Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
Moderators: StuDeedooo

Found this on IBRACN's News/rumors page:

ANOTHER CREW CHIEF CHANGE - (6-7-07 @ 4:00 pm) - STRONG RUMOR - There is another crew chief change among a WoO team. I have been told that Ricky Warner has been let go by Kasey Kahne and the Open Joist #9 team. It appears that Ricky wasn't "meshing" well with the family run operation and was let go. No word on the replacement or where Ricky will end up. Ricky....TMAC on line one. We will see who is where on saturday when the WoO come to Eagle Raceway. UPDATE #1 (6-7-07 @ 4:30 pm) - FACT - It didn't take Ricky Warner long to find a new gig. The following was released on hoseheads.com from the Skagit Speedway PR man......6/7/07 by Kelly Hart - Skagit Speedway Media
(Alger, WA) Skagit Speedway track owner Steve Beitler was just informed via telephone of the formation of a new racing team taking aim at the $25,000.00 winner's check for the 2007 Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by Foley RV and Camping World.
Sprint car team owner Rick Wright has entered the #35 car to be driven by Tyler Walker and new crew-chief Ricky Warner. It looks like the Saldana team does need a new crew chief. I hope this doesn't cool down the 9 team as this is Joey's best year of his career.

I would think Will Kahne will take over again has head crew cheif for the 9 car since he did it all last year, but we'll see. I think this is only a one weekend deal for Tyler Walker, I'm sure we'll all find out soon. Go T.Kaeding/Hodnett

"Just Win Baby" Al Davis Owner of the Oakland Raiders

Tyler was releasted from NASCAR racing indefinately this week by NASCAR. I like Tyler, but I would think long and hard about putting him in another ride right now. I admire Kasey for trying to help his friend all these years by getting him the right introductions into NASCAR rides but there comes a time when a different kind of help is needed.

I think the most important thing here is that the Sprint Car world doesn't have any issues with SOME driver's choice of recreational activity. Lets remember we're not talking about crank (Bobby Burrow comes to mind), crack, meth, or heroin - the first three of which are out of your system in 24 hours or less and are significantly more dangerous then the one in question in Tyler's case which stays in your system for freaking ever. I've got no problem with Tyler's off racetrack activities as long as they don't involve anything more hard core than a few alcoholic beverages and "420" indulgences. In fact I'm excited to see him back behind the wheel of a Sprint Car.

I would wager (and I am NOT a betting man) the majority of people loyal to this sport and a significant number of the league he has been suspended from feel the same.

Sandy - without naming names - your comment is bullshit and you KNOW why. I personally hope that every driver at the Dirt Cup that would be suspended from NASCAR for the same thing Tyler was KICKS ASS in whatever ride a wise car owner puts them in. It would really help to SHUT UP an awful lot of HYPOCRITS! 

I agree. I have no problem with a little alcohol and doobies now and again. Weed is practically legal in Cali. I know several people out here who have their State issued Cannabis cards.

I welcome back Tyler Walker and hope we see him race more in Cali. Smoke on!!!

Coming up:

Oct 17th - Ocean Speedway: WOO
Oct 18th - Tulare Thunderbowl:  WOO
Oct 30-31st - Perris Speedway: USAC Bud Oval Nationals

Sorry guy's, but I do have a problem with driver's who drive with illegal substance's in their system when they are going on a race track to race with other driver's. I wouldn't let a driver who had been drinking drive my car, so why would I put a driver out on the track who was on illegal drugs. I know, Boo Tiner, but he was NOT on drugs in Washington, he lived with us and that was the requirement we put on him to race our cars. I have an ex-husband who did drugs and believe me I can spot it a mile away.

No one in Washington condoned Bobby's drugs and no one liked racing against him when he was on drugs.

Just as I like Bobby Burrows as a person I also like Tyler Walker as a person and a driver, he does kick ass, but I don't like drugs in a drivers system when the are out on a track racing a car at high speed with other drivers. It's safety issue and you won't change my mind on that no matter what you call me or how much you think it is okay.

