[Bob Tanner]

Dear Gunther, Hermann, or whoever is running things over there,

You're doing a good, young driver a grave injustice! A.J. Almendinger has now missed three races in a row by the slimmest of margins. For the second year in a row he now faces a long, uphill season.

The kid is a former CART champion and obviously has a lot of talent. But he is short on stock-type car seat time. History has proved that, with A.J., seat time equals improved performance. Last year you allowed him to drive part-time for Chip Ganassi in a Dodge in the Cup Lite Series. Once this project got off the group, and A.J. competed in two races per race date, he made, I believe, something like six straight Cup races on time. And I seem to remember impressively as well.

Why doesn't Red Bull work the same agreement with Braun Racing for Almendinger as they have for Vickers, who doesn't need the extra seat time; his entire racing career has been devoted to full-bodied cars.

You have reportedly worked a Cup Lite deal for your up-and-coming ARCA driver, Scott Speed, for a Cup Lite ride with Morgan-Dollar. Why not devote the same sort of attention to A.J.?

It would appear that you are focused on Vickers' recent success and are virtually tossing his team mate aside. You are, I believe, about to lose a very talented, media-savvy young driver. That would be a shame.

[Quality88]

That makes to much sense Bob... and to much to ask

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Dear Gunther, Hermann, or whoever is running things over there,

You're doing a good, young driver a grave injustice! A.J. Almendinger has now missed three races in a row by the slimmest of margins. For the second year in a row he now faces a long, uphill season.

The kid is a former CART champion and obviously has a lot of talent. But he is short on stock-type car seat time. History has proved that, with A.J., seat time equals improved performance. Last year you allowed him to drive part-time for Chip Ganassi in a Dodge in the Cup Lite Series. Once this project got off the group, and A.J. competed in two races per race date, he made, I believe, something like six straight Cup races on time. And I seem to remember impressively as well.

Why doesn't Red Bull work the same agreement with Braun Racing for Almendinger as they have for Vickers, who doesn't need the extra seat time; his entire racing career has been devoted to full-bodied cars.

You have reportedly worked a Cup Lite deal for your up-and-coming ARCA driver, Scott Speed, for a Cup Lite ride with Morgan-Dollar. Why not devote the same sort of attention to A.J.?

It would appear that you are focused on Vickers' recent success and are virtually tossing his team mate aside. You are, I believe, about to lose a very talented, media-savvy young driver. That would be a shame.

Bob,you may want to read this if you haven't. SI.com - Racing - Red Bull Racing re-evaluating Allmendinger's team - Sunday March 2, 2008 10:56PM

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by PettyBlue

Bob,you may want to read this if you haven't. SI.com - Racing - Red Bull Racing re-evaluating Allmendinger's team - Sunday March 2, 2008 10:56PM

It looks like Red Bull is trying to think like me, as described in the last two paragraphs of the article. I'd say they're about a day late and a dollar short.

Sorry, I just don't see Benson or Skinner as a whole lot better choice than A.J. It'd be better in the short term but I think it might cut their throats in the long term.

The ironic thing is that, in every race so far this season, Allmendinger missed the field by one. He was the first qualifier to be bumped in the last two (He would have made the race if the damn Chosen 35 Rule wasn't in place. Then, at Daytona in the Twin 150's, he finished one spot away from starting.

Now I think he snake-bit and the absolute best thing they could do for him would be to put him in a COMPETITIVE BGN or CTS vehicle and turn him loose.

I tell you, he's not a rock star and doesn't sell a lot of trinkets & thrash but this kid is a talent worth saving!

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I tell you, he's not a rock star and doesn't sell a lot of trinkets & thrash but this kid is a talent worth saving!

Very true Bob.... but no one has the Intelligence and testinal fortitude to stick with talent and let it evolve and take form.

[WestCoast]

AJ has a history of getting "stuck" in a mental negative funk.
He had the tools in ChampCar and always came up short, than, by moving to Forsyth racing he banged off a bunch of wins in a row and almost won the championship.
All the kid needs is a different ride and all will be good again.

[Phils20]

Skinner is officially in the car for this Sunday at Atlanta...

[bob101]

I think AJ is out for now. Hard as it is to accept, if you can't get into the show your not going to keep your job. Doesn't matter if you have the best or world's worst car I think that holds true. His teamate making it in probably isn't helping him stay tho.