I’ve been seriously slacking here. I’ll try to post more often…. life has been crazy and I have too many logs on the fire.
Kyle Busch is on a role. I enjoyed the race nonetheless and even though the Shrub is one hell of a racer his dominance is getting to be a bit like deja’ Vu….. JJ last season.
I sat and watched The Biff having a great night wondering when some piece of Murphy’s law would come into play. I even mumbled out loud that this is too good to be true. Perhaps his statement during his DNF interview has merit. He seemed to be conveying a message that his RoushSox equipment is crap. When is his contract up? I’ll have to look into that or if someone knows please tell me. I can see Greg doing very well in a Chevy.
Dale Jr. is really having a great season. His Hendrick car is almost always good and he is driving incredibly well. A victory for him is very high on my wish list. It was nice to see his mother there with him…she looks good. I think that may have been the first time I’ve seen her. He needs a win, but his stoic attitude is awesome. No whining, no bitching, just disappointment with determination.
Looking forward to the All Star race on Saturday night. It’s alway fun to watch.
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OK, I couldn’t wait with this post so I’ll post my regular race review tonight instead of now. I hope you don’t mind.
Initially I took the stance that the incident between Kyle Busch and Dale Jr was nothing more than a racing incident and I thought I was perfectly right, well I don’t think it went down that way anymore.
I now think there was more malice in Kyle Busch’s actions than I originally thought.
After watching several replays of the incident there is one angle that I find the most condemning. All of the other angles originally support my earlier notion of this being nothing more than a racing incident, but this other angle has me re-thinking this whole thing.
Watch the video, especially at the 1:30 mark, and tell me if you see what I see.
I know what it looks like. It looks like Kyle is turning his wheels to save his car and he accidentally gets into Jr, even DW during the broadcast thought that too. Heck, that’s what I thought. But I’m now favouring Larry Mac’s initial hesitation about the contact between Busch and Earnhardt - Busch did try to hit Jr. Maybe not at first, but when opportunity knocks …
Let me justify it now before you go off the deep-end on me and once you’ve read what I’ve had to say go back and watch the video again (especially at the 1:30 mark as noted above) and tell me I’m wrong.
Here is how I think the whole saga went;
- Kyle goes into the corner a little too hot, but oh well at least he is the car underneath - 8 tires hold better than 4 you know - he is going for the win after all. - Kyle then thinks, “Crap, I’m loosing it and I’m not up beside Dale Jr far enough for him to hold me down.” - Next Kyle thinks, “Whoa, I’m saving it! Great, but now I won’t catch Jr and win the race! Hmm … if I just move up a little bit more I’ll take him out of it too and it’ll look like an accident! If I can’t win he’s not winning either!”
Now look at the video. Surely Kyle saves that car by sliding up the track a bit and turning his wheels to the right, but if you watch the video he gets that car pretty straight and then turns right again taking Jr out of it too. I had to watch it several times to make sure I saw what I thought I saw and its there. I also watched a better recording too, the one off my digital recorder.
Now you are going to say, “How can all of that go through his mind in such a short time?” Well it can. Ask any driver and he’ll tell you that when you are travelling at 200 mph you start thinking at 200 mph. Think about all of the stuff that goes through your mind when you are driving down the interstate. It is possible.
It will take a very long time before I take Kyle Busch’s smug-butt side again let me tell you. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Not again Kyle, not again.
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Now some of you are probably wondering how I predicted that someone with the last name beginning with a “B” would win the race (Kyle Busch) and that Dale Jr would get a Top 5 finish (he finished 4th). Well here is how I did it. Just call me “The Oracle”, no Matrix reference intended.
More commentary of this race tomorrow, plus I have some newly formed and potentially volatile opinions based on video evidence about the Kyle Busch and Dale Jr incident from last weekend.
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My post from yesterday talking about rookies earning their “Darlington Stripes” foreshadowed things to come for today as many drivers, veterans and rookies, earned their stripes today if they hadn’t all ready.
Some even earned more than one like Robby Gordon, who not only wrecked his primary car, but his back-up too.
