Justin@NRE
Nitro Member
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2010
- Messages
- 144
- Age
- 43
There's a lot hidden from public view on any race team. We don't get to see how the stuff goes fast, we just see that it does. We also don't see the finances involved or any sort of discontent.
First can be the driver's discontent with either performance or the situation. Things are promised for the money the driver puts up and expectations aren't always met. Performance wise, the driver can really have as much of a negative effect as the tuner, so decisions can't always be based on performance unless it is severely lacking, which in this case it isn't. The situational issue, well, lets say that the Team you're renting your ride from gives you a monetary figure before the season ever starts that they say will cover you for the whole season. Then they come back halfway through the season and say they need more or they can't afford to continue. It would be one thing if you as the driver were at fault for the monetary situation, like wrecking the car or constantly grenading engines by not doing what they tell you to do. It's a whole different ballgame when the team owner financially over-extends themselves on the commitment they've made to you for the agreed amount. Squandering or appearance of squandering of sponsorship or customer dollars is nothing new to the sport.
Second, driver's funds run low and can't continue. Lots of people either have a really good year in business or have saved enough funds to go for a season and hope to pick up a sponsor along the way. On the other side of that coin, if you are handing over sponsorship money, a sponsor can just decide they are done. This is the cause of drivers disappearing more often than not.
Third, POACHING. You're new in the class, just put up all this money to go race with someone you believe will make you competitive in the class you've always dreamed of running. STAR is not the only team out there looking for "teammates". Maybe some folks plant bugs in your ear all season long about how much better fit you'd be on their team, how much cheaper they could do it for, how much better you'd be performing, saying anything it takes to get the idea in your head that makes you question your current arrangement. We see it all the time, drivers switching team affiliations, especially in Pro Stock and PSM, trying to get the biggest bang for their buck.
Fourth, people can get too big for their britches. Someone thinks they can do a better job on their own. Anyone remember Johnny Gray as a teammate to Allen Johnson? Maybe the person is paying to learn what it takes to run a team and gain experience before they go try on their own.
Bottom line, anyone renting a ride or program is a customer. They have the right at the end of contract term(or in instance of breach) to take their business elsewhere. Drag racing is a pretty ruthless business.
Yes, George typically doesn't race on his own dime. They offer the PSM rider school and if one wants to go with them for the season, there will be money involved whether it comes from your pocket or a sponsor's. Lots of teams/owners for hire like this run in to lots of problems.
First can be the driver's discontent with either performance or the situation. Things are promised for the money the driver puts up and expectations aren't always met. Performance wise, the driver can really have as much of a negative effect as the tuner, so decisions can't always be based on performance unless it is severely lacking, which in this case it isn't. The situational issue, well, lets say that the Team you're renting your ride from gives you a monetary figure before the season ever starts that they say will cover you for the whole season. Then they come back halfway through the season and say they need more or they can't afford to continue. It would be one thing if you as the driver were at fault for the monetary situation, like wrecking the car or constantly grenading engines by not doing what they tell you to do. It's a whole different ballgame when the team owner financially over-extends themselves on the commitment they've made to you for the agreed amount. Squandering or appearance of squandering of sponsorship or customer dollars is nothing new to the sport.
Second, driver's funds run low and can't continue. Lots of people either have a really good year in business or have saved enough funds to go for a season and hope to pick up a sponsor along the way. On the other side of that coin, if you are handing over sponsorship money, a sponsor can just decide they are done. This is the cause of drivers disappearing more often than not.
Third, POACHING. You're new in the class, just put up all this money to go race with someone you believe will make you competitive in the class you've always dreamed of running. STAR is not the only team out there looking for "teammates". Maybe some folks plant bugs in your ear all season long about how much better fit you'd be on their team, how much cheaper they could do it for, how much better you'd be performing, saying anything it takes to get the idea in your head that makes you question your current arrangement. We see it all the time, drivers switching team affiliations, especially in Pro Stock and PSM, trying to get the biggest bang for their buck.
Fourth, people can get too big for their britches. Someone thinks they can do a better job on their own. Anyone remember Johnny Gray as a teammate to Allen Johnson? Maybe the person is paying to learn what it takes to run a team and gain experience before they go try on their own.
Bottom line, anyone renting a ride or program is a customer. They have the right at the end of contract term(or in instance of breach) to take their business elsewhere. Drag racing is a pretty ruthless business.
