You're Out! Wait, You're In!

Apparently, Elliott Sadler will still be driving the #19 Dodge for GEM-cum-whatever-the-new-title-is team. From what I gather on the articles published about the topic, it was a case of misunderstanding and crossing of the cables.

I wonder just how true that is. There was plenty of talk about how sponsors were threatening to pull out and legal action – both financial consuming problems to the situation. In this economy, that is a serious faux pas right now.

The news was announced at the same time as the merger between GEM and Petty was completed. On a day that should have been momentous for the team, they are left with egg on their face. That fresh start look already looking a bit shabby.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d hate to see anyone in the dole queue with their P45 in hand. But can you blame GEM for wanting to replace him. While Sadler appears to be an extremely likeable character in front of the camera, his results do not match up on the track – and drivers get paid for the business on the track more so than off it. By the same token, GEM shouldn’t have given a driver a new contract if there were any doubts.

The real loser in all this has to be AJ Allmendinger. Again he is back into a place of insecurity. He is bumped over to the #10, which is placed outside the top-35 points. That will require AJ to qualify on speed for the first five races of the year – not that such a feat is beyond him. He was stuck in a similar circumstance at the tail end of last year when he drove the car.

At this stage, the car is only slated to run eight races. After that, they are lacking sponsorship to fund the car any further. If the situation stays the same, once more the promising talent will be left high and dry.