44 replies to this topic

[lindej]

Sorry, had to get this off my chest. On the ESPN.rpm site, under "chatterbox," there is this tidbit of NASCAR wisdom from some Jimmy Spencer. On road racing -

"It's not racing. Our sport has outgrown road racing. I think Watkins Glen and Sears Point, if I had my options, I'd want to clear the facilities and use both of 'em as bomb testing sites."

WOW! I don't know where to start. Is this guy for real? Does anyone know anything about him? I went on his website and he looks, to put if charitably, like a big ol' bag of donuts.

The best, and most unbelievable, element of his statement is that NASCAR has "outgrown road racing." Any thoughts?

[Jhope]

That's because he doesn't know how to turn his steering wheel to the right. Fack it! I'd love to see that big Ole Bag-O-Donuts first get into a Champ Car, and secondly, I'd like to see his fat ass squeal while approaching a right hander. This guy probably has the France family's arms so far up his puppet ass, and has probably been so influenced by NASCAR's marketing campaign of crash'em derby egg beater style racing, that he forgets where the sports heritage comes from.

[berge]

it's reasonably understandable.

how would you feel about man-handling a 3500 lb., live-axle, under-tired, closed-cockpit(hot), monster with a bus sized steering wheel around a road course.

kinda like having your choice of any car on the planet to race around the Monaco G.P and picking a lincoln town car.

[Duck]

I concur completely with you Jhope... Jimmy should pay homage to the "heritage" of "Ridge Runnin'" and learn to crank that freakin' wheel to the right. Hell, even Junior Johnson and Curtis Turner knew how to turn R-I-G-H-T (and apparently were pretty damn good at it).
Obviously, Jimmy's record on road courses reflects his sentiments now on record. It certainly wouldn't hurt to LEARN how to turn a car in both directions!

[Lateralus42]

Actually Jimmy Spencer did get into Brack's champ car during the off season. He couldnt get it past 3rd gear, he was intimidated by the power of the car.

[RiverRunner]

What an idiot.
Use Watkins Glen for a bomb range?
As for the assertion that a NASCAR is not suitable for road course racing,that's pretty dumb,too.
Hell,they spec build those things for just those two courses and if I recall,the likes of Boris Said and Ron Fellows haven't complained about them,but hey what do they know,they just come in twice a year and smoke the likes of guys like bag o' donuts (I like that one!) Spencer that drive them week in week out.
If Spencer can't hang with the likes of Jeff Gordon (which he can't) that seem to be able to wring a car out on a road course then maybe he should pack it in.
Pussy.

[Manson]

Spencer is an outright fool. He commented last year that if NASCAR mandated any safety devices and he still got hurt, he'd sue. Every time he opens his mouth, it's deep enough to fertilize my lawn up in Canada! :yawn:

[Buford]

"Mr Excitement" is a pussy?

[Ross Stonefeld]

Jimmy Spencer never forgets

[Buford]

I like Jimmy Spencer. He speaks his mind - empty though it may be. He is one of the few Nascar drivers who has acknowledged Nascar gives people "The Call" when they have a preference for who wins. He knows that because he knows he got "The Call" a few years ago when he had the MacDonald's sponsorship and they were talking about pulling out. He had been mired at the back all season. All of a sudden when it looked like MacDonalds was going to bail, his car gained an amazing speed increase for about three races. He was on the pole or front row and won a couple races. Then when the sponsorship was signed, he went back to the back again where he had been all season.

We can't complain the drivers are all homoginized corporate speak robots on one hand, and then criticize Jimmy Spencer because he isn't.

[RiverRunner]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Jimmy Spencer never forgets

Better watch out there Ross,you ever line up with him on a twisty bits course you would kick his ass so bad he'd smack ya around afterwards...;)

[Buford]

I can only think of two drivers in all of racing in any series you might get a truthful answer from. Tony Stewart and Jimmy Spencer. There may be more, but I can't think who it would be.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Someone who I respect immensely in racing (and probably the only one) said something interesting about NASCAR road racing a few weeks ago. For starters someone asked him if he thought the cup teams had TC on the road courses and he figured they did. Though with the lack of electronics in a cup car im not sure how you'd hide it. Wouldnt you be looking for mechanical linkages and the like?

