yesterday chassis left over? Has Doug already brought Jack Roush in to help? Or did the 'pink slips' sent to each RYR employee, with the 'you need to reapply for your job' direction cause a change of heart? Most certainly, both cars ran better today than all year, with DG finishing two laps down due only to a right front flat tire.

It Will Be Coming Around the Corner, When It Comes, When It Comes! (sorry for stealing from the old folk ditty!)

What is coming? How about One Really Huge F-bomb! No, not the one uttered under stress by Kyle Petty, but one with far more letters. FRANCHISING. With all of the big money newly added to NASCAR'S major teams, and some not so major.....Roush Fenway, Gillett Evernham, Waltrip and Robert Kauffman, HOF and the Diamondbacks, with several other teams rumored to be in discussion phases, all I can see for the future is Franchising. Add in the alliances being built, Roush-Yates, Hendrick-Haas, RCR-DEI, & Gibbs-HOF and you can see that the future will be with mega-teams. I get the feeling alot of today's big $$$ players want to get in before the price goes up!

With that, who says that NASCAR is failing! Ratings-schmatings!

NASCAR and the Political Movement:

It appears members of Congress underestimated the power of NASCAR fans. Or at least, they underestimated that the NASCAR fans, nor their representatives, do not take perceived slights well. The story showed that irritated NASCAR fans can be quite rabid. Perhaps rabies shots would have been in order. At this point, the posturing has turned into back-tracking!

Ginn a deadbeat?

Several months ago, I posted the above title on a message board, as soon as the first rumors started circulating about creditors not being paid. I was immediately flamed with "Ginn has plenty of money, he can afford his race teams." A week or two later, the bottom fell out of the Ginn operation, with drivers being released, and the "Fastest Merger of the Year." (substitute the term 'buy-out' for 'merger'), plus a whole bunch of folks who lost their jobs.

Apparantly, there is someone who is a bit peeved at the way Bobby Ginn has exited the sport. In this article it appears that an aircraft flew above the Lowes Motor Speedway with a sign trailing. The sign stated: ""How much does Bobby Ginn owe you?

Have a great week!

Elliott Sadler, Were You Watching Trackside on Speed?

One of the most enjoyable, fan-interactive shows on Speed TV is the Friday night "Trackside." During the second half of the year, Good-Old-Boy Elliott Sadler is one of four hosts, along with Steve Byrnes, Larry MacReynolds and Jeff Hammond. The tall Virginian brings a sense of fun to the show.

Many Sadler fans tune in to the show specifically to see him. Many other fans travel to Sadler's version of Mecca, known as Richmond International Raceway, to specifically see him. As the show opened, Steve informed the audience that Sadler was not going to be on the show. It is a pity, because Elliott may have been required to explain a VERY prominent sign in the background audience.

The sign stated: Sadler 19 We Miss the Barn Party. It was viewable during a majority of the program.

For those who are unaware, last year the Sadlers threw a hellacious party on their property, known as The Barn Party. Over a thousand fans were reported to be there, and Sadler brought in his buddy Blake Shelton for extra entertainment. This was actually the second event of the year for Sadler Fan Club fans, as there was a Karting event earlier in May.

This year, the Sadlers are hosting a bowling event in October, in conjunction with the Charlotte race. According to various message boards, this event has caused a bit of ill will with many of the fan club members. It was announced with such late notice, that many of the fans will be unable to attend. Those who will already be in the Charlotte area have already made their flight arrangements, and won't be able to change them without financial pentalties to the airlines.

If you go to Sadler Foundation Webpage you will discover a list of events from the past.

There are many issues hidden amongst those listings. For years, the Sadler boys held a Fan Appreciation Day the week before the Spring Richmond race. Many fans were planning to join the Day in 2004. Plans were made, airplane tickets were purchased, race tickets were purchased, and suddenly it was announced there would be NO Fan Appreciation Day, and there would be a different event in May. There had been repeated requests for more information from the Sadlers, from Elliott's business manager, his PR person, and indeed even from the SFC office. By the time it was announced, the Richmond bound fans could not change their plans. There were no appearances planned by Sadler during the whole weekend. Those fans put a brave face on it, had a wonderful time meeting with each other, but it still rankled. Those fans, myself included, have not forgotten that they did not feel in the least Appreciated.

Look carefully at the list at the Sadler Foundation site, there was NO event in 2005. Nope, none, nada, zip, zilch!

Here comes 2006. Elliott is struggling at Yates. He already knows he is going to leave for Evernham, and plans two events to bolster his popularity. Both events in 2006 were by all reports, awesome!

Then, 2007, there is no announced event until the end of August. Again, it left fans scrambling, as many fans plans were already formulated for the rest of the season.

One wonders how long the Sadler fans will tolerate this total lack of caring. When you look at the opposite extreme, the fans of Kevin Harvick can look forward to an awesome event every fall. The date for the fall event is always announced very early in the year. Fans of Kevin prepare for it, plan around it and talk it up even before the event is announced.

Another comparison is due here, also. Kevin's fan club event attendees take part in a meet n greet, and a signing. EVERY Fan Club member gets this. They do not pay for the event, nor the autograph. Sadler, long ago, abandoned the free events along with his Fan Appreciation day. Now, the events require payment to enter. For some of them, he even requires more money to have the privilege of getting an autograph. It is couched in Fund-raising, but at the same time, why must all events be fund-raisers?

If you step away from the fan events, and look at the treatment of his fans as a whole, it is apparent that his fan base is not quite as large as he would like. He has been signing souvenirs in closed haulers. I have reports of at least three signings this year where his fans were able to go through his line at various appearances 2 to 3 times. Three years ago, if you did not arrive 3 or 4 hours before and stake out your spot in line, you were not even assured of being able to see him. In addition, his fans are now being asked to participate in his on-line poker venture (currently free, but payment requirement is expected soon), and his online football/racing fantasy betting venture.

One hopes that Sadler will reevaluate his priorities. His fans are becoming more aware of how he feels about them. I am sure that the fans who spent an hour holding the sign at Speed TV's Trackside show are certainly more aware!