The story of him failing a NASCAR drug test is on the NASCAR website and it was also reported on the radio and Speed Channel.

If you want to partake in drugs, do it Monday through Wednesday when you are NOT scheduled to practice, qualify or RACE. And I feel stupid even making that comment, but it is better than than nothing I guess.

I don't like drugs, period, so calling me names and calling BS to me is a waste of time. Facts are facts. That is what happened to him and I am hoping losing his ability to race in NASCAR is a wake up call for him. Tyler is a great guy and a great driver, that fact is he doesn't NEED drugs to be either.

The comment you made about the "sprint car world not caring about what your recreational habits are" is really a damn shame they don't. It is probably close to one of the more stupid comments I have heard from a sprint car fan. Condoning a driver to race while on drugs, is just plain stupid. I would have expected more from you.

And lastly, if you want to see what happens to people on drugs look at Tyler, he wanted his drugs more than he wanted a NASCAR career, he knew what would happen when they tested him. So if drugs don't impair your thinking what the hell was he thinking?

You actually just helped me prove my point Sandy. Meth BAD. Crank BAD. There is a HUGE difference between driving under the influence (never said this was acceptable and maintain that it isn't) and having a detectable amount of something in your system (YOU should know that). Mary Jane stays with you a lot longer than the ABSOLUTELY WORST drugs in the world but I DEFY you to come up with ANY examples of even the BIGGEST 420 abusers who have committed any of even the most minor offenses of the tweakers/crackheads/metheads/crankfiends/etc. You can chose to lump all drugs into one category if you like but the reality is that it is an ignorant perspective and the facts don't support it. One of the drivers I can think of (but who - again - I will not mention) has driven circles around anyone whose butt has ever occupied a seat in any of your racecars for years and knows how to party when the races are over. Not that it matters but I don't smoke weed, I have no quarrel with anyone who does, and I look forward to sharing some beers in the future with some who do. I do, however, have absolutely NO TIME or sympathy for the tweakers/crackheads/metheads/crankfiends of the world. Since you dislike ALL drugs I'll remember that the next time I see you take a puff on a cigarette (nicotine IS a drug) or on the off chance that I see anyone around you have a drink.

I have hashed this out on another message board already so I will try to be brief. Being high is being high. It does not matter if it is injested(drank) or absorbed (inhaled) it has the same effect. To believe that a person with any detectable levels of an intoxicating substance is still high 1-5 days latter is ludicrous. For the record alcohol is detectable up to two days latter. Ask a parole officer that tests their "clients" how long each drug will stay in your system. Nascar tests you for detectable levels. Not intoxicated level. If they did the same with alcohol I would agree with what has happened but the truth is you could throw back a few shots (or more) of Jack just before you start and seemingly no one would care because 1. they don't test for it, 2. It is legal. Sandy, I believe it was stated that Tyler was tested on the Monday after winning the USAC race and following a night of celebrating so using your system he would still be busted. Of course there is nothing random about the way NASCAR performs there drug testing. Ask Kasey when the last time he was tested. Jeff Gordon? Tony Stewart? Kyle Petty? I like Chris don't do anything outside of the occasional beer drinking but don't have a problem with others that do. Random drug testing in sports is nothing more than a publicity stunt used to show they are family first oriented. If it was legitimate testing they would test EVERYONE at random times 3-4 each per year. What Kyle Busch did during the Cup race this weekend was far more dangerous than still have weed in your system. He could have easily killed someone with the stunt he pulled yet did not even receive a one race suspension. Maybe they should test him, he had to be high to do something that stupid!!!! Crucifying Tyler because he had an illegal substance in his system? Why don't we ban alcohol at the track because someone will drink while there and drive home?

Guess I wasn't to brief

Oh yeah, I already know I am a moraless hippie liberal from the west coast.

HOLY CRAP! John just committed the cardinal sin! (agreeing with me :-) ) I thought you learned your lesson a long time ago.......Thanks buddy!

Yeah - There go my sales for the rest of the year. Hopefully they will forget by the time I move to Iowa

I'll let others debate what Tyler did or did not do, or what he should have done, but to me, Tyler seems so far removed from sprint car racing that his return does nothing for me.

