Things hitting the fan with the Glidden/Schumacher/Carlson drama
04-18-2006, 10:13 PM
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Things hitting the fan with the Glidden/Schumacher/Carlson drama
Only 15 seconds ended the Glidden and Schumacher connection; Accusations Fly (4-18-2006)
The conversation that led to the termination of Bob Glidden as crewchief for Don Schumacher’s Pro Stock operation only lasted about 15 seconds.
Don Schumacher basically told me that he had decided to fire both me and Rusty,” Glidden said.
Schumacher pointed out that an ultimatum from Glidden made his decision for him. The veteran team owner admitted that a lengthy conversation had taken place last Thursday when he asked Glidden’s opinion regarding bringing in David Nickens to manage the red car driven by Shaun Carlson.
The “Red” car as many call it has long been a staple of controversy since Jeg Coughlin, Jr., vacated the seat last year.
“Bob called me back on Friday and basically gave me an ultimatum if I brought Dave in,” Schumacher said.
Glidden denies any such ultimatum was given. His contention was that if someone was going to be brought in for the “Red” car then someone likewise needed to be brought in for the “Blue” car. He would have prefered to work in the shop only.
“It was made clear to him from advice given by Etta [Glidden] that I should not even go to the races and just stay behind at the shop. My deal with the guys at the race track was pathetic and it was killing me.
“Schumacher was at the shop on Thursday and asked to look at the computer. We showed him run after run what was going on. That’s when he brought up the Nickens deal.
“I told him that I was already racing against four or five cars that I’ve given my forty years of knowledge to...[Larry] Morgan and his lease customers…I told him that Nickens is in the business to sell parts. He then told me that Nickens was not in the Pro Stock engine business. I told him that he doesn’t do Pro Stock engines because he doesn’t have the knowledge.
“If he tinkers around with our stuff for a little while he will. I told him to bring in someone to handle the blue car. None of this has to do with Rusty. Rusty is a young guy - he's 37-years old and needs a job. Schumacher just flat out @#$%&% him. Schumacher just twists things to make them right in his mind.”
Glidden pointed out the dismissal came as no surprise to him. He admitted that he spent much of the night of his dismissal watching movies and relaxing.
“I knew someone was going to eventually have to take the fall for this stupidity,” Glidden said. “The only person left was me.”
Glidden wouldn’t say if he was given a fair chance, but was quick to point out, “When I started this deal about a year and a half ago there wasn’t even a nut or a bolt, wrench or anything. Rusty and I worked our lives away to build this thing from nothing to what it is today.
“We could be as quick as anyone on the race track. I wasn’t given the option to pick drivers to win races. It was what it was. I think there was a time we reached 90 to 100 hours a week and I think at the end of the season I got a $500 bonus.”
The dismissal comes at a time when the Carlson-driven car qualified for the first time after four consecutive DNQ performances. For Schumacher, that success came a little too late as he commented, “I have built a program to win championships, not just qualify.”
Glidden says that he’d return to Pro Stock racing if adequate sponsorship came along, but can’t afford to do it on his own. As for directing another team, he’s somewhat leery.
“I’m at the mercy of who I help,” Glidden said. “I worked very hard in the middle of the year directing the manufacture of a new cylinder head and block. We have five of those engines built and ready to go now. Schumacher didn’t need me any more.
“That’s the problem I will have no matter where I go.”
Glidden admitted that he’s laid the groundwork for others to succee more times than once.
Schumacher pointed out that he would have rather handled the situation in a face-to-face manner, but the ill health of his mother has him staying close to home. The dismissal of Glidden was something Schumacher pointed out was a tough decision to make. He added that he thinks the world of Bob and Rusty Glidden but things just couldn’t continue the way they were headed.
“I’m only trying to improve this team,” Schumacher said. “I was just trying to find someone to take over this Red car which was a thorn in Bob’s side.”
The conversation that led to the termination of Bob Glidden as crewchief for Don Schumacher’s Pro Stock operation only lasted about 15 seconds.
Don Schumacher basically told me that he had decided to fire both me and Rusty,” Glidden said.
Schumacher pointed out that an ultimatum from Glidden made his decision for him. The veteran team owner admitted that a lengthy conversation had taken place last Thursday when he asked Glidden’s opinion regarding bringing in David Nickens to manage the red car driven by Shaun Carlson.
The “Red” car as many call it has long been a staple of controversy since Jeg Coughlin, Jr., vacated the seat last year.
“Bob called me back on Friday and basically gave me an ultimatum if I brought Dave in,” Schumacher said.
Glidden denies any such ultimatum was given. His contention was that if someone was going to be brought in for the “Red” car then someone likewise needed to be brought in for the “Blue” car. He would have prefered to work in the shop only.
“It was made clear to him from advice given by Etta [Glidden] that I should not even go to the races and just stay behind at the shop. My deal with the guys at the race track was pathetic and it was killing me.
“Schumacher was at the shop on Thursday and asked to look at the computer. We showed him run after run what was going on. That’s when he brought up the Nickens deal.
