a new job for Don Nerone

[Boneman]

It was announced at the driver's meeting at Orlando that FASCAR general manager Don Nerone has stepped away from the operation of the tracks, and will instead be in charge of the 5 FASCAR touring series.

My $0.02....Its probably a good move. The car count in the Sunbelt, Goodyear Challenge, SSS, Extreme modifieds and FMSC have all fallen off, so maybe they will benefit from some more attention and effort.

[JackTripper]

You think there might be a correlation between Mr. Nerone and the car count at the touring series as well?

[Boneman]

Beware-----opinion follows-----Beware

Any leader has their supporters and their detractors. Over the years, I have consistently seen that the detractors are always more vocal and conspicuous than the teams who just show up and race.

Consider this: how many Governor's Cup entries from 2002 were still active in the 2007 race? How about 5! That is a pretty alarming attrition rate for the Sunbelt series. FMSC is falling apart, Extreme Mods have not taken off yet, SSS and goodyear have dropped off some. Its clear they all need some attention, so why not put an experienced veteran in charge?

I hope he turns them all around. It may take some changes and very different thinking, but hopefully the results will follow.

[JackTripper]

I can think of one top SLM driver off the top of my head that no-showed the Gov Cup because of Mr. Nerone. And he was racing in the Snowball on Sunday.

I've not come on here and said bad things about Mr. Nerone when it was the popular thing to do because I like New Smyrna. A lot.

But then I heard about the drivers meeting some of the SLM drivers had with Mr. Nerone and my opinion changed quite a bit.

I just want the Sunbelt series to get back to what it was 3-5 years ago.

[Boneman]

It doesn't matter that some team says they are not coming because of Don. That is the oldest excuse in the book: claiming to stay away because of a single official. That driver may have been completely sincere, but every leader has their detractors. This is always true!

Wasn't Don one of the original organizers of the Sunbelt series? Maybe it was Robert Hart, who knows. But I do know that Don has been there from the start, so I don't see any reason why he cannot fix that and other tours.

Who else is crazy enough to try it?

[Frasson118]

Maybe he can fix it, but why was it broken in the first place?

[Todd McCreary]

but every leader has their detractors. This is always true!

strawman, no one is arguing that. no one is even demanding perfection.

hell, occasionally i rip on myself for being such a dumb@$$.

[Sandy Nerone]

I will tell you that Don Nerone started Sunbelt, then Goodyear, then Pro Modified and so on, I have lived through all of it. If one race team didn't come to the Gov Cup...so be it. In 1998 when I first went to a Gov Cup with Don, there were 17 cars (Billy Bigley won) and maybe 300 people in the stands. Mr. Tripper, Don was in charge 3 or 5 years ago and the car count was great. So instead of being negative, lets try and give a little support to the series, all of them. These people put alot into the races.

[USAMedia]

Here is another opinion from Dick Anderson: LISTEN 45 second audio (http://www.karnacmedia.com/audiointerviews2007/DickAnderson45secracetracks.mp3)

And another: Listen to another short opinion from Dick Anderson (http://www.karnacmedia.com/audiointerviews2007/DickAnderson54secracetracks.mp3)

[JackTripper]

I've not blasted Mr. Nerone like everyone else has in the past and I heard Dick Anderson's interview the night he gave it.

I faithfully cough up my money to NSS and OSW. The only point I'm making is that he's got to mend some fences with the Sunbelt drivers. Hopefully he himself recognizes this or we're all in trouble and let's not kid ourselves it's not just one team/driver staying away. I was just citing one example. This was a very very weak year for the Sunbelt series. Tim Russell is a major talent, but there weren't a lot of drivers that showed up for every single race. If Mr. Nerone turns the Sunbelt Series around I will do nothing but sing his praises.

I'm one of the more positive posters around here and you should know that because I've thanked you for things when people have been jumping on you. I was one of the original people that begged you not to call the Extreme Modifieds "Super Modifieds" so as to not confuse the general public and hurt your program before it ever got off the ground.

