RACE HUB......RYAN's CONTRACT

[midwesternsmoke]

Ugh, even more "wonderful" news. Ok, Tony wasn't happy with DG and now he's gone. For the life of me, I can't understand how TG is still there. How do you give Darian the boot and keep the other? It just doesn't make any sense to me so I need to stop trying.

They keep Tuba Gibson because Ryan likes him.......

[HiddenHollow]

They keep Tuba Gibson because Ryan likes him.......

This will catch me some flack, but if Ryan is happy with TG, then, in my mind, it brings Ryan's sense of better judgement into question.

[michaeljohn]

well that dont say much for tony or anyone else at SHR if they see a team struggling for years and they let the driver make the call on what goes on with the team....

[Smokeshow14]

Just my opinion on why TG is probably going to remain on the team.

All teams are different. Some teams are willing to change chiefs on a whim. Some teams will listen to what their driver wants. MW said it Ryan likes Gibson. I believe Gibson is a good guy and they are friends so that figures in. So Ryan wants to make it work with Gibson. Kind of like how Jr wanted to make it work with Eury Jr (and for a while they had the second longest driver/ crew chief relationship).

Also this is the first year that they are outside of the top 15 in points so late in the year. If your at least in the top 15 in points your having a pretty good year. Not a great year mind you. But pretty good. And it isn't like Ryan was finishing in the top five every year at Penske and started finishing bottom top ten in points to 15th all of a sudden. 2009, 2010 and 2011 were actually improvements over his last years at Penske win wise and point finishes wise. You have to kind of resign to the fact that Ryan may be a good driver. But he isn't a top driver. He came close to that his first few season in Cup, but after that he has kind of ran the same way. He gets one win a season and contends for the chase. Which is good. So with that since Gibson isn't having Ryan finish in the bottom top 20 or outside the top 20 in points, his job isn't in too much jeopardy. Now if Ryan stays 17th in points I there is a chance for a change.

Just my two cents.

[Schmoopy1000]

Just my opinion on why TG is probably going to remain on the team.

All teams are different. Some teams are willing to change chiefs on a whim. Some teams will listen to what their driver wants. MW said it Ryan likes Gibson. I believe Gibson is a good guy and they are friends so that figures in. So Ryan wants to make it work with Gibson. Kind of like how Jr wanted to make it work with Eury Jr (and for a while they had the second longest driver/ crew chief relationship).

Also this is the first year that they are outside of the top 15 in points so late in the year. If your at least in the top 15 in points your having a pretty good year. Not a great year mind you. But pretty good. And it isn't like Ryan was finishing in the top five every year at Penske and started finishing bottom top ten in points to 15th all of a sudden. 2009, 2010 and 2011 were actually improvements over his last years at Penske win wise and point finishes wise. You have to kind of resign to the fact that Ryan may be a good driver. But he isn't a top driver. He came close to that his first few season in Cup, but after that he has kind of ran the same way. He gets one win a season and contends for the chase. Which is good. So with that since Gibson isn't having Ryan finish in the bottom top 20 or outside the top 20 in points, his job isn't in too much jeopardy. Now if Ryan stays 17th in points I there is a chance for a change.

Just my two cents.

it kinda annoys me when I keep watching people useing stats (alone) to assume how good a driver is or isnt.
Everyone thinks Kurt Busch a Championship caliber driver, yet when Kurt & Ryan drove the same crap equipment the last 4 yrs at penske. they out pointed each other 2 to 2. In 08' last year both were at Penske Ryan out pointed the championship contender & neither of them finished well in the points. Why? Glad you asked! Because the team & equipment were crap. Which is why Ryan wanted to leave. Ryan's equipment is good now, but the team sucks now. So when ask why he has never contended for a championship, you must remember because it is all about the team anymore. He has never raced on a championship caliber team ever. So you look at stats & say he is just a good driver, which to me you have no way of telling good drivers when watching racing. You might as well come to your conclusions by reading the paper (internet) on monday to consider who are your good drivers. which in reality is who the good teams usually are (not the driver)
Judging drivers is way more than crunching stats.
You remind me of the guy that says so & so is a better Qb than so & so because he has more championships. Again a team sport, individuals dont win championships.

