Jay Middleton Announces Retirement after ASA SAT Championship

[JackTripper]

It got moved to the Complainer's Corner because the powers that be love Jay Middleton, isn't it obvious? So let's make it a real complaint then!

"Racing is teetering right now and you expect him to be loyal to a 'hobby' that may or may not survive the times???

Short track racing isn't going to survive the times? That's a bold proclamation from CCMP's biggest cheerleader. Hope you didn't read that Bobby Diehl. Your ombudsman isn't doing her job.

And you hit the nail on the head, it was a hobby for him. But I guess that's what happens when you don't have to earn your rides.

Truly you don't believe that racing as it is now will ever pay him enough to support his planned family?

Ever heard of the Anderson family? Dave Steele figured it out when he ran USAC. How about Lee Faulk? His ads are on this website. How about Scott Bloomquist? Brett Hearn, perhaps? I could make you a list of a lot of short track drivers on pavement and dirt across this country that have somehow figured out how to make a living off short track racing. But it's not a hobby for them.

[carolwicks]

Jack Tripper...

do you think racing can support a family?
As for Jay... when Jay was young he dreamed the same dream as alot of other teens in SLM cars. he was single and had very few responsibilities.
now he is an adult planning a family... times have changed for him and priorities have changed. i need to look back on my post. i dont remember saying racing was a hobby for him... jay took it very serious.
actually jack... my argument was that i dont think some of the posts were fair. the ones calling him a traitor to the sport. he put quite a few years into racing and now he is moving on to something that will benefit him and his wife and future children. do you not agree that he is doing the right thing.
i dont think its worth arguing about. you have a right to feel the way you do and so do i... we both said it sooooooooooo... ;-) hope you have a great day...
as for me promoting racing. i never stop but it is a cold hard fact that because of the economy...racing is suffering. we are working alot harder to get people in the stands and cars on the tracks. it isnt easy. bobby will never complain about me. he knows how hard i work as do many many others who care...
carol

i just looked at my post... i had hobby in parenthesis because that word had been used so many times. if whatever youre doing doesnt support your family it is basically a hobby... Jays dad used to support him ...thats what dads do. but now Jay is an adult and he is showing responsibility and supporting himself.
i understand Wayne and David... its different for them. ;-) but we were discussing Jay....

[chris cater]

Just for you guys know Jay is a class act i worked for Jay for five years and two years as his crew chief. the thing with Ben Rowe at speedfest Ben ran out of gas just like he told us at speedweeks Jay never tore a car up when i was with him and the man has plenty of talent just never got the breaks in the sport he needed, yes his dad has some money but he doesn't have enough to buy a ride like Logano and he didn't want his son to make it that way so if you don't know the man don't run your mouth about him. Just because you got his autograph at the track doesn't mean you know him at all because he will sign an autograph for anyone. Jay you're a class act period.

[JackTripper]

...yes his dad has some money but he doesn't have enough to buy a ride like Logano and he didn't want his son to make it that way ...

If you think Joey Logano's family bought his way into NA$CAR, you're delusional. Roush passed on Logano when he was 15 and Gibbs picked him up. Hell, the rides that Logano's famiy had put together for him up to that point weren't even as big time as the series that Jay Middleton has competed in.

[jrg3]

I would like to say some thing on this subject. I keep seeing in posts that this is suposed to be a hobby. Well I disagree. We are talking about superlate models, not HOBBY stocks. I agree some race cars are bought and raced as a hobby. I don't think racing the most expensive short track cars on the planet should be looked at as a hobby.

I race becuase it is my life and career. My hobbys are winning races and helping young kids get a good start in there racing life.

Hobbies don't pay your bills. Careers pay your bills. Jay has decided to get a career that can pay his bills and make him more happy than he is now.

Thanks for listening, J.R. Garcia III

[bctfla]

Jay is happy!

I talked with Jay last week at Memphis where he was a spotter for Stephen Leicht in the ASA race. He did not even know he was being discussed/raked over the coals on the KARNAC forum!

He has his head on straight and is probably doing the right thing for his family. Just because he is not driving does not mean he won't be involved with the sport such as being a spotter or whatever else he wants to do.

Let's give him credit for looking ahead at what will be rather than hanging on for what might be. There are times when I wished I had spent a couple more years in college and become an attorney instead of doing 30 years as a law enforcement officer !! I sure would have made more money dealing with the pond scum of society as a lawyer rather than as a cop.

Hey, racers need attorneys too!