At any rate, he said Road racing for oval guys, is like wet racing for road guys. Basically 60% of the grid gives up before the first lap of practice. Maybe 10% of that remaining 40% have any ability in it, and the other 90% (of 40%) work their butts off to become good at it. So thats why now Jeff Gordon while still the most naturally gifted guys on the RC (though ive heard Nadeau is as naturally gifted as Gordon and Montoya) he can still be beaten by some of the other guys. Mark Martin has allways impressed me with his road racing, especially during the mid 90s when he owned The Glenn.

Im with Buford, I prefer honest drivers; but it seems we dont have many intelligent honest drivers. Irvine, Spencer, et al.

[LCA]

Originally posted by Lateralus42
Actually Jimmy Spencer did get into Brack's champ car during the off season. He couldnt get it past 3rd gear, he was intimidated by the power of the car.

I remember hearing about that - funny stuff.

He cuts a pretty embarrasing figure and is canon fodder for those who would claim that drivers aren't atheletes. One thing I know is that Spencer is not an athelete.

I really dislike the "hell, I'll just knock 'em outta my way" bumper car mentality of NASCAR drivers and Spencer is a leadng proponent of that BS.

Why does Ganassi keep him anyways? I'm not sure (sorry, don't follow NASCAR too much) but I don't believe he has gotten any good results this year? Certainly, Sterling Marlin has outshined him. Why not put a young gun in there with more, uh, broad appeal.

He is a perfect fit for NASCAR and its fans - they deserve a guy like this.

[lindej]

I would agree that the mere fact that Spencer speaks his mind is somewhat appealing. However, having the audacity to speak one's mind does not immediately validate the substance of those comments. This guy sounds like the prototype for my admittedly cynical stereotype of a NASCAR driver - not particularly smart; closed minded; out of shape (again, see the website) and red neck'ish. To me, outspoken and dumb is not a really fabulous combination. However, I'll trust you guys will prove me wrong if he really does have something legitimate to say.

[Buford]

To me, outspoken and dumb is not a really fabulous combination

True but racing is supposed to be entertainment and he is most certainly entertaining. Comedy is entertainment, isn't it?

[Duck]

Of course, with ANY quote published, we really don't know the "correct" context behind it. I REALLY want to give 'Ol Jimmy the benefit-of-the-doubt and assume he might have been doing the tongue-in-cheek thing - but then again, I've heard him interviewed on the subject of road courses , and I really feel he truly hates turning right and having to brake.
Buford, you are C-O-R-R-E-C-T, sir - Jimmy is as candid as they come, but even candor at times, needs limitations.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Im giving the benefit of the doubt that he said exactly what he meant. Last year one of the announcers/ex-crew chiefs (I think Jeff Hammond?) was violently opposed to Fellows, Said, R.Gordon doing sears point saying they "took away" seats from deserving NASCAR guys. Well sir, drive faster on them big gokart tracks then

[Buford]

Road racers may take a few rides away from "deserving" Nascar drivers a couple races a year. But one of them will NEVER win a race. The officials or the "deserving Nascar drivers" always make sure that if any of them are a threat to win near the end, that they end up with a penalty or a undercarraige full of gravel.

[Rob G]

Originally posted by Buford
I can only think of two drivers in all of racing in any series you might get a truthful answer from. Tony Stewart and Jimmy Spencer. There may be more, but I can't think who it would be.

How about Paul Tracy and Robby Gordon?

[Newtsche]

Tracy, maybe but Robby Gordon isn't even honest with himself. Opening one's mouth doesn't necessarily produce any facts.

I enjoy the NASCAB road races, knowing that the majority of drivers and fans are having a miserable time -- schadenfreude!

To be honest, I think NASCAB oughta dump about a third of its races (1 1/2 mile ovals) and go back to dirt tracks.

[Lantern]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
So thats why now Jeff Gordon while still the most naturally gifted guys on the RC (though ive heard Nadeau is as naturally gifted as Gordon and Montoya) he can still be beaten by some of the other guys. Mark Martin has allways impressed me with his road racing, especially during the mid 90s when he owned The Glenn.

Hey now.....don't forget Ricky Rudd and Rusty Wallace!!

[Lantern]

Originally posted by Buford
I can only think of two drivers in all of racing in any series you might get a truthful answer from. Tony Stewart and Jimmy Spencer. There may be more, but I can't think who it would be.

Ward Burton and Little E. Kevin Harvick also.......and boy is he paying for it(along with being a dirty bastard)!!

