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Brendan Gaughan backs crew chief, talks with former Georgetown coach
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Saturday, June 13, 2009
SPARTA, Ky. – Brendan Gaughan has talked to his former basketball coach at Georgetown University to make sure he knew what was said and what happened after his accident with 19-year-old African-American driver Marc Davis last week.
Gaughan said he talked with John Thompson about his statement that people must get a better education at Georgetown than Howard University, whose radio station sponsored Davis’ car. Howard is a historically black university.
“I spoke to [Thompson] quite a bit this week – I was nervous [that] what I said was embarrassing a little bit, and Coach Thompson reassured me that he felt no embarrassment by it and he understood the context,” Gaughan said. “I felt bad because in many context that could be construed as something that wasn’t polite.
“Coach Thompson reminded me that I would say the same thing about Syracuse University.”
After the race, Gaughan had talked with Davis, whom he had collided with on pit road as Gaughan darted into his pit and Davis, on the outside, turned into him to enter the garage.
“We’re battling our tails off for points, so it was a rough deal,” said Gaughan, who will start sixth in the Meijer 300 tonight at Kentucky Speedway. “Once Marc and I talked, it was all fine.”
At the time of that conversation, Gaughan said he was unaware that there was an allegation that his crew chief, Bryan Berry, had used a racial slur while approaching Davis’ car. Berry was indefinitely suspended for allegedly making the comment, which NASCAR officials told team owner Rusty Wallace was heard by people outside the car.
“In the end, once it’s all said and done, Bryan Berry is a great man and Bryan is going to be back at the race track with us hopefully very soon once these things get settled down,” Gaughan said. “All this extracurricular stuff has been a very ugly distraction. We all believe in Bryan Berry and people that know Bryan very well know that some of the ugly things being said are not him.
“He’ll go on and do what NASCAR says needs to be done to get back in the sport, and we’ll see him in the garage soon.”
Gaughan said he believed Berry when he said he did not utter the slur.
“Bryan has been with me for a very long time,” Gaughan said. “I’m not concerned that he said it or not. Should a crew chief go to the window net of another driver? No. … The crew members need to make sure they stay away from [the other car].
“Shame on him for putting himself there. Shame on me for losing my temper about things.”
With Berry out, car chief Shane Huffman is acting as crew chief and Wes Ward, who was working in the shop, is coming to the track.
“We’re going to be just fine,” Gaughan said.
Mentioned Drivers:
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
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Comments
9 responses to "Brendan Gaughan backs crew chief, talks with former Georgetown coach". Post a Comment.
gthom56978 said:
Jun 13, 2009 at 9:14 PMThat crew chief does not need to be in any part of Nascar. He needs to go back into the place he was raised. I would hate to imagine what he thinks about the President of the United States. Nascar cannot take out of a guy, what has been instilled in him from childhood. That was a terrible thing to say. Please Nascar that guy do not need another chance. It is who he is. He could have said something else, he knew exactly what he was saying and he meant it!!!!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrosanne_masters said:
Jun 14, 2009 at 8:41 AMIt's extremely suspicious when someone is heard uttering a racial slur only by the sponsors of the driver, when there are several other people in the same area who did not hear it. And, why wasn't Marc Davis driving the 10 car in Kentucky???? I think there's more here than meets the eye. Personally, I think Bryan got the short end of this one.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportspdbmp said:
Jun 14, 2009 at 12:34 PMNASCAR is in a tough spot here... Marc Davis was in the drive for diversity program. Personally, if there was even a HINT of misconduct, some action needed to be taken. How severe of an action? I don't know, but something. Tempers flared, and from what I actually DID hear on the team radio that day, it is indeed possible that things escalated to that level. This is not a time in our economy for ANYBODY to be alienating fans or sponsors. I think in light of the Jeremy Mayfield fiasco, Bryan Berry had little choice but to follow the prescribed steps in an effort to get reinstated as soon as possible - whether he is guilty or not. I think Rusty handled the situation poorly, as an elder statesman of the sport, he should have steered clear of the whole debate. We all know that it is NASCAR's game with NASCAR's rules.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgatenpin said:
Jun 14, 2009 at 7:59 PMNo one but Marc's crew say they heard a racial slur - others in the area say there was none. I think NASCAR should take action against Marc for turning left from the outside lane in front of Brandon. That shows inexperience, stupidity, and inability to use one's head. From someone in D.C., I have to admit that Georgetown Univ offers better education, basketball players, and drivers than Howard. We say that about all universities since Georgetown is dearly loved.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgatenpin said:
Jun 14, 2009 at 8:05 PMWould like to know why only Marc's crew say there was a racial slur. No one else in the area heard one. I back Brandon and Berry since it was stupid to turn left from the outside lane in front of Brandon. Every one thinks their university if the best in everything. We all brag on the university we attended. Rusty needs to appeal this suspension, NASCAR needs to lift it, and NASCAR needs to suspend Marc for making the turn. He had spotters working with him, I am sure.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportVWS said:
Jun 14, 2009 at 10:16 PMActually a Nascar Official heard the slur as well ie the suspension. I think Gaugan and his crew chief are playing it right denial because there always be people who will believe Jesus Christ himself could have said he heard the racial slur and people would back Berry. Honestly there is noting new or revealing about what occurred period.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrosanne_masters said:
Jun 15, 2009 at 7:53 AMAll this whitewash by the #10 team to cover up the goof their driver made. Why doesn't Marc Davis admit that he made a wrong turn and caused the accident.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdale said:
Jun 16, 2009 at 2:10 AMRosanne, to your first question, they are on a limited schedule, so they were not planned on being at the next track. No mystery there. As to Davis being punished for turning into the garage area, that is where he turned. It is not his fault that Brendan's team wasn't paying attention. Brendan's team selected the pit they were in, knowing full well that he garage entrance was right before their pit. Davis was in front and basically had the right of way. Brendan ran into Davis. Brendan is at fault - just like out on the road. You hit the other car, you are at fault for not being in control of your vehicle. As to the alleged comments made by the crew chief, I do not know him and have no idea if he did or did not make them. It does seem strange that only certain people appear to have heard them.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportlegends73 said:
Jul 5, 2009 at 12:32 PM#1 - gthom56978, I personally don't like the President of the United States, I don't like some of his actions and beliefs, I don't like many of the changes that he has implemented since taking office. I don't agree with the bailouts for the major corporations that he pushed for, and the gun control laws that he is trying to change, etc. But, this DOES NOT, by any stretch of the imagination mean that I am racist, now does it? So exactly what were you inferring?
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