[USAMedia]

The post with the links to Dick's comments weren't directed at you (JackTripper) or anyone else's comments. We just think it is representative of the attitudes being expressed to us on a routine basis these days by "oldtimers" and thought it relevant to the discussion.

[Rick Williamson]

I agree that Don does have to fix fences in each Series. I could say why in the SSS but will not. He should know.

[Osmosis Jones]

Good clips.
Words of wisdom from the man himself.

But that little thing he brings up right at the start of the second clip, the part about having "been around forever" and ""getting a different view on things than when he raced wide-open" kind of sheds a little light on the fact that his situation in racing has changed. And along with it his views and his priorities have skewed a little, too. Anybody who has been around racing in the state of Florida in the last 30 years can surely recall one or two Dickie stories in which this newfound attitude towards promoters and track owners and how racers need to support them might seem a tad contrite.

Ask the right question to get the right answer I always say.
They teach that at journalism school I'm pretty sure. Maybe I just remember it from a movie. I dunno.

Most people would agree that everyone working together is probably the best answer to the dilemma facing short track racing in Florida. That's pretty easy to say. But when one of the parties involved refuses to acknowledge the other parties concerns and ideas then you have what is called an impasse. And that, too, is pretty dang easy to say.

What is hard is for anyone (racers, track owners, promoters, message board operators, message board posters, etc) to admit that they are ever in the wrong. The fact that maybe....just possibly....they haven't thought about every little nuance or that if they tilted their head to one side things may take on a whole new perspective.
That moment of realization when you find out that you aren't the smartest primate on the planet is a real mindblower.
Believe me. I know. I am wrong on a daily basis and for the life of me I can't figure out why. Maybe I'm just realizing that I'm human.


But I will keep on trying to find a way to make the square peg fit in the round hole. Somewhere, someday maybe somebody will come by and either share or show me the secret and make my little world a better place. And maybe then I can share the info with someone else and help them along, too. And then they'll tell someone and so on and so on....yeah, like the commercial.

But there will always be the one guy who just doesn't want any help, figures his way is the only way and will sit there content to just beat that square peg until it's so mishapen and warped it won't go in any of the holes. And it's so screwed up that none of the other pegs fit any more either. Sitting there all pissed off at the world and himself when all he needed to do was ask for a little help.

And that's the dude I'll feel sorry for.



OJ

[Frasson118]

Sandy's post: "In 1998 when I first went to a Gov Cup with Don, there were 17 cars. "

Well how about MY first Gov. Cup when there was over 60 cars from probably 12 different states? Different time, different place... I get that part.

This division was somewhat healthy before 1998. Not great, but it was holding it's own. Since then, as much "divide & conquer" mentality that has happened has killed it for EVERYONE.

I'm with Tripper on this one... if Don can put all the pieces back together again, I will sing his praises all over the place. Personally, I think it's a very tough project. I also think that what needs to be fixed, was somewhat caused by the very same people that need to do the fixing.

Don... I now you don't like me, or my opinions... but this one is absolutely sincere. Please put your skills, experience, and efforts into fixing these series. You have all the tools to make a great thing happen... please do your best!

Honest Injun'.

[Frasson118]

---> Currently putting on the Bullet Proof Armour for the bullets headed my way<----- Jerry!

[Jane]

Sometimes I wonder about some of you. Don Nerone has run no one off, in fact, most of the time Don was never around that much with the tours. He made it when he could and that is why he has people he trusts directing the tours. Yes, people get mad and leave but alot of the time they come back. You don't know how many times I have heard someone say "I am done, I won't be back" but they do come back eventually. Alot of things make racers leave and not necessarily one person.

But everyone to their own opinion and if you need a BIG BAD WOLF, well, knowing Don he won't mind the title at all. In fact, he will probably enjoy it.

[JackTripper]

Jane, I don't know why you are questioning my statement about "I can think of one top SLM driver off the top of my head that no-showed the Gov Cup because of Mr. Nerone. And he was racing in the Snowball on Sunday."

This is a fact.

I don't make stuff up. I check sources and talk to driver's directly because I do have a journalism background from back in the day and if I'm going to debate someone, I'm not going to lose. When a driver tells me, "I won't run any more at a track that Nerone runs," then that's the facts. If you don't like that, I can't help you.

