Full Throttle

Oh my! What the “Lady in Black” has wrought this week. Darlington can be tamed, even loved, as the late Dale Earnhardt once said:

“You never forget your first love,” said seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Dale Earnhardt, “whether it’s a high school sweetheart, a faithful old hunting dog, or a fickle race track in South Carolina with a contrary disposition. ” And, if you happen to be a race car driver there’s no victory so sweet, so memorable, as whipping Darlington Raceway.”

Since 1949 when Harold Brasington turned over the first spadefull of dirt “The Track too Tough to Tame” continues to wave it’s very fickle finger at those that entertain thoughts of taming her. As a result this weeks cesspool has overflowed with those that tried.

First up is defending NexTel Champion Kurt Busch who had most of the late afternoon and all the cool Carolinian night to wallow in the cesspool after spinning on the first lap.

Jeff Green and Michael Waltrip earn a well placed position in the deepest end of “the pool” for doing their version of the “Darlington Tango for Two,” and creating not one, not two…, but three caution flags. The third episode had Waltrip turning Green around only to meetup with the already battered, wounded and fellow cesspooler, Kurt Busch. A meeting of the like minded I suppose.

Jeff Burton’s pitcrew and it’s, “I never met a lugnut to tough to tame,” member who found one. The resulting vibration and galled wheel proceeded a forced pitstop that dropped Burton from a possible top five finish to 21^st and one lap down. Which only proves the devil is in the details and “The Lady” loves the devil!

Making an encore appearance is Kurt Busch. After deciding he didn’t care for NASCAR’s placement of the #97 during a later caution he unleashed what can be described as uncomplimentary remarks via his radio. The subsequent two lap penalty was served sitting on pit road reving, vice shutting off as directed, his engine. Pretty comical I thought but it earned him a visit to NASCAR’s “big house” after the race and a second swim in the cesspool. Naughty boy!

Jeff Fuller and the lost weekend. Jeff started his Darlington adventure with a 38^th place finish in the Busch race and followed that with a 43^rd and dead-last result on Saturday. Not good! Not even noteworthy with the exception of his entry into this weeks cesspool. (NOTE: Next time you have a strong desire for a lost weekend, think tropical island, Angelina Jolie and umbrella drinks. You”ll thank me later - ed)

That closes the Cesspool for this week feel free to add any deserving entrants I may have misssed in the comment section. And think Richmond!