Hair tousled, eyes shyly downcast, my NASCAR fan buddy from my school's special day class approached my desk today. He was shielding something in his hand from view.
"Hey Buddy! What's up?!"
"I brought you something..."
and with that he lovingly handed me a 1:64 diecast of the #18 in its first Toyota Cup win Snickers paint scheme.
Now this wasn't a diecast still all pristine and unopened in its packaging. His mom hadn't seen this on a store shelf and suggested he let her buy it so he could give it to Ms Barb at school. This puppy had seen some hard racing. It had 'Darlington stripes" and scrapes and scratches from many a race re-enacted by my li'l pal.
I wish you could have seen the pride shining from this fella's eyes as he so proudly shared his gift with me. I was so touched at his generosity. It meant an incredible amount to me that he'd wish to share such a cherished possession.
As I accepted his present I asked if it'd be ok for a hug and when he happily acquiesced he bestowed an even bigger gift.
The Snickers diecast now resides front & center on display on my desk. My li'l buddy earning a similar spot in my heart.
Thank you NASCAR for bringing two such disparate characters together... even if he IS a Dale Jr. fan!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Monday, May 09, 2011
Kevin v. Kyle - Darlington, May 7, 2011
Will the punishment fit the crime?
Given their history, an on-track dust-up was inevitable. At the end of the 2010 season the litany of incidents perpetrated on Joe Gibbs Racing drivers by Kevin Harvick was probably well into the double-digits. The final ignominy for most JGR fans was at Homestead when Harvick intentionally wrecked Busch in a fiery crash then had the audacity to brag about 'parking' Kyle for 'driving like a clown all day'. My point is that I'm certain each of the JGR drivers started this season with a sour taste in his mouth about Kevin Harvick and his penchant for happily spinning out any JGR car that he could catch.
I watched the replays of Saturday night's on-track incident at Darlington that precipitated the post-race fracas. It appeared to me that the beginning of the incident occurred when Harvick seemed to 'give' track position to Busch only to speed ahead, contact his bumper, and get Busch loose. While that was transpiring both cars, by necessity, lost some momentum which allowed Bowyer to catch them, making it 3-wide coming out of the turn. As Busch ran out of track on the high side, Harvick ricocheted between Bowyer & Busch, causing Bowyer to head for the inside wall and crash his car.
As that happened Busch regained control of his car from the earlier tap from Harvick. Now, I am a Busch fan. Try as I might I could not say that Kyle lost control of his car as it took that sharp left toward Harvick's bumper. Kyle's too good a precision driver. Yes, Kyle was "having at it"; exacting immediate retribution for Harvick's earlier spin attempt and exacting some revenge for all the slights of 2010. It was immediate, emotional and to some extent expected. As spotter TJ Majors would tweet later that evening, "Love it when drivers get raced the way they race!"
What followed at the end of the race was uncalled for though.
As the drivers were preparing to enter pit road, Busch tried to avoid conflict with Harvick by veering back on to the track at pit road's entrance when he saw Harvick would be directly in line with him. ADVANTAGE: Busch
When Harvick saw Busch swerve back onto the racing surface, he abruptly left the pit road line to go up to harry Busch. DISADVANTAGE: Harvick
Back on the track surface Harvick pulled past Busch's car to block him from avoiding confrontation. DISADVANTAGE: Harvick
Once Harvick pulled past Busch, Kyle attempted to put his car into reverse so as to defuse chances for hostilities. (Here is when reverse gear was lost on the #18 car.) ADVANTAGE: Busch
Lacking reverse Busch was forced into making a sweeping circle turn to gain entrance to pit road. Harvick was able to enter more quickly and got in front of Busch. DRAW
Harvick blocked Busch on pit road and without reverse Kyle was reduced to sitting and waiting out the situation. Again almost a DRAW as Harvick was making his point about being peeved without physical confrontation.
At last Harvick extricated himself from his car, leaving it unattended and still blocking Busch. (Was the #29 left in gear or in neutral? Was it running or shut off? Was Harvick negligent leaving a driver-less car on pit road?) DISADVANTAGE: Harvick
As Harvick, still wearing his protective racing helmet, emerged from his car Busch was left with only unsavory options. He could get out of his car and fight the obviously angry Harvick and his rapidly coalescing crewmen. He couldn't back up and he couldn't drive around since the two cars were bumper to bumper and Busch had no reverse gear. His choice in this instance was to sit in his car and await a pummeling from Happy & friends or he could attempt to tap the 29 car enough to give himself room to drive away from the impending melee. We all saw the choice he made. I had to ask myself what I would have done given the same or similar circumstances. ADVANTAGE: Busch
Was it safe to tap the 29? Probably not. Did Busch have much choice? Again, probably not. Who was most endangered by the unoccupied rolling 29? The pit crew guys in red who were just as much spoiling for a fight as their driver. Did these 'Harvick Henchmen' deserve to get hit by a 3500 lb stock car? Of course not. Should Busch be held to blame for that? Again, of course not! That was never his intention though at that point it was pretty much his only available option.
