BAM Becoming A Sham

Could Bam Racing be a sham? Pitstopradio's Scotty Wazz talks to us about some funny business where Shawna Robinson is NOT laughing

On January 3rd 2002, Beth Ann Morgenthau announced that Shawna Robinson would pilot her #49 BAM Racing Dodge. Beth Ann said that the relationship would be one of growing and one of future success. BAM Racing had a schedule of 24 races to look forward to with Shawna behind the wheel. However, because of one thing or another, Shawna has only been in the car 8 out of the 13 schedule starts. She has made 7 of the 8, but finishing no higher than 24th. Between those times, rumors have been flying that the BAM Racing teams is slowly pushing Shawna out of her ride.

Seemed in the mentality in the BAM camp is to put Shawna out in the track for about 25 laps, take the car to the garage and start to run a different set-up and put her back on the track, several laps behind the pace. This is much like a testing session, which Nascar grants at least 5 of each year. In the past few races, Ron Hornaday and Derrike Cope have been qualifying the #49 Dodge. On the weekend of the Sharpie 500 in Bristol, Shawna only showed up to do an autograph session, then went home because she didn’t have to race or qualify.

When questioned about the change, a BAM Racing representative usually said it was to “gain more information about the car and make the team grow.” Frankly, wouldn’t you want to have the actual driver in the car when gaining information and making the team grow? When asked about testing in place of Ron Hornaday said, “Some of the problem she was telling the crew, I felt out there and experienced too.” Jumping to conclusions, many have said that they are pushing Shawna out, but Beth Ann continues to say that Shawna is in the future plans of the team and will continue on with the team. Many site the fact sponsorship isn’t on the team and someone like Hornaday and Cope can bring it in. However, didn’t Aaron’s and Tropicana back the #84 ride that Shawna had last season?

Now I don’t want to go off on a rant here, but frankly I don’t see the reason of replacing somebody in a ride if you want to grow, unless you want to grow with that driver. Putting someone like Derrike Cope, who is only know because of his Daytona 500 win in 1990, is not the answer. Shawna Robinson is as good, if not better, than Derrike Cope. Unless you are including Shawna in on these testing sessions with other drivers, then make up your mind. Do not give anyone the speculation that you will have Shawna in a Winston Cup car when that’s not going to happen. BAM was also thinking of putting a Busch Grand National car on the track to put Shawna in, but who is to say that will last when it comes to BAM? Shawna Robinson is one of the best female drivers out there. Her accomplishments in the ARCA/Remax Series are second to none. Not to mention she open the doors of stock car racing in the modern day to drivers like Tina Gordon, Deborah Renshaw, and countless other female stock car racers.

The plan that Beth Ann Morgenthau has at the beginning of the season was to field a team that would be competitive and have a fine driver in the seat in Shawna Robinson. Maybe Beth Ann and the people over at BAM Racing should go back over their plan and realize the error of their ways. No one will take them serious or respect them if they pull these kinds of games. The revolving door of drivers gets both the team and driver nowhere in the world of racing. My final words to Beth Ann Morgenthau and all those at BAM Racing: Why can’t you give Shawna a chance to prove herself. Maybe the reason she isn’t doing up the expectations you set for her and the team is because she’s not able to drive the way she knows how. Don’t use the races as “test” because that’s just wasting your time and her time. Shawna could be in any ride around Nascar and be a factor in the end. You are restricting her in every aspect of racing. Someone like Derrike Cope or Ron Hornaday will not get you to the Promised Land. Shawna is actually better than the both of them, but you’ll never realize that because you’re too worried with the matter at hand instead of building for the future WITH Shawna. If she is in your future plans, why not make her a part of the present plan as well?

Thank you for your time, this time, and until next time, I’m Scotty Wazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. This has been my two cents.

Scotty Wazz of Glen Burnie, Maryland is a small town boy from a small family.  In 2001. He got hired on by BroadcastMonsters.com to host the Hockey Show called "Face-Off" Wednesday nights. It progressed into  "Pit Stop Radio", where Todd and Scotty talk racing every Thursday night.  His NASCAR expertise is welcomed here at racerchicks.com.  If you have an opinion or just want to say hi feel free to e-mail Scotty at scott@broadcastmonsters.com