Oh, and here is a good indication that the new track isn’t like the old one: Jimmie Johnson has wrecked twice as well.
It looks like it is going to be a long race tomorrow night so make sure you stock up on your energy drinks because you are going to be needing them.
THE NASCAR FOUNDATION LAUNCHES 2008 NASCAR DAY PROGRAM WITH THE HOME DEPOT®
2008 NASCAR Day Pins Now Available in The Home Depot Stores Nationwide
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March. 31, 2008) –The NASCAR Foundation has announced that starting today fans can visit their local The Home Depot store to make a $5 donation and get their 2008 NASCAR Day collectable lapel pin.
This is the second year that The Home Depot, the “Official Home Improvement Warehouse of NASCAR,” has made pins available in more than 1,900 stores across the continental United States.
This year holds a special poignancy for both of these organizations as The NASCAR Foundation is celebrating Five Years of Caring for the annual NASCAR Day campaign, which has raised nearly $5 million since its creation in 2004, and The Home Depot is observing its 10th Anniversary as the “Official Home Improvement Warehouse of NASCAR.”
“We are happy to have the continued support of such a great partner for NASCAR Day,” said Mike Helton, NASCAR president and NASCAR Foundation board member. “Without the help of NASCAR fans and partners like The Home Depot leading the way, we would not be able to accomplish all of the great work that results from the funds raised on NASCAR Day.”
Last year, as a result of its NASCAR Day initiative, The Home Depot raised $400,000 for The NASCAR Foundation with a portion of those funds benefiting KaBOOM!, a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.
“We are thrilled to be the official promotional partner of NASCAR Day for the second year in a row,” said John Ross, vice president of advertising for The Home Depot. “We believe it’s important to give back to communities where our associates live and work and NASCAR DAY is another unique opportunity that allows us to support exciting programs that appeal to our customers and associates.”
The week prior to NASCAR Day, The NASCAR Foundation, The Home Depot and KaBOOM! will partner for a special playground build in Charlotte, N.C., as part of The Home Depot’s “Racing to Play” program.
Annually held on the Friday prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Challenge in May, NASCAR Day has become one of the most important and fastest-growing traditions in the NASCAR Family. In 2007, NASCAR Day raised more than $1.6 million through the combined fundraising efforts of NASCAR fans, NASCAR partners and companies worldwide.
Fans interested in learning more about NASCAR Day and where to find their local The Home Depot store may visit www.nascar.com/nascarday.
On Friday, May 16th, The NASCAR Foundation will hold the second annual NASCAR Day Telethon at the Sam Bass Gallery in Concord, N.C.
To show your support and make your donation on NASCAR Day just dial 1-888-MAY16TH.
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With the Darlington race this weekend there have been quite a few rookies earning their ’stripes’ early in practice.
Those who have earned their stripe include; JJ Yeley, Patrick Carpentier, and Sam Hornish.
“I was lost,” Carpentier said. “I’ve never been on an oval in my life where you turn twice in the same corner.
Say ‘Hello’ to the Lady in Black Patrick, she’s going to get you and your little dog too.
My choices for this weekend? Anyone who’s last name ends in a ‘B’. I think they all stand a good chance in winning. One other selection would be Dale Jr, just because he seems to run well during night races - has anyone else noticed that too?
I still think someone with a last name ending in “B” is the better choice, but Earnhardt will be in the top 5 for sure.
Saturday night’s race at Richmond was not just about the Busch/Earnhardt incident, there were other things going on too. As much as we have been caught up in the controversy that is Kyle Busch and what he did or did not deliberately do to Dale Jr, there were 41 other cars out on the track too - each with their own stories.
Two such stories are centred around Michael Waltrip/Casey Mears and Denny Hamlin.
Michael Waltrip was riding around minding his own business when he came upon Casey Mears. Michael then started to pass Casey on the outside coming out of the turn down the stretch. Once Mikey got almost 1/2 a car length on the 5 car, Casey moved up the track pinching Mikey against the wall as well as sending himself into the wall too.