What would I do if I was in charge of policing this? I'd put both of them on probation. No fines. No points. Probation - not til Dec 31 but for a certain number of races. If that doesn't curtail such shenanigans the next incident would result in monetary fines and probation through the rest of the year.
Y'all asked for emotion. They gave it to ya. Punish if you must but don't blame Busch for consequences resulting from Harvick's petulance.
Given their history, an on-track dust-up was inevitable. At the end of the 2010 season the litany of incidents perpetrated on Joe Gibbs Racing drivers by Kevin Harvick was probably well into the double-digits. The final ignominy for most JGR fans was at Homestead when Harvick intentionally wrecked Busch in a fiery crash then had the audacity to brag about 'parking' Kyle for 'driving like a clown all day'. My point is that I'm certain each of the JGR drivers started this season with a sour taste in his mouth about Kevin Harvick and his penchant for happily spinning out any JGR car that he could catch.
I watched the replays of Saturday night's on-track incident at Darlington that precipitated the post-race fracas. It appeared to me that the beginning of the incident occurred when Harvick seemed to 'give' track position to Busch only to speed ahead, contact his bumper, and get Busch loose. While that was transpiring both cars, by necessity, lost some momentum which allowed Bowyer to catch them, making it 3-wide coming out of the turn. As Busch ran out of track on the high side, Harvick ricocheted between Bowyer & Busch, causing Bowyer to head for the inside wall and crash his car.
As that happened Busch regained control of his car from the earlier tap from Harvick. Now, I am a Busch fan. Try as I might I could not say that Kyle lost control of his car as it took that sharp left toward Harvick's bumper. Kyle's too good a precision driver. Yes, Kyle was "having at it"; exacting immediate retribution for Harvick's earlier spin attempt and exacting some revenge for all the slights of 2010. It was immediate, emotional and to some extent expected. As spotter TJ Majors would tweet later that evening, "Love it when drivers get raced the way they race!"
What followed at the end of the race was uncalled for though.
As the drivers were preparing to enter pit road, Busch tried to avoid conflict with Harvick by veering back on to the track at pit road's entrance when he saw Harvick would be directly in line with him. ADVANTAGE: Busch
When Harvick saw Busch swerve back onto the racing surface, he abruptly left the pit road line to go up to harry Busch. DISADVANTAGE: Harvick
Back on the track surface Harvick pulled past Busch's car to block him from avoiding confrontation. DISADVANTAGE: Harvick
Once Harvick pulled past Busch, Kyle attempted to put his car into reverse so as to defuse chances for hostilities. (Here is when reverse gear was lost on the #18 car.) ADVANTAGE: Busch
Lacking reverse Busch was forced into making a sweeping circle turn to gain entrance to pit road. Harvick was able to enter more quickly and got in front of Busch. DRAW
Harvick blocked Busch on pit road and without reverse Kyle was reduced to sitting and waiting out the situation. Again almost a DRAW as Harvick was making his point about being peeved without physical confrontation.
At last Harvick extricated himself from his car, leaving it unattended and still blocking Busch. (Was the #29 left in gear or in neutral? Was it running or shut off? Was Harvick negligent leaving a driver-less car on pit road?) DISADVANTAGE: Harvick
As Harvick, still wearing his protective racing helmet, emerged from his car Busch was left with only unsavory options. He could get out of his car and fight the obviously angry Harvick and his rapidly coalescing crewmen. He couldn't back up and he couldn't drive around since the two cars were bumper to bumper and Busch had no reverse gear. His choice in this instance was to sit in his car and await a pummeling from Happy & friends or he could attempt to tap the 29 car enough to give himself room to drive away from the impending melee. We all saw the choice he made. I had to ask myself what I would have done given the same or similar circumstances. ADVANTAGE: Busch
Was it safe to tap the 29? Probably not. Did Busch have much choice? Again, probably not. Who was most endangered by the unoccupied rolling 29? The pit crew guys in red who were just as much spoiling for a fight as their driver. Did these 'Harvick Henchmen' deserve to get hit by a 3500 lb stock car? Of course not. Should Busch be held to blame for that? Again, of course not! That was never his intention though at that point it was pretty much his only available option.
What would I do if I was in charge of policing this? I'd put both of them on probation. No fines. No points. Probation - not til Dec 31 but for a certain number of races. If that doesn't curtail such shenanigans the next incident would result in monetary fines and probation through the rest of the year.
Y'all asked for emotion. They gave it to ya. Punish if you must but don't blame Busch for consequences resulting from Harvick's petulance.
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