NASCAR Lost & Found Dept: “The Big One”
Remember way back last week at Talladega when the iconic “Big One” never happened?
In a strange misalignment of Alabama stars The Big One went MIA and apparently lost as drivers were more intent on a pathetic and fruitless attempt at catching Kyle Busch than playing 200mph bumpercars?
Well, The Big One was found, at Richmond on lap 229.
The red flag was unfurled stopping the race due to mass wreckage from a multi-car pile-up started when .J.J. Yeley tagged the wall (some say with Dave Blaney’s assistance) collecting David Gilliland, Matt Kenseth, Patrick Carpentier, Jimmie Johnson, Juan “So Much for 12th in Points” Montoya, Kurt “Say Good-by to ‘08 Chase” Busch, Johnny Sauter, Michael McDowell and Jeff Burton.
Upon surveying the damage on pit road Chad Knaus said of the #48, “We’ve got to cut a bunch of stuff off of it.” And cut he did as Johnson went sans hood, among other bits of sheet metal, to finish in 30th.
Richard Childress, owner of winner Clint Boyer’s Chevy, had good things to say about the car, it’s driver and the race itself during the after race presser: “I just think it’s been some great racing this year, and I think this new car that we are running today, if you want to call it Car of Tomorrow; we like to call ours the Impala, but I think that probably plays a little role in it.”
“But it’s just great racing, and Kyle and these guys, what they are doing is putting on a show, and people shouldn’t be upset, because that’s what they pay their money for is to see a great race.”
“It was just a great race tonight and we were able to capitalize. And just proud of the BB&T for team for what we did. Tonight Clint drove his butt off, and coming up the field, I’ve watched a lot of racing at this place and watching him be patient for the time he’s driven; and for the way he was able to handle the car and be put in a couple of positions, he’s just done a great job tonight, and I was really proud of him.”
And now for the million dollar question and answer that will be The Talk around water coolers and atop bar stools all week long:
Q. With all due respect, you’re going to be probably the most hated man in the Junior Nation starting tomorrow morning, even with an innocent mistake. What can you say to Junior’s fans to maybe prove that you really are not the villain in this whole thing?
KYLE BUSCH: Well, for some reason, they are awfully confused, because they were giving me the No. 1 sign the last ten laps of the race, and I was in second place still. So I don’t know whether that’s too many Dale Junior Budweisers or they are amped up or what.
For me, there’s nothing you can say, absolutely nothing. If I apologize up and down, even though it may or may not be my fault it would not make a difference. Dale got wrecked, he should have had a win tonight, quote, unquote. But I’ll say it again, it’s just unfortunate circumstances for him because he didn’t get a win, and for me because now I’ve got to put up with it.
More later…
Technorati Tags: Chad Knaus, Dave Blaney, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Richmond International Raceway, Full Throttle
The bottom line…Junior needs a win!
Bottom line…who cares.
He doesn’t need it any more or less than a dozen in the starting field each week.
The funny thing is as I saw the wreck unfold last night, I had a feeling of deja vu, with Kyle playing the role of Dale Sr. and Junior playing the role of every other driver that Sr. crashed out. I doubt Busch’s deal last night was intentional, but you knew it was going to happen and dang it if it didn’t. And that goes along with what I have contended for the past 5 years or so, Dale Jr. does not have a killer instinct and thus, I doubt he’ll ever win a Cup.
Kyle has nothing to apologize about, he was racing.
Not sure the “killer instinct” theory holds much water when looking at history. The same can be said of many drivers that have won a Cup.
Junior is afraid to mix it up. Name me a Cup champion who is/was not afraid to lay the chrome horn when the time came down to it? I can’t think of any. Jarrett, Kenseth, Kulwicki, Labontes, even BP, they got dirty when they needed to.
Really? Afraid to mix it up.
I have a different perspective. And proof.
Earlier on Saturday, a Dr had to come out and give a horse a shot to end his misery. Someday, Kyle is gonna need a shot after a race to put us out of our misery! His racing has not only alieneated fans (at Phoenix where I was last and at every other track everyone booos the kid), he is gonna kill someone someday. Now that ain’t a joke.
Joined the “hate on Kyle” bandwagon I see.
Whatever, if Dale Jr. can accept part of the blame and make ZERO deal out of it why should anyone else?
It’s sad, just as the “back to the roots” crowd failed to attend the Rock, the same crowd, many of whom pray at the altar of Dale Sr., are so quick to condemn a driver for a bit of rough driving or what appears to be rough driving.
Or what isn’t but dream that it is.
As far as Busch alienating any fans, better check with the vendors at many tracks, they are reporting brisk sales and at each short track event he’s been racing have been before full houses, Southside Speedway being recent example
I’m sorry Marc, to me, Junior is all flash no substance. Just my personal opinion, however wrong it may be to many. Yes I know he has a couple of Busch Series titles under his belt and over 10 wins in Cup, but and I know the hypotheticals are a futile argument best served for bars, but I think there are about 20 or so drivers in Cup who would put up better numbers than Junior has to date. I like that Kyle Busch is playing the bad guy role, he can do it and makes no apologies. Neither did a certain #3.
I mean if they had similar equipment as Little E does/did.
Now he’s all flash and no substance.
What’s the matter after being shown a vid of him driving into and thru someone you had to change from “he’s afraid to mix it up?”
Look, I’m no great defender, however to cite his career stats when for the last three years, at least, he drove for someone who was and is absolutely clueless on how to run a team or equip it so it can compete each week is disingenuous at best.
Kyle Busch is the most aggressive and talented flat track driver currently out there. He wins in whatever car he straps on. Even Dale senior would have approved of the kid’s talent; He’d give him a couple of toots with the chrome horn, no doubt, but he would have gotten along fine with him.
It’s what the sport needs, controversy on the track and pit lane. Smoke has retired his aggressive act, so all hail the new NASCAR controversy king!
I agree George, some that have joined the hate Baby Busch bandwagon are in some cases the same that revere Dale Sr. as the Saint of the Chrome Bumper.
I fail to see the logic.