- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
CUP: Baldwin – Smith Wrong On Start-And-Parkers
Tommy Baldwin Racing ready for full-season runs with Dave Blaney, J. J. Yeley…
Dave Blaney (Left) and Tommy Baldwin (Right) plan to run more laps in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup series season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Tommy Baldwin, who has used the start-and-park method to build his NASCAR team, isn’t too impressed with track owner Bruton Smith’s recent criticism of the concept.
Smith said last month that start-and-parkers have no business in the sport and suggested that NASCAR work toward changing the approach.
Typically, start-and-park drivers run a few laps at the beginning of a race, park voluntarily for the rest of the event, primarily to preserve equipment, and collect enough purse money to run again.
“Obviously, Bruton has got enough money that if he wanted to be part of the solution he’d help figure out how,” Baldwin said Monday during a media teleconference. “Those are things he probably shouldn’t be worried about. Hendrick, Childress, Roush – they all started very small just like TBR (Tommy Baldwin Racing).
“Bruton can do a better job. We’ve tried to get his sponsors at his tracks involved in some package deals, but they don’t want anything to do with it. They’re too greedy.”
Baldwin said Monday he plans a more complete effort this season, with Dave Blaney and J.J. Yeley scheduled to drive full Cup schedules in TBR cars. Baldwin is returning to pit road to serve as Blaney’s crew chief. Yeley’s crew chief has not been announced.
“This year is very important for us,” Baldwin said. “It’s pretty important that we do well on both the business side and the competition side.
“I think we’re ready for the next step. We’re getting everything prepared and going for some new goals with new sponsors.”
Baldwin said he expects to have “some strong places and some weak places” but that his team should run “consistently in the top 20 to 25.”
Blaney said he expects the team’s engineering department “to make a big jump forward for this year. And that makes a lot of difference on Friday when you roll the car onto the track.”
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 31 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
Smith said last month that start-and-parkers have no business in the sport and suggested that NASCAR work toward changing the approach.
Typically, start-and-park drivers run a few laps at the beginning of a race, park voluntarily for the rest of the event, primarily to preserve equipment, and collect enough purse money to run again.
“Obviously, Bruton has got enough money that if he wanted to be part of the solution he’d help figure out how,” Baldwin said Monday during a media teleconference. “Those are things he probably shouldn’t be worried about. Hendrick, Childress, Roush – they all started very small just like TBR (Tommy Baldwin Racing).
“Bruton can do a better job. We’ve tried to get his sponsors at his tracks involved in some package deals, but they don’t want anything to do with it. They’re too greedy.”
Baldwin said Monday he plans a more complete effort this season, with Dave Blaney and J.J. Yeley scheduled to drive full Cup schedules in TBR cars. Baldwin is returning to pit road to serve as Blaney’s crew chief. Yeley’s crew chief has not been announced.
“This year is very important for us,” Baldwin said. “It’s pretty important that we do well on both the business side and the competition side.
“I think we’re ready for the next step. We’re getting everything prepared and going for some new goals with new sponsors.”
Baldwin said he expects to have “some strong places and some weak places” but that his team should run “consistently in the top 20 to 25.”
Blaney said he expects the team’s engineering department “to make a big jump forward for this year. And that makes a lot of difference on Friday when you roll the car onto the track.”
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 31 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
LATEST HEADLINES: FORMULA-ONE
-
F1: Lotus Sells 35 Percent Stake To US-Funded Consortium
Lotus has named a new United States-backed investor in the team...… -
F1: Fox News Pundit Behind New Lotus Shareholder
A FOX News analyst is involved in Lotus' new partnership... -
F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 5)
Adrian Sutil returned to the grid this year and is making slow but… -
F1: 'Heads Will Roll' As Tire-Gate Reaches Paris
F1's president Jean Todt's new international tribunal is Thursday… -
F1: Former Ferrari Driver Jose Froilan Gonzalez Dead
Jose Froilan Gonzalez won Ferrari’s first Grand Prix at Silverstone… -
F1: Ecclestone Backing Pirelli Over Mercedes Test
Bernie Ecclestone supports Pirelli but says Mercedes should have… -
F1: Pirelli Abandons Plans To Change Tire Construction
Pirelli will change its production process going forward in the 2013… - More News
