This process of hiring and firing of drivers, shuffling sponsors and wholesale crew changes is known in NASCAR as "Silly Season." This year the changes are shaping up to make this one of the silliest ever.
It all started the first week in May when Dale Earnhardt Inc and Richard Childress Racing fired their drivers Steve Park and Jeff Green. The two drivers were then immediately hired by the other team, effectively swapping rides before The Winston in Charlotte. DEI got the better end of this driver trade as Steve Park just hasn't been the same since his accident.
Last week John Andretti was fired from his Petty Enterprises ride and replaced by Christian Fittipaldi. Andretti never really found his way in stock car racing with just two wins for Petty in more than five years of trying. So far in 2003 Andretti had managed only one top ten finish and was 33rd in points. To his credit, John Andretti doesn't bend up a lot of equipment and would make a solid driver for an underfunded team who can't afford to replace their cars every week.
Today Mike Skinner was released from the Morgan McClure Motorsports car #4. Not even halfway into the season and Skinner had already used up his provisionals and took his first DNQ in Michigan this week. Skinner is not my favorite driver on the circuit, but the 4 car's problems are not entirely his fault. According to Morgan McClure's own press release the car that they took to Michigan was brand new and had never been tested or taken to the wind tunnel. In today's ultra-competitive NASCAR Winston Cup series how does a team make that poor of a decision and then fire the driver?
It has been an interesting silly season already in Winston Cup racing and certainly there are more changes to come before 2004. Looking over the names at the bottom of the championship table offers up some more candidates for change.
Would AJ Foyt fire his own son? Will Kyle Petty fire himself? Could Spencer, Mayfield, Jarrett and Rudd be candidates for change after their frustrating starts to 2003? Stay tuned as NASCAR's silly season is in full effect.
