Should Macauley Jones be on the Supercars Grid?

[Terry S]

There have been 10 supercars races so far this year.

From quick calculations I believe that from 24 starters he has average:

Qualifying position of 21

Finishing position of 18

Would he be on the grid if his father didn't own the team?

[chavez]

Originally Posted by Terry S

There have been 10 supercars races so far this year.

From quick calculations I believe that from 24 starters he has average:

Qualifying position of 21

Finishing position of 18

Would he be on the grid if his father didn't own the team?

Of course, the answer is "no".

However, many families have their children involved in their family business.

You might have a son or daughter that is not the best plumber, but you may choose to hire them, being family, over someone else.

Supercars is a lot more public, but arguably no less results focused than many businesses.

The biggest indication of talent or lack thereof is that you never see Macca in GT, the 12 hour or even the 6 hour.

[Ares]

In those situations you start to ask what is the goal? what's the dream? After a few years running around the back you would start to think that a crew chief or engineer position would be a better fit long term. Maybe he will stop driving and then be put straight into one of those positions?

Truth is, these family setups all seem to run with a level of BS. family members who live off the family connections, parents who give family members a free pass on everything but will fire a non family member in a heartbeat.

Anyone going for a job and they say this is a family business, with family working along side staff, RUN!

[Sandgroper]

Andrew Jones was a great stearer who left the game too soon.

[one five five]

they are able to fund the seat, that’s the main thing. So what if it’s the owners son.

Let’s not go down the “it’s taking the seat away from a talented youngster” path

[kittle]

Originally Posted by Sandgroper

Andrew Jones was a great stearer who left the game too soon.

And yet MJ has been in the seat longer than Andrew and has done worse.

There is lots of complaints and more recently from Peter Adderton suggesting the old guys move on, yet the old guys are still doing a better job then some of the young ones.

MJ is in the seat because of Pizza Hut money. If that goes, should he go as well...

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Terry S

From quick calculations I believe that from 24 starters he has average:
Qualifying position of 21
Finishing position of 18

While this is true, the gap is also important. Jones is usually within 0.05-0.1s/lap of the next last car, which is significantly better than the likes of David "Speedy" Thexton. This suggests Jones is more than qualified to be on the grid.

Indeed, renowned Porsche ace Jaxon Evans has really not been that much faster than Jones at all. (Of course Evans has less experience in the cars, but often Evans is less 0.1s/lap ahead of Jones... Perhaps the Smith family should have opted for a more experienced V8 touring car driver like a Caruso or Holdsworth or so forth?)

By all means, if BJR can sign Brodie Kostecki for the Pizza Hut car in 2025 that would be a good signing. The BJR team or the Smith family SCT car could also look into developing a highly-rated rookie like a Cameron McLeod, Jayden Ojeda, Kai Allen or so forth but (of course) that's more of a risk. If DJR puts Allen straight into their car, then the experienced Will Davidson would probably get better results in the SCT Logistics car than Jaxon Evans (at least in the short term)?

[bluesport]

No, may as well have David Thexton on the grid.

[mite5255]

If Pizza Hut is happy with MJ, then he stays.

[Mixer]

Macca is exceptional the the corporate side and really keeps sponsors happy. The cars always look great and he doesn't get into trouble, why shouldn't he be there?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by bluesport

No, may as well have David Thexton on the grid.

Can we please bring him back?
A genuine legend of the sport...


by Trading Paints

Sir Speedy Thexalot Rocks!

[bluesport]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Can we please bring him back?
A genuine legend of the sport...


by Trading Paints

Sir Speedy Thexalot Rocks!

[mite5255]

Originally Posted by Mixer

Macca is exceptional the the corporate side and really keeps sponsors happy. The cars always look great and he doesn't get into trouble, why shouldn't he be there?

[mite5255]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Can we please bring him back?
A genuine legend of the sport...


by Trading Paints

Sir Speedy Thexalot Rocks!

Regardless of his skill, at least he had a go, hands up if you had the money would you also have a crack