Crash for Cash

Mr. Media in the unemployment line, rookie race, crash for cash, and the Checker Auto Parts 500 from Phoenix, Arizona.

Mr. Media Out at Ganassi ..............

I doubt very seriously if anyone connected with Winston Cup racing was surprised to hear that Chip Ganassi finally gave Jimmy Spencer the axe. The first thing that came to mind was, "It took him long enough." I've written before that Spencer does his racing with his mouth and can't back it up on the track, and I'm sticking to my guns on that one. Spencer has since commented that Ganassi's move took him by surprise. It kind of makes me wonder what the guy expected. Maybe he was too used to the mediocre performance level accepted at Haas/Carter Racing. He should have known that it wouldn't be that way driving for Chip Ganassi.

In 13 years of Winston Cup racing, from 1989 thru 2001, Spencer had two wins (with Junior Johnson), 25 top five, and 70 top ten finishes along with 4 Bud poles, two of which were won in 2001. Going into Phoenix in the 2002 season, Spencer has no wins, two top five, and six top ten finishes. He has no Bud poles for 2002 and was listed 27th in driver's points. His best finish for Chip Ganassi Motorsports was a second place finish at Bristol's spring race. Many insiders feel that failing to qualify for the season opener at Daytona was the beginning of the end for Spencer. He got the season off to a bad start with that one.

With the amount of new young drivers emerging onto the scene, one only has to wonder what will happen to Spencer in the Silly Season shuffle. He may very well be shuffled back to the Busch Series full time where he drives the No. 1 Yellow Freight Chevrolet for James Finch. The veterans who are solid drivers and have the records to back them up are the ones who will get the driving jobs that are left when the cream of the crop has been picked and the up and coming drivers get their shot. Unfortunately for him, Spencer doesn't fit into either category.

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