[Buford]

Originally posted by Rob G

How about Paul Tracy and Robby Gordon?

Yeah those are two.
--------------------------------

Ward Burton and Little E. Kevin Harvick

Harvick probably. Not sure about Burton. Don't recall hearing him be particularily candid. They all might slip once in awhile when they are pissed off. But I was referring to guys who pretty much speak first, and consider what the PR people told them later.

[dick]

What a twit! It actually scares me that guys with that "good old boy" attitude still exist. He'd probably want to blow me up too because I drive a foreign car. Narrow mindedness like that makes me nuts. I bet he doesn't veer left when it comes to politics.

[Kaiser]

Originally posted by Buford
"Mr Excitement" is a pussy?

AKA MeatHead

This isn't new news, Spencer has never liked proper racing circuits :yawn:

[Kaiser]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
(though ive heard Nadeau is as naturally gifted as Gordon and Montoya)

IIRC Nadeau spent some time in a f3000 car

[Kaiser]

Originally posted by dick
What a twit! It actually scares me that guys with that "good old boy" attitude still exist. He'd probably want to blow me up too because I drive a foreign car. Narrow mindedness like that makes me nuts. I bet he doesn't veer left when it comes to politics.

Yea, I'm sure Spencer is up at night fuming because you drive an import

Aren't you being narrow minded by assuming that because he's from the south, and white that he votes right?

[Duck]

Actually, I don't think Jimmy is from the south at all... I believe he hails from Pennsylvania.

[MattPete]

Originally posted by Kaiser


IIRC Nadeau spent some time in a f3000 car

He drove in the Lotus Opel/Vauxhall Euroseries (as did Schu). From his site:

"Highest-finishing American ever in the Formula Opel European Union Series, finishing sixth overall in 1996."

"Posted five victories in the Skip Barber Pro Series from 1993-95."

In the early nineties, Jerry was America's great hope for F1 (as was Elton Julian). Then he disapeared off the radar screens for a few years. The next thing you know, he shows up at Michigan for a one-off in a NASCAR race, and he's doing pretty damn well!

Skip-Barber->Formula Opel->...NASCAR(???). sigh...

He should be in CART. But that's another story...

[Locai]

I would say that there are probably a substantial percentage of NASCAR drivers and fans that don't like the two road races.

I love watching the NASCAR road races. It's hilarious watching some of those guys try to get around the circuit.

There are only a few drivers who can handle the road courses:

Jeff Gordon
Robby Gordon
Mark Martin
Ricky Rudd
Tony Stewart
Jerry Nadeu

Boris Said
Ron Fellowes


It's interesting that Jimmy Spencer would say something like that. I remember a couple of years ago during the Sears Point race that they were talking about Dale Earnhardt (Sr.). I guess that he had a horrible time getting around the track the first few times he raced there. Instead of complaining about it he went to a driving class at the track. He quickly became a master of Sears Point.

[indycarjunkie]

I think Spencer's comments are typical of most drivers in NASCAR. He's just complaining because he's no good at it. Meanwhile there is a very short list of drivers such as the Gordons & Tony Stewart who dominate NASCAR's limited road schedule because they have .....(what's the word?)...TALENT!

[Pikachu Racing]

For those interested, Spencer DNQ'd Watkins Glen and the only driver with a qualifying below 116 MPH. I see Ryan Newman, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, and Kurt Busch qualified in the top 10. I also see PJ Jones, Scott Pruett, Boris Said, Tom Hubert, and Joe Varde in the race. Yes, the right drivers deserved to be in field at Watkins Glen.

[ensign14]

Justin Bell, a driver with plenty of road experience, also DNQ'd (albeit he was with an inexperienced team). He was only faster than Spencer. I think many NASCAR drivers would be competitive on roads if they wanted their career to go that way, but what's the point when NASCAR is so popular as is?

[Dironey]

Jimmy Spencer is a walking caricature, he's all the European NASCAR prejudices merged into one person. That doesn't mean he's representative of all current NASCAR drivers. None of the others look like a bag o' donuts, I'm sure they don't all share Spencer's views and I also think he's the last Cup driver who is still using an open-face helmet, further adding to the good ol' redneck image (it has of course been suggested that his head won't fit in a closed-face helmet, I'd better not comment on that).

