[NASCAR Gnome]

Talk about unfair! Dude drove well enough in the first 5 races this year in the #00 to entrench himself in the top-35 but he took over the #44 at Martinsville and brought DJ's points with him. DJ's points were barely enough to be in the top-35 (34th going into this race, I think) and Reutimann has some tough, tough luck in the race and now has to race his way in next weekend at Texas!

I'm the type of person who tells someone who says "...it's so unfair!" (kids love that line for some odd reason...) that: "Who ever said life was supposed to be fair?!?" But in this case, how can you not feel for someone like DR? He worked so hard to put last season away and now gets into this situation!

I pulled for McMurray this weekend to get out of his funk and he did and next weekend, I will be pulling for DR to make it in and stay in!

[Phils20]

I don't understand why UPS didn't just transfer over to the 00, and vice versa. Seems like an easier solution to me.

There can't be a rule against that!!

[Bob Tanner]

Blame it on The Chosen Rule. If that "unfair" (as you put it, I call it down right biased and demoralizing) rule wasn't in place, there would be no problem. Each qualifying day he, and all the other teams, would be competing for forty-three starting positions, not just seven.

If it weren't for The Chosen Rule, all this talk about team swapping and the like would be moot.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Phils20

I don't understand why UPS didn't just transfer over to the 00, and vice versa. Seems like an easier solution to me.

There can't be a rule against that!!

How much marketing material do you think is out there right now that would become useless ????

[Bob Tanner]

[quote=Phils20;263728]I don't understand why UPS didn't just transfer over to the 00, and vice versa. Seems like an easier solution to me.

There can't be a rule against that!![/QUOTE]

There is. The sponsor(s) is/are considered intregal to "The Team," and sponsors must stay with the team unless the team is physically sold to another team owner.

[Jeffrey4396]

I don't feel bad for Reut. He has qualified very well this year and has backed it up with his race runs. He still has his same cars and team. He will be okay. Atleast now he has a top sponsor backing him again. Not saying Aaron's isnt a top sponsor but who knows how long they will stay on the car.

How much marketing material do you think is out there right now that would become useless ????

See this one is on MWR. If MWR would have done their homework before the season and asked Nascar if there was a situation where the 00 was locked in and the 44 was not if they could switch the points. UPS and MWR had to create new marketing material anyways with Reut stepping in. If they would have known that Nascar wouldn't let the switch then they could have made all the material with the #00 instead of #44. Seeing how new shirts, caps, commercials, billboards, ect...were going to have to be created I think the easiest thing they could have done is just move UPS over to the 00. I mean it wasn't like UPS was partial to the 44.

[Jeffrey4396]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

There is. The sponsor(s) is/are considered intregal to "The Team," and sponsors must stay with the team unless the team is physically sold to another team owner.

Um no. Valvoline transfered onto Gordon's team earlier this year for one race. Couple of years ago Fed Ex was placed on the 18 during the 600 because the 11 missed the race. It happens all the time. Big name sponsor misses big race so they transfer to team that made it. Sponsors can do what they want. Remember they run the show.

[NASCAR Gnome]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4396

I don't feel bad for Reut. He has qualified very well this year and has backed it up with his race runs. He still has his same cars and team. He will be okay. Atleast now he has a top sponsor backing him again. Not saying Aaron's isnt a top sponsor but who knows how long they will stay on the car.

I watched "Trading Paint" on Speed with Dave Despain today and some marketing "muckety-muck" was a guest of Dave's and mentioned that now that DJ has retired, (after being asked whether or not UPS will continue a long-term relationship with NASCAR in spite of DJ's retirement) UPS is actually "looking at five teams in NASCAR including the current one" for long-term sponsor commitment. If this news is true, this does not bode well for MWR or Reutimann in the 44 because UPS may not put up with this for very long! Bear in mind that UPS is a top-flight company and has been a staunch sponsor for years and years. I'm sure they didn't enjoy DJ failing to qualify for races last season but because they had a long relationship with DJ and probably out of professional courtesy and respect, they kept mum about the issue, I don't think these guys at UPS want to see their 20-plus million Dollar sponsorship investment sitting on a hauler somewhere other than the racetrack!

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4396

Um no. Valvoline transfered onto Gordon's team earlier this year for one race. Couple of years ago Fed Ex was placed on the 18 during the 600 because the 11 missed the race. It happens all the time. Big name sponsor misses big race so they transfer to team that made it. Sponsors can do what they want. Remember they run the show.

I thought sponsors had left teams for one race before, if a team didn't make the race.