Will he recapture the magic that made him such an exciting sprint car driver? Who knows, if he does, good for him. I don't think his heart is in sprint car racing, this will just be a stop along the way as he continues to try to move on.

If Tyler is going to step up to the with the big boys this may be his last shot, that saying if he cleans up his act with his temper, and his extra ciricular activities maybe NASCAR will give him another shot. But if he don't then where will he go? I always liked watching Tyler Walker race in a sprint car, you just never knew what was going to be in store for the night. We'll see how he does at the Dirt Cup. Go T.Kaeding/Hodnett

"Just Win Baby" Al Davis Owner of the Oakland Raiders

I graduated from High School in 1964, I am a child of the 60's. Didn't like drug's of any kind then or now. As I said I have an ex-husband who did drugs. Notice I said "ex". I refused to raise my 3 children around the stuff and have them think it was okay to do. My ex is still a good friend of mine and Rod's and holds a top management position in Florida with a large amusement park, but I don't like drugs and I never will. So, whatever you choose to do is up to you, they are not for me.

I understand what you are saying about levels in the system, etc. I just don't like drugs and I personally don't believe people should be using them. I think you might have that idea by now!!!

Smoke 'em if you got 'em!!!

Hey everyone!

There was quite the heated discussion about this issue last week on a different board. I'm sure some of you read the outstanding posts that were written there. I find it amazing that Tyler Walker's suspension has created some of the most heated debates that I have seen in some time. We're debating whether or not he should drive instead of talking about the racing itself.

Do we actually know if Tyler was suspended for smoking marijuana? I don't believe that NASCAR discussed any of this in their press release. I also believe that to become suspended from NASCAR due to this policy requires you to be a two-time loser. Someone correct me if I messed that one up. The problem I have with Tyler is that he knew the rules and decided to break them. This is the kind of thing that has been following him for several years. I just don't think he has the respect for the sport. Frankly, I'm disappointed that Rick Wright has given him a ride. It would seem that some people think that they are above the law and they deserve special treatment. I'm sure you've all heard of Paris Hilton. Tyler was making thousands of dollars driving for Bill Davis racing. We are talking salary plus a minimum of 30% of the purse. Obviously that didn't matter to him. He didn't take the privilege of driving in NASCAR seriously and money must not be an issue.

If you want to be a recreational drug user or hard drug user no problem. Just don't do it while you're racing cars at high speed with other individuals. To me this is more a matter of principle and personal choice. I hate to go back to Paris Hilton but it shows that there is a two-tiered system and Tyler obviously thinks he should be in the upper tier as well. I'm not sure if any of you caught David Letterman last night but he asked Nicole Richie why it is that three young Hollywood celebrities are all facing jail time for driving while intoxicated. She just giggled. None of us know when Tyler was taking his drugs or what he was taking. We think we know but I don't think that Tyler has made a press release detailing his situation. He doesn't need to either. On the other hand, this isn't Tyler's first trip to the rodeo. He's not a kid anymore.

That's my two cents. Thanks for the time.

Kerry

Sandy while you point is admirable and certainly your choice please remember there are many who do not beleive people should partake in alcohol and even more that think smoking tobacco products should be outlawed.

Kerry - Believe it or not I agree with both sides of this. What Tyler did broke the rules and he was punished for it. Although I do not believe the punishment fit the crime. As I pointed out Kyle Busch could have nearly killed someone with his actions yet did not even receive a one race suspension. However people continue to talk about Tyler as if he was driving while high. My issue is that if it was alcohol no one would know because they don't test for that. Is it any less dangerous? But wait, its legal so its okay> The other issue I have is the random drug testing part. Tyler is not he only one smoking weed (or other drugs) in the garage trust me. And if you knew some of those that partake in recreational drugs you would be quite suprised. A random drug testing policy means everyone gets tested randomly not just those you know you can bust to tout the fact you have a stringent policy.