“I told him that I was already racing against four or five cars that I’ve given my forty years of knowledge to...[Larry] Morgan and his lease customers…I told him that Nickens is in the business to sell parts. He then told me that Nickens was not in the Pro Stock engine business. I told him that he doesn’t do Pro Stock engines because he doesn’t have the knowledge.
“If he tinkers around with our stuff for a little while he will. I told him to bring in someone to handle the blue car. None of this has to do with Rusty. Rusty is a young guy - he's 37-years old and needs a job. Schumacher just flat out @#$%&% him. Schumacher just twists things to make them right in his mind.”
Glidden pointed out the dismissal came as no surprise to him. He admitted that he spent much of the night of his dismissal watching movies and relaxing.
“I knew someone was going to eventually have to take the fall for this stupidity,” Glidden said. “The only person left was me.”
Glidden wouldn’t say if he was given a fair chance, but was quick to point out, “When I started this deal about a year and a half ago there wasn’t even a nut or a bolt, wrench or anything. Rusty and I worked our lives away to build this thing from nothing to what it is today.
“We could be as quick as anyone on the race track. I wasn’t given the option to pick drivers to win races. It was what it was. I think there was a time we reached 90 to 100 hours a week and I think at the end of the season I got a $500 bonus.”
The dismissal comes at a time when the Carlson-driven car qualified for the first time after four consecutive DNQ performances. For Schumacher, that success came a little too late as he commented, “I have built a program to win championships, not just qualify.”
Glidden says that he’d return to Pro Stock racing if adequate sponsorship came along, but can’t afford to do it on his own. As for directing another team, he’s somewhat leery.
“I’m at the mercy of who I help,” Glidden said. “I worked very hard in the middle of the year directing the manufacture of a new cylinder head and block. We have five of those engines built and ready to go now. Schumacher didn’t need me any more.
“That’s the problem I will have no matter where I go.”
Glidden admitted that he’s laid the groundwork for others to succee more times than once.
Schumacher pointed out that he would have rather handled the situation in a face-to-face manner, but the ill health of his mother has him staying close to home. The dismissal of Glidden was something Schumacher pointed out was a tough decision to make. He added that he thinks the world of Bob and Rusty Glidden but things just couldn’t continue the way they were headed.
“I’m only trying to improve this team,” Schumacher said. “I was just trying to find someone to take over this Red car which was a thorn in Bob’s side.”
04-19-2006, 07:50 AM
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Re: Things hitting the fan with the Glidden/Schumacher/Carlson drama (earl)
Glidden is just pissed and never like Carlson, because he wanted his son to drive that car.
Good luck to Carlson the rest of the season.
Jason
Good luck to Carlson the rest of the season.
Jason
04-19-2006, 01:18 PM
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Re: Things hitting the fan with the Glidden/Schumacher/Carlson drama (Arturbo)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Arturbo »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">looks like Karma got the best of Glidden..</TD></TR></TABLE>
i feel both sides have valid situations in there quest to race for championships, but glidden just was bringing the bitterness from other teams he dealt with. mr. shoe is a great guy from what i know and would love to just ask him a ton of questions, besides the point, glidden wasn't happy ever....i don't know why but from my understanding he is a hard person to deal with and it made it even more difficult when rusty was not appointed to the job, the guy is 37 and has no job if it wasn't for his pops..... that's just embarrassing... also that he didn't have the motive to go win anymore from that point on. Carlson is no exception either, he doesn't know what others do when driving a pro stocker, and it takes time to do that and Carlson has done an exceptional job doing it !!! go Carlson! but i think glidden was just tired of getting the **** end of the stick... and i feel him on that, but his attitude got the best of him and now he doesn't have much of a career in the pro stock world from what i see. i hope it was a good decision for mr. shoe to appoint the new crew chief for both cars cuz that's a big job for someone that hasn't had any if not little experience with pro stock cars and racing. but good luck to both sides and Stevens and Carlson will definitely feel the pressure now.
i feel both sides have valid situations in there quest to race for championships, but glidden just was bringing the bitterness from other teams he dealt with. mr. shoe is a great guy from what i know and would love to just ask him a ton of questions, besides the point, glidden wasn't happy ever....i don't know why but from my understanding he is a hard person to deal with and it made it even more difficult when rusty was not appointed to the job, the guy is 37 and has no job if it wasn't for his pops..... that's just embarrassing... also that he didn't have the motive to go win anymore from that point on. Carlson is no exception either, he doesn't know what others do when driving a pro stocker, and it takes time to do that and Carlson has done an exceptional job doing it !!! go Carlson! but i think glidden was just tired of getting the **** end of the stick... and i feel him on that, but his attitude got the best of him and now he doesn't have much of a career in the pro stock world from what i see. i hope it was a good decision for mr. shoe to appoint the new crew chief for both cars cuz that's a big job for someone that hasn't had any if not little experience with pro stock cars and racing. but good luck to both sides and Stevens and Carlson will definitely feel the pressure now.
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