[BringBackWilkesboro]

With all the history and tradition the Woods represent, you know that their current situation bugs me quite a bit.

The last few years, the Woods have been in a consistant downfall. Ever since David Pearson left, they've been putting in patchwork drivers that sprinkled in success here and there ( Bonnett, Petty, Jarrett, Sadler, Rudd) Jon Wood, who you would think is supposed to be the new young talent that these guys need to get some structure back in that team, pulled himself out of the car which he was scheduled to drive this weekend because he wasn't comfortable with the COT. That disturbs me. If this kid is not comfortable with the COT, I just don't know what he's gonna do, because that's all there is now. If he isn't comfortable with it, wouldn't you think the best (only) way to change that is to drive it? Vegas would be the best place to do that. 1/3 of the season is run on these tracks. I don't know what more he needs

On top of that, the 21 will soon be out of sponsorship, and they aren't going to get any if nobody wants to drive the car. I think 'ol Glen Wood oughta have a talk with his grandson about smartening up and getting in that car if he really wants to race. Otherwise, I'd be moving on to Marcos Ambrose as quick as I can. Time is running out for this historic team.

[WestCoast]

The Wood Brothers are the spirit on Nascar’s past and no reason why they shouldn’t be the spirit of it’s future.

I think that the potential demise of these iconic teams is their inability to adjust to the present and future direction of the sport.
I’m of the belief that in "today’s" Nascar, the level of competition is not only on track, but also for sponsor dollars & driver talent, which requires strength in numbers.
What I mean by that (many will disagree), is the days of the independent are over, the price tags are too steep to follow tradition and cling to the past.
My interpretation of the "future" of Nascar is 10 super teams with 4 cars each, sharing resources and know-how in the pursuit of perfection and equality between all the teams to make for better racing.

What I would like to see is the Wood Brothers merging with the Petty organization, this would not only give them a massive fan base/monetary influx, but also competitive once again.

[bob101]

They can start by hiring a driver. The same driver every week who can test, qualify, race. Bill Elliot was picked for his provisionals and he was busy this week...which if he had been there he would have used it because Busch and Jarret qualified on time.

But how do they expect to at a minimum expect to get into the top 35 when one week it's one driver, next week it's someone else etc...

They are putting the front of a part time/field filler team by not having a permanent driver.

[clutch]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

Jon Wood, who you would think is supposed to be the new young talent that these guys need to get some structure back in that team, pulled himself out of the car which he was scheduled to drive this weekend because he wasn't comfortable with the COT. That disturbs me.

Theres a little more to it than .....not being comfortable. As a great fan of Kenny Schrader I have followed the WBR closely.

Jon, was supposedly having these bad "headaches" and this was initially why he was missing rides, although the truth is probably that he's plain short on skills.

The following quote is from KS site and it was removed by Admin. It could be a disgruntled ex-employee.....but it does make one think that the end may be near

Quote:Guys as former Wood Bros JTG employee I can tell you that Eddie Wood
Wants Jon in that 21 car bad! But Lynn Wood and everyone else at Wood
Bros knows plain and simple that JON WOOD DOES NOT HAVE THE SKILL
NEEDED FOR THE JOB For awhile now this issue has been devolping a tear
at Wood Bros the whole split with Wood Bros and JTG was in part caused
by Jons removal from the 47 Busch car but it was spun to be a medical
issue the real reason in his removal was performance and attitude and
he killed 10 cars in first seven races of 2007 the other part of the
split was Fatback Mcswain and the Woods not having the balls to
replace him soon enough

The Wood Bros manage there team as if it was 1998 not 2008 and there
technology
ranks in the same category on top of that being big time underfunded
compared to 95% of there competition Bill Elliot wants out ASAP so he
can leave with whats left of his dignity he knows just how much
trouble the 21 car is in.
The only hope they had was the past champions provisional and now
thats a long shot!

Johhny Sauter is just one of many last Gasps of air for The Wood Bros
and there eventual demise as they will join Morgan Mclure Racing

There is much that you can Blame on the WOOD Bros on the same token
there is a lot you can't! times have changed and still changing(maybe
for the worse) it really does not matter if Jon could get the Job done
or not the fact is the cars can't

Well from what I know JTG 47 cup car will use complete ROUSH cars and
for the 21 car I would not be surprised to see Ambroses deal to fall
apart before it gets going because of the bad blood between JTG and
Wood Bro's its likely that when he drives the 21 car he will have to
use there current fleet of Hopkins and leavitz cars which are inferior
cars! Most people don't know that there chassis program is a big
problem over there and they don't have a in house body program so they
allow a sub par body company in Mooresville to do there bodys and it
shows!

They actually Split the Shop Down the Middle Wood Bros one side JTG
the other!
If you work for JTG you don't touch a 21 cup car or 21 truck vice
versa now thats team work huh!

