Is Ray Alley still the crew chief?

#**151** 02-28-2007, 09:37 AM

I understand that this sucks, and I think it does as well. However, you all need to look at everything from a business standpoint.

Jimmy Walsh- I am sure he got paid handsomely for this. How can you blame him?

Monster-The car they just spent millions on cant even make it down the racetrack. It was time to do something and I cant blame them.

KB-though I have never been a real big KB fan, he's a great business man, and he hasnt made it to the finish line but about 3 or 4 times so he knows some damage control was definitely in need. So go after some fire power.

Having said all that, it does suck for JR and the whole Skull Gear crew. I wish them nothing but the best. Maybe they will join the "Alliance". I just dont really know the exact reason KB would want someone tuning a dragster to come over on his funny car. I think I would have went after a top running funny car crew chief but I hope it works out for all involved.

#**152** 02-28-2007, 10:19 AM

Remember all the crapstorm when KB hired Ray Alley? Even Force was pissed because Ray had access to their innovations. Ray had not tuned a car in a number of years and "it" had passed him by. My question is this..... If I had made a hiring mistake and, no disrespect to Jimmy Walsh, why wouldn't I hire a Proven Funny Car Crew Chief this time?

#**153** 02-28-2007, 10:22 AM

Sucks to be JR right now and it may suck to be Walsh in the very near future if he does not produce, and it'll suck even more to be KB if he doesn't get results soon. Gotta wonder where walsh's tuning/playbook goes???? Who's property is it? Haven't we asked this question before?

#**154** 02-28-2007, 10:25 AM

It's Business?
It's Business?
Hello
Business is life!
Turn the tables and ask how you would feel if someone just hired your winning crew chief away from your little independent team? Now see it from the human perspective and ask how you would feel the same if someone offered a large sum of money for your wife and kids. Business is life! There should be no differences.

When did treating folks different in business become acceptable?

#**155** 02-28-2007, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Thomas

Jimmy had better hope that that swine of a car grows some wings

Maybe they should throw some Red Bull in the tank.

#**156** 02-28-2007, 10:42 AM

Thank you to everyone for your replies on this topic.

I wish J.R. Todd the best of luck, he is a very talented driver and handles himself very well with the press and the fans. I hope his new crew cheif will keep his performance up so that he will be a contender in the chase.

#**157** 02-28-2007, 10:43 AM

Get used to it, this is probably just the beginning.

There will probably be 17-18 Top Fuel Dragsters and up to 20 well funded Funny Cars running the entire season this year.

How many DNQ's will some of the other top teams tolerate before they go after another crew chief.

Every year we call it a "silly season", but this one might deserve the name.

#**158** 02-28-2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Keech

One of the factors everyone seems to be overlooking is the Tim /Kim Richards connection.They seemed to have something to do with Walsh coming to KB.And we haven't heard Walsh's side in this either.Maybe he wanted to change.Let's not so quick to condemn KB on this deal.

It only took 149 posts for someone to hit the nail on the head, and do the very simple thing of reading what was said... KB put SOME money down on a table, let's say that a few crew chiefs walked up to that table and looked at it, smelled it, and said no thanks... Now let's suppose that Jimmy walked up there and as we know, he took the money and signed the dotted line with nothing pointed at his head...As far as we know
There could be many reasons for this, if it is the $$$ then hey, get over it... I say he SOLD OUT!! But as far as KB this and KB that... KB, Tim and Kim may have/ did help make this happen... But my loyalty would have been with JR, Evan, and Dexter... I just hope that Jimmy talked to all three before he left town... So in my opinion, KB did nothing wrong by making the rounds and offering a job to someone who would take it... Jimmy Walsh is the one that TOOK THE MONEY... PERIOD SELL OUT!!

#**159** 02-28-2007, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Miller

It's Business?
It's Business?
Hello
Business is life!
Turn the tables and ask how you would feel if someone just hired your winning crew chief away from your little independent team? Now see it from the human perspective and ask how you would feel the same if someone offered a large sum of money for your wife and kids. Business is life! There should be no differences.

When did treating folks different in business become acceptable?