And as far as marketing materials go, I'm baffled at that.

God, I hate this corporate BS.

[Fireball]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

I watched "Trading Paint" on Speed with Dave Despain today and some marketing "muckety-muck" was a guest of Dave's and mentioned that now that DJ has retired, (after being asked whether or not UPS will continue a long-term relationship with NASCAR in spite of DJ's retirement) UPS is actually "looking at five teams in NASCAR including the current one" for long-term sponsor commitment. If this news is true, this does not bode well for MWR or Reutimann in the 44 because UPS may not put up with this for very long! Bear in mind that UPS is a top-flight company and has been a staunch sponsor for years and years. I'm sure they didn't enjoy DJ failing to qualify for races last season but because they had a long relationship with DJ and probably out of professional courtesy and respect, they kept mum about the issue, I don't think these guys at UPS want to see their 20-plus million Dollar sponsorship investment sitting on a hauler somewhere other than the racetrack!

First of all David Reutimann is not a household name in most areas other than Tampa, where his father, uncle and grandfather are and were well known. David has some short comings when it comes to talking to the press and making marketing material for his sponsors. This may play a significant roll in his sponsorship at MWR in the future.

What's ironical about my above assessment is that Emil Reutimann and Buzzie Reutimann (David's grandfather and father) were the first local stock cars that I remember that had full sponsorship in the 1950s. Emil was the Chevrolet dealer in Zephyrhills and prepared immaculate blue and white race cars with Miller High life as its sponsor.

UPS is wanting a "spokesman" for their services. They need a proven winner to represent them. Can David become a winner? Only time will tell. First indications will be if you see David in UPS ads. And, I'm sure if he wins a cup race, you'll see him in their ads the next day.

[Bassdogs]

DR and MWR had better be looking for something new for the 44. I heard the same TV interview, and the line that caught my ear was that UPS would be looking for a "rock star" driver. Sorry DR you don't qualify [pun intended] and MWR seems to be well on the way of being an "also ran" level team. Still nothing but an occasional quick qual run from them. Gibbs coming to Toyota will cripple MWR as Toyota gets the taste of success and decides that the smell from MWR doesn't seem to be going away.

[johnsonfan_48]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

Talk about unfair! Dude drove well enough in the first 5 races this year in the #00 to entrench himself in the top-35 but he took over the #44 at Martinsville and brought DJ's points with him. DJ's points were barely enough to be in the top-35 (34th going into this race, I think) and Reutimann has some tough, tough luck in the race and now has to race his way in next weekend at Texas!

I'm the type of person who tells someone who says "...it's so unfair!" (kids love that line for some odd reason...) that: "Who ever said life was supposed to be fair?!?" But in this case, how can you not feel for someone like DR? He worked so hard to put last season away and now gets into this situation!

I pulled for McMurray this weekend to get out of his funk and he did and next weekend, I will be pulling for DR to make it in and stay in!

I would agree, I have been a fan of Reutimann since he came up. It's a shame he will have to race his way in. Although if he kept all his team members I think within a few weeks he will be safely back in the top 35. For the equipment he has he has driven well and is showing everyone he is an up and comer.

[Measure]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

... MWR seems to be well on the way of being an "also ran" level team. Still nothing but an occasional quick qual run from them. Gibbs coming to Toyota will cripple MWR as Toyota gets the taste of success and decides that the smell from MWR doesn't seem to be going away.

I don't think so. MWR is much healthier financially than most of the 1-2 car teams. They have decent, top-25 equipment, and have made qualifying on speed for all three cars, in all of the first five races.

I don't think DR has too much to worry about in making all the races this year. He'll be back in the top 35 within a couple of weeks.

MW wants his cars to be a top-caliber team. I don't think he has a shot at it this year, but the organization is showing dramatic improvement from last year, and if that improvement continues, may be an elite team within a few years.

[jks812]

I don't feel bad for DR. He'll qualify just fine I think and I believe he'll be back in the top 35 soon. He's a good driver and the team has improved and I think he'll be okay.

[NASCAR Gnome]

Regardless of his ability and confidence, I feel bad for DR because he's put in his time last season and earned his way in this season. Now, I can understand a driver falling out of the top-35 due to lack of skill or experience but to follow the ordeal of this man who, as far as I know, actually gets physically sick every time he has to qualify on speed makes really feel bad for him. He's put in his time. He doesn't deserve this!

To FURTHER add insult to injury, the rookie Michael McDowell in the #00 car is sitting pretty at #25 in owner points while Reutimann is stuck in 37th!