Beard’s Release a Head Scratcher
Written by David Lamm · June 30, 2005
After taking a two race “vacation”?, Lee Beard has been released from Don Schumacher Racing. Beard called the shots for Whit Bazemore’s Matco Tools Dodge Funny Car but was put on hiatus after the car’s performance faltered. Two races pass that Beard was not turning the wrenches and then Don Schumacher releases a statement that Beard has been relieved of his duties. There has to be more going on behind the scenes than Beard mysteriously had forgotten to tune a Funny Car right?
Drag Race Central: Don Schumacher Releases Lee Beard
Like him or not, Beard knows his way around a nitro engine. Whether it is a dragster or a flopper, if it breathes fire and runs the quarter-mile, Beard knows how to make it go fast. He has tuned for Kenny Bernstein, Cruz Pedregon, Cory McClenathan and Gary Ormsby. There are worse drivers you could be associated with for sure. So did Beard bump his head and forget how to tune a racecar?
In his statement, Don Schumacher says, “I felt it was appropriate to allow him to pursue other opportunities as a first-class tuner”. What other opportunities? Were other race teams actively pursuing Beard? Is Don Schumacher such a nice guy that he would let his fishing buddy find another job in the pits? Granted Bazemore’s performance was suffering in the last five races before Beard was placed on sabbatical. Bazemore exited in the first round four times followed by a DNQ that served as the straw that broke the camel’s back. But this is the same Lee Beard that tuned Bazemore to two victories earlier in the year and had Whit leading the points at one time. Keep in mind Bazemore qualified No. 1 in Columbus. That was two races before Beard was put on hiatus.
I assume Dan Olson might have grown tired of being the assistant crew chief for Schumacher Racing after being the head crew chief for Tony Schumacher during his championship run in 1999. Maybe Bazemore’s fledgling performance of late was the opening that Schumacher needed to release Beard and insert Olson. I am not suggesting that Olson was behind Beard’s release but it does make you wonder what motivated Beard’s dismissal.
Honesty is the best policy. Don, just tell us what the real reason is for Beard’s release. Don’t feed us a prepackaged statement that tells us nothing as to why the decision was made. Beard is a big boy and can handle honesty. Beard was fired by Bernstein and was able to land on his feet. He will do it this time too. He is just too good and has too much experience. If he wasn’t cutting the mustard tell him and then fire him because his performance is lacking. Just be honest as to why the decision was made and spare us the skepticism.
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i think Bazemore is such a whining baby he got Beard Fired, Everybody remembers the driver not the head tuner.
Beard probably had the outdated notion that racing was best man win not teams & politics.
Bazemore needs to grow up and dump his New York attitude,Go to school on Sportsmanship,Take a long look in the mirror and stop bad mouthing other Racers