Bull's-eye on Busch

[jwentz_50]

i thought you all might want to see this

RICHMOND, Va. – Add "most hated man in NASCAR" to the growing list of nicknames for Kyle Busch.
He can try to run, but Busch cannot hide from what went down in the closing laps of Saturday night's Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
Just when it looked like Dale Earnhardt Jr. was finally going to snap a 71-race winless streak – the longest of his Cup career – Busch's right-front fender got into Earnhardt's side, spinning him into the wall.
At the time, Earnhardt was leading the race, and with only four laps to go things were looking oh so promising for him and his millions of minions.
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But instead of ending up in victory lane, Earnhardt wound up in the wall. And his following wasn't happy.
What should have been a short delay in the race turned into a sizable intermission as the Junior Nation went wild, lobbing anything they could find – beer cans, cups, trash – onto the track.
Busch, fresh off a dust up with Steven Wallace in Friday night's Nationwide race and already viewed as, ahem, less than popular, was their target – a real-life Grinch that all but stole an early Christmas from hopeful Junior fans.
Junior wound up 15th, while Busch cruised home in second to Clint Bowyer, the benefactor of Junior's misfortune.
Adding insult to injury, Busch's runner-up finish was enough to move him into the points lead.
And so if it wasn't clear before, it most certainly is now: Jeff Gordon is no longer the most hated man in NASCAR. Kyle Busch is.
"For me, there's nothing you can say, absolutely nothing," Busch said. "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."
Of course, it doesn't matter what Busch says or that it wasn't entirely his fault. Earnhardt readily admitted he came down slightly on Busch going into Turn 3, meaning Junior is at least partly to blame.
The two were fighting for the same piece of race track. Just because he's Junior doesn't mean he wins by default, at least not in theory. But in reality, well, that's a different story.
"If I went out there on that final restart and just gave way to the 88 car, then that would not be a true race car driver," Busch said. "I had to do what I had to do to win for my team. That's what I was out there for and to do, to try to get a win. Unfortunately, circumstances happened."
For the most part, Earnhardt has handled this winless streak without showing much frustration. If he harbored any, he did a good job of keeping it inside. But it all poured out Saturday night as the dejection of coming close again only to lose was almost painfully obvious.
"The worst part about it is that I've been priding myself on running good all year and I was in a position for a win," he said. "I ran hard and got wrecked. I had a top-three car and should have finished in the top three. I was going for the win and just ended up on the hook today. I'm just disappointed."
Earnhardt Jr. didn't do Busch any favors following the race. Junior certainly didn't let Busch off the hook. And so come next weekend in Darlington, expect Junior Nation, which takes its cue from its leader, to be on Busch like he's Barry Bonds.
"Whether it is fair or not, he is going to need some security," a dejected Earnhardt Jr. said afterward. "I wouldn't say (the wreck) was intentional because if he wanted to, he could have just thrown me in the fence off (Turn) 2. I got back side-by-side going into (Turn) 3, tried to run him pretty tight running up top, and he just ran into me or got loose or whatever."
I asked Busch in his post-race interview how he thinks he'll be viewed by the Junior Nation. In typical Busch fashion, he shrugged it off like it's no big deal.
"Well, for some reason, they were awfully confused, because they were giving me the No. 1 sign the last 10 laps of the race, and I was in second place still," Busch quipped. "So, I don't know whether that's too many Dale Jr. Budweisers or they were Amped up or what."
A few minutes later, Bowyer walked in for his interview session, accompanied by a police escort.
"The cops were out there," Bowyer said, "and I said, 'I don't know why you need to escort me. You need to be escorting Kyle Busch out of here.' "
It was funny but also true.

[skippy]

I don't think it would of been as bad for the shrub if he hadn't made the comments that he did Friday nite. That right there but about 65% of the hatred on him. He needs to learn though to keep his mouth shut and not put the additional hatred on himsrelf.

[leemozoid]

Here's one that goes further and lays the blame at the feet of the driver who most deserves it. I can't wait to see what penalties are handed down today for Richmond. For some it's going to be very expensive.

