[loco4pablo]

AJ's mug shot has made the internet!

Aj Allmendinger Arrested -- FanHouse


Looks like more then 2 drinks at dinner too me

[nascaraddict]

I just wish that he had a "Glen Campbell Style" drunk photo to go along with the D.U.I. His was a classic.

[nascaraddict]

Of couse noone has to worry about Kasey Kane. Noone would serve him any booze. Because he looks like he's twelve.

[thunderfoot]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

I don't know LCS...I'm sure on the legal side of things, it will turn out like you say. But I think it will be awhile till this just goes away and people forget about it. I just think where AJ will get hurt the most is on the sponsor side of this deal.
Do you think any sponsor wants to hear that their driver had too take a Breathalyzer test before he gets on the track?
The thing about it is a driver of AJ's stature are a dime a dozen right now and there are a lot of options. NASCAR I'm sure is very unhappy with this especially with what happened with Mikey the week before. Only difference is Mikey wasn't charged, booked and cuffed and of course Mikey is a huge name and personality in the sport.
I also think AJ made statements too quickly, saying stuff like "I felt fine" or "I drank nothing but water for 90 minutes before I left"wasn't good things too say. Too me that sounds like he was popped and drank water to sober up.
I find it admirable that he takes full responsibility but too me that is almost admitting guilt before the court date... Don't say nothing! Other then you "only had 2 drinks and the breath machine must have been off"

Drink water to sober up? The only thing that helps to sober up is, TIME. The body processes 2 ounces of alcohol an hour. Nothing more, nothing less.

[boplenty]

Just look. We are on 4 pages of responses on this Allmendinger thread. It shows you how bored we are with NASCAR "racing". Nothing against them but the "Chad & Jimmie" show is killin' us all!

"DEGA...TIME FOR A SHAKE-UP IN THE "CHASE"1

[oncea3fan]

I don't think he's done , RPM already gave him probation and fine, it would bad for them to later come back and fire him.

they done the're damage control already,

[jks812]

Originally Posted by oncea3fan

I don't think he's done , RPM already gave him probation and fine, it would bad for them to later come back and fire him.

they done the're damage control already,

That's what I was thinking. If you're gonna fire him over it, why fine him now and put him on probation through the end of 2010. How would they explain doing all that as punishment and then firing him later because of it?

[boplenty]

He hasn't been convicted of anything yet. These actions by RPM and NASCAR are just "politically correct" things to do.

[loco4pablo]

Well he basically convicted himself by saying he "thought I felt fine" "I drank nothing but water for 90 minutes" "I take full responsibility for my bad decision" "I made a mistake"

[loco4pablo]

Originally Posted by jks812

That's what I was thinking. If you're gonna fire him over it, why fine him now and put him on probation through the end of 2010. How would they explain doing all that as punishment and then firing him later because of it?

I agree with Bo... They (nascar and RPM) had to do something.
The reason I say he will be let go is because sponsorship. Let me ask you this, if you were best buy and ready to stroke a check for several million are you going to invest in AJ and this controversy just because he is a nice guy??
Why bother when you have Reed Sorenson, Casey Mears, Jamie Mac and Reagen Smith all licking their chops. Regardless if he is convicted or not would you want mug shot pictures of your driver all over the internet? Do you want to hear fans on internet message boards making drinking/driving comments every time your driver crashes out? Do you want organizations such as MADD to picket your stores or post bulletins on their web sites stating not to support your business??
We are talking way too much money here and I am willing to bet that Best Buy is gonna say the investment isn't worth the risk or headache and picks another driver.

[oncea3fan]

some say even bad plablissity is good,
I am thinking with him stepping up , say he was wrong , that when he goes to court were going to see a PBJ and a fine

[loco4pablo]

Originally Posted by oncea3fan

some say even bad plablissity is good,
I am thinking with him stepping up , say he was wrong , that when he goes to court were going to see a PBJ and a fine

Oh I agree that is what will happen on the legal side of things, but people are skirting around the issue with sponsorship. OK let me ask this..

1) Do you think a company as big as Best Buy is going to turn a blind eye and pretend it didn't happen?

2). Do you think AJ is irreplaceable?? Why would BB stick with him when there are plenty of qualified spokesmen/drivers out there?

3) How would it benefit a company like Best Buy to continue sponsoring someone who has ties to a controversial/sensitive topic?

Trust me this kind of publicity is never ever good. Ask AJ how much he would give to make this publicity go away.
Ask Scott Wimmer how this turned out for him. Sure he is still out there but he is nowhere near where he was prior to his arrest.

[loco4pablo]

Let me say that I have been a big 'Dinger supporter since he first tried to come into this sport and he is one of my top 2 drivers and I really wish this never happened. I don't have a big issue with what he did as I have done the same thing many of times and have been lucky not to have been caught. So I can't throw stones!

But I also know there are things a celebrity or sports figure does not want to get involved in. Those are things such as drinking and driving, spousal abuse, Racial slurs, child abuse and animal abuse. The reason being is all these above mentioned all have advocate groups with millions of supporters and they are very very strong groups. Especially groups such as MADD for drinking and driving and PETA for animal abuse. These organizations are huge and have the means to make things difficult on corporations.
Look how much it cost Michael Vick in the corporate world. Yes he is still playing football but you don't NEED corporate sponsors to play football. Can't say the same for a race car driver.
Even thou AJ has not been convicted and he will more then likely get out of it. He will still be tied and mentioned with this and maybe in a year or two or 3 it will be water under the bridge but for now it's on the burner and I think the corporations will spend money else where and not get involved for now.

[nascaraddict]

Originally Posted by nascaraddict

I just wish that he had a "Glen Campbell Style" drunk photo to go along with the D.U.I. His was a classic.

I knew that it'd show up. He looks clueless in that one.