I can't agree with the Paris Hilton annolgy either. Athletes, when arrested on the same charges, will more often than not do a lot more jail time than a celebrity. Again, he broke the rules, received a punishment, took it and moved on with his life. To repeatedly persecute him for the same infraction is wrong. For those that think he should be continue to be kicked while he is down I have one question --

Should those folks convicted of a DUI lose their drivers license and privilage to drive for the rest of their lives?

I'm certainly not trying to kick Tyler. I just think he shows a lack of respect for the sport. It's not like he's been banned from racing. He's been out of a job only a week and now he's going to be in the 35 car. Once again I'll ask, do we actually know what substance was in his Pee Pee? I think there's a lot of assumption on this subject but no fact.

I think many people of his generation don't appreciate opportunity. When Tyler was just 17 years old he was driving stock cars for Kenny Schrader, running sprint cars for his dad and driving Silver Crown cars too. That's a whole lot of opportunity. He signed a deal with Tyler Jet and started working in their shop. Unfortunately the Tyler Jet situation went down the tubes. That wasn't Tyler Walker's fault. Three years ago Tyler worked his way into the Busch series on a part-time basis and then a full time basis the following year. If you watch some of the footage from NASCAR 24/7 you can pretty much tell that Tyler wasn't taking it as seriously as some of the other competitors. Don't get me wrong, I love a free spirit but it didn't seem that he had the determination displayed by others.

Certainly there have been stories, rumors and innuendo about his many escapades while driving sprint cars. Some are fact and I am sure some are fiction. It really doesn't matter. What do you think would have happened if Brad Sweet, Andy Forsberg, Jason Meyers or Damion Gardner would have had those opportunities? Frankly, I bet there would have been a different outcome. I'm not quite sure that those guys were blessed with Tyler's talent but my gut feeling is that they have more respect for the sport and would have made better decisions than Tyler has.

Does anyone reading this board think that, from a pure racing standpoint, Sarah Fisher is a better driver than Bud? I doubt it. You never know what opportunity might change your direction. When Jeff Gordon was racing Paulie, Greg and David, did anyone think that he had that much more talent than them? Hard work and opportunities make a difference.

As a fan of Tyler's I feel let down. I was there to see a race his first race at Chico. I saw him get his first podium finish. I saw him race wheel to wheel with Sarah Fisher, Kacey Kahne and Brad Furr in my home state of Ohio. I've also watched him race here in my new home of Phoenix. I'll never question is talent but his decision-making process is more than suspect. Let's face it; sprint car racing hasn't done itself many favors by inviting Shane Hmiel, Johnny Herrera and Tyler Walker to drive their cars. We won't even begin to talk about the Penthouse deal. That's why the sport probably won't grow any bigger than the current state of affairs. This was an opportunity for the promoter to step up and say "we take this very seriously" and tell Tyler, thanks but no thanks. Instead, we are excited to have him back one week after his suspension from NASCAR.

As for drunk drivers, I don't think they should lose their license and privilege to drive all of their life. On the other hand, I think the punishment should be memorable. Driving drunk is one of the biggest killers in the United States. Picking up trash on Saturdays at the fairgrounds shouldn't be this sentence for driving while intoxicated. Home incarceration with an ankle bracelet is BS too. Why is there such a high rate of second time offenders? Because we don't seem to make it hurt the first time. Maybe if we made this hurt a little bit for Tyler he would show more respect for the sport and play by the rules. When you play by the rules you are showing respect for your fellow competitors and your fans. I'll save my post about athletes for another day.

I guess you don't have my two cents anymore it's more like my $1.50. I want to say that I certainly do enjoy a quality debate. It seems we haven't had many of those on here for awhile.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kerry

Good points all. I see positives and negatives in most all of these posts. That being said... when you knowingly break rules and laws, the concequences should be such that it deters the offender from repeating that illegal or immoral behaviour.

If you don't like the rule, leave the game. Don't break the rule and complain of the punishment. Not that Tyler is doing that, but getting in a race car so soon after "punishment" is not right in my opinion.

John, I'm trying to figure out what Kyle Busch did this weekend that was so bad? Did I miss something or do you mean Kurt's antics with Tony on pit road?