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/artic..._Richmond.html

Jared Turner: Hamlin may have deserved win, but he robbed fans

By Jared Turner - SceneDaily Staff Writer

Monday, May 05, 2008

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COMMENTARY
The most callous soul watching Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway had to feel for Denny Hamlin.
When was the last time a driver displayed such a degree of dominance only to wind up with his heart broken and hopes shattered at the checkered flag? Hamlin seemingly possessed all the ingredients to find victory lane on Saturday night.
A front row starting spot.
A rocket ship of a racecar.
Lightning fast pit stops.
And the extra motivation that can only enrapture a driver competing at his home track.
By all accounts, Hamlin deserved to win and should have.
But when a flat tire suddenly changed Hamlin’s fate with less than 20 laps left in the Crown Royal 400, the third-year Joe Gibbs Racing driver made a decision that may ultimately overshadow his dominance.

Instead of coming to pit road, Hamlin came to a complete stop on the track and waited for a yellow flag to fly.
It was only after the caution waved that he headed to the pits for a tire change.
NASCAR subsequently penalized the No. 11 car two laps for intentionally initiating a caution.
Later, in post-race questioning, Hamlin did not deny that to be the case.
"It was just a kick in the face after a bad deal anyway,” said the driver who led all but one of the race’s first 382 laps. “It is what it is. What's the difference? We didn't win. It's 25th or 10th - where ever we would have been - or 15th one lap down, it doesn't matter at this point."
But Hamlin’s decision to perpetuate a yellow did matter.
Though whether that decision was motivated by the pain of losing, thoughts that he could somehow still win or help another driver do so or something else is irrelevant.
It was calculated.
It was flagrant.
And it was wrong.
Hats off to NASCAR for deeming it so.
But give Hamlin some credit: It’s not as if he tried to conceal it.
It happened on national television and before a sold-out gallery at the place where the native of nearby Chesterfield, Va., has stronger support than any other.
The hardest part for fans to swallow about Saturday’s race should not be the misfortunes of Hamlin.
It was the ultimate effect of his response to those misfortunes.
If Hamlin had pitted when he felt the tire going down, the caution would have likely never waved, nor the second caution that it ultimately bred.
Had the race stayed green maybe fan-favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had a healthy distance on the second place car, would have sped to his first points win in 72 starts setting in motion a wild celebration for the ages.
Maybe that second-place car driven Kyle Busch would have caught Junior in the final turn setting up an all-out drag race to the checkered flag between two of the sport’s most polarizing stars.
Maybe underdog Clint Bowyer would have methodically maneuvered by Busch and Earnhardt Jr. on the last lap instead of passing both when they tangled with a shade over two laps to go.
Maybe Mark Martin, who had been biding his time in the top five all night, would have rekindled the magic of yesteryear just in time to earn the win he craves so badly.
Such what-ifs make NASCAR’s longstanding policy of penalizing drivers who intentionally invoke cautions necessary and in order.
Cautions precipitate more cautions. Cautions change pit strategy. Cautions erase leads. Cautions give lapped cars renewed hope.
In sum, a caution changes the complexion of a race.
And we’ll never know how much a caution changed the complexion on Saturday night.
So feel bad for Hamlin. But feel worse for the paying customers robbed of seeing a different finish.

[JUQ1115]

It is offical that no additional penalties will be given to Hamlin for intentionally spinning and bringing out the caution. Dale Jr. was penalized 25 points for intentionally spining at Bristol in 2004 to bring out the caution to get a lap back. He would have gotten away with it had he not bragged about it on the radio.

So all the people who say Dale Jr. gets away with stuff should look at this. Hamlin said he didn't even know where Kyle was on the track but I find that pretty hard to believe considering when I listen to the scanners they always let you know who is behind and in front regardless if it is a teammate or not, they always say the car #. Pretty crappy move for Hamlin to do, I don't know if it was intentional for sure but even just to stop on the track is pretty crappy and dangerous if it can be helped and I definitely thought he could have at least tried to get off the track. We see tons of flat tires every race and I never see someone just stop on the track if there engine is still going. Plus we always get robbed of a good race when there are cautions at the end slowing it up, I don't think anyone can dispute that.

Jami

[StillBig20Fan]

Quoting from the original article.....What should have been a short delay in the race turned into a sizable intermission as the Junior Nation went wild, lobbing anything they could find – beer cans, cups, trash – onto the track.

Now being a frequent attendee at Talladega, This is something that boils my blood about "Jr Nation"...I was there in 2004 the first time when the red clad bud folk showered the track with every kind of can, bottle, cooler (yes some idiots threw coolers on the track) and anything else that wasnt nailed to the ground on the track cause of Gordon winning and the late lap caution that took the chance for the then #8 a chance to win. They changed the rules at Dega after that and limited what you could and couldnt bring in...They did it in 2005 when Gordon won....they did it again in 2007 when Gordon broke Sr's win total....and in 2008 when Kyle won at Dega, they did it again....and of course at Richmond....To toss things on the track is idiotic, and dangerous, and takes away from the experience of others...I stopped by my folks house after 2004 and my mom said, "you smell like a brewery" and I said "yeah 95% of it is on my clothes" Thanks Jr Nation, your lack of class by throwing stuff on the track is REALLY helping NASCAR's image (please note sarcasm).

