Team Orders? Several of the members here with deep NASCAR roots from the past tell us that team orders have always been prevalent in racing and thinking back over all the years, I remember very clearly how many times The King would have problems in the number 43 and one of the drivers in the 41 or 42 would suddenly need a relief driver. I remember very well, in the 1963 Southern 500, the 43 had problems, and Richard took over the 42 which then had problems so he took over the 41 which then had problems but by then the 43 was repaired and he was back in that car. At least those are my recollections. And someone brought up the white Chrysler fleet of the 50s and the infamous Keikheifer ruler. In one of my long conversations with Tim Flock several years ago, although I didn't realize it then, that is exactly what he was talking about. Then, more recently, there was the Paul Menard questionable spin at Richmond which enabled Kevin Harvick to win that race. More recently, the Trevor Bayne incident at Talladega. So, it goes without saying it has been happening forever.
After giving considerable thought to the matter (I am truly capable of that) I can fully accept "team orders" because, after all, a team by definition means to work together toward a common goal and that goal should be to achieve the very best results possible. So. I have no problems with "team orders" to achieve that goal. If Master Jack wants to order all four of his directly owned cars to run side by side at 55 mph to block the track, he can do that. Certainly that is a possibility at Martinsville although I hope I'm not giving the strawhat wizard any ideas.
As for Trevor, after giving that some deep thought as well, I still take exception to him telling Jeff he would go with him and then renegging on that deal when the flag fell, but as, I think Randy Myers said, Trevor did what he had to do with little time to actually think about it. I would expect Jack intercepted the transmission between Jeff and Trevor and "strong armed Trevor" (Trevor's words, not mine) into dropping Jeff. Trevor is a talent in development and a fine young man. I'm sure there aren't many of us who could, under the circumstance in which Trevor found himself, with less than 30 seconds for a decision, would have acted differently when your future was at stake. Trevor made the mistake of "tweeting" his true feelings but he had, in essence, already posted those feeling PRE-race on the Ford Race Page.
My problem now is handling the blatant cover up and lying going on by all the parties involved in the decision by the Ford group, Master Jack as head Guru. It was known, going in, that Ford was going to do whatever it could to insure a championship. No biggie. That's what they are there for. It's the bane of competitiveness. But the lying and "no, not me" attitude of those folks involved insults me, as a fan, that we are expected to believe this. Smoke and mirrors.You know, it seems to me the entire sport is getting that way. Everything is presented to the race fan as if we are senile, toothless old folks being fed their soft foods while staring blankly into space. NASCAR has been doing it for several years and getting away with it and now it is being picked up by the teams in the sport. Makes you wonder why you should believe any of the commercials for sponsors' products when we're being lied to at every opportunity. Just remember a couple famous quotes from history:
"The country needs to know their President is not a crook. I am not a crook" - Richard Nixon
"I did not have sexual relations with that woman"- Bill Clinton
"The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself" - FDR
"History will not remember what is said here, but will long remember what they did here"- Abe Lincoln in The Gettysburg Address
" I'm from the government and I'm here to help you". Employees of government, any level, who show up when you have a problem.
"There were no teams orders"-Jack Rousch and/or a half dozen Ford execs as convenient.
Each of these quotes serves as a reminder that we live in a world concocted by the age of television, too much information, and an ever increasing lack of the ability to form our own opinions without the pressure of the media to influence those opinions in the mold the media wants us to believe. With the knowledge that NASCAR controls media access to what NASCAR wants them to know and report (that's a story for another time), we get only what we are believed by NASCAR to be intelligent enough to absorb. And remember, when it comes to we older folks, NASCAR believes our intelligence to be minimal. They also believe the gullability of the 18 to 36 demographic they seek to be wide open. Feed them like a pig and they will buy whatever.
Ok time to stop. I'm rambling now but I remain very adamant that there should be honor in the sport I love and it appears that has disappeared. Please don't lie to me NASCAR. As for you, Jack Rousch, just remain silent. You disgust me. As for team orders, guys, do what you want to. Rick, order Jeff to take out Duck Boy on the first lap at Martinsville. Richard, tell Clint to take out Kennseth on the third lap. Jack, as I said, just shut up.
I was there and spent sometime in the pits. I recall one of the pit stops Richard made seemed like it was far too long but I don't remember the reason. After I had spent the first half of the race in Richard's pit, I returned to the motorhome and watched the end from there. With two laps to go I headed over to get in Victory Lane for the celebration. Victory Lane was so much fun back in those days. Doesn't seem the same these days.
Bobby (Bopper), I remember reading your memory of this race before and it brought tears to my eyes then, and again today. I can only begin to understand your love for racing based on that happening. I'm sure your Dad is extremely proud of who you are and what you do.
