Kyle Petty and Paula Deen related?

As unbelieveable as it seems, Paula Deem's comments in a deposition have drawn more press than the Snowden character who "leaked" government secrets. Now, after the "Race Hub" show last night, we can look for Kyle Petty to be in hot water for comments.

Kyle said "Danica Patrick is not a race driver, she is a marketing machine". That is almost the exact quote of what was said. I am awaiting the fallout from that remark. What do you folks think? Is Kyle in trouble for expressing the opinion? Not trying to claim preference here, but that's what I've been saying since she came to NASCAR. She is good for NASCAR as evidenced by the worldwide publicity she garnished "winning" the pole for the Daytona 500. Now that D.W. is not in the broadcast booth, some of the hoopla from every race is gone, but she still gets much more press than she should, IN MY OPINION. My only bias is not because she is a female driver, it is because there are dozens of male drivers much better behind the wheel of a race car, but are not as marketable because they just don't look good in Speedos.

Ok, take your shots. I'm ready.No one will ever convince me Danica Patrick is entitled to the hype she gets, but as stated, that is MY OPINION. My opinion matters only to me and Ann's cat, but sometimes I feel the need to let you other readers have something to comment on.

I will be watching to see if Kyle Petty makes a tearful apology on television for expressing HIS opinion. He may get fined for "actions determintal to the sport" but I think I'm safe from that. Then again, if Danica swings the power to have her crew "shoo" the NASCAR official away on a pit stop, as was done at Sonoma, then maybe I had better worry. Also, maybe someone should point out to the Chevy Folks that the television shot of her arriving at Sonoma showed her in a FORD! Where is the loyalty there? Ford should jump on that marketing opportunity.

Damn, I am irked about answering a post and after typing 3 or 4 paragraphs the page cycles and the content I typed is lost....lol

I know you posted somewhat tongue-in-cheek Tim. But there is ZERO similarities between the fallout over Deen's comment and KP's analysis.

Kyle's opinion on her driving vs marketing abilities and accomplishments wasn't a sexist remark. Not once did he say or even suggest in a demeaning manner that she is unsuccessful because she is a female. He said she is unsuccessful thus far because as a driver she hasnt demonstrated driving skills to match her marketing ranking. And its her marketing ranking that got her the ride not on-track proven performance. Not sexist. Just analytical.

Also, Deens remark while offensive wasnt originally said in a public forum. What she said was in private settings but then revealed in court proceedings.

Kyle better not back off his comments - nor do I think he will. He has been consistent with his opinion since she started part-time in Nationwide series a couple of years ago. Thus far, his opinion has been spot-on.

Actually, I don't begrudge her marketing ability. If ad agencies value her to help market and sell products and services, then more power to her. And if she was able to leverage her Q Score to get millions driving a race car, then good for her negotiation skills and bank account. BUT - by doing so, you are subject to the same analysis of on-track performance as any other driver. You don't get a pass just because of that high Q score. (Though she does get PASSED a lot.)

I find it funny that some of the other critics of Danica are Dale Jr. fans. Pot, meet kettle.

Having said that, I will concede an unfortunate double standard. If Darrell "Bubba" Wallace makes it to Cup, signs a big sponsorship deal, flounders about, and KP says something similar, then hell REALLY get ripped even if he approaches the analysis the same way. But thats unlikely to happen. Because Wallace would need to have a marketing recognition thats off the hook and spills over into general pop culture. Not likely to happen. Its happened to Danica and Dale Jr., but thats about it.

Kyle

The first 10 or 12 Races I drove MY car, I was a Racer until I went broke.

From then on if I drove MY car I was a Driver.

If I drove someoneelse's car depending on what they told me to do I was either a Racer or a Driver.

Well put Jim, I was asked many times why I sometimes drove harder than others. It was always determined byhow much extra money we had at the time. lol....

All I have to say on this subject of Sparkle Ponies is summed up at the link below:

http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/photo/tim-the-legend?context=latest

Hey Kyle, Who turns the wheel in the race car if Danica is not a (race car) driver? Duh!