Bobby,

I agree with your sentiments. The whole "business is business" response is still not a valid argument for things that are done. Kenny B is not winning many fans, at least not "true" drag racing fans out of the manipulations he is doing. He may have just turned JR's and Jimmy Walsh's feel good story or miracle season totally upside down just because he can "buy" the people he hopes will get his team on track. This whole scenario is all about power and greed, both of which are corrupting influences. Kenny obviously could offer more money and prestige to Jimmy Walsh than he had at Tuttle's, even with Evan Knoll's help so for him it was just a better opportunity, but with that comes more pressure. We shall see how this all plays out. My hope is that JR gets a good tuner, or tuners, to replace Jimmy and Danny and he keeps the momentum he had going.

#**160** 02-28-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy DaRos

Maybe they should throw some Red Bull in the tank.

Now, that was FUNNY!

#**161** 02-28-2007, 11:08 AM

i read about 2 pages of comments since the JW announcement - did
not read the rest so my apologies if i'm repeating someone else's thoughts.

- KB has maintained one car team for last few years in midst of many
multiple car teams and has been competitive. so now he wants to race again
and at same time build a two car effort - same as don prudhomme.
is there anything surprising here?

- In the past do you think Don Schumacher / Don Prudhomme / John Force /
Kalittas / etc. have hired team members/crew chiefs because they were all in the unemployment line?

- Jimmy Walsh has a history with Tim Richards - since going separate ways
when Tim was released by Amato so Jimmy Prock could call the shots,
J. Walsh has made the calls for many independent teams - not only giving
them good performance, but hopefully also helping these teams play the
game without going broke breaking parts.

- When JR says on TV last week; to paraphrase "we don't have the budget
a lot of these other teams have......we hope we can keep it going" - do you
think JR's team might have been worried about losing J. Walsh, especially
with his recent performance?

- yes, it certainly appears as if everyone's forgotten 'integrity' - i'm not
employed in the world of drag racing - right now, i'll wish J. Walsh
good luck with his new position; i think he has earned it.

#**162** 02-28-2007, 11:14 AM

WHEN- Red bull does comes in, watch out... They do not Sponsor a team, they Own, Run, and control every facet of its own organization... They are DSR without any attachments to anyone... And you will see an instant Dynasty, that will probably change the sport forever...

#**163** 02-28-2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Larson

i read about 2 pages of comments since the JW announcement - did
not read the rest so my apologies if i'm repeating someone else's thoughts.

- KB has maintained one car team for last few years in midst of many
multiple car teams and has been competitive. so now he wants to race again
and at same time build a two car effort - same as don prudhomme.
is there anything surprising here?

- In the past do you think Don Schumacher / Don Prudhomme / John Force /
Kalittas / etc. have hired team members/crew chiefs because they were all in the unemployment line?

- Jimmy Walsh has a history with Tim Richards - since going separate ways
when Tim was released by Amato so Jimmy Prock could call the shots,
J. Walsh has made the calls for many independent teams - not only giving
them good performance, but hopefully also helping these teams play the
game without going broke breaking parts.

- When JR says on TV last week; to paraphrase "we don't have the budget
a lot of these other teams have......we hope we can keep it going" - do you
think JR's team might have been worried about losing J. Walsh, especially
with his recent performance?

- yes, it certainly appears as if everyone's forgotten 'integrity' - i'm not
employed in the world of drag racing - right now, i'll wish J. Walsh
good luck with his new position; i think he has earned it.

Joe didn't let Tim go for Jimmy Prock. Tim and Amato parted ways in late 92, Jeff Rogers and Larry Meyer were crew chiefs in 93, and Jimmy Prock came on board in 94 after Cory Mac parked his own car to drive for Larry Minor.

#**164** 02-28-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Songas

Joe didn't let Tim go for Jimmy Prock. Tim and Amato parted ways in late 92, Jeff Rogers and Larry Meyer were crew chiefs in 93, and Jimmy Prock came on board in 94 after Cory Mac parked his own car to drive for Larry Minor.

paul, thanks for the clarification

#**165** 02-28-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Songas

Joe didn't let Tim go for Jimmy Prock. Tim and Amato parted ways in late 92.......

Oh man! Has it really been that long already??????

Wow. Now I am feeling old.

Is Ray Alley still the crew chief?

Is Ray Alley still the crew chief?

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