Reporter Takes the Heat from Casey Mears November 7, 2009
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , trackbackThere was a slightly awkward moment between Casey Mears and NASCAR Scene associate editor Jeff Gluck during the post-race press conference for Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Mears drove the No. 29 car, subbing for Jeff Burton, who sat out of the race as a precautionary measure after hitting the wall with his Sprint Cup car during practice. He finished second. Gluck asked Mears what the challenges were when in hopping in a different racecar last minute.
Mears apparently took issue with a column Gluck wrote. I couldn’t find the exact story on the weekly publication’s Web site. [Although this blog post probably didn’t bolster the Mears/Gluck relationship.] It’s also funny that after Gluck recently wrote about a confrontation between a reporter and Juan Pablo Montoya, he had his own mini-encounter Saturday.
After Gluck asked Mears his question, the driver sort of glared at him from across the stage.
[Three-second pause] “Same Jeff Gluck, correct?” Mears asked. [Deep breath, five-second pause] “Cool.”Then Mears answered the question and the second and third place finisher interviews continued.
After the interview, Mears walked up to Gluck and said, [and I’m paraphrasing]:
“Aren’t you the same Jeff Gluck who bashed a bunch of us?”
Gluck responded, “Yeah, but you had a good run today so I’m asking you some positive questions.”
Mears cut him off, “Yeah, but. Yeah, but. Yeah, but,” sort of taunting Gluck. “This guy’s being a prick,” he added, before walking away.
To his credit, Gluck didn’t back down from Mears and kept his cool. It’s just one of the hazards of the job when you’re critical of a driver. No doubt Mears is frustrated with his Richard Childress Racing team’s lackluster performance on the Cup side this year, and that he could be without a ride in 2010 if RCR can’t find a sponsor to replace outgoing Jack Daniels for the No. 07 car.
Hats off to Jeff Gluck. I’m a big fan of his work. And as a journalist, I’ve always gone by the credo that if somebody’s not mad at you, you’re probably not doing your job right.
So Gluck must be doing something right.
Comments»
Great piece, if somewhat distressing. You’re right. Gluck is one of the good guys, a straight-shooter who doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment. Drivers are supposed to be professionals, on and off the track. That means that you don’t have a thin skin with the press, and you remember that the reporters are just doing their jobs. A driver who is job hunting like Mears would do well to remember that the press can be your friends, too.
Sounds to me like Casey was very professional. Jeff Gluck got to state his opinion in print and now Casey got to return the favor.
That’s not being professional on Mears’ part. At a press conference he’s there to answer questions, not to state his opinion about a journalist or exact a measure of revenge on a writer who hurt his feelings. If Casey is that thin-skinned, he’s in the wrong business. Which, given his current employment status, seems to be exactly the case.
Expressing their opinions is what journalists are paid to do. Drivers are paid to drive and, hopefully, win a race every once in a while
WAY TO GOOOOOOOOO casey!!!!gluck is constantly putting casey down and writing unnecessary jabs at him!!i am thrilled that casey gave him a jab!!!yeah the drivers are paid to drive but some people say they don’t give off enough emotion–well there ya’ have casey had some emotion today!!
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I have a hard time deciding the Nascar also ran of the year… Mears or Sadler.
As a driver, I’d get sick of hearing reporters bash me too. Professional or not, you just get sick of it. Not all drivers are in Eliteist rides like the “Lowes spares no expense to win championship” 48 car. I’m pretty sure that JJ doesn’t use the same piece ever again on most of his cars after they have been raced (I mean wearable parts.) Is Casey a really talented racer or just an average joe racer that doesn’t have the true talent to get it done? I cant answer that, but i’d like to be in his position. Reports deserve the same respect they give.
jeff gluck is an asshole
Holy Cow. What in the world would he do if he was Dale Jr? No driver gets bashed like him.
@John: Well said.
Way to go Casey! Yes, they do have to deal with the media. Casey took his remark to Gluck AFTER the interviews were over and away from the table where they were being interviewed. Nope, Casey doesn’t have to take crap from anyone! With this new “open” policy for bloggers, twitters, et it’s such over kill anyway. Every body thinks they’re a reporter and can get away with writing anything. Time for these drivers to protect and stand up for themselves!
Yep Snappy. I was sitting next to Austin when this occurred. I had a chance to visit with M. Velisek after the incident. It was a good laugh. I believe the file footage might have the “prick” comment. My take, and I could be wrong, from the 2nd row of the theater was that Gluck persisted a bit, despite Mears’ quite visible agitation. At least Mears either read or heard about the story, which is notable. Warning to wanna-be’s like me, whatever is written just might be read!
BTW- Great site Austin! See you in April.