[JUQ1115]

Anyone who does that is stupid and should be banned from that track but of course not all of Jr. Nation is like that. If they all were like that you couldn't even run a race b/c of the amount of fans he has. And that has nothing to do w/ Dale Jr as he has asked them not to do that and if they are then to throw toilet paper. I agree it is wrong, I would hate to think if I wanted to take my son to a race that this would happen.

[StillBig20Fan]

All I know is 3 races I've attended it's happened and was primarily members of Jr Nation....apparently it happened again Saturday night. Never happened at Atlanta or Martinsville when I have been to those tracks on multiple dates. All I know is this...it hurts the perception of the sport to those outside of the sport.

[ashley832]

Quoting from the original article.....What should have been a short delay in the race turned into a sizable intermission as the Junior Nation went wild, lobbing anything they could find – beer cans, cups, trash – onto the track.

Now being a frequent attendee at Talladega, This is something that boils my blood about "Jr Nation"...I was there in 2004 the first time when the red clad bud folk showered the track with every kind of can, bottle, cooler (yes some idiots threw coolers on the track) and anything else that wasnt nailed to the ground on the track cause of Gordon winning and the late lap caution that took the chance for the then #8 a chance to win. They changed the rules at Dega after that and limited what you could and couldnt bring in...They did it in 2005 when Gordon won....they did it again in 2007 when Gordon broke Sr's win total....and in 2008 when Kyle won at Dega, they did it again....and of course at Richmond....To toss things on the track is idiotic, and dangerous, and takes away from the experience of others...I stopped by my folks house after 2004 and my mom said, "you smell like a brewery" and I said "yeah 95% of it is on my clothes" Thanks Jr Nation, your lack of class by throwing stuff on the track is REALLY helping NASCAR's image (please note sarcasm).

Its stupid to throw things on the track. Its not gonna change anything..whoever won is still the winner. People just need to get over it. Yeah, I dont like seeing Gordon or certain others win but I dont grabbed my Red Bull can and throw it at my TV. (For one, mom would kill me! lol) and if I was at the track I wouldnt throw anything. Its disrespectful and childish. Oh, and you forgot Brian Vickers' Talladega win..there was quite a bit of stuff flyin on the track then too. lol

Ashley

[TyrantsASupremeBeing]

Howdy, if i were Jr i would invite that #*@ole in the 18 over to my house for a boxing match..
i really HATE the 20 driver but that "clown" in the 18 is moving up the ladder..
Guess Gibbs like those kind of "Drivers"...
THANK GOD hes not with Hendricks anymore...
wish i lived down south, id steal to steal a car to run the "clown" into a pole on the street...
& finally, Nascar rules & penalties are GARBAGE !! Espec. when not applied evenly across the board...
Tyrant

[JUQ1115]

Well maybe it hurts the perception of the sport a little but lets be honest, those outside of the sport already don't like NASCAR for many reasons and this has gone on long before Jr. Nation got into NASCAR. The #1 reason people don't like NASCAR is b/c they think it is a redneck event and not a sport. They also feel like it is boring to watch cars turn left all day. I don't think fans throwing stuff on the track hurts the perception of the sport that much compared to alot of other reasons. I agree it is wrong but I don't think it significantly hurts the sport. Basketball has had its brawls in the stands and there has been several games where things were thrown on court and it is fine. They use to throw batteries on the field during Cleveland Browns games and also thorw snowballs every year but football is fine. Philly Eagles & NY Giants fans not only throw stuff in the stands but get into fights along with cussing at people. All sports have this type of stuff happen, I have been to a baseball game where people started throwing things for no reason. Anytime you have alcohol involved it will start this type of thing with some people. I have to believe that there have been other fans of other drivers at some point to do this type of thing. I agree it is mostly Dale Jr. fans but at the same time the reason NASCAR has any perception today is due in large part to Jr. nation and Dale Jr. and Dale Sr. Without Jr. Nation this sport isn't as big, period. Some people tune in just to see that type of stuff happen whether it is right or wrong.