If everything was hunky-dory there wouldn't have been a meeting with the guys running the Brighthouse Challenge to figure what was up with the drivers not supporting the series.

But to reitterate my point once again, I've thrown a bunch of money at the tracks that Mr. Nerone has been running because I want this thing to turn around. He's alright by me and if I meet him some day I'll tell him thanks for all the good times I've had at NSS, but don't think I don't know the facts about the fences that need to be mended in the Sunbelt series.

[Frasson118]

"Don Nerone has run no one off"

Maybe he didn't tell people NOT to come back, but they got the hint and DIDN'T.

A LOT more than what you want to believe Jane!

[JackSmith]

Add these to the list:

Each and everyone of these promoters has been accused of running people off:

John Sarppraicone (Gold Star Award)
Bobby Deihl (just wrapping up his rookie season)
Mike Cope
Terry Roberts
Al Varnadore & Todd Hutto
Rex Guy ( Not even through one season)
Stan Kolan (Most Stylish)
LeRoy Davidson (with wit)
Dawayne Mussick
Billy Hooker
Bonnie Hill
Billy Martino Jr.
And yes even the beloved Rusty Marcus, Lowe's Motor Speedway Promoter of the Year...
Who should be added to the list.

So Don is in good company..guess it goes with the turf.

As JackTripper said..."I just want the Sunbelt series to get back to what it was 3-5 years ago."

Not to put too fine a point on it, but these issues of car counts in the super late models are faced by promoters nationwide, as Augie Grill talked at length about last night on the Real Racin' USA Live! show. And in 2002 there were 32 cars showing up to race in the Governors Cup. In 2007 there were 33.

What are the solutions? (other than hanging Don at high noon during speedweeks and charging $30 a person)

How about a survey to see which promoter has run off more racers?? The Golden Fleece Award perhaps.

[Benny The Mule]

:anim_pound:But there will always be the one guy who just doesn't want any help, figures his way is the only way and will sit there content to just beat that square peg until it's so mishapen and warped it won't go in any of the holes. And it's so screwed up that none of the other pegs fit any more either. Sitting there all pissed off at the world and himself when all he needed to do was ask for a little help.And that's the dude I'll feel sorry for.
OJ[/QUOTE]Add this to what Dickie says and you got it! i have said this on message boards for a couple of years now only to fall on deaf ears. OJ hit the nail on the head, if it ain't my way i'll stand in the corner and pout ( not bring racecar etc).

[Rick Williamson]

Jack, I don't feel the you should have put Rex Guy on your list. If anything he is getting people back to the track. I sure wouldn't have said that before he toke over. Having had run ends with him in the past on the drivers side of things. But when he moved over to being an owner, he became a different person. Not perfect (like any of us are) but he is trying is best. I wish there were more owners and promoters like him.

[Rick Williamson]

Jane, the time I'm thinking about Don was in the thick of it during tech after a race. I wish Don well. He will need it. On the radio show I was on with him and Jerry. We couldn't get a word in edge wish because of all he knows and has tryed. I think it's going to take his best efforts on this one. Good luck Don.

[Osmosis Jones]

I actually was impressed and encouraged by Jack's reply.

He actually responded with his point of view without belittling or down playing the views of the previous posters. His argument does have some merit in the fact that NO ONE can please EVERYONE all the time. I'm sure each and every person on that list has ticked some racer off enough at one time to make them announce they would never race for them again. That's just human nature. Happens in our jobs, our lives, everything.

I would venture to say he wasn't trying to implicate Rex Guy for anything but including him as a member of Florida's premier promoting group.

He even had some funny remarks to make his post enjoyable. His point about Don being in good company and the stuff that goes with the turf is right on.
But the other side of the coin is this: Just as the accolades and attaboys that come with a job well done are welcomed then so should be the criticisms and bootindabutts for the times when the job isn't up to par.

Ying and Yang. Go figure.


Not going mellow but I can appreciate when someone can make a good argument or comment on a subject without taking the entire issue as a personal attack and then over reacting.


OJ