Objave - Owner and Driver at Odds

Owner and Driver at Odds

Team owner LoyalW and driver Staci Evans could be seen arguing outside of the garage at the team's race headquarters. The team owner is upset about 3 DNFs in a row and 3 wrecked cars.

We approached him for an interview, and he answered questions over the phone.

Question: What was the subject of your arguments with your driver?

Answer: Just how aggressive or not aggressive to be. The cost of equipment, and the survival of the team.

Question: Are you shopping around for a new driver?

Answer: No, we are investing money and time in the future of this team, and the driver is a key point of any team's growth. She will grow and she will get better. We are investing more in coaching staff, and encouraging her to step it down a notch or two until her skills equal her ambitions.

Question: Can the team survive this much damage and these costs without wins.

Answer: Not if it continues. Sponsors want results, and it is hard to get results when you dump most of your money in redundant equipment and replacements. We are fortunate that Microsoft and XBox 360 just want to be in the game at this point. They are OK with random top 10 finishes and some front running, but they hate to see a car go out in the first half of the race due to driver error, or rookie mistakes.

Question: So your team, sponsors, and driver are staying as is? This was just a spat?

Answer: I would not call it a spat. It was a boss telling an employee what needs to be done, and an employee passionate about wanting results as well. We all want the same thing here. We just are looking at different aspects of the picture.