Once both drivers got their cars pointed in the right direction Mikey then hammered the gas and proceeded to push Mears around the track, despite the fact that Mears had his brakes on at the time, he eventually ended up into the wall. Mikey effectively ended Mears’ night as well.
NASCAR parked Mikey for the rest of the night. Expect fines to be handed out to Mikey and his organization later this week.
Let’s hope that NASCAR continues to police the drivers like this in the future.
Personally, I think Mikey’s beef is more with Mears’ spotter and not Mears himself, but who am I?
Now let’s move onto Hamlin.
Hamlin had the car to beat on Saturday - everyone else was just racing for second - until he had a tire going down and then it all went south for him.
Hamlin tried to ride it out, and hopping for the caution flag that never came. In an effort to stay on the lead lap Hamlin ‘parked’ his car with its expired tire on the front stretch almost under the flag stand trying to draw out the caution flag, which he did.
Don’t you think what he did was just little too obvious? Yep, NASCAR thought so too and held him for 2 laps.
Much has been said that Denny did that so that Kyle would have a shot at winning the race because he would then be right up on Jr’s bumper on the restart instead of almost a full straightaway back.
O.K., I concede that it is certainly plausible that is what his intention was, but I don’t think so. His intentions were more self-serving in my opinion - he wanted to stay on the lead lap so he could still have a shot at winning the race, not his teammate Kyle Busch.
And before you all start sounding off, Denny is not the first driver to do this sort of thing and he won’t be the last. For example, few years ago Dale Jr spun himself out at Bristol to stay on the lead lap, and Robby Gordon threw debris out of his car to get a caution in a race at Atlanta back in 2006. There are more, but those were the tow that came to mind first.
Before you take off, why don’t you check out my newest blog “1957 Chevy ‘Black Widow’ Stock Car“? I will be updating it at least once a week until it is finished, then I hope it will become an information/link hub for fans of that legendary race car.
If you have anything to contibute to this new blog please let me know, as I am willing to work with you to get this blog as accurate as possible. I want this thing to be so accurate that if someone were to build a ‘Black Widow’ clone using my info that anyone looking at it would be hard pressed to prove it was a clone. Thanks.
When I saw this wreck happen my first thought was “Oh no….not Jr.!” It truly was not either one’s single fault. I cannot help but give a big Kudos to both of these guys. They said it like it happened in post interviews.
Kyle Busch is a racer! Period, and I will not fault him for that. His style is his and it will win him a Championship one day. At 24 years old he can out drive most anyone… what will he be like at 34 years old?!
Reading forums gives me a chuckle. The comments from the Jr. Nation are ridiculous. I respect Dale 100%. I am not a huge fan but he is one of my fave’s. He is not God! He is not his Father! He is not untouchable! He is simply another racer who happens to have a Fan frenzy about him which in some ways is a turnoff. Many people are Fans of his simply because everyone else is… followers. I wonder how many of these folks are actually closet Fans of another less popular driver… they wear #88 garb in public but have hidden merchandise of the #24, #48, or possibly the #18!
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To me this is how the whole thing played out at Richmond last night.
Busch is a brash win at all costs 23 year old who got in over his head when he went into the corner under Dale Jr. More take than give.
Dale Jr is a sensible racer who hasn’t won a point race in exactly 2 years and was trying very hard to hold onto the lead because he knew that if Busch got in front of him Busch would take the high line away from him a make him try to pass in the low groove where he couldn’t run. Mare take than give here too.
It’s just one of them there racin’ incidents. No more, no less.
I just hope Kyle had some sort of military security team with him when he left the track last night because those Earnhardt fans, the more militant ones anyway, won’t see it this way.
You know who I really feel sorry for though? Denny Hamlin. He is the one who really should have won the race.
The Joe Gibbs #20 NASCAR Nationwide Series car has been in victory lane three times so far this year, 3 times in a row as a matter of fact, and it gets better, they have done it with 3 different drivers (Kyle Busch in Mexico, Tony Stewart at Talladega, and now Denny Hamlin at his home track of Richmond).
You know, that is a pretty amazing feat, especially in this day and age.
