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CUP: SPEED Personalities React To Allmendinger’s Release From Penske Racing
SPEED on-air personalities offer their perspective on the news...
SPEED PERSONALITIES REACT TO ALLMENDINGER’S RELEASE FROM PENSKE RACING
“This news is disappointing to hear for AJ, but understandable on the business side for Mr. Penske. Life’s challenges can tear you down or make you stronger, and I pray AJ is able to walk away discovering the good in a bad situation.” --Wendy Venturini, SPEED reporter
“Roger didn’t have a choice but to release AJ. Most drivers have a ‘morals’ or ‘ethics’ clause in their contracts, and unfortunately for AJ, I’m sure that came into play. The team had to consider how the sponsor views this situation. NASCAR is so different from Major League Baseball and other pro sports because sponsor names are front and center on driver uniforms, while teams such as the Baltimore Orioles are represented on their uniforms instead of a sponsor’s name. That factors significantly into this equation.” --Steve Byrnes, host of NASCAR Race Hub
“A.J.'s release was inevitable and allows Penske Racing and Pennzoil to get on with the selection of their next driver. The real question is where A.J. goes next. It was a smart move to enter the NASCAR ‘Road to Recovery’ program, but that leaves open the question of who's going to hire him once he completes the program. I hear IndyCar calling.” --Dave Despain, host of Wind Tunnel
Penske Racing today announced the release of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger from the organization following his failed drug test last month. The team also confirmed Sam Hornish, Jr. again will be in the No. 22 Dodge this weekend at Pocono Raceway and for the “foreseeable future.” Below, the SPEED on-air personalities offer their perspective on the news:
“I’m not sure Roger Penske had a choice in this matter. In these tough times of finding sponsorship in the Sprint Cup Series, owners must take care of the precious assets they have. I think it was best to create separation and put this situation behind them. The No. 22 car is one of the premier rides in the garage, and the next chapter with this team should be on the track and not off of it.” --Adam Alexander, host of SPEED Center
“Roger Penske is one of the classiest guys in motorsports and he had no other choice but to release AJ. He gave AJ a shot. A lot of circumstances have taken place about which we don’t have all the details, and there has been a lot of public confusion surrounding this story. Therefore, I think AJ needs to speak publicly and relay his side of the story because everything from him has come through his camp. Now it’s time to hear directly from AJ.” --Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“Penske’s hands were tied in this matter and he didn’t have a choice but to let AJ go. I think the combination of AJ failing the drug test and then AJ’s camp releasing confusing and contradictory information led to this moment. I’m sad for AJ because he’s a great guy, but this is business and teams can’t do anything to embarrass their corporate sponsors if they want to retain them. A failed drug test is as big a black eye as you can have in this day and age.” --Tom Jensen, SPEED.com Editor-in-Chief
“This news is disappointing to hear for AJ, but understandable on the business side for Mr. Penske. Life’s challenges can tear you down or make you stronger, and I pray AJ is able to walk away discovering the good in a bad situation.” --Wendy Venturini, SPEED reporter
“Roger didn’t have a choice but to release AJ. Most drivers have a ‘morals’ or ‘ethics’ clause in their contracts, and unfortunately for AJ, I’m sure that came into play. The team had to consider how the sponsor views this situation. NASCAR is so different from Major League Baseball and other pro sports because sponsor names are front and center on driver uniforms, while teams such as the Baltimore Orioles are represented on their uniforms instead of a sponsor’s name. That factors significantly into this equation.” --Steve Byrnes, host of NASCAR Race Hub
“A.J.'s release was inevitable and allows Penske Racing and Pennzoil to get on with the selection of their next driver. The real question is where A.J. goes next. It was a smart move to enter the NASCAR ‘Road to Recovery’ program, but that leaves open the question of who's going to hire him once he completes the program. I hear IndyCar calling.” --Dave Despain, host of Wind Tunnel
Penske Racing today announced the release of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger from the organization following his failed drug test last month. The team also confirmed Sam Hornish, Jr. again will be in the No. 22 Dodge this weekend at Pocono Raceway and for the “foreseeable future.” Below, the SPEED on-air personalities offer their perspective on the news:
“I’m not sure Roger Penske had a choice in this matter. In these tough times of finding sponsorship in the Sprint Cup Series, owners must take care of the precious assets they have. I think it was best to create separation and put this situation behind them. The No. 22 car is one of the premier rides in the garage, and the next chapter with this team should be on the track and not off of it.” --Adam Alexander, host of SPEED Center
“Roger Penske is one of the classiest guys in motorsports and he had no other choice but to release AJ. He gave AJ a shot. A lot of circumstances have taken place about which we don’t have all the details, and there has been a lot of public confusion surrounding this story. Therefore, I think AJ needs to speak publicly and relay his side of the story because everything from him has come through his camp. Now it’s time to hear directly from AJ.” --Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“Penske’s hands were tied in this matter and he didn’t have a choice but to let AJ go. I think the combination of AJ failing the drug test and then AJ’s camp releasing confusing and contradictory information led to this moment. I’m sad for AJ because he’s a great guy, but this is business and teams can’t do anything to embarrass their corporate sponsors if they want to retain them. A failed drug test is as big a black eye as you can have in this day and age.” --Tom Jensen, SPEED.com Editor-in-Chief
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