Driver Responsiveness Test: New Replies

I guess the offseason has provided the drivers a much needed break and a chance to catch up on their fan mail. Just in the past couple of weeks I have received a few replies from the bulk requests that were sent out earlier this season.

The first of these replies came from Aric Almirola. Aric can certainly be forgiven for taking his time to reply since he changed teams mid-season. His hero card features his Busch car from his former team, Joe Gibbs Racing.

The next reply came from Kasey Kahne, or should I say it came from the offices of Evernham Racing? The card came back a few months shy of a year and was unsigned. One interesting note, the card is unique in that it has a foldout design. Not another driver card like it, but again…it was unsigned.

The most recent reply came over the weekend and featured a signed card and letter from Brian Vickers. The card is very small in size but is nice in appearance. Along with the signed card came a letter addressed to the fans of Red Bull Racing. The interesting aspect here is that it was recently written and gave a look at how they viewed their season as a whole. They were obviously disappointed and struggled more than expected but are optimistic when looking towards the future.

Michael Waltrip Racing A+ - All three drivers replied and none of them took horribly long to do so.

Hall of Fame Racing A – Can’t remember for sure when Tony Raines replied, but he certainly did…and it didn’t take very long either.

Front Row Motorsports A- - Kenny Wallace replied after just over a month, not bad.

Morgan McClure A – Ward Burton is pretty good at signing fan mail.

RCR A - Both Harvick and Bowyer have sent signed replies. Jeff replied very slowly, but his reply meant that all three drivers have replied.

Hendrick Motorsports A- - Only Jeff Gordon didn’t reply. Casey Mears took excessively long but he did reply. Jimmie Johnson sent a 2006 card, but again…it was a signed reply. Plus, the two crew chief I wrote, Knaus and Letarte, replied quickly.

Penske B+ – Both Kurt and Ryan replied. Neither was very quick but neither took horribly long either.

Haas CNC B – Both Jeff Green and Johnny Sauter replied, but they took over two months each to do so.

DEI/Ginn B – No, I never expected Dale Jr. to reply based on his popularity and stated non-reply policy. Martin Truex, Jr. and Paul Menard both replied, and although it took quite some time I even got a reply from Jr’s crew chief, Tony Eury, Jr. Mark Martin signed quickly which is a tribute to his fan-friendliness. Regan Smith also signed quickly. Former Ginn driver, Sterlin Marlin replied slowly, but Joe Nemechek has yet to reply, which is a little surprising. Aric Almirola replied very slowly, but that may be because of the switch in teams.

Petty Enterprises C+ – Bobby Labonte replied very, very slowly. Kyle has yet to reply, but his father, the King, replied. Kyle’s part-time backup John Andretti replied as well, but on an IRL card.

Wood Brothers C+ - Ken Schrader replied promptly as did Jon Wood. Bill Elliott has yet to reply.

RYR C – David Gilliland replied but I am doubtful that Ricky Rudd will reply given his retirement and lack of fan appearances.

Bill Davis Racing C – Dave Blaney signed, but a Mayfield reply is unlikely at this point.

Ganassi Racing C - David Stremme’s reply was on a 2006 card, so likely was signed last year but still…his reply was quick. Montoya does not sign and likely never did, but his people did at least send back a card with a replica signature. Reed took forever to reply but also did so on a 2006 card. What, are they too cheap to make up cards for 2007?

Roush-Fenway Racing C- - Jamie McMurray no longer signs requests and didn’t even send an unsigned hero card, just a fan club membership form. Of the other four drivers in their stable, only David Ragan replied (he did so quickly and with a personalized reply). Robbie Reiser took a little while to reply, but he did reply and that coupled with the chance that the other three drivers may still reply kept them from a D.

Joe Gibbs Racing D – J.J. Yeley is the only driver in their stable that replied and he took a long time. Tony’s popularity precluded a reply but at least he sent an unsigned driver card. Denny Hamlin has unfortunately decided to declare a policy of no longer signing mailed requests, but due to when my request was mailed, he may yet reply. Greg Zipadelli signed pretty quickly.

Gillette-Evernham Motorsports D – Scott Riggs signed but it took quite some time. Kasey Kahne didn not sign, and I still haven’t seen a reply from Elliott Sadler.

Red Bull Racing D – Vickers replied extremely slowly, but I’m still waiting on A.J.

No Fear Racing F – Boris apparently does not sign fan mail.

Robby Gordon F – I’ve sent him at least two different requests and neither was answered.

Here are the replies and how long each took, some are just an approximation.
• Here's an updated breakout of the replies so far:
• Darrell Waltrip 10 days
• David Pearson 10 days (small cards but sent two and personalized one)
• Jeff Gordon 12 days (DQ'ed, no autograph...just a hero card)
• Ned Jarrett 13 days (card is smaller sized)
• Junior Johnson 13 days (card is smaller sized)
• Chad Knaus 14 days (he and Zippy were the 1st crew chief replies)
• Greg Zipadelli 14 days
• David Stremme 14 days (card is from 2006)
• Mike Wallace 16 days (sent two signed replies)
• Todd Bodine 21 days (truck series)
• Ken Schrader 21 days (coupons included)
• Marcos Ambrose 21 days (Aussie from the Busch Series, coupons included)
• Ward Burton avg 23 days (one given to Sadie)
• Michael Waltrip 23 days
• Richard Petty 23 days (sent a donation to Victory Junction w/ request)
• David Ragan avg 24 days (1st reply came w/ 2 cards...one personalized)
• Ron Hornaday 24 days (truck series, card was heavily creased)
• Bobby Allison 25 days (signed two personalized hero cards)
• Kyle Busch avg 29 days (1st 2007 race winner to reply)
• Kenny Wallace 30 days
• Regan Smith 31 days
• David Reutimann 34 days (coupon included)
• Clint Bowyer 34 days
• Robbie Reiser 35 days
• Paul Menard 35 days (smallish card, signed on the back)
• John Andretti 38 days (features his Indy car)
• Steve Letarte 38 days
• Stephen Leicht 42 days
• Dale Jarrett avg 43 days
• Mark Martin 44 days
• Dave Blaney 44 days
• Dale Jr. 44 days (DQ'ed...denied request and sent club membership information)
• Jamie McMurray 44 days (DQ'ed...same exact issue as Dale Jr.)
• Ryan Newman avg 44 days (card is disc shaped, claimed by segment 1 winner Mark Duell)
• Juan Pablo Montoya 57 days (DQ'ed...hero card has faux signature)
• Shane Huffman 45 days (Busch Series driver)
• Tony Stewart 58 days (DQ'ed...hero card was unsigned)
• David Gilliland 58 days
• Kurt Busch avg 60 days
• Jeff Green avg 60 days
• Johnny Sauter 65 days
• Jon Wood 72 days (signed two completely different cards, both with
coupons)
• Martin Truex Jr. 79 days
• Kevin Harvick avg 80 days
• Jimmie Johnson 91 days
• J.J. Yeley 106 days
• Johnny Benson 125 days
• Jason Leffler 150 days (came with coupons)
• Casey Mears 166 days (came personalized)
• Tony Eury, Jr. 175 days
• Scott Riggs 205 days
• Aric Almirola 208 days
• Bobby Labonte 215 days
• Jeff Burton 222 days
• Sterlin Marlin 215 days
• Reed Sorenson 285 days (smallish card from 2006)
• Kasey Kahne 320 days (DQ’ed…unsigned, foldout card)
• Brian Vickers 326 days (small card, came with a post-season letter)

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