NASCAR MAD at Drivers

[VermontHunter]

I was just reading this on the Nascar.com site. I guess Nascar just wanted to make one last statement before the end of the official season....

NASCAR mad at drivers who blew off ceremony

Gordon, Earnhardt absent from Waldorf-Astoria festivities
By Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press
December 7, 2005
12:09 PM EST (17:09 GMT)




CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR officials are "extremely disappointed'' in Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and other drivers who failed to attend the season-ending awards ceremonies.


NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter Credit: Autostock

"It was very disappointing to NASCAR and the entire industry that drivers did not show up for various awards,'' spokesman Jim Hunter said Tuesday. "It shows a lack of respect for the history and tradition of the sport.''

NASCAR president Mike Helton plans to speak with the drivers who failed to attend last week's ceremonies in New York, Hunter said. The sanctioning body also is considering ways to ensure future attendance.

NASCAR has held its season-ending ceremonies in New York the past 25 years, handing out numerous awards during a weeklong celebration capped by a black-tie banquet in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria.

Gordon, who finished 11th in the standings, skipped the banquet because he was in Paris preparing to compete in the Race of Champions all-star event. Actor Will Ferrell, pretending to be Gordon, accepted the $1,075,386 payout -- which included a $250,000 bonus for finishing 11th -- on Gordon's behalf.

Gordon's absence was glaring because under NASCAR's new points system the 11th-place driver is awarded a spot at the banquet as a reward for being the highest finishing driver outside of the Chase for the championship.

Earnhardt, selected as NASCAR's most popular driver for the third consecutive season, didn't travel to New York to pick up his award. Also absent were Elliott Sadler and Kasey Kahne, who earned a combined $175,000 in secondary awards.

"The banquet is not just for the championship and the top 10 drivers,'' Hunter said. "It's for everyone that put NASCAR on the map, for all contingency awards and for all the sponsors who support this sport.

"Dale Earnhardt went to New York every year whether he won the championship or not. It meant a lot to him to represent the sport and we expect that from all our competitors.''

It's not clear what NASCAR can do to force drivers to attend the ceremonies. Among the things being considered is revoking the contingency awards that Kahne and Sadler received and giving the money to the runner-ups.

[Chrud]

I can see why drivers who weren't in the Top-10 didn't go. I wonder whether Hermie Sadler showed up or not. He wasn't in the Top-10 and he should get a talking to also if he didn't show up.

Gordon probably should have been there since he won the 11th Place award. I think he would have shown up if he were in the Top-10 though.

I don't see what the big deal is. I bet those who didn't show up (at least the big names) start the season at -25 points.

[AdvantageTimberLou]

NASCAR or some call it CASHCAR are mad because they make millions off Gordon and Earnhardt and when these (2) stars don't show it hurts the ratings and hurts NASCAR's attempt at a squeaky clean imaged compared to other sports.

Now I can see the rule, if you don't make it to the awards banquet your docked 50 points and have to start the Daytona 500 the next year in the back!! LOL!!

Come on NASCAR, look elsewhere for your stars and quit making a fuss over something that should have never made headline news.

To me NASCAR changed forever when Sr. died!

[slugshooter]

I can't believe NASCAR is going to study ways to ensure drivers show up to the awards banquet. If NASCAR fines Gordon or Junior I would sue them over the simple fact that there is nothing in the rule book requiring them to be there. NASCAR has a history of doing what they want to anyway but fining them for not showing up would be rediculous.

As far as them not going, should Jeff have been there, yeah, he finished 11th, I guess he figured he didn't have to go just to pick up another check. As for Junior, what would he have gotten, I know he won most popular driver.....again....but they don't even televise that award. What if a driver doesn't like going out to black tie shindigs and being uncomfortable. If they're in the top 10, I say they have to be there, outside the top 10, let them stay home if they want to. Didn't Jeff miss last year because he was really sick.....no, he showed up to get his check spoke for a few and then left.

