And in the case of a public figure (yes, she
is), this is bound to cause speculation and
enhance the chances of offbeat speculation that
the team was trying to avoid in the first place.
Look, if the nature of any split or change
in a race team occurs or someone is seemingly
fired when it appeared they were doing a good
job, and these are public sports figures, then
the public has a right to know. After all, we
support these events and these sponsors by being
interested in drag racing. It is our money that
makes it all happen.
Now, if the person in a press release of the
above nature is involved in something that would
really be detrimental personally (and really
for no good reason) or there is the possibility
of litigation, then, I'd probably go with a
one-sentence release or something along those
lines.
And frankly, one-line would be a vast improvement
on the mish mosh of pursuing other interests
and/or our conflicting goals for the team or
some other windy nonsense. If the writer cannot
bear the thought of what actually happened getting
out, how about the following: "_____________
was recently released from his or her duties
as crew chief/driver/crew member with ______________
Racing Team effective (fill in the date), and
just leave it at that.
Drag racing is just one arm of the auto racing
octopus, one of the most camera nervous creatures
in the world. Only golf exhibits as much paranoia
about "bad news," as racing.
Basketball and Kobe Bryant, boxing and Don
King, football and Maurice Clarette, you watch,
the sports will survive whatever anxieties the
above trip might create. Controversy is good
for an upwardly mobile sport like drag racing.
Too much good news as seen in good old ND or
NHRA press releases or in the case of the Western
Rock/Troxel deal breeds belly laughs, and more
importantly cynicism. But cynicism can also
breed contempt and where that leads is usually
to no good.
End of harangue. In the future, if the race
team, association, or sponsor can't raise their
heads high enough out of the muck to give us
the truth on what really is a somewhat trivial
matter, then forget it. One sentence will do.
That would be my suggestion on what avenue
to pursue on this matter. 
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