Obama Orders Chevrolet and Dodge Out Of NASCAR - Car News

[thundley4]

With their racing budgets deemed “unnecessary expenditures,” GM and Chrysler are ordered to cease racing operations at the end of the season.

BY JARED GALL, ILLUSTRATION BY ERIC WOODWARD   
April 2009

In a move sure to spark outrage, the White House announced today that GM and Chrysler must cease participation in NASCAR at the end of the 2009 season if they hope to receive any additional financial aid from the government. Companies around the globe—Honda and Audi, to name two—have drawn down racing operations, and NASCAR itself has already felt the pinch in the form of reduced team spending. A complete withdrawal from America’s premier racing series is expected to save more than $250 million between GM and Chrysler, a substantial amount considering the drastic measures being implemented elsewhere.

“Automakers used to operate on the principle of ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday,’ but the Auto Task Force’s research just doesn’t validate that as true,” said the statement from President Obama. While fans have decried the Car of Tomorrow for heavily limiting what little personalization the cookie-cutter series had previously allowed to participating manufacturers, and drivers have slammed its brick-like aerodynamics and unpredictable handling, even the governmental oversight committee sees that the full-scale regulation of the cars leaves the manufacturers very little space for research and development. “NASCAR is a racing series that regulates down to the smallest detail of the cars, where a car badged a Chevrolet or Dodge differs only marginally from a Ford or a Toyota. There’s no technological development to speak of.”

The statement goes on further to say the same demand will be made of Ford if it asks for government assistance. “In order to receive this money, corporations must demonstrate they will spend it wisely. Racing has been said to improve on-road technology, but frankly, NASCAR almost flaunts its standing among the lowest-tech forms of motorsport. NASCAR is not proven to drive advancements that transfer from the racetrack to the road, and this nation’s way forward does not hinge on decades-old technology. We need new, and we need innovation.”

The President realizes this will be an unpopular call, but stands behind the decision, saying, “This is an obvious cut to make, but it is not an easy one. This administration is not ignoring the tremendous sentimental value and emotional appeal NASCAR holds for so many Americans. But now is not the time for sentiment and nostalgia; now is a time for decisive financial action. If our automotive industry is to emerge from this recession intact, then these difficult decisions must be made.”

Car and Driver

I'm not so sure that this isn't an April Fool's Joke, but it seems like something 0Bama would do.

[djones520]

That is whats truly scary about this administration...  You can't tell.

[NHSparky]

I call BS.  Even Obama isn't that stupid.  Then again, he probably DOES think that anyone who goes to a NASCAR race is already voting against him.  I can guarantee that if he does, they will.

Some Chevy drivers:

Dale Jr.
Jimmie Johnson
Jeff Gordon
Tony Stewart
 
to name a few.  Yeah, let's really piss off a big chunk of America!

[Flame]

I call BS.  Even Obama isn't that stupid.  Then again, he probably DOES think that anyone who goes to a NASCAR race is already voting against him.  I can guarantee that if he does, they will.

Some Chevy drivers:

Dale Jr.
Jimmie Johnson
Jeff Gordon
Tony Stewart
 
to name a few.  Yeah, let's really piss off a big chunk of America!

Actually Tony drives a Toyota now...he left joes Gibbs racing and started his own team with someone else.  but, yeah, it will still piss off a lot of people, myself included.

[debk]

This has to be a joke.....

...I hope. 

[NHSparky]

Actually Tony drives a Toyota now...he left joes Gibbs racing and started his own team with someone else.  but, yeah, it will still piss off a lot of people, myself included.

Someone better tell NASCAR.com.  They still have him down as driving a Chevy, although he IS driving for Stewart-Haas Racing.

[thundley4]

Nowhere in the article does it mention being a joke, but searching their site turns up this list.

"Search for "april fools" returned 5 matches

SEARCH RESULTS

 Obama Orders Chevrolet and Dodge Out Of NASCAR - Car News   April 2009
HAPPY APRIL FOOLS' DAY! THIS IS A JOKE. LIGHTEN UP, PEOPLE.

 Oldsmobile Returns! - Car News   March 2008
April Fools! Toyota didn't buy the Oldsmobile name, and nobody is reviving the brand yet. But we can still hope.