Congratulations to the Joe Gibbs organization for the awesome job they have done with that Nationwide team. Three wins in a row with three different drivers is not easy to do, not even in the early years when the those Hudson Hornets dominated the NASCAR circuit. This is such a difficult feat that no one has ever done it before, period.
Some bits and pieces I picked up today:
1) I think Kyle had every right to be upset with Steven Wallace, but I don’t think he should have pulled in front of him and slowed down while still on the cool down lap. What he did also collected an innocent third car (don’t know who, only saw the replay once). Not fair to that driver.
2) Steven Wallace should not have reached out and grabbed Busch’s helmet. He should have got out of the car and ’spoke’ to him like a man.
3) Steven Wallace had a good interview until he quoted Dale Earnhardt when he responded “I just wanted to rattle his cage a bit” to the question asking him why he grabbed Busch’s helmet. Give me a break!
4) Denny Hamlin got some good practice in for the burn out competition at the All-Star event later in the month.
5) O.K. I hate the reference to the Cup drivers poaching in the Nationwide Series as “Claim Jumpers”. I know it is meant to be in reference to insurance claims because Nationwide is the sponsor, but all I can think of when I hear “Claim Jumpers” is the old comic book based 1950’s TV show ‘Sergeant Preston of the Yukon’ (see picture). Please, oh please, can someone come up with something better like “Occasional Drivers” or “Broker Breakers” or “Benefit Bandits” or “Cancelled Policy Holders” or “Policy Thieves” or something!
Slumber overtook my desire to see the finish to the Lipton Tea 250 at Richmond. I even snoozed during the afternoon yesterday with hopes of seeing the Nationwide race in it’s entirety, but when one rises long before the birds do on a daily basis, by 9:00 pm the Sandman is dumping bags of the stuff on my eyes.
I am happy for Denny Hamlin, JGR and the Virginian folks who wanted to see their hometown hero in Victory Lane. A feel good finish that I missed… I am staying awake tonight if I need to super glue my eyes open.
Kudos to Steve Wallace for finally finishing a race.
Back at the Cottage… Every so often I include this segment in a post. It gives my readers a look into my life and allows them to get to know the person. George of “Vroom” used to do this too….. Where Oh Where are you George!!… I’ll have to Email him… anyway, life here at home has been anything but peachy for the past six months. My posting here has been lax and this is in part due to my photography and what life has handed us here.
New York State, like all states, has Workmen’s Comp. regulations, but when someone actually gets hurt on the job a battle ensues. The Comp. insurance companies will not pay without a long drawn out battle in court. My wife Patty was hurt on the job before Christmas and has been out of work since. With a Law Office fighting for her, things are moving in a positive direction, but we are not wealthy people by any means. Just average Joe’s with several mouths to feed. My small contracting business has barely kept us afloat, but I have done all I can and worked my arse off with literally bleeding fingers to prove it. This unfortunate situation has placed hardship and serious stress on our lives, but we are standing our ground. I have fallen behind in household bills. I’ve had to ask the Power Company [heat and lights] to defer a $1,600.00 overdue account, which they graciously did, we’ve had to have help from family and friends at times just to put food on the table, we had to borrow money to keep insurance on our vehicles and the list goes on and the matter continues and will continue for several more months.
That’s all difficult stuff for anyone and our Country is full of stories like this. Many people are losing their homes with record foreclosures. A tank of gas and a weekly grocery bill is taking many folks entire pay check. The state of our economy is the worst it’s been in years and it looks as if it’s only going to get even worse.
Here’s where it gets worse for us… I have two dependent kids from a previous marriage. My ex-wife and her husband are not hurting one iota. She is a tenured school teacher with a rather large salary and he is retired from the Navy with a now cushy State job. They just returned from a Cruise to Mexico and the Cayman’s. They own several rental properties and their home is worth several hundred thousand. They not only have 5 vehicles, they also have a 30 foot camper. Life is good for them and I’m happy my kids have it good there.
