Replies

That'll teach you to copy the whole story instead of summarizing :-) (the way I look at it, Jayski can get the extra hits from gathering the details).

This actually is a bit more complex than the usual "buy into the top 35" deal. Up until 2004, Jasper Racing was actually its own entity (while they had a partnership with Penske, they didn't follow Penske into the Dodge camp until near the end of the 2003 season - IIRC, the fall 'Dega race). Then, it was Bawel's partner, Roger Penske, that pulled the plug on the #77 team. Now, if it had been a Crash/Jim Smith deal (finalized before the guaranteed 35 starting spots was final and they knew it would be worthless), then you could complain a bit more.

In sum, just another thing to blame on Brainless France.