That’s not how Mr George rolls

Posted by Iannucci | 5/02/2008 | 9 comments »
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When you own the series, the most successful track in the series, and a two-car team in the series, you have to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Guys like Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi aren’t in the business of betting against the house, and so...

(Vision Racing) has made some organizational changes effective immediately. Former crew chief, Keven Kukuliwicz (a.k.a. Keven Kaye) has been named to the post of team manager, taking on the additional responsibility for the operation of the race team. Kukuliwicz follows Larry Curry as Vision Racing’s team manager.

Curry was one of the first employees of Vision Racing when team owners Tony and Laura George formed the team from assets purchased through the sale of Kelley Racing in 2005.

“Larry has been an asset to the growth and building of Vision Racing,” George said. “However, after full review of the facts surrounding the disallowance of the teams qualifying runs at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Larry and I agreed that a breach of what amounts to the teams code of conduct had occurred and as team manager he was expected to uphold a very high standard, but in this instance fell short.”

(MORE from Vision Racing)
Now I’m not so naïve as to believe there aren’t plenty of others who look to work around the rules, but the fact is if you get caught there should be consequences. (Insert Judas Priest's “Breaking the law!”)

It’s unfortunate this news comes out on a Friday afternoon when no one will notice it. Not because of any animosity towards Larry Curry personally, but rather due to the fact that it’s just so surprising to see a motorsports team step up and make a statement that they don’t condone cheating.

Instead of say featuring the cheater in the sponsor’s commercials.

9 comments

  1. Fred Hurley // May 02, 2008 7:00 PM  

    I think there's just more of a culture of pushing the boundaries of the rulebook in NASCAR, stemming from its roots as shine-runners racing each other around. Championship racing, on the other, is SUPPOSED to have an element of gentlemanly competition about it. I know that's naive, but still. I applaud TG for making a tough call, and doing the right thing.

  2. SS Minnow // May 02, 2008 8:04 PM  

    In a way, I kind of admire LC for trying. It brings back some of the element that really made open wheel great- at least via the history of Indy. How far in the "grey" could you push it before going into the black? Ask Granatelli about that. (Read his book and how the rules were changed almost overnight in regards to the turbines. Then the lengths he went through to prove the old gaurd wrong by still devoloping the turbine with the restrictions given. Simply intriguing.) I know it's been discussed (even ranted about) on this blog and others about how innovation has been lacking in recent years, at least from the standpoint of car/engine design. I guess back then it was about the pure speed whereas today the innovations seem to be coming in the form of safety for which I have no problem with. However, I'd like to see some new stuff as long as it does not put the driver, or spectator, at an exponentially greater risk. And before the zingers come, I understand that it is racing and there is always a risk for all involved. Anything traveling at 200+ mph can only be so "safe", right? Needless to say, I'm am extremely excited about what may come down the road in 2010. All players will intitially be on the same playing field and the better engineers (ok, those with the cash) should rise to the top of the class.

  3. Jennifer Coomer // May 02, 2008 9:03 PM  

    once again...biting my tongue.
    (silently grumbles to self about the N-word)

  4. Anonymous // May 02, 2008 9:27 PM  

    Jennifer of Dog.Yarn.Knit, please do not bite your tongue. WE want to hear want you're thinking !!

  5. pressdog // May 03, 2008 6:27 AM  

    Larry will respect TG's authoritah! I agree it's rare to see such forthright announcements. Usually it's "has left the team to pursue other opportunities," which is code for CANNED. So props to everyone for being up front about it. I'm in favor of intentionally cheat = fired.

  6. Anonymous // May 03, 2008 6:53 AM  

    Whatever he found, it worked, and will certainly be in demand over, say, the next month or so...

  7. Carrie // May 03, 2008 3:56 PM  

    When you own the series, the most successful track in the series, and a two-car team in the series, you have to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

    I'd say TG was a little late in doing that with this move considering he hired a man convicted of stealing a million dollars from his former employer in the first place.

    I hope he wasn't shocked by Curry's cheating because he couldn't honestly believe the man all the sudden developed strong personal and business morals, could he?

  8. Fred Hurley // May 03, 2008 4:45 PM  

    Carrie: I know how you feel, but didn't Curry go to jail? If so, I can understand giving him another chance, and hoping that a turn in the federal pen made him reconsider his life. They call it repaying your debt to society for a reason. That said, if you've been given a second chance, you'd best not run an illegal wing. :-)

  9. Zappatista // May 04, 2008 7:45 AM  

    Just FYI, I AM OFF TO THE TRACK! OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY!

    WHOO HOOOO!