Mike
Comparing Bobby Labonte to Danica just ain't right...
In the same time frame as Danica, Bobby has 25 NASCAR wins and a Cup Championship.
And Bobby won the Nationwide race in 2007 at Talladega (not a Cup win, but a NASCAR win). I give credit to Danica for a win in a totally different type of car, so it's only fair to give Bobby credit for that win.
Bobby hasn't been with a 1st echelon team since he left Gibbs. Bobby's making a living doing something he enjoys. I truly don't believe that he still has the desire that led him to 7 top 10 Cup finishes between 1995 and 2003 (that's was an average finish of 7th in the points).
I also wouldn't call Earnhardt/Ganassi a 1st echelon team. At least by my definition - 1st echelon teams are Roush, Childress, Hendrick, Gibbs, Stewart-Haas and Penske.
Those 6 teams represent about 40% of the field for most races. All 6 of those teams have produced Champions.
Earnhardt/Ganassi is a second tier team - just like RPM, MWR etc...
I really don't have anything against women racing. I'd love to see a woman come in and earn her way up in the sport like guys like Dales Sr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson.
Heck even Bobby Labonte earned his right to drive a Cup car. He was the 1991 Busch Series Champion.
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Originally Posted by Sirrotica
The thing is Tony wants results not just a 3rd team. Ryan Newman is on a 1 year contract (probation if you will) because if he doesn't perform this year he will be looking for a ride.
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I don't believe Newman is on "probation".
He finished 14th in the points last year and 10th the year before. Tony only finished in 9th place last year - that's not that big of a difference. Newman only got a one year contract because of the loss of U.S. Army sponsorship (dictated by some goofy congresswoman).
Is Tony going to fire Danica if she finishes in 30th place this year? Based on what you're saying he will. I don't believe he's going to fire her for that - as long as Go Daddy gives him another $20 mil next year (or something like that).
Tony didn't have to find a sponsor for Danica - she brought a sponsor to Tony. That's a totally different situation than Newman.