[jks812]

hearing from many sources that Hall of Fame Racing, which ran many drivers in the #96 Toyota in 2008, is selling off cars and equipment and most of the work force has been laid off and is not expected to start the season, if run at all.(1-6-2009)

[Bob Tanner]

What do you expect when guys like Staubach and Aikman, and this next guy who owned a s&b team somewhere, none of whom had any interest in motor sports, suddenly decide they want to own a big time race team?

The same can be asked about other businessmen and investment companies.

Moral: Leave racing to people who actually are interested and involved in the sport.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

What do you expect when guys like Staubach and Aikman, and this next guy who owned a s&b team somewhere, none of whom had any interest in motor sports, suddenly decide they want to own a big time race team?

The same can be asked about other businessmen and investment companies.

Moral: Leave racing to people who actually are interested and involved in the sport.

Exactly. I think thats gonna happen to more teams too that are selling or bringing in "outside" investors and owners.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by jks812

Exactly. I think thats gonna happen to more teams too that are selling or bringing in "outside" investors and owners.

When you don't have a "Love" of the sport, it's just too easy to turn your back and walk away. The same goes for fans, too.

[trollmc08]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

When you don't have a "Love" of the sport, it's just too easy to turn your back and walk away. The same goes for fans, too.

you express my feelings so well............Thanks.

[BiscuitMan]

From Jayski's Tuesday Evening:

UPDATE 2: Hall of Fame Racing will compete in the Daytona 500 and race during the 2009 Sprint Cup season, according to a team co-owner. Tom Garfinkel, an Arizona Diamondbacks executive who owns the single-car organization along with Jeff Moorad, said in an e-mail that Hall of Fame "will be racing at Daytona and in 2009." Speculation has swirled around the #96 operation since the team cut ties with Joe Gibbs Racing -- with which it had a technical alliance -- laid off several employees, and reportedly slowed production. The team has sponsorship from DLP, but that deal is not believed to be for the entire season. Moorad, formerly chief executive officer of the Diamondbacks, resigned from that position this week to spearhead an ownership bid for the San Diego Padres. It is unclear whether Moorad's move will affect the race team. Garfinkel, the Diamondbacks' executive vice president, said more details on Hall of Fame Racing's 2009 plans will follow in the coming weeks.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by BiscuitMan

From Jayski's Tuesday Evening:

UPDATE 2: Hall of Fame Racing will compete in the Daytona 500 and race during the 2009 Sprint Cup season, according to a team co-owner. Tom Garfinkel, an Arizona Diamondbacks executive who owns the single-car organization along with Jeff Moorad, said in an e-mail that Hall of Fame "will be racing at Daytona and in 2009." Speculation has swirled around the #96 operation since the team cut ties with Joe Gibbs Racing -- with which it had a technical alliance -- laid off several employees, and reportedly slowed production. The team has sponsorship from DLP, but that deal is not believed to be for the entire season. Moorad, formerly chief executive officer of the Diamondbacks, resigned from that position this week to spearhead an ownership bid for the San Diego Padres. It is unclear whether Moorad's move will affect the race team. Garfinkel, the Diamondbacks' executive vice president, said more details on Hall of Fame Racing's 2009 plans will follow in the coming weeks.

so they plan to run the Daytona 500? quite a statement for a team that doesn't have a driver inked, and an iffy relationship with their sponsors and crew chief.

Is Garfinkle whistling past the graveyard?

[jks812]

So I guess we'll know at Daytona and maybe a couple weeks after it, who's gonna be racing and who ain't....lol

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by BiscuitMan

From Jayski's Tuesday Evening:

UPDATE 2: Hall of Fame Racing will compete in the Daytona 500 and race during the 2009 Sprint Cup season, according to a team co-owner. Tom Garfinkel, an Arizona Diamondbacks executive who owns the single-car organization along with Jeff Moorad, said in an e-mail that Hall of Fame "will be racing at Daytona and in 2009." Speculation has swirled around the #96 operation since the team cut ties with Joe Gibbs Racing -- with which it had a technical alliance -- laid off several employees, and reportedly slowed production. The team has sponsorship from DLP, but that deal is not believed to be for the entire season. Moorad, formerly chief executive officer of the Diamondbacks, resigned from that position this week to spearhead an ownership bid for the San Diego Padres. It is unclear whether Moorad's move will affect the race team. Garfinkel, the Diamondbacks' executive vice president, said more details on Hall of Fame Racing's 2009 plans will follow in the coming weeks.

OK, on a scale of 1 to 10, how much credence should we put in this press release? I don't know about anyone else, but if we're talking about showing up for Daytona and six or seven more races, I'll give it an "7." If we're talking about a full-time gig with a car that is competitive at a 20th-25th place level, I'll give it a "2."

I'll give roughly the same, or a little less, scale reading to the recent Tommy Baldwin news.

[BiscuitMan]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

OK, on a scale of 1 to 10, how much credence should we put in this press release? I don't know about anyone else, but if we're talking about showing up for Daytona and six or seven more races, I'll give it an "7." If we're talking about a full-time gig with a car that is competitive at a 20th-25th place level, I'll give it a "2."

I'll give roughly the same, or a little less, scale reading to the recent Tommy Baldwin news.

From what I am reading about Hall of Fame is that they still have a few employees at the shop. When the rumors hit the public press, Tom Garfinkel makes a public statement that the HoF team will be at Daytona in February. The employees at the shop didn't seem to know that when the reporter went by there Monday.

I believe this is just a stalling tactic until Garfinkel and his executive assistants really make a decision.

Actually, racing at Daytona starts one month from today. The team needs to get a primary car and a backup car prepared. Drivers seem to a dime a dozen these days. Somebody will be ready to jump into the car when they get to Daytona.

All this is continguent upon Garfinkle shelling out some cash for the Daytona experience.