Of the two drivers, Kurt has the experience, the skills and everybody knows him.........But in this case, that is not a good thing...........he has burned too many bridges and should have known better regarding each situation.......he's lucky he has a brother who took a chance on him in NW....he's lucky someone else is taking a chance on him now.

As for Dinger....it sounds like he has learned a heavy lesson and is appreciative of the opportunity that he is now being given......he's been humbled by his stupidity......I hope Dinger stays focused and moves on to have a good career.....he can rebuild the faith people once had in him.
UncleHubie...you make some very good points.

Finch does seem to have a knack for not letting prior bad acts affect his views. He knew, I feel, what Kurt would give him: exposure. That #51 was on camera as much as any of the chase teams in some races, and typically in the press midweek. Someone will soon realize that finch knows how to keep the chatter going adjunct his car, and put their logo on the quarter panel.

I thank him, too, for giving 'dinger a second chance, and I hope he stays clean and gets past this, but I still have some level of reservation that finch has an ulterior motive to keep his prior obscure team in the news and on
camera.

Thanks, uncle hubie

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 06:29 AM ET  10.15 by pondscum

Finch does seem to have a knack for not letting prior bad acts affect his views. He knew, I feel, what Kurt would give him: exposure. That #51 was on camera as much as any of the chase teams in some races, and typically in the press midweek. Someone will soon realize that finch knows how to keep the chatter going adjunct his car, and put their logo on the quarter panel.

I thank him, too, for giving 'dinger a second chance, and I hope he stays clean and gets past this, but I still have some level of reservation that finch has an ulterior motive to keep his prior obscure team in the news and on camera.

Thanks, uncle hubie

Long time no see Pond.

I will agree Finch hired Busch for exposure, but I also think Finch released Busch for the same reason. While on paper and knowing Busch's skills sure anyone would want a former champion still willing races to fill their seat, it was good exposure for the #51.

Problem is the reason why Kurt the former Champ needed a ride was because of the bad press he was receiving, some of it deserved, some not so much. While things looked good at the start of the season Bad Boy Kurt started showing up more resulting in a suspension from a pit road incident at Dover. Bad exposure. Add to the fact that sponsorship was practically non-existent didn't help with convincing anyone Kurt was still good for the seat.

While they say any press is good press that is not always true. Sure Kurt Busch's name was being spoken about through out the week, but how much of that actually reflected well on Jame Finch and Phoenix Race?

And I still want to know why Kurt was allowed to race at Charlotte on Saturday after the blatant multiple safety violations at Talladega.

On the AJ side it is good to see him back and in a ride. Hopefully he can spin the negatives of the summer into positives for his career. You'd think NASCAR would be touting him as a success for the Road to Recovery Program, but it seems like they almost don't want anything to do with him and the incident.

Totally disagree with you, this guy (for whatever reason) was taken in by the NASCAR media, specially the guys at the SPEED channel as their golden boy. He has not won anything in NASCAR, nothing, and yet they put him on camera all the time, he even got his own segment on one of those shows, AJ then went on to embarrass them . He has gotten multiple opportunities and he blew them, in racing you don't get lots of chances to meke it but he has in NASCAR???.I would put Wallace jr. or Pena or Ms. Long on that ride and they be more deserving???Just my opinion..Please don't tell me he is a open wheel champion as proven by JPM that means nothing here...

I agree with ponscun regarding the "needing the press coverage" for the #51.....but that has run it's course.
As for Finch needing Dinger for the same reason, well that to me is a win~win, for both of them.
It's a bit too early to be hailing Dinger as a Road to Recovery Success story.....that will need more time and by Dinger staying clean and doing good on the track, that in itself will be the Road to Recovery success story.

sorry pondscum, I mispelled your name.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 01:53 PM ET  10.15 by LittleE~BigMT fan

sorry pondscum, I mispelled your name.

Who was the old comedian....."you can call me ray, or you can call me jay......."

That was comedian Bill Saluga......he had a comedy persona character Raymond Jay Johnston.

From Wikipedia:
Bill Saluga (born 1938) is an American comedian. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he was a founding member, along with Fred Willard, Michael Mislove, George Memmoli, and Patti Deutsch of the improvisational comedy troupe Ace Trucking Company. Saluga has appeared on several television programs, including Seinfeld, and is co-author of Bill Saluga's Name Game Book .

Ok now....back to racing.

