[vincesanity82]

Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs said he encouraged Tampa native Aric Almirola to leave his team for Ginn Racing. Almirola, a 23-year-old who in parts of four seasons has advanced through JGR's deep developmental system to race in all three of NASCAR's top series, will share time with veteran Mark Martin in the No. 01 Chevrolet beginning Aug. 12 at Watkins Glen, N.Y. JGR could not even guarantee a partial Busch Series schedule for 2008 because of sponsor issues, Gibbs said, and a fourth Cup program might be two years away. "It's hard for us, because obviously I want to see him here forever," Gibbs said in a phone interview Wednesday. "I couldn't tell him, 'Right now, yeah, we've got a full ride for you in the Busch Series.' And if I can't tell him that, I don't want to sit here and four months from now tell him, 'Oh, you let that opportunity go. We only have a partial schedule again.' "That's not in his best interests, or our best interests. Because in my mind, I know the guys at Ginn, I know how vital Mark Martin is in all that - I really think a lot of him" -- St. Petersburg Times

Sports: Gibbs encouraged Almirola to leave

[Lefty Noob]

Good for Gibbs. It takes a big man to put the future of the kid over his own personal desire to keep him on the team.

[Bob Tanner]

Way to go, J.D.! Your PR types sure know how to put a smiley face on a crappy situation!

Putting a young drivers future ahead of your own interests? Rubbish! You "encouraged" him to leave, alright; when you replaced him at Milwaukee.

You have a very talented young kid (who happens to be a minority; a sure-fire sell in today's politically correct society!) to whom you gave the green weenie, for the sake of Rockwell, Int'l "suits." He got [righteously] indignant, and like Junior, went somewhere where he could feel the love.

Sorry, J.D., your treatment of Aric ranks right down there with Everham's selling Casey Atwood down the river a few years back. The ironic part is that right after you put a big wet french kiss on Rockwell's behind, they advised you that they will cut back drastically next season. To make it sound like going to Ginn is even a lateral move is insulting.

Why not just tell the truth. (a) Yanking Aric at Milwaukee has proven to be a PR nightmare, and (b) Joey Logano is coming up and we just don't have room in the organization for two talented young drivers. That might not have been the P.C. thing to do but at least it would have been honest.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Bob, your reference of Evernham/Atwood is perfect in this situation.

Ray threw Atwood away not once but twice, first to Jim Smith and then after a brief second chance, to a Statesville garbage crew. Gibbs sold Almirola off to Ginn, whose future is very much up in the air and there's really no telling how long that will last.

[lilsexy08]

Aric isn't that good. Nothing against him but he needs to go to another team. He shouldn't be in Cup series yet. Run more Busch and ARCA Series for a year or two first.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

Bob, your reference of Evernham/Atwood is perfect in this situation.

Ray threw Atwood away not once but twice, first to Jim Smith and then after a brief second chance, to a Statesville garbage crew. Gibbs sold Almirola off to Ginn, whose future is very much up in the air and there's really no telling how long that will last.

As you undoubtedly know, I take personal and immediate dislike to anyone who displays a massive amount of unethical behaviour and poor character. When Ray turned his back on a deal he made with Casey, just for the sake of business expediency, he crossed that line with me. His turning his fate over to a schmuck like Jim Smith was inexcusable.

J.D. Gibbs is apparently headed down a path I've seen many executives of his generation go down; situational ethics. I'm beginning to think that J.D. is to Coach what Brian France is to Bill France Sr.

Brian and J.D.; the Penn and Teller of NASCAR...? I've got to ponder that concept.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

As you undoubtedly know, I take personal and immediate dislike to anyone who displays a massive amount of unethical behaviour and poor character. When Ray turned his back on a deal he made with Casey, just for the sake of business expediency, he crossed that line with me. His turning his fate over to a schmuck like Jim Smith was inexcusable.

J.D. Gibbs is apparently headed down a path I've seen many executives of his generation go down; situational ethics. I'm beginning to think that J.D. is to Coach what Brian France is to Bill France Sr.

Brian and J.D.; the Penn and Teller of NASCAR...? I've got to ponder that concept.

Bob I will have to agree with you 100%.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by lilsexy08

Aric isn't that good. Nothing against him but he needs to go to another team. He shouldn't be in Cup series yet. Run more Busch and ARCA Series for a year or two first.

I think he has alot of potential and now might have a chance to show it since he's not at Gibbs. Don't know why he should have to run Arca some more. He's been in CTS for going on 3 years, Busch going on 2.

