November 28, 2002

During this next NASCAR season, many fans are hoping the drivers that have a contract coming up to be renewed or looking for another ride, doesn't occur during this next season, as it did and has in previous seasons.

This isn't fair to the drivers.

To be midway in a season and hear about contract issues is unprofessional of both the car owners and NASCAR for not having a regulation to contracts. When the season begins, the drivers first and foremost concern should be the safety of their cars, and their point standings, not their contract.

If a driver has a contract that is to be negotiated during the racing season, how could any owner think that this driver is going to give 110% to him and his car, when the driver knows he may or may not have a ride for the next season.

If the driver doesn't have a ride, he is going to be looking for one and will more than likely find one, during the season for the next season. Now if I were that driver, do you really believe that I am going to give the owner of the car I am in this season, my full loyalty?

NO WAY.

I couldn't care less if the owner has owner points from my driving when I have found another ride in the middle of this season for the next season due to contract issues. Although I may be cutting my nose to spite my face, it's no risk to me when I know I have a ride next season.

This brings me to Jimmy Spencer. Spencer did give his #41 Target car 110% as well as to Chip Ganassi. After the Sterling Marlin, driver of the #40 car suffered injuries that put him out of the remainder of the racing season, Jamie McMurray was brought in. McMurray showed us all what he could do as a driver in just his second ever Winston Cup race, this may have been the reason for Ganassi telling Spencer that he has no ride for him this next season.

Many Spencer fans feels this was unfair. It wasn't Jimmy Spencer's fault that he had the car problems he had during the season, as well as the wrecks that caused him to have his DNF's.

Although, I don't blame Chip Ganassi doing what he thought was best for his team as an owner, when his decision was made two races before the end of the season. At that point it would not have made a difference on car owner points, or in Jimmy Spencer's driving points.

I do blame Chip Ganassi for making this decision public knowledge during the racing season. This was not fair to Jimmy Spencer nor to his fans.

We as fans have respect for NASCAR, the owners of cars, and the drivers, and as a fan we should be respected as well, to let our favorite driver finish his or her season before hearing they have no ride with the owner they were with.

I hope as a NASCAR fan that we see Jimmy Spencer with a ride next season, he did bring us some action on the track that most of us, (as Jimmy Spencer would say), "WE'LL NEVER FORGET"

God bless you all and have a great Happy Thanksgiving

You can contact Denise at: Insider Racing News