Silly Season, Blaise Alexander, broadcast dispute, and the UAW-GM Quality 500 from Charlotte, NC.
Silly Season............. At Full Song
For the benefit of our new Winston Cup fans, "Silly Season" is the term used in conjunction with the switching of drivers to different cars and teams. Drivers on the move, some seeking greener pastures, and others just trying to maintain their existence in the sport. It actually goes on all season, but as the season winds down in the fall, it gets into "full song," as Buddy Baker would say.
The big news this week was the firing of Jeremy Mayfield from the No. 12, Penske Racing's Mobile One sponsored Ford. As Penske teammates, he and Rusty Wallace, driver of the No. 2, Penske Racing's, Miller Lite sponsored Ford, have not had a good working relationship. Wallace owns a third of Penske Racing, along with Don Miller, and Roger Penske. The handwriting has been on the wall for Mayfield since Michael Kranfuss sold his interests in Penske Racing several months ago. Mayfield started looking at other teams after that, and his griping and carping about the bad equipment he had to race with caused dissension on the team. The chemistry within the crew that was evident while Mayfield was running good and winning races, was gone. Penske brought a '98 model short track car to the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway last week for Mayfield to drive, which caused him to really hit the roof. It looks to me like they set him up for the oust. Penske Racing put Mike Wallace in Mayfield's old ride for the Charlotte race and he had to take a provisional start at 39th.
Kevin Lepage, who was ousted from the No. 4, Morgan/McClure Racing's, Kodak sponsored Chevrolet, ended up with Mile Wallace's old ride in the No. 7, Nations Rent sponsored Ford for the Charlotte race. Lepage managed to qualify the car in the fifth starting position.
Robbie Gordon, another driver who is looking for a permanent ride for next season, had bad luck qualifying for the Charlotte Cup race. He took over the driving duties in the No. 31, Richard Childress Racing's Lowe's sponsored Chevrolet when Mike Skinner left to get a knee operation. He failed to qualify the car whose sponsor owns the track name. That is not a good way to obtain a permanent driving position for 2002.