Well it's JTG Tad Gesheckter owner of 47 cup 47/59 nationwide cars and
the Wood Bros that have Split but i know their is tension over Kevin
Wood Jons cousin they (Lynn)feels he is being held back and should get
a the same chance as Jon and other than a few truck starts thats all
he has got!

Eddie wants Jon to be the solo corner stone for the Wood Bros and lets
face it if he was not in a family owned car he could not get a
Latemodel ride


Take it for what it is worth.........

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

With all the history and tradition the Woods represent, you know that their current situation bugs me quite a bit.

The last few years, the Woods have been in a consistant downfall. Ever since David Pearson left, they've been putting in patchwork drivers that sprinkled in success here and there ( Bonnett, Petty, Jarrett, Sadler, Rudd) Jon Wood, who you would think is supposed to be the new young talent that these guys need to get some structure back in that team, pulled himself out of the car which he was scheduled to drive this weekend because he wasn't comfortable with the COT. That disturbs me. If this kid is not comfortable with the COT, I just don't know what he's gonna do, because that's all there is now. If he isn't comfortable with it, wouldn't you think the best (only) way to change that is to drive it? Vegas would be the best place to do that. 1/3 of the season is run on these tracks. I don't know what more he needs

On top of that, the 21 will soon be out of sponsorship, and they aren't going to get any if nobody wants to drive the car. I think 'ol Glen Wood oughta have a talk with his grandson about smartening up and getting in that car if he really wants to race. Otherwise, I'd be moving on to Marcos Ambrose as quick as I can. Time is running out for this historic team.

You must have heard the same interview which I did, the one with David Poole on... Wednesday morning?

At first I was shocked but then, after I thought about it awhile, and putting some miscellaneous pieces together, it started to make sense.

I remembered that Jon started the exact same time Carl Edwards did, when Roush ran two CTS trucks. Carl advanced and Jon just kind of stagnated. He tried a couple of Cup races and did some Cup Lite runs to absolute mediocrity. Then, last season he "disappeared" for vague reasons? He's personable and seems like a genuinely good kid but I just don't hear him saying the things serious race drivers say.

As much as I like the kid's personality I think he might look for other means of employment.

[BiscuitMan]

"You got to have the right mix." That's what all the teams say is needed to win races. The Wood Bros. just needs to be competitive.

Their shop is located in the Charlotte area. So they have access to good engineering and shop personnel. Years past, they didn't have a problem with that because they were the talented ones. Today, for them to get back on track, they need to rob the other race teams of their knowledgeable chassis people and engine tuners. This means paying good money for engineers, shock guys, crew chiefs etc. and painting a picture of success with all the other team elements. Otherwise they are not going to get a "quality" driver to come on board.

Note: They should send Jon Wood off to another team to gain more experience before they bring him back to race their cars. That's what Kyle Petty did.

If they can't do all the above, then they need to take WestCoast's suggestion and merge with another race team such as Petty Enterprises to gain technical resources and know-how about the new cars. Or, maybe its time for them to switch makes. Ford Racing provides support to Roush and Yates . But do they provide the same level to the Wood Bros. I doubt that. I'm sure that's why Robby Gordon switched makes.

I would hope that they are not building their own chassis. Their are so many top notch chassis builders available today in the Charlotte area, which they don't need to spend time doing that. They could have a chassis rolled in their shop, put one of those Yates motor in the car, slap on some body panels and off you go to the races. Oh. I forgot. Put some decals on the car to precision specifications.

The Wood Bros. forte' in the past was chassis setup. They have lost that edge as Glen retired and Eddie and Len may have not grasp all that is necessary to make a car run really fast on these newly designed race tracks.

They need to find a way to preserve their heritage and put cars on the speedway that has a chance to win races.

[ScottRide]

I agree w/ WestCoast about a merger between WBR and Petty. I would love to see it and think it would help both teams.

[PettyBlue]

If Petty would not merge with GEM at this time,why in the world would they want to merge with the Wood's?

[bob101]

Why would Petty want to merge with the wood brothers? What do the Wood Brothers bring to the table?

Another team out of the top 35 in points just like Kyle Petty?

[bears9]

Wood Bros. is probably gone, they don't have a driver that finish in the top 30, and they don't have any sponsers. Which tells Wood Bros. is dying.

[WestCoast]

Originally Posted by bob101

Why would Petty want to merge with the wood brothers? What do the Wood Brothers bring to the table?
Another team out of the top 35 in points just like Kyle Petty?

We are just throwing ideas around in trying to figure out how to save two iconic teams.
If, as some say Labonte and the #43 sponsor leave at the end of the season, both teams are going to be under pressure and may not recover.
Maybe they can help each other to survive or not.

*But than again they have been there from the start, so what can go wrong?