[Jeffrey4318]

If it smells like bs then it must be bs. JD says he doesn't have a full time ride for Aric next year but I have a feeling he will have one for Brad Coleman.

Remember this is the same guy who is about to give up on JJ Yeley when Yeley only has two years of cup racing under his belt. J.D. is not his dad. If his dad was still running the team Bobby would still be there winning races. J.D. gave up on him too. It is all about Tony and Denny. Time for Coach to retire and comeback.

[clutch]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Way to go, J.D.! Your PR types sure know how to put a smiley face on a crappy situation!

Putting a young drivers future ahead of your own interests? Rubbish! You "encouraged" him to leave, alright; when you replaced him at Milwaukee.

You have a very talented young kid (who happens to be a minority; a sure-fire sell in today's politically correct society!) to whom you gave the green weenie, for the sake of Rockwell, Int'l "suits." He got [righteously] indignant, and like Junior, went somewhere where he could feel the love.

Sorry, J.D., your treatment of Aric ranks right down there with Everham's selling Casey Atwood down the river a few years back. The ironic part is that right after you put a big wet french kiss on Rockwell's behind, they advised you that they will cut back drastically next season. To make it sound like going to Ginn is even a lateral move is insulting.

Why not just tell the truth. (a) Yanking Aric at Milwaukee has proven to be a PR nightmare, and (b) Joey Logano is coming up and we just don't have room in the organization for two talented young drivers. That might not have been the P.C. thing to do but at least it would have been honest.

Bob I'm not familiar with the contract that Casey had but I always rooted for him when watching busch....I remember him sliding along on his roof and expected that he would do well.....but I realised that things didnt materialize like he had hoped...just didnt know who was to blame

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by clutch

Bob I'm not familiar with the contract that Casey had but I always rooted for him when watching busch....I remember him sliding along on his roof and expected that he would do well.....but I realised that things didnt materialize like he had hoped...just didnt know who was to blame

Long, confusing story on Casey, Mate. It doesn't even lend itself to a "Classic Comics" version (really dating myself with that one, eh?).

Basically Everham had a rookie in Casey who would have won 2001 ROY hands down IF Dale Sr. hadn't have died and Harvick took over his ride. Atwood was having the usual rookie problems but was running in 30 of the 36 races that season. I forget exactly how he finished but I believe he was in the top 25.

But then one of NASCAR bigger jerks, (but not the biggest) Jeremy Mayfield terminally irritated Don Miller and Roger Penske and they showed him the door. For reasons I can't fathom MOPAR decided that Mayfield was a better fit than Atwood and Everham offered little or no resistance. He set Casey up with a ride for Jim Smith (a loser if there ever was one, ownership-wise) and <BIG SURPRISE> Casey looked really crappy in Smith's crappy equipment. His team was so bad that even Kenny Wallace bailed out after part of a season (2001)with him!

Smith went belly up after Rockingham that year and, as a gesture, Everham gave Casey a final ride at Homestead. After that Atwood's career just disappeared. Just another sad story of how expendable these young kids are to the big team owners.

[lilsexy08]

Originally Posted by jks812

I think he has alot of potential and now might have a chance to show it since he's not at Gibbs. Don't know why he should have to run Arca some more. He's been in CTS for going on 3 years, Busch going on 2.

I see your point bu he just haven't got the skill and needs more work. Frank Kimmel has been in ARCA for years and when he trys Busch or Cup he sucks and thats why he stays in ARCA.

[jks812]

He does have alot of talent. He actually does pretty good, in my opinon. Doesn't do as good as some in Busch and Cup, but at the same time, he does better than some.Don't know this Kimmel, but maybe just because he can't handle Busch or Cup and has to stay in ARCA, doesn't mean this kid should stay there too.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by jks812

He does have alot of talent. He actually does pretty good, in my opinon. Doesn't do as good as some in Busch and Cup, but at the same time, he does better than some.Don't know this Kimmel, but maybe just because he can't handle Busch or Cup and has to stay in ARCA, doesn't mean this kid should stay there too.

Side note for you... Frank Kimmel is like the Richard Petty of the ARCA series. He has like 8 titles workin on a ninth, or is it nine workin on a tenth... anyways he has that series figured out. Back on topic... Eric is talented, and it shows, he just needs the right people around him and obviously Gibbs is not the organization for that.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Side note for you... Frank Kimmel is like the Richard Petty of the ARCA series. He has like 8 titles workin on a ninth, or is it nine workin on a tenth... anyways he has that series figured out.

I don't catch many ARCA races.Sounds like he's a really good driver though.