Most challenge cars are serviced and run by independents and not the dealers.
Jalopnik article from this morning on the matter: http://jalopnik.com/5899469/feds-launch-investigation-into-ex+con-racing-champ-scott-tucker
Whether that's true today or not, I'm not sure, as I've been out of the Challenge for a LONG time. That said, historically, the cars were always dealer-maintained. This was to discourage, well, "cheating". And, even that didn't always work. However, to the best of my knowledge, the current Challenge series is still in compliance with this long-standing rule. How ST got a waiver is still somewhat of an unknown. BTW, here's a quote from the FNA site (http://www2.ferrarichallenge.com/faqs) that applies... "Ferrari cars racing in the series are carefully prepared and maintained for competition by authorized Ferrari dealers, many of whom have formed racing teams for the series." CW
Boardwalk contracted out its challenge racing this year, of course Tucker was always on his own except maybe first few races.
Give credit to ChipG who posted this last year. Some other articles... http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/racing/news/20120402/scott-tucker-payday-scam/index.html http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ftc-charges-payday-lending-scheme-with-piling-inflated-fees-on-borrowers-and-making-unlawful-threats-when-collecting-2012-04-02 Like many others, I raced against Tucker a few times his first couple years when he was doing SCCA. He was a hack, tore up his race car almost every session. From what I saw later on even in his pro racing he wasn't 10% the talent that his marketing team made him out to be. Surprised he didn't do better with all those resources, "car prep", and more track time than any other racer out there by many times.
And, there's the rub. Who knows what work was done to ST's car in his shop. Cost no object, of course. To be clear, I'm not suggesting he's not a talented driver, but he may have had a little cushion on his way to the championship. I know that he had three cars (race, spare and testing). This meant that the race car stayed fresh and all development miles were on the testing chassis. What, specifically, was done to make his car(s) faster, I don't know. And, perhaps, nothing. However, when you take those cars out of a dealer's control, who knows what might be happening to them other than the principle and his wrenches. It just calls the accomplishments themselves into question. What arrangements Boardwalk has, I don't know, either, but the intent of the Challenge was always that the cars were to be dealer-maintained. Whether FNA is letting Boardwalk do something inappropriate, I don't know. But, if I were a dealer and Boardwalk was allowed to do something I wasn't, I'd wonder about a double standard. These cars are all supposed to be tech'd, but there was a suggestion/rule many years ago that the ECUs be swapped between teams to further discourage cheating. Even a spec series like the Challenge cannot entirely eliminate the problem. Especially when owners want to win and are willing to pay anything to do so. CW
Challenge title. SCCA title. ALMS rookie of the year. That's not a resume totally devoid of any talent. However, whether he "bought" those titles is a subject of discussion. Heck, though, isn't that part of the game? It's often the best-financed team with the best equipment that wins. Not always, but often. I've never raced against him, so your on-track experience with him is more than I've got. So, I will certainly defer to you on that point. CW
actually, spec and stock series have the most opportunity for cheating. if rules are open then development isn't cheating and the cheating you can still do has less impact. in a stock or spec series almost anything is cheating and offers huge returns. there are a hundred things a racer can do and a thousand things a top engineer can do to a spec or stock car that tech mostly likely won't find and if you do get caught it will just be on that one thing and you get a slap. the best and only rule for cheating that is effective is a racers own ethics and pride that what he accomplished was fair and deserved. there are many racers that have hollow trophies sitting on their shelf.
What he had going for him was more track time on a weekly basis than any other driver in the world, the best resources, and he had balls (wasn't afraid of much). What I think he lacked was consistency and ability to ride the 100% line without going over. One race we did was at TMS roval coming out of infield, he was unable to exit the road course without rubbing the wall. The good racers were giving the wall a foot, the racers without balls were giving it 10 feet, Scott hit it. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcAyLKwL9s8[/ame]
No doubt. I suppose I could understand it when real money and pride are at stake, such as in a professional series. But, where there's nothing to gain (but everything to lose) by cheating in a lesser series where there's nothing to win but bragging rights, I don't see the point. In the end, ST's racing achievements will always have an asterisk. Not because of this FTC mess, though. CW
Come on, you're too hard on him. Just like Senna, a documentary has been made about (err...by) him narrated by an honest to goodness Hollywood actor. http://daytonadream.com/ Even the WSJ did a piece on his "natural" talents. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703940904575395452654498336.html
FYI, Level 5 is still on the Long Beach entry list. How much longer can he survive? http://www.imsaracing.net/2012/events/long%20beach/2012%20ALMS%20Long%20Beach%20Entry.pdf
Technically, unless the bank accounts or assets are seized, I suppose they can continue on until the money runs out. And, assuming ST isn't remanded to custody, he would be able to be in attendance. His attorneys might advise him to keep a lower profile, though. CW
ha! that's awesome anyone know the arrangement he has with his co-drivers? I'm assuming it's a paying (and fairly well paying) gig for sports cars, otherwise why would talented, respected guys be associated with this goon? especially someone like RHR, who has a lot to lose, image-wise...
his personality is to flaunt in the face of those after him. Colorado Attorney General had a warrant out for his arrest, so he bought a vacation home in Colorado and flew in on his private jet to do a SCCA Club Race and immediately left. Imagine Monday morning when they found out what he did.
Bad idea to wave a flag in front of a bull... IMO, that's just reckless, unnecessary behaviour. If that's how he ran AMG, I'm not surprised he's in hot water. I knew about the Colorado AG suit, but thumbing your nose at the AG is a sure way to incite a response. CW
His first two seasons he ran completely under the Boardwalk banner and even won a race at one point. [quote =]What arrangements Boardwalk has, I don't know, either, but the intent of the Challenge was always that the cars were to be dealer-maintained. Whether FNA is letting Boardwalk do something inappropriate, I don't know. But, if I were a dealer and Boardwalk was allowed to do something I wasn't, I'd wonder about a double standard. These cars are all supposed to be tech'd, but there was a suggestion/rule many years ago that the ECUs be swapped between teams to further discourage cheating. Even a spec series like the Challenge cannot entirely eliminate the problem. Especially when owners want to win and are willing to pay anything to do so. [/quote] Like most of the teams which are run by independents, Boardwalk has always had employees at the track and the same responsibility to insure that the cars adhered to the same rules as every other dealer whether an in-house team or independent team campaigned the cars - no double standards.
Class action RICO case filed against Tucker. http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/04/11/45512.htm Even Tony Soprano was afraid of RICO charges. If I were Tucker I'd be shaking in my racing boots.
ouch. I will say I like the timing....last big press release/news articles about him were around Petit last year, now right on the Long Beach weekend....
