Why did Mike Dunn quit driving?

#31 07-28-2008, 02:01 PM

Speaking of the Steinbrenner's, does George have some kind of health problem? I saw him at the All-Star game and he came out in a golf cart and he never got out of it and he just looked like he has gone down hill since the last time I saw him.

I wish Mike was still driving, he is a very nice guy. I will never forget that he and Darrell Gwynn were the first drag racers I ever met while I was at Craig Hospital back in July of 95 and they came over for an afternoon with the LaVictoria Salsa dragster before the Mile High Nationals. That was really cool and the hospital gave tickets to the race and after me and my Dad went the rest is history!

#32 07-28-2008, 02:35 PM

We have a sports columnist up here by the name of Sid Hartman. This guy's been around forever, and has cultivated a lot of friends in the sports business over the years. He's known to maintain a friendship with George Steinbrenner. I heard him mention on the air a few weeks ago that George hasn't been doing too well lately health-wise, and doesn't have much to do with any aspect of the team anymore.

#33 07-28-2008, 03:58 PM

Wasn't there something going around a couple of years or so ago about Force fielding a Top Fuel car and wanting to put Dunn in it? It seems like I remember that deal not happening because Mike was at a point of re-signing with ESPN, and because the Force deal wasn't close, he chose to re-up for the commentating job.

Isn't that close, or was that all just rumor?

Sean D

#34 07-28-2008, 07:28 PM

I'm not sure if it was a Top Fuel job for Force, but he was offered a driving job with some team but he turned it down because he still had a year or two on his ESPN contract, and his dad taught him that a contract is something you honor.

#35 07-28-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Veskovich

Bob,

Thank you for making this post, I was fuming at the screen, but took myself away from the computer. I was going to call Andrew up and tell him so we could have a good ol laugh.

Hey why I am here, congrats on seeing the Turners run a stout .45 in one of your cars, good stuff

Fume all you want. We could all use some more phoney press releases from Andrew "no show" Cowin.

#36 07-28-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McGuire

Fume all you want. We could all use some more phoney press releases from Andrew "no show" Cowin.

And exactly which releaes are these that you speak of? Come on John, do tell...

#37 07-28-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Veskovich

And exactly which releaes are these that you speak of? Come on John, do tell...

Just about any the last year he was suppose to run IHRA.

#38 07-28-2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McGuire

Just about any the last year he was suppose to run IHRA.

Ahhh yes, the 'Serta' deal.... Do I need to say anymore? What happened to other drivers like Weis and the most recent Cory Mac, who delt with the same guy Andrew had to deal with? Scott Griffin, there is your answer for Andrew being a 'no show' Was it Andrew's fault? Not at all, it was all out of his hands. Then he had the visa issues, maybe you don't remember that? So before you go putting someone under the bus, get your facts right pal! If you want to slam him for being a 'no show' blame the muppet... Scott Griffin!!!

#39 07-28-2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Veskovich

Ahhh yes, the 'Serta' deal.... Do I need to say anymore? What happened to other drivers like Weis and the most recent Cory Mac, who delt with the same guy Andrew had to deal with? Scott Griffin, there is your answer for Andrew being a 'no show' Was it Andrew's fault? Not at all, it was all out of his hands. Then he had the visa issues, maybe you don't remember that? So before you go putting someone under the bus, get your facts right pal! If you want to slam him for being a 'no show' blame the muppet... Scott Griffin!!!

It was Cowin and his wife putting out the press releases. He had a year to deal with the visa problem, started at the last minute then tried to blame Canada for the holdup. One example at the time of the Grand Bend race entire crew knew they were not going to Edmonton, three days later phony
press release that he would be there. You need to get your facts straight pal.
You are right about Griffin being an a$$.

#40 07-29-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Schoen

That car actually made its debut in `00 at the final Houston fall race. I was there and the crowd went nuts when it made its first qualifying pass. It qualified 1# but went out round 1 on Sunday.

Yes.... yes it did lose first round ( sorry couldn't help myself ) sure they smoked the tires, but a win is a win !! SG

#41 07-29-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John McGuire

It was Cowin and his wife putting out the press releases. He had a year to deal with the visa problem, started at the last minute then tried to blame Canada for the holdup. One example at the time of the Grand Bend race entire crew knew they were not going to Edmonton, three days later phony
press release that he would be there. You need to get your facts straight pal.
You are right about Griffin being an a$$.

I would think that Andrew was fed a bunch of bullsh!t from Scott Griffin that he made commitments based on. These mistruths may have then resulted in making Andrew look bad.

#42 07-29-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Graham

Yes.... yes it did lose first round ( sorry couldn't help myself ) sure they smoked the tires, but a win is a win !! SG

no gloating just because you guys were the ones that beat him

#43 07-29-2008, 12:11 PM

If you read Darrell Gwynn's book "At Full Throttle" it explains alot of what happened there. By the way, that is an amazing book to read, it tells alot of really neat stories about Darrell.

George Steinbrenner was the one that started medling with the team. The team had gone into a slump and he wanted instant results, so it was the driver that he wanted to change, not Veney. Once they changed drivers, Veney said he quit, that he wasn't about to start over with a young, new driver, that it wasn't worth it to him.

#44 07-29-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Goodwin

How many more line drive foul balls and home run balls hit 150 plus MPH end up in the stands per year compared to race car parts at 24 national events?

With as many races as I've been to in the last 37 years I've never had an encounter with a race car part, but I did have my head about taken off at an Angel game a few years ago by a foul ball hit just over the third base dugout. And even though my race car shop is a 3 wood (golf term) away from the Big "A" in Anaheim I don't think I've been to more than 12 games. So, chances are your probably more likely to get hurt at a Yamkee game than the Winternationals, which makes Baseball a more dangerous sport for spectators than attending a drag race event. Therego the liability issue.

RG

I'll go with that, Everytime I go to dodger stadium I get hit in the head by the peanut vendor. Go figure. Now dont go thinking I am a dodger fan. Cause I am a die hard angels fan

#45 07-30-2008, 08:57 PM

A couple of items I was told by someone close to the matter. First, the Yankee money was never enough to fully fund the car for the duration of the contract. The prevailing wisdom was that with the Yankees on the car, the associate sponsors would be "lined up"........never happened. Ken Veney had really enjoyed his time off when the team was idled. He supposedly was only transitioning the team until the sponsorship and team was settled. As with most situations, it was all about the money.........or lack of it.