[MUDRUNNER]

It looks tome like once again NASCAR is trying to turn all the drivers into perfect little puppets that do everything Helton wants them to.I'll bet they make it mandatory that if they don't show they don't get paid the bonus money.Now they are trying to control things the drivers do away from the track.I know the drivers make a ton of money,but I wonder how many of them ever have a thought about trying a different series where you can live your own life and do your own thing.

[Gator]

[ QUOTE ]
To me NASCAR changed forever when Sr. died!

[/ QUOTE ]

You said it in a mouthful right there. I am glad to see someone feel this way.......

[Valkrie1357]

NASCAR "WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD"
& EVERYONE THAT GOES TO THIER RACES!!!!!!!!!!!!

NASCAR, Get Over it!!!

You have 36 Races + All Star WEEEEEEEEEK
the bye/off weeks, that do nothing for the drivers except Prolong the Season.

All through the Season, the TV announcers were Saying,
11th Place Gets $1,000,000.00 @ end of Season.

Gordon, who finished 11th in the standings,
skipped the banquet because he was in Paris
preparing to compete in the Race of Champions all-star event.
Will Ferrell, pretending 2B Gordon, accepted the $1,075,386.00 payout --
which included a $250,000 bonus for finishing 11th -- on Gordon's behalf.

WHATSSS UUUPPPPPPP With That????

You Have NASCAR AWARDS WEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!
in December (Christmas Shopping/Family Time???)
(Oh Ya, You Gave the Drivers almost two weeks off after Miami) though.

Wooooopty Freeeekin Doooo!!!

Then They Start Daytona FAN Fare In Early Mid January &
RUN IT FOR THE WHOLE MONTH PREVIOUS TO THE
Bud Shoot Out & the 2 Daytona Qualifying Races +
DAYTONA 500

NASCAR is only Controling about 45 -48 Weeks of the Drivers/Crew/Shop Peoples Lives!!!!!

Nascar Needs To Get UNNNNNGREEEEEEEDY!!!!!!!!!!

DO FOR US!!!! DO FOR US!!!! DO FOR US!!!!
DO FOR US!!!! DO FOR US!!!! DO FOR US!!!!
DO FOR US!!!! DO FOR US!!!! DO FOR US!!!!


Enough From Me!!!!
I'll give Someone Else Some SOAP BOX Time.

If I Had A ($250,000) Million Dollars
GO # 24
2005 DAYTONA CHAMPION

Valkrie1357

PS 72 Days Until DAYTONA

[dg]

A professional driver would have attended the ceremony. And most did. A professional is just more than someone who makes a living at it. They are right, the real Dale Earnhardt would not have done that because he remembered where he came from. NASCAR has put millions in the drivers back pocket with all the hype, indorsements, championship schemes, advertising and THE FANS. They have a reason to announce their displeasure with the most popular drivers. If anything, it sounds like sour grapes for Gordon and Jr, and whoever else didn't show.

[hutchies]

They have these guys most all year and they cry when they don't show up for a retarted banquet. I don't think Gordon and Jr. love nascar cause they get to go sit at a banquet for 4 hours.

[Chrud]

I think the Top-11 drivers and the ROY should have to be there. The rest of the drivers should have the option since they aren't really a part of the show. Suppose they would have a hissy fit if Morgan Sheppard didn't show up?

[hutchies]

Personally, I am not watching it so I don't care it the Champion doesn't show up.

[VtBowhunter]

I think Nascar needs to quit whining, and realize that these guys have lives to live outside of the sport. They wonder why great drivers retire early.......no way I could stand that schedule for too long either.

[VermontHunter]

To me if NASCAR is going to exclude 11th. place on, from the chase then they shouldn't be obligated to make an appearance at the banquet..... NASCAR only seems to reconize and make a big deal out of the TOP 10 so why whine when the 11th. place driver and so on don't show up they have the 10 that they wanted...

[Steven]

Junior didn't show up all year at the track, why should he show up at the banquet?

[VtBowhunter]

[ QUOTE ]
Junior didn't show up all year at the track, why should he show up at the banquet?

[/ QUOTE ]

LMAO