Due to our rotten circumstances I have fallen behind in Child Support. This heartless woman is taking me to collection court in Warren County with her bitch of an Attorney seeking full payment of the arrears, which exceeds $4,000. I am facing six months in the County Lock Up for contempt of court. My dear wife has offered her full payment when she receives her Comp. settlement, but that is not good enough. She won’t communicate with us and has directed all correspondence to her Lawyer. Patty feels responsible for this, but I have ensured her it’s not her fault for getting hurt at work.
If indeed I do go to jail we will lose everything…our home…our vehicles and our lives will be a total wreck. I have done my very best to keep us going one day at a time. I have fought off the insurgence of stress, fear, anxiety and desperation. We have maintained our sanity clinging to a cliff, yet one persons heartlessness and greed is smashing what little pieces we have left to smithereens. This without thought to how it’ll effect the kids, the devastation it’ll cause here and all the other lives, Patty and my two step kids.
NASCAR Star Kyle Busch Celebrates His BirthdayWith M&M’S® Candies
and Finds His “Inner M”
Busch Shows Fans How to Find Their Fun Side This Race Season
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mars Snackfood US announced today it is presenting NASCAR’s hottest young driver, Kyle Busch, with a unique gift to help him celebrate his 23rd birthday – his own “Inner M” print advertisement. Busch is the latest celebrity to join the brand’s “Inner M” ad campaign which illustrates how those who’ve found the M&M’S® chocolate candy inside themselves embrace the fun side of life. The brand also presented Busch with a giant 3-D birthday cake of his “Inner M” today at Richmond International Raceway.
“We are excited to unveil Busch’s new ‘Inner M’ ad and celebrate his birthday,” said Michele Kessler, vice president, marketing, Mars Snackfood US. “Kyle has an adventurous, unwavering spirit and his ‘Inner M’ reflects those characteristics.”
Busch’s first ad appeared in today’s edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and additional ads will appear in People Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, Sports Illustrated, Soap Opera Weekly, and TV Guide.
“My ‘Inner M’ is the fun-loving, chill side of me, and the side of me that likes to relax with friends,” said Busch.
M&M’S® Racing is Always in the Groove
Kyle Busch started off the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with a new team (Joe Gibbs Racing) and sponsor (M&M’S® Brand, the official chocolate of NASCAR) driving the No. 18 M&M’S® Toyota Camry. Since the first green flag waved, Busch has made his presence known in the Sprint Cup Series – winning the Kobalt Tools 500 in Atlanta, Ga. on March 9, the Aaron’s 499 in Talladega, Ala. this past Sunday and securing five top five finishes. Considering the season is still young, it should be a sweet year for Busch and M&M’S® Racing.
Create Your Own “Inner M”
Consumers can create their own “Inner M” likeness at http://www.mms.com/. At the heart of the site is the Character Creator which leverages cutting-edge technology to deliver an exciting user experience that will capture the imagination of M&M’S® fans everywhere. The Character Creator provides access to a wide variety of M&M’S® candy shapes, colors, hair, facial features and accessories creating millions of possible combinations to create “Inner M” likenesses. Fans can choose from about 27 million combinations of features that best show their inner fun – everything from body shape and color to facial features and eyewear.
To find more details on M&M’S® chocolate candies plus other fun NASCAR tips and tools, visit http://www.mms.com/.
About M&M’S®, America’s Favorite Candy:
M&M’S®, America’s favorite candy, has been producing colorful chocolate fun for Americans since 1941. There are 10 permanent varieties of M&M’S® Candies, and then Seasonal Candies made for special occasions including Easter, Holiday, Halloween and Valentine’s Day. Customers seem to be most passionate about the color found in each bag of M&M’S® Candies. Existing product lines includes: M&M’S® Milk Chocolate Candies, M&M’S® Peanut Chocolate Candies, M&M’S® Almond Chocolate Candies, M&M’S® Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies, M&M’® Chocolate Mini Baking Bits, MY M&M’S® Milk Chocolate Candies and M&M’S® MINIS® Milk Chocolate Candies.
