This was pretty Stupid on NASCAR'S part

[just a fan]

I just saw this on Jayski. I twas posted 10/31 but I have been away from my computer so I didn't see it.

•Robby Gordon has personal vehicle towed: Robby Gordon said track officials had his pickup towed out of a private driver/owner lot at Talladega apparently over a sponsorship issue. "It's gone," Gordon said. "I guess it's at some impound yard somewhere. But it's my personal truck." This weekend, Gordon unveiled his own brand of energy drink, Speed Energy, and the company's logo was on the side of his truck and on his race car. Sunday's race at Talladega is sponsored by a rival energy drink, Amp Energy. "I can appreciate Amp Energy sponsoring the race, but they don't sponsor me," Gordon said. Gordon said other drivers have personal vehicles that feature logos of sponsors that are competitors with official NASCAR or track sponsors. "I just talked to a couple other drivers," Gordon said. "They're Coke (sponsored) drivers, and they're like, 'Well, can we not have Coke on our golf carts or not have Coke on our cars?' This one's a confusing situation for me."(Associated Press/USA Today)(10-31-2010)


Now this is about as stupid as anything I have ever heard NASCAR do. I know Robby is not on the France Christmas list, but he has a right to have whatever he wants on his personal car. Just another case of bowing down to money. It is not like he was parking in an area reserved for Amp Energy. It was a lot designated for drivers and owners. WOW, nothing much suprises me any more.

[Chris]

yeah.. I saw this ...
I started to post it,.. but it was so far out of bounds of what NASCAR should be able to do... I had no idea what to say.
Funny how you can have an opposing sponsor on your race car (that EVERYONE see's and is shown on TV... but can't have it on your own personal vehicle that no one will see.
What next... Cock-Cola will have to black out the side of all it's delivery trucks delivering product for the PEPSI 400..??

This was just idiotic

[south jersey girl]

and to add insult to injury, the 7 car was Nascar's "random" pick to be taken back to the R&D center for further inspection

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Evidently, Robby crashed Amp's Friday night party. No wonder AMP had NA$CAR tow Robby's truck and 2 golf carts.

 Here's the mainstream media article blaming Robby for the fiasco:

http://www.speedwaymedia.com/articles/Story.asp?S=4991102100740

 Here's Mad Mikie's article without the worry of losing any NASCAR credentials:

http://www.laidbackracing.com/Articles2010/MM92.html

 I'm glad Robby Gordon has the stones to tuant NASCAR. We know that's a terrible idea, but I love it just the same.

 
   

 

[scott b]

The more NASCAR reacts, the more publicity Robbie gets for his Speed Energy drink.

Whatever inconveniences they throw his way now will be worth it if it allows him to run more races in 2011.

[just a fan]

I had read some of the accounts. What Robbie (or his partner) did to crash the party might have been a little over the top but NASCAR still looks like a spoiled brat by towing his vehicle. Do they not realize that the sucess of this company potentaially allows another car to compete in what many expect to be short fields next year? And you have to give Robbie credit for not being a start and park. He at least comes to race.

Look at it as the publicity stunt it was and have a good laugh. Put him on double secret probation and if he does it again fine him, or better yet reward him for not having the same politically correct persoanlity as most other drivers. And I agree with CodeBlue, I love that he has a set big enough not to bow down to big brother.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 One more "This was pretty Stupid on N_ _CAR'S part"

 From Mad Mikie at laidbackracing.com

 "One of the other things not being mentioned by the lamestream media was that once the race started, only people who had cell phone service from the Cup Series sponsor were able to make any calls, text, etc. It seems that once again the NA$COW’s, the portable cell phone towers used by the Cup Series sponsor, were cranked up blocking service from any other carrier. I haven’t heard of any complaints or lawsuits being filed yet about this from the Talladega race but imagine being at the track and missing a call about a family member or loved one being killed or injured and not being able to get a call or text about it because theNA$COW’s were blocking your cell phone carrier’s signal. This isn’t the first time it’s happened either. It’s happened since the NA$COW’s started showing up. The first time, it was almost hilarious because it blocked the signal of Mafia Mike’s cell phone and he had to borrow a cell phone from a driver whose phone would actually work despite the NA$COW’s. When Race Mama, Laidback, and I were at
Martinsville about 5-6 years ago, we sat 3 foot apart and tried calling each other. Guess what? We couldn’t call each other because of the NA$COW’s. Once the race was over, everyone was able to use their cell phones again. And naturally, both NA$CAR and the Cup Series sponsor deny that it has anything to do with the NA$COW’s and the FCC won’t do anything about it because they’re undermanned and underfunded. So now you know a little more about what was going on at Talladega that the lamestream media hasn’t bothered to mention."

[just a fan]

The cell phone issue has been standard practice at every track since Sprint came on the scene. They put up portable towers to boost their own signal which in turn overpowere other carriers. I have experienced this at Bristol, Martinsville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Tdega, etc. I asked around a few years ago when I noticed it and was told by a buddy that works for a competing cell company that it is not technicall illegal, but still not good practice. I guess they want to make sure thier customers get great service at their event.

On another note I emailed Grant Lynch at Talladega. I mentioned several concerns but obviously my expressing disagreement with the Robbie Gordon issue hit a nerve. He didn't address any other issue, only Robbie. The response:

Tim,

If you would like to I would be glad to give you the truth about Robby Gordon’s activities here and explain why we took the steps we did.

His actions here with his new sponsor were awful.

Grant



I may respond back just to get the details.

[SMOKEN14]

I have T-MOBLE at least at Vegas I had Full Bars

[Fathead]

I didn't have any problems with my verizon phone at Vegas either.   

[FS_Amy]

The phone thing isn't new. I have Verizon and as race weekend progresses, my service gets worse and worse, even if I show full bars.  I can sometimes squeeze a very fuzzy call out, but texts or Internet connectivity?  Forget it.  If I lived across the street from a track I'd rent my yard our for a portable from a competitor.