I've been a Kelly Bires fan for a while now and was beyond thrilled when Dale Earnhardt Jr. signed him to JR Motorsports starting this season! I knew that when Kelly finally got into a solid, stable ride he would shine. Then things started to fall apart.
Two words: Danica Patrick.
To be completely honest, I don't care for Danica much. I don't have a problem using sexiness to promote yourself in this type of business, but posing nearly naked in a clearly sexual way is simply unprofessional, in my opinion. I guess some women don't mind, but I'd rather have people know me for other reasons than how I look in lingerie. So when everyone started talking about her racing in Nationwide for JRM I was a bit fearful. When she was entered in the ARCA race at Daytona I was even more afraid.
When she said it was her decision to race in the N'Wide Daytona race, I knew Kelly was done for.
In reality, Dale Jr. took Kelly's ride (the #88) at Daytona - I think this is unfair, no matter what kind of sponsorship agreements he had with Hellmen's. JRM's second car, the #7, was available for Kelly and it was assumed before Danica popped up that he would be driving that car. JRM made it clear that they weren't willing to put their own money into fielding a third entry for either Kelly or Danica. Basically, it was only a matter of time before it was announced Danica would replace Kelly at Daytona, particularly after she did well in the ARCA race.
I'm very disappointed in this decision. Kelly, as JRM's only full-time driver, should be the first priority. I understand Danica brings in money and a rather nauseating amount of media attention, but it's absolutely ridiculous that JRM's full-time driver won't have much of a chance at competing for the Nationwide championship this year. Worse, now Dale Jr. said Kelly probably won't be racing more than half the season anyway because of a lack of sponsorship. This may be reading between the lines too much, but I take that to mean Kelly is just a placeholder. I love Dale Jr., but this is not the way to run a respectable race team. Does loyalty mean nothing?
I can't even ask if talent means anything because more and more it doesn't. I know, I know, NAPA has stuck with Michael Waltrip even though he hasn't won in four years, so I should shut up. But at least Michael has stuck around in NASCAR his entire life, sacrificed more than most could ever imagine and built a team from the ground up that has strengthened the competition. Danica posed on some cars in her underwear and seductively unzips her driver's suit in commercials.
I'm harsh - though not as harsh as some! - but I want to make it clear I don't hate Danica, or really even dislike her to a great degree. I don't hope for her failure. It's just frustrating that she consciously pushed Kelly out of racing at Daytona, something that he's been clearly looking forward to for months.
Kelly, keep your chin up. You'll prove you should have been the #88 all along.
Two words: Danica Patrick.
To be completely honest, I don't care for Danica much. I don't have a problem using sexiness to promote yourself in this type of business, but posing nearly naked in a clearly sexual way is simply unprofessional, in my opinion. I guess some women don't mind, but I'd rather have people know me for other reasons than how I look in lingerie. So when everyone started talking about her racing in Nationwide for JRM I was a bit fearful. When she was entered in the ARCA race at Daytona I was even more afraid.
When she said it was her decision to race in the N'Wide Daytona race, I knew Kelly was done for.
In reality, Dale Jr. took Kelly's ride (the #88) at Daytona - I think this is unfair, no matter what kind of sponsorship agreements he had with Hellmen's. JRM's second car, the #7, was available for Kelly and it was assumed before Danica popped up that he would be driving that car. JRM made it clear that they weren't willing to put their own money into fielding a third entry for either Kelly or Danica. Basically, it was only a matter of time before it was announced Danica would replace Kelly at Daytona, particularly after she did well in the ARCA race.
I'm very disappointed in this decision. Kelly, as JRM's only full-time driver, should be the first priority. I understand Danica brings in money and a rather nauseating amount of media attention, but it's absolutely ridiculous that JRM's full-time driver won't have much of a chance at competing for the Nationwide championship this year. Worse, now Dale Jr. said Kelly probably won't be racing more than half the season anyway because of a lack of sponsorship. This may be reading between the lines too much, but I take that to mean Kelly is just a placeholder. I love Dale Jr., but this is not the way to run a respectable race team. Does loyalty mean nothing?
I can't even ask if talent means anything because more and more it doesn't. I know, I know, NAPA has stuck with Michael Waltrip even though he hasn't won in four years, so I should shut up. But at least Michael has stuck around in NASCAR his entire life, sacrificed more than most could ever imagine and built a team from the ground up that has strengthened the competition. Danica posed on some cars in her underwear and seductively unzips her driver's suit in commercials.
I'm harsh - though not as harsh as some! - but I want to make it clear I don't hate Danica, or really even dislike her to a great degree. I don't hope for her failure. It's just frustrating that she consciously pushed Kelly out of racing at Daytona, something that he's been clearly looking forward to for months.
Kelly, keep your chin up. You'll prove you should have been the #88 all along.