Heard Kyle tonight on speed and he sounded like a whining baby. lol....said he was standing by what he said earlier and he had observed her and she was just driving and not racing. he said she qualified ok but never tried to gain any positions during the race. If memory serves me right she said " my average qualifying position is 32 and my ave finishing position is 23rd".

I've followed Danica's career since she began in Indycar and I agree with Kyle's statements. But I don't think it was fair to make the pronouncement this year. Stewart-Haas hasn't been doing well this year. Maybe that's holding her back, maybe she's the cause.

She did well on Indycar ovals, didn't win but certainly among the top third among oval racers. You could apply that description to several NASCAR drivers who get more respect. She was mediocre in Nationwide despite a very good car, but Tony Stewart's best finish in nine races was 16th in his first year of Busch.

Tony also only won three races in his IRL career, against a weak field. He garnered a championship with only one win. Other Indycar converts have performed much worse. It appears to be difficult to transition from open-wheel to stock cars and with all of the media attention, it is even harder for Danica to focus on the task.

There are and have been NBA, NFL and MLB athletes who are more famous than their stats would dictate. It's not a new phenomenon, media likes to build hype so they have something to write about. It's a win-win to build them up and tear them down. I think Junior is a mediocre driver, and he's been at it long enough, and had good enough cars that I can make that statement confidently. Danica has been and is currently a mediocre driver. But I would have waited until next year at this time to make that announcement.

Was Kyle's statement sexist? I'm not sure, but you can be damn sure that he wouldn't say the same about Junior even though their driving talent and marketability are equal. I think he's rebelling more against the scripts he's being given than anything pertaining to her gender. I think that a lot of the Danica-hate by the fans is because she's an outsider. Southerners can be an isolationist group of folks. Racing fans in general are tired of nine years of her taking attention from their favorites.

I'm not against diversity in all fields, I just want people to earn their positions with ability instead of their race/sex/religion/sexual orientation. The positive thing is that Danica is strong and from the beginning has positioned herself to take all of heat for women in racing. Other female racers can go about their business and be judged more on their ability. Even the more successful Force women in NHRA can do their job with less hassle because of Danica.

Danica's got millions. I doubt that she'll be driving any race car past 2015. She's too smart to start a race team on her own but might be the figurehead for some investor group like Richard Petty. She could get a cushy job at General Motors as a consultant for women's issues. She and Mark Martin can team up to address the problems of midget race drivers. She'll do alright for someone who's won only one race in fifteen years.

I only wish that she had used her powers for the forces of good, like getting a job at FAS Lane and allowing them benefits of having their own ATM to pull the team up by their bootstraps. At least then she'd be able to say that it was the team that held her back from winning 201 races.

My first comment this morning is to Jack Walker who has now, unknowingly, made me a part of the Danica Merchandising Empire. I already have 623 request for autographed copies of that picture which I intend to sell for $5.00 each. Thanks, Jack.

To TMC Chase, yes, I was speaking "tongue in cheek" mostly. I try, from time to time, to post headlines and Forums that will draw comments so we get more hits on the site. That is important to me. But, having said that, I agree that Paula Deen's comments were made in a much different context and all the fallout for her remarks just shows how far this country has gone down the path of "political correctness" stupidity. It is absurd that she is treated that way. I would almost issue a challenge here to anyone over the age of 50 who grew up in the South to swear, under oath, that they have never personally used the "N word" or condoned it's use by others. But even under the guise of political correctness, we should, by now, be long past a racial issue. When I was a teen and the civil rights movement was gaining steam, I remember someone asked me where I stood on "the race issue". I remember answering "I am a Petty fan". I wasn't that dense, it's just that, to me, race was a different issue that the color of a person's skin. Still is. I know this sounds condesending but it is not meant to be, but Wendell Scott was someone I respected and admired because he was a race driver. I don't think it ever occurred to me that he was black until Darlington wouldn't allow him to race there. I was angered by that.

What I had expected to happen from Kyle's comments has happened. He is catching hell from all sides. I expected NASCAR and the other drivers to jump onto the Danica bandwagon, NASCAR because she is a "CASH COW", and the drivers because they don't want fines for "actions detremental". That is what led me to put his and Paula Deen's name in the headline. That, and the fact that with Paula being such a hot news commodity at the moment that maybe our site would pop up when someone was searching info on her.

