Comments on: Updated: Your Favorite Team and a Funded Driver (or John Wes Townley)

By: abovetheshop

abovetheshop — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:06:31 +0000

Its sad – teams will put a monkey in the car if it has a sponsor. I know numerous young drivers with real talent, who are skilled behind the wheel and under the hood that are not given the chance because daddy insn’t loaded.

By: Journo

Journo — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:15:00 +0000

JRexx- RAB is a pretty good team (not RCR) but not like any of their counterparts on the “other side of the garage”. They get all of their equipment from Roush and have the best equipment in all other areas thanks in large part to the Townley’s money. I think this is the reason JWT is the butt of a lot (or most) jokes around the garage. He’s a nice kid, but I have serious doubts this is the answer. I hope though for RCR’s sake he is a little more competitive next season.

By: JRexx

JRexx — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:12:26 +0000

And to Journo, I understand the Brian Scott thing now. As well as what you mean by Danica, though I’m pretty sure she has a couple sponsers from IndyCars who will follow her every footstep.

And I see the Marc Davis thing to a degree. But every race I’ve seen him in this year, and I’ve counted 3 or 4 different teams in 2 different series, he’s sponsored by WHUR and Howard University. Now, I may be misunderstanding that sponsorship deal, but it just appears to me he’s buying a ride, even though, yes, one of those teams was his family’s team. That’s just the way it appears on paper, you know?

By: JRexx

JRexx — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:07:42 +0000

I was thinking on this subject today and got thinking, doesn’t John Wes Townley drive for Jay Robinson Racing. You know, Jay Robinson Racing who has had like 2 top tens since he joined the Nationwide series. I know Townley’s wrecking can’t be blamed on a bad team, but if he had good equipment and could qualify top 10 or 20, he might avoid some wrecks. Like I said, maybe Townley to RCR could work out.

Also, did someone really make a Buckshot Jones joke? Seriously?

By: Holmes

Holmes — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:22:29 +0000

I thought John Wes Townly was a pseudonym for Buckshot Jones. My bad!

By: Neon

Neon — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:16:34 +0000

TC/Journo you asked a couple of days ago for feedback? Well there you have it. 25 comments on a somehwhat controversial subject.

I understand the diffference between a “self” funded driver vs fully sponsored driver. The real problem is that fans pay good money to see the best “professional” drivers race. Regardless of where the coin comes from to fund the team/driver, more and more these days you are not seeing the best drivers available on this planet. Period!

If I go to an NHL, NBA, MLB or NFL game I am “typically” witnessing the performance of the best atheletes in their respective sport. In NASCAR, or many other forms or motorsport as well, you are not witnessing “the best” 43 drivers available. Period.

There again Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretsky or Joe Montana never even had to buy there own game jersey!

Talladega might be just the place for a funded driver to squeak thru “the BIG one” and suprise all w/ a win. Imagine the comments then.

By: steve

steve — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:11:24 +0000

Given the confusion of who is and who isn’t a ‘funded’ driver, maybe you need three categories: ‘Townleys’, who lack any real talent and survive on the basis of family money, ‘Jrs’, who have sponsorship deals out of proportion to on-track success, and ‘Johnsons’ whose performance lives up to the sponsor dollars?

By: Marybeth

Marybeth — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:02:12 +0000

““Grover said it perfectly…Hendrick already did it. Do you really think they care Dale Jr is having a bad year??”
No I don’t think HMS cares the Dale Jr. is having a bad year. If they did they would not have put him in the car he finished 27th in Pocono last June in Charlotte. Which means it is still one of the cars Tony Jr. built on DEI specs from 2007, as he has mostly driven since he has been at HMS. If RH cared he would not have allowed it. They are happy to just take the money Jr. brings and use it to get Jimmie another championship, while Jr. could not possibly run competitively against him.
Marybeth”
…and I would like to add to the above, ‘the net effect of all of this is to grind Jr.’s career to dust.’

By: Tom Gulf Coast

Tom Gulf Coast — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:02:21 +0000

I agree that Menard has some talent, its not like only money allows him to keep his car in the top 35. I think having a top 35 driver that pays his own bills is a good business move for any owner trying to keep the guys at the shop in a job.

By: Journo

Journo — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:51:43 +0000

JRexx- I didn’t say anything disparaging about Brian Scott. But his family does fund his ride; that is a fact. He is what we consider a “funded driver.” He is no different than Paul Menard or John Wes Townley in that respect. They all have rides funded by their parents money. That wasn’t an indictment on his talent though.

Hence why I wrote in the original post, “Now I write this not to bash those who are able to fund their own rides. Certainly some of these guys have talent and are more than deserving of their positions.” Please feel free to include Brian Scott in that list.

I wouldn’t include Marc Davis in this list either. He started out his NASCAR career as a Gibbs development driver. When he was released he did start his own deal, but they have sponsors. That’s the only way they’re able to afford to run. The Davis’ are not independently wealthy. Marc’s father is a retired CBS News cameraman. He’s not the co-owner of a chain of successful fast food restaurants, or the billionaire owner of a successful home improvement company. Very different situations.

And Danica at this point is also not a “funded driver.” She does not pay her own way and neither does her family. She has sponsors, who pay very good money for the right to be represented by her. If you’re not funding your own ride, you’re not a “funded driver” here.