[TheD2JBug]

Originally posted by Buford
I can only think of two drivers in all of racing in any series you might get a truthful answer from. Tony Stewart and Jimmy Spencer. There may be more, but I can't think who it would be.

I agree 100% ... however I could do with less of Spencer's driving of late .. he seems not to know the difference between a bump draft and a punt And Tony really needs anger management .. however I lile the guy anyways . he really is THAT damm good.

[TheD2JBug]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Someone who I respect immensely in racing (and probably the only one) said something interesting about NASCAR road racing a few weeks ago. For starters someone asked him if he thought the cup teams had TC on the road courses and he figured they did. Though with the lack of electronics in a cup car im not sure how you'd hide it. Wouldnt you be looking for mechanical linkages and the like?

At any rate, he said Road racing for oval guys, is like wet racing for road guys. Basically 60% of the grid gives up before the first lap of practice. Maybe 10% of that remaining 40% have any ability in it, and the other 90% (of 40%) work their butts off to become good at it. So thats why now Jeff Gordon while still the most naturally gifted guys on the RC (though ive heard Nadeau is as naturally gifted as Gordon and Montoya) he can still be beaten by some of the other guys. Mark Martin has allways impressed me with his road racing, especially during the mid 90s when he owned The Glenn.

Im with Buford, I prefer honest drivers; but it seems we dont have many intelligent honest drivers. Irvine, Spencer, et al.

in some cases there's piss taking done .. I've heard that in Eddie Irvine's case he does tend to take the piss at them.

[Math Soucy]

Isn't Spencer to NASCAR what Irvine is to F1? Very candid in print or in front of the mic when interviewed? From what I gather, Spencer is not the most popular driver among the Winston Cup drivers, and he is often out-spoken on NASCAR rules changes and encounters with other drivers. Isn't Spencer the one Kevin Harvick or some other young WC driver referred to as a "bitter old has been, oh wait a second...a has been implies that you've actually done something in the past, maybe he's just a bitter old never-been." Of course, I'm paraphrasing, but it was a great quote from one of those younger drivers from a race this year.

[John B]

That was Kurt Busch after the very recent Brickyard 400. They've bumped a couple times in the past, including when busch tapped him to win Bristol this spring. SPencer tapped Busch in the rear as they entered turn 3 at Indy and caused Busch to have a big wreck. It was kind of funny, under the yellow twice KB ran at Spencer's car, once flapping his arms like a bird and then showing his rear end....

[Punisher6]

OK, could "outgrown" mean that 44 cars on a small road course is kinda ridiculous?? 25 to 30 cars would still be crowded, but it would be better.

[Lee Roy]

Amazing. On a Formula One fourm, people are talking about Jimmy Spencer??? I expect it on a CART and IRL board, they don't have much of any substance to talk about anymore, except when the lights will finally be turned out???? I'd think you had more important things to talk about on a board devoted to the number one motorsports series in the world???

[Don Capps]

Originally posted by Lee Roy


Amazing. On a Formula One fourm, people are talking about Jimmy Spencer??? I expect it on a CART and IRL board, they don't have much of any substance to talk about anymore, except when the lights will finally be turned out???? I'd think you had more important things to talk about on a board devoted to the number one motorsports series in the world???

Well, the supposed "number one motorsports series in the world" is about as exciting as watching paint dry right now. Besides, Jimmy Spencer is a far more interesting person than any of the current crop of F1 types, Eddie Irvine excepted of course....

Besides, those who suffer from "F1 Myopia" tend to forget that there is lots more to motorsports than F1.

Just an opinion, of course...

[EVL29]

Originally posted by Lee Roy


Amazing. On a Formula One fourm, people are talking about Jimmy Spencer??? I expect it on a CART and IRL board, they don't have much of any substance to talk about anymore, except when the lights will finally be turned out???? I'd think you had more important things to talk about on a board devoted to the number one motorsports series in the world???

meeeeeeooooooowwwww.

[aportinga]

I wonder I Jimmy Spencer is one of the guilty parties who radio'ed in druing the Brickyard400 asking for a back-up driver............ and if you actually watched the race you heard Mike Joy say:

"Now we are learning that some of the drivers are indicating they may need back up drivers because of the heat"



My bet is that it would be a good bet

[zoso429]

Funny enough Spencer was *replaced* at Watkins Glen by Scott Pruett because, and I'm paraphrasing here, He has had "Challenges" on Road courses. Per Ganassi.