I have long been against the practice of comparing drivers because of so many varying circumstances which determine their performance. It's not purely athletic, but also depends on a crew and a car. I understand the comparison to Dale, Jr., and even to Kyle Petty's career. I understand all the misguided females who jump on the Danica bandwagon and brand me as a male chauvanist because of my comments and feelings. What they believe and what is fact are so far apart as is the East from the West.

To me, it was refreshing to have another side of the Danica coin espoused on television after the FOX, especially D.W. using every possible circumstance to bring Danica on camera and to comment on what a great job she was doing running in 29th place.Then, again, like I often do, maybe Kyle made the statement because it would draw publicity for the network and for NASCAR. It obviously has because the number ONE trending headling on Yahoo, not just Yahoo Sports, but all of Yahoo, is "Danica Patrick". She is above Paula Deen and Nelson Mandella. Mission accomplished.

I will end this by saying that I don't plan, at this moment, of making any future comments about Danica. I truly don't care if she wins 10 races or a championship. I don't care if she fails to finish every race. I truly don't care about anything she does because to me she has been, is, and always will be a non-entity. However, I wish the women who resent what men have to say about Danica, while at the same time criticizing how some men look at women, remember the Honda commercial Danica did a few years ago. Remember the cop stopped her for speeding and she (Danica) assuming the motorcycle cop was a male, unzipped the top of her leather suit to showmore "skin" in hopes of getting out of a ticket? The world has long known that sex sells and that's is what Danica is using to a definite advantage. Worked on Stenhouse.

The last time I got stopped for speeding I unzipped and got arrested for indecent exposer. LOL

Way to go Jim!!!!!! Hope you're well this morning. Please do NOT unzip when you are stopped the next time.

Tim - Great !! Glad I could help.

Wouldn't it be great if the RR membership might be allowed some small discount on the purchase of the autographed photo? Perhaps $4.50?

lol, I was thinking more along the lines of 3 for $12.00 but knowing the generous man the Legend is I'm sure he is cutting Jack in for a commission.......

Dave. for you the picture is free. A free one for your Grandson too. MOST other RR members will get a discount. However, it appears the picture has disappeared. I can't find it.

I believe it's still around at this link:

http://stockcar.racersreunion.com/photo/tim-the-legend?context=latest

Or you can take a peek below of the Jack Walker posted photo, but the link will have all the wonderful comments by the RR membership!

I can tell that Bill McPeek has been a shrewd businessman and negotiator in his day., but I'll take the free offer, Tim... thanks!

click here

lol!

Wonder why they disappeared??? Just in case, I downloaded one to my picture library ....

Jack get NO commission. In fact, he must pay ME for use of my picture without permission.

Bill, downloads of the pic are $8.95, plus tax. Please send your check immediately.

Dave, I know I can always depend on you to provide whatever I need, so thanks.

Its true! And Tim had to really wrangle those free D-Dubya hats out of Ol' Boogity himself.

We sure have a "star" among us! Legend is one of those fellows who doesn't think Better Business Bureau when he sees the letters BBB!

I'm not sure where Tim's rub with Waltrip began. But I'm guessing things didn't smooth over much that one time when DW boastfully told Tim "Watch this, I'LL show YOU how to race."

Dave. you are really creative! No small wonder you were such a success in marketing.

Chase,you are really getting into this "Legend bashing" huh? Did I upset you with my Danica bashing,or was it the D.W. bashing?

Bashing? I thought this was just RacersReunion Team Building. Haha

Please understand I am only the messenger of comments. All photos have other originations!

Ok, Chase, I'll go with "team building". I like being a part of this team and having you as a teammate.

Oh, I know, Dave, but you are great with your contributions. I just told Ann, a few minutes ago, that your contributions, along with Chase, Andy and others, are making this site a real asset for the history of this sport. I like to think, that 50 years from now, folks will use all we have put here to honor the memory of some really great racers and really great races.