This week, the famous DLP mirrors are reflecting a long road home for driver Tony Raines. This weekend’s race marks the third time in a row that he has been out of his car (his full-time ride, may I remind you) and someone has taken his place on the road courses.

Did Raines get the shaft on the warm, sunny Sonoma weekend? In my opinion, the answer is a resounding yes. Let’s investigate, shall we?

Last year the Hall of Fame team (HOF) was new. They had no guarantees from the previous year to make the race, so for the first five races of the year, HOF contracted veteran Terry Labonte to put the car in the field. From a business standpoint, it was a brilliant idea. Labonte is an old hand at qualifying, so despite the pressure of being outside the top 35 in owner’s points, he handily placed the car in each of the first five races, where building maximum points counted.

From a people standpoint, it was a horrible idea. Here is Raines -- until then someone with less-than-constant backing and an unstable ride – given the opportunity to drive a Cup car full time by a team with the financial background to field cars for him every week. He just had to get them in the show. Oh, and by the way, you don’t get to do this on your own for the first five weeks. We’ve hired someone to do that for you. You won’t be needed at the track.

Now, fast forward to last year’s Sonoma race. The No. 96 car, piloted by…Terry Labonte. Yes! Raines was taken out of his own car again in favor of the veteran. Business standpoint: another brilliant idea. The Iceman nearly won on the curvy course in wine country, only giving up the lead when fuel required it and still finished third. People standpoint: Sorry, Tony, you don’t get to race this one either. Terry’s gonna take this one.

People will probably say to me, “Sam, Terry nearly won the race! What are you bitching about?”

I have always admired and rooted for Texas Terry. I was on the edge of my seat last year when he had a legitimate chance to win. But beyond that, the HOF organization told Raines that they had no faith in his ability to run a road course so they brought in a ringer instead. I think this must mark one of the few times in recent history that a ringer (okay, perhaps not the true definition of a ringer, but this falls under the umbrella) finished within the top ten.

To add insult to injury, the whole process was repeated again at Watkins Glen.

Now, jump to the present. We’re at Sonoma again, and with a more-or-less full season behind the wheel of the No. 96, you’d think that Raines would finally get to drive his own car on the road course. Maybe he would have even been given the opportunity to get some road course racing lessons from the Bondurant School or someplace similar.

Nope. That’s not the way it happened. Despite a fairly respectable, slowly solid first third of the season with the No. 96 firmly entrenched in the Top 35 – GUARANTEEING A SPOT IN THIS WEEKEND’S RACE – Raines will again be sitting at home. Or maybe he will be asked to perform the ultimate iniquity similar to what David Stremme was forced to do his rookie year: be a spotter for the guy who took his seat.

Road course professional Ron Fellows will be driving the car this weekend. Meaning no disrespect to Fellows’ multiple and impressive accomplishments, he is statistically no more likely to win the race than Raines.

Ringers have been an increasingly familiar sight over the past few years. Names like Boris Said, Fellows, P.J. Jones, Brian Simo, Scott Pruett and others have been called in to take the place of full-time drivers or to attempt to qualify a different car for team owners. With the sole exception of Said, the ringers tend to perform in a mediocre fashion, and only a few can contend for spots in the top 10. Often, their go-for-broke status causes aggression and choices that tangle them up with full-time drivers who are racing for points and the big picture. Sounds like an expensive gamble for car owners and the fab shop guys.

I firmly believe that Raines was robbed of his rightful seat this weekend. If HOF claims to put their faith behind him, why can’t he race his own car which is guaranteed to make the show? At what point will the bosses decide that perhaps the man is capable of learning how to race road courses? If he is given no opportunity to learn by driving or attending a driving school, he will be forever watching the race at home for two weekends out of the year.

I hope HOF reconsiders for Watkins Glen. I’m neither a fan of Raines’ nor do I dislike him, but I do think he deserves a fair shake at every race on the schedule unless incapacitated by injury or sickness. HOF will only succeed in deflating his pride and confidence by continuing to sideline him in favor of someone else for road races.

Get your heads on straight, Staubach and Aikman. Support your man and leave him in the car!

Have a question or comment for Samantha? Email her at samanthamaynard@sportsgrumblings.com.