Johanna long is a great idea. She does have a few sponsors. Biomet, for one. Not as deep of pockets as go daddy.com, but finch should be glad to have anybody on the quarter panels. Wallace Jr is under Gibbs already, watch for. Nationwide use next year as stale bread moves on to where ever he perches.

My na' Jose Jimenez.

Bill Dana. I remember that one.

Did finch release Kurt or die Kurt just take the #78 offer? All along, both parties said there was no contract. Me not know.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 04:01 PM ET  10.15 by pondscum

Did finch release Kurt or die Kurt just take the #78 offer? All along, both parties said there was no contract. Me not know.

Probably ab little of both. Kurt was in a 1 year contract with the #51. And after the year Kurt has had I think it was easy to let him go. Although why the #78 thinks thing would be different with him and them I will never know.

I just find it interesting the state of the sport when it comes to sponsors anymore. At one day a former champion like Kurt could have his pick of rides and sponsors even if his championship is like 10 years old. These days last year's former champion can barely cobble together enough sponsorship to make it through the year let alone guys who haven't won the Cup in the past decade. Just goes to show you how important that championship is anymore....

If Finch just keeps Dinger for the rest of the year to get some kind exposure then I don't care, but I agree Johanna is a great idea for next year.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 02:06 PM ET  10.15 by Longrod VonHugendong

You know if you put:<p></p>in between paragraphs, it creates a line break. I assume that's why you use the .............

PSUinDigo: Thank you for the tip. I've been trying everything to make the paragraph break. Hadn't thought of using HTML - shows how much I know.

Oh, and the 'boobie' avatar, hmmmmm

UncleHubie: Thanks for giving us something to talk about.....us racing fans love a good blog.

QUOTE(#18):

Originally posted 03:42 PM ET  10.16 by LittleE~BigMT fan

UncleHubie: Thanks for giving us something to talk about.....us racing fans love a good blog.

I can say no more than, Thank You. For a really old (68) racing fan and driver that means a lot.

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

asifyouknow - I wouldn't expect you to agree with me. I don't 'expect' anyone to agree with me, but if they do that's great. As far as AJ being "Taken in by the NASCAR media?" Al, please. They like him (or did) because he's a good interview. The list of driver's that have not won (or not won in a very long time) in NASCAR is, as I'm sure 'you know' is quite extensive. I believe Allmendinger can be a class example of, "stumbling, getting back up, dusting yourself off and showing what kind of man you are."LittleE~BigMT fan; pondscum; OLD BEAR; Raistwalker; asifyouknow: Want you all to know I appreciate your posts to my blog. Here are some of my takes: Wallace, Jr. & Pena - great talents but not ready for CUP; Would love to see Johanna in a good car, she too is a good talent - just not sure she's ready for CUP full time but sure deserves a couple go's at it; And as far as Finch getting the press coverage for the #51? He's done one heck of a job - it's now time to sell some space on that race car.

First welcome to this world...and I do agree with you...ahhh..maybe once...lol....AJ is a mediocre driver at best, he must some good connections, plus I don't see a big sponser put their name on a car.....he is damaged goods...I'm really surprised at you because you call the NFL the felon league, do you want NASCAR to become a haven for drug abuse..0 tolerance should mean 0 tolerance...........just saying..lol

asifyouknow - "Welcome to this world?" I've been around before you learned to wipe your butt. Keep that thought in mind, please. And for Allmendinger being a "second rate" driver? Man, where are you coming from? Roger Penske, the Captain, doesn't hire second rate drivers. If all you're after with your blog and comments is to create exposure you're probably on the right track.
<p><p>
The NFL "is" the felon league. That is a point that is impossible to debate. Please, Al, just Google it - but why bother? You know it to be true - the NFL is the home of felons.
<p><p>
True, Allmendinger made a mistake. He stood up, did what it takes to rectify it, like a man - that is not disputable. What he does from this point on will provide testimony to his dedication to himself, his family and his sport. True, there's the possibility he may fail: But no real man can make that judgement prior to the action.
<p><p>
And again, Al, how do you come up with the idea that I want (quoting you)) "NASCAR to become a haven for drug abuse?" For crying out loud I applaud NASCAR for their substance abuse program. You don't get that in NFL, NBA, NHL etc., etc. - or even bicycle racing.
<p><p>
Allow me a question if I may: Does the NFL have a "ZERO" tolerance on any criminal activity?