[Smokeshow14]

Okay so I should not judge a driver? There are no bad drivers at this level. Your however either great, good or mediocre. Anyone who pays attention to how these drivers drive cab see what makes them special and talented. I watch Ryan and I see someone who is really aggressive. But uses up his equipment early. Ever notice that if there is a late caution Ryan will always gain spots if he gers new tires? That's his strong suit. What he lacks is staying power. Though sometimes his car is good enough that it doesn't matter.

I like stats. But make no mistake they are not the end all be all. But the difference between Kurt and Ryan is Kurt is a driver who we have seen be able to go to a level in the chase that mirrors Tony and JJ. Not everyone can be championship contenders. Someone has to be a top ten driver. This is however a very equipment based sport. I would say it is 75% car and 25% driver. And I believe Ryan has more potential. But for now I am only going off what I have seen his whole career. And there is nothing wrong with being a good driver. He is better than a lot of other drivers.

[Schmoopy1000]

not even sure what you are trying to say at beginning of your post.
You judge drivers by their driving, not by how well the team does.
This isnt the 70's or 80's anymore. There equipment doesnt get used up. What goes away or isnt there is the handling.
Why Ryan can go so hard on restarts is because he is a #### of a driver. He can drive even an ill handling race car for a few laps as hard as anyone even with a good car. There are times when he doesnt take four tires & has lesser tires than those around him on restarts & he still gains positions.
That is what a driver contributes to a team.
You cant think of a single top caliber team that has a bad CC. Ryan isnt a top contender because his team isnt. His stats show he has never been a championship contender because he has never had a championship caliber team.
He can drive a car with the best of them. I would have loved to see Ryan in HMS car where the owners goal is to finish 1st through 4th. Funny thing though. If he had gotten an HMS ride & did run for championships year in & year out then your view of him would be different, yet he would still be the same driver. When you watch drivers for who drivers are. There is only a handful of laps in any race where they make a difference (for good or bad)
Some of these drivers ahead of Ryan in points wouldnt even get top 20's with some of the cars he has driven this year. & I think they are good drivers.
I cant explain to you how to look at drivers without stats. If you cant you cant.
I have been doing it for decades. I dont know how many times at our tracks one of us would point out hey if that guy can ever get in good stuff he would be bad ####. & every now & then someone with a car looking for a driver hears one of us. Then that kid takes off. if everyone paid attention to stats/finishes & not the driver, then they would say that guy sucks. which isnt the fact.

[michaeljohn]

also many forget when rusty was there, he was always cutting down ryan because he didnt like him, ryan always said don miller was his best friend at penske, and once miller left penske, it was all down hill, that ryan's only option was to leave penske.

[jamo14]

it's official, the 1 year extension has been reported...saw it on espn.com/nascar

[michaeljohn]

it's official, the 1 year extension has been reported...saw it on espn.com/nascar

i guess that is all they could do for him, with out a sponsor, plus it keeps them in the for 14 in case they do get a sponsor, but something tells me tony is the priority in finding another sponsor....

[racer1]

Quote: " but something tells me tony is the priority in finding another sponsor...."

If SHR is smart they will try to do what other multi car teams do--if possible? They go for sponsors that will become a team sponsor so the $$$'s can be used where needed the most and all the cars run small decals and of course the car designated as primary would have the paint scheme etc for that race or maybe all the races. Most the bigger multi car teams have team sponsors mostly relegated for one car but not just one driver. If the team chooses to repace the driver the sponsor stays with that team or car, course then the sponsor may have a say-so in who drives it if its part lof the deal? Then again most sponsors are JUST for their driver and will often follow them to another team which other teams love when looking for a different driver as they bring their own sponsors, course then the downside is the teams that loses that driver will also lose that sponsor.

Bottom line, any sponsor will help and if they choose to be a primary for some races on either the 14 or 39 car it will be great.