About Mars Snackfood US:
Mars Snackfood US is the United States snack operations of Mars North America. With more than $7 billion in annual sales in the United States, Mars North America includes food, snack and pet care segments, which are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Mount Olive, N.J., Mars North America employs more than 12,000 associates in the United States, with 54 facilities nationwide. Mars Snackfood US, headquartered in Hackettstown, N.J., includes some of the world’s favorite brands such as DOVE® Brand Chocolate, M&M’S® Brand, MILKY WAY® Brand, SKITTLES® Brand, SNICKERS® Brand, STARBURST® Brand, 3 MUSKETEERS® Brand, TWIX® Brand and more. Additional popular brands in the petcare and food segments for Mars North America include UNCLE BEN’S® Brand, PEDIGREE® Brand Food for Dogs, and WHISKAS® Brand Food for Cats. Please visit http://www.mars.com/.
I was crawling the Internet looking for some NASCAR related media when I stumbled upon this article written by Ben White (Senior Editor NASCAR Illustrated) entitled “One Great Man, One Simple Question”.
What Ben did was ask many people in the NASCAR Garage area ranging from drivers to owners and from former crew members to Dale Jr himself, one simple question, “What would Dale Earnhardt’s life be like if he were here today?”
Everyone seemed to echo the same responses; he would be hunting more, he would be heavily involved with DEI, Dale Jr would still be at DEI, when Dale spoke NASCAR listened, etc., but two comments really stuck out for me. One was Elliott Sadler’s (driver, #19 Dodge):
“Dale was really good at talking to the young drivers just getting into the Cup series. He was always giving the rookies hints and advice. I think the kids coming into the sport would have a better attitude about things. They wouldn’t be so hotheaded and ‘punkish.’
“Dale Earnhardt really knew how to put you in your place and set you straight. He reminded you how hard to race each other, how to take care of each other and to make sure you took care of the fans and sponsors. He was a great role model.”
I have to say I agree with Elliott, do you think Carl Edwards would have done some of the stupid things he has if Dale Sr were alive? I’d like to see Carl’s face after Dale Sr got a hold of him after Carl went all “Days of Thunder” on Jr at Michigan.
The other statement I found interesting was Kenny Wallace’s (part time driver and Speed TV analyst):
“If not for the death of Dale Earnhardt, the soft walls wouldn’t be as prominent and the HANS device wouldn’t be as popular — you might even be called a wimp if you had one. All of the state-of-the-art safety equipment might not be inside these race cars today. His death was not in vain.
He was very influential with Mr. France and Mike Helton because they truly listened to what Dale had to say. Dale filled up the grandstands, just like his boy does today. I truly feel the sport would be headed in an entirely different direction. That’s how strong Dale Earnhardt was. If he were alive, we may not even have the car of tomorrow.”
Wow. You know, there might be some truth in that statement.
Certainly Dale was old school, but I do honestly think that he would have seen the light as far as safety is concerned - he was always concerned with Dale Jr’s safety - and Dale was not a stupid man, he and Richard Childress made improvements in their race cars after Dale’s huge crash at Talladega that NASCAR later mandated for all other teams. But I do think more people would have been injured (or even died) needlessly before NASCAR would have acted like they did when Dale died.
The speedy advances in safety and the like would probably have taken longer to be introduced for sure. I think things like the HANs device would have made their way into NASCAR, but they would have be more optional at first rather than a requirement. Would Dale have worn a HANs? Probably not, but I think he would have worn an early version of the Hutchens Device which was less restrictive than the HANs at the time and was being tested by RCR through Bobby Hutchens, the General Manager for RCR.
Would we have the CoT? Don’t know. Maybe, to some degree anyway, but it would probably look different than it is now.
As Jeff Gordon stated in the article, Dale tried to look at every issue from all points (driver, NASCAR, sponsors, etc.) and then make his decision and certainly that side of him would have eventually seen the need for safety improvements, just how long would that have taken? Don’t know.
So maybe Kenny is right when he said that the sport of NASCAR would be headed in a totally different direction. I think NASCAR would maybe not be as safe as it is now, but still better than it was when Dale died.
So what is your take on this? Here is an added bonus question, “If Dale Earnhardt were here today, would we have the Chase format?”
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Don’t you think what he did was just little too obvious? Yep, NASCAR thought so too and held him for 2 laps.
