After the recent passing of C&J Energy founder and CEO Josh Comstock, many wondered aloud what the fate of Bob Vandergriff Racing would be. Comstock was the driving force behind Vandergriff’s team financially and many believed that after his passing, it would only be a matter of time before new business leadership changed course with regard to their stance on top fuel. Amazingly, it was not a snap decision to cut funding that ended the organization known as Bob Vandergriff Racing, it was the man who founded and owned the team, Bob Vandergriff himself. In a statement released on Monday, Vandergriff announced his “retirement” from drag racing and by notice of that, the dissolution of the entire racing operation effective immediately.
Reportedly the message was delivered via a conference call to the race shop with the employees present to listen and the duration of the call was about 15-minues. Between the employees that manned the two race cars, manned the phones in the shop, and were otherwise employed by BVR, there are now a couple of dozen people looking for work. People with families, mortgages, and life commitments just like the rest of the world. It is certainly Vandergriff’s choice to do what he wants but there wasn’t a person in the sport expecting the end of BVR to come as the result as an “unexpected retirement”.
The major questions surround the future of people like Mike Guger, Jason McCulloch, Joe Barlam, and the rest of the crew guys along with Dave Connolly and Leah Pritchett. Understanding that the Quaker State sponsorship that was to appear on the dragster at various times through the year came through DSR in some manner, we’re guessing that Leah may have a limited schedule in a DSR car but that is complete speculation. Connolly? He’s kind of a wildcard. We’re not sure he would pursue another fuel ride, there aren’t exactly a bunch of pro stock cars sitting around these days with no drivers, and the guy can make a living as a sportsman racer if he pleases. The possible outcomes for him are certainly multiple and we’re going to follow along.
We can then look at the FireAde sponsorship that Pritchett had on the car as well. Remember, as a direct result of that deal, Larry Morgan has not materialized at a pro stock race in 2016. Any shot of Larry getting some of that dough back? Only time will tell.
Lastly there’s the equipment. We’ve not heard of or seen listing for all of the team’s assets but that may be a few days coming. Multiple tractor trailers, chassis, engines, machines, and all of the stuff that comes with it. This is all part of what will shake out over the coming days and weeks.
UPDATE: Nitro teams have already been reaching out for crew guys. We’re hoping that many of them land on their feet.
Here’s the official statement from Bob Vandergriff –
“I’ve been considering retirement for a few years now, and I’ve actually done it once already when I retired from the driver’s seat at the end of the 2014 season. Now it’s time to retire from the sport altogether. The recent unexpected death of BVR supporter and close friend Josh Comstock, from C&J Energy Services, has made me reflect and seriously reevaluate my priorities in life.
“I’ve missed a lot of things in my children’s lives over the years and the desire to spend more time at home with my family has weighed on me greatly the last few years and when combined with the struggles the oil and gas industry has been facing over the last 12-18 months it seemed like now was the right time to retire. C&J Energy Services CEO Randy McMullen and I sat down recently, and after lengthy discussions he was in agreement and fully supported my decision.
“I want to thank everyone who supported BVR, from our sponsors, to our vendors, employees, and most of all my father Bob Vandergriff Sr. My father has been the bedrock throughout my career and, without any hesitation, he has supported our efforts through the many challenges we’ve faced over the years. We’ve had a tremendous group of people at BVR and I expect and wish for great things in the future for each and every one of them. I’ve enjoyed spending the last 22 years of my life in drag racing. I owe a lot to the sport, its fans, and the individuals who have who played key roles in my career.”
Randy McMullen issued the following statement from C&J Energy Services:” We have enjoyed and greatly benefited from our relationship with Bob over the last eight years, both on and off the track. We support Bob in his next steps and look forward to continuing to work with him for many years to come on other ventures”
Hmm a snap decision delivered by via conference call??
Kinda chicken shit BV!
Vandergraff does owe a lot to the racing community, the least would have been to give the rest of the team a couple months to get shit together or plan options.
“I’ve missed a lot of things in my children’s lives over the years and the desire to spend more time at home with my family has weighed on me greatly the last few years and when combined with the struggles the oil and gas industry has been facing over the last 12-18 months it seemed like now was the right time to retire.”
So a couple months after the start of the season I’m pulling the rug out from under all you guys that I employed so you can be with your kids too.
I don’t know BV.
I hope the guys were given a little severance package.
I gotta figure he was told that the money is getting turned off and he’s covering.
If not, he’s a self centered ……………
If you want to know about an organization or individual its been said many times follow the money. I have heard of businesses literally turn out the lights, lock the doors put a note on the front door. CLOSED for good. That’s how the employees find out the next day when they show up for work. Classy.
At least these guys got a conference call. Kind of self-global-orientation on BV’s part. Gosh I have missed so much blah blah, sniff sniff, I wish you guys well! as the British would say, that’s not good cricket.
I guess we will hear the real story someday.
The real story is BV doesn’t plan on racing on his own dime. No backing, no racing.
And I suppose you would run 2 top fuel teams on your own dime! Right
I’m guessing that the McMillen, Palmer, and Haddock camps didn’t lose much sleep last night over the demise of Vanderquit’s organization.
No matter the circumstances or method and timing of closing shop (although it does seem pretty chickenshit), the fact remains that NHRA is now down 2 teams from what have already been less than strong fields. Not good.
That said, the real sadness here is for the folks who won’t find work or are unable to travel to take other positions in administrative jobs. As to my comment about the method and timing being chickenshit, in BV”s defense, I must say I know how it feels to know it’s time to quit. After 40 years on 2 wheels I decided to quit riding motorcycles last spring and have not looked back, but I didn’t have a shop full of people depending on me for their livelihoods. It’s just a bad deal all around. Good luck to those affected and “good luck” to NHRA on having a full T/F field the rest of the season. I kinda wish I hadn’t already bought my ticket to the Southern Nationals next month.
C&J Energy stock has plummeted from $33 a share to as low as $1.75. No money no racing, I’ll bet V’Griff was an investor too.
Surprised C&J lasted with the backing as long as they did. Have you seen their stock price and the layoff’s they going thru?
I would think they saw it coming with the death of Mr. Comstock.
No surprise that right after this announcement the entry field for the NHRA Fourwides includes Scott Palmer Paul Smith Chris Karmesines Pat Dakin and Dominick Lagana. There are only 10 full time T/F cars now so anybody got an extra million or so? You might be able to swing a Countdown birth with a few mishaps from the 10 and a few good races the rest of the season. The sad state that the NHRA allowed its self to be in in both T/F and P/S is fixable and they have started some upward movement but the high cost/low payout high spectator costs all have to be adjusted to make NHRA National Events attractive to racers and fans. I have attended the Sonoma race every year since the inaugural event in 1988 and have watched the car counts, extra activities, and all plummet since the crash of 2008. I hope the NHRA’s new team has more in in its pockets to fix this 🙂
Luther,
I had hope too about NHRA. But, they painted themselves into a corner a few years ago when they went to 1000 ft. races. They’d went so far as to test single mag fuel motors at one point,….and then decided to scrap that idea. It seems that kickin’ the can down the road has now resulted in the situation we have now. Low car counts and low enthusiasm about the sport.
I see a storm on the horizon and it’s not pretty.