 2008 Ford Escort - Auto Shows   April 2007
Happy April Fools' Day. Ford isn't bringing the Escort back, despite what we told you on April 1 (below).

 Mixed News for British Sports Cars, Querulous "Q", and Hybrid Taxis - Car News   July 2006
Next big thing-retro names, closing time, Travis Bickle, eat your heart out, no Q for you! Lotus fools, and

 Pontiac Aztek Restyle? - Car News   April 2001
Not that there's anything wrong with It.
" April Fool's Day

I had also done a google search and several blogs are running with the story, so I don't feel too bad.  This does seem like something 0Bama would pull, and who knows he might see the article and think it's a good idea.

[Flame]

Actually Tony drives a Toyota now...he left joes Gibbs racing and started his own team with someone else.  but, yeah, it will still piss off a lot of people, myself included.

hmmm...musta "misremembered" ..

[Ralph Wiggum]

Apparently this April Fools joke has gotten some people today.

[Miss Mia]

Apparently this April Fools joke has gotten some people today.

LOL!  They changed the title "April Fools: Obama Orders Chevrolet and Dodge Out Of NASCAR - Car News"

[Chris]

The grill on that car is from a Hyundai Genesis.

[Chris_]

hmmm...musta "misremembered" ..

Gibbs racing switch to Toyota after several years of driving Chevy. Tony wasn't pleased but spent last year driving a Toyota. During the off season he left Gibbs and became part owner of Stewart-Haas Racing. They drive Chevys. So this year he's back in a Chevy.

[BlueStateSaint]

Gibbs racing switch to Toyota after several years of driving Chevy. Tony wasn't pleased but spent last year driving a Toyota. During the off season he left Gibbs and became part owner of Stewart-Haas Racing. They drive Chevys. So this year he's back in a Chevy.

Not only that, but he signed Ryan Newman away from Penske Racing to run his other car.  They're both doing fairly well.  It's a matter of time before Smoke takes a checker--this year.

Also, on that list, Jeff Gordon is a Democrat.  He was the only driver in the Chase for the Cup in 2004 that wouldn't come out and endorse President Bush.  (Stewart was in the Chase, and did endorse the President.)  But Gordon's teammate, Jimmie Johnson, came out and endorsed John McCain last year, even though car owner Rick Hendrick was one of the ones pardoned by President Clinton in the flurry of pardons at the end of his term.

[Chris_]

Not only that, but he signed Ryan Newman away from Penske Racing to run his other car.  They're both doing fairly well.  It's a matter of time before Smoke takes a checker--this year.

Also, on that list, Jeff Gordon is a Democrat.  He was the only driver in the Chase for the Cup in 2004 that wouldn't come out and endorse President Bush.  (Stewart was in the Chase, and did endorse the President.)  But Gordon's teammate, Jimmie Johnson, came out and endorsed John McCain last year, even though car owner Rick Hendrick was one of the ones pardoned by President Clinton in the flurry of pardons at the end of his term.

I've really been surprised at how well Newman and Stewart have done. I figured with it being, for all intents and purposes, a completely new operation that it would take at least until the end of the year for them to start coming together. Maybe everyone is scared of making Tony mad.

[thundley4]

Oh Noes, Ann Coulter fell for Car and Driver's prank also.    From her column:

"If Obama can tell GM and Chrysler that their participation in NASCAR is an "unnecessary expenditure," isn't having public schools force students to follow Muslim rituals, recite Islamic prayers and plan "jihads" also an "unnecessary expenditure"? Are all those school condom purchases considered "necessary expenditures"? " Annie Get You Gun

[BlueStateSaint]

I've really been surprised at how well Newman and Stewart have done. I figured with it being, for all intents and purposes, a completely new operation that it would take at least until the end of the year for them to start coming together. Maybe everyone is scared of making Tony mad.

One would think that the Stewart-Haas team would have those struggles.  They haven't, and they've done well without Greg Zipadelli (I had to check NASCAR.com to confirm that that was the right spelling!) at the helm.  I tend to think that Zippy not being there has been the catalyst for Smoke's success.