There are two types of NASCAR fans when it comes to Kyle Busch. Those that like his style and those who hate his guts. Recently, that number is probably heavily sliding to the hate side. Whether he will say it or not, I do not think Kyle gives a darn about that. After all, the name of the game is winning and there are not too many drivers that win like he does.
Maybe he does not have a Chase Championship yet, but his 104 total victories on the circuit say that he is one of the better drivers out there. That is why it is disappointing to his fans that he was made to miss two races last week as punishment for his ‘road rage’ incident with Ron Hornaday in the Truck Series race. Road rage my Aunt Fannie!
I sit back and think of some of the moments that have occurred in the past few years. We had the Brad Keselowski – Carl Edwards wrecks that spanned over two seasons. In both cases, cars went airborne and either guy could have ended up in a morgue. Yes sir, they got the dread NASCAR slap on the wrist for their efforts.
Perhaps the event that put NASCAR on the map was that famous finish at the Daytona 500, I believe back in 1979. It was I think the first time CBS has televised a NASCAR event. A great crash at the end left Cale Yarborough and the Allison’s fighting at the finish line, but in those days rubbing was racing and men settled things like they did in the old days.
Now I am sure we will hear a great many people scream the fact that it happened under caution. I say so what! Would you rather have a guy trying to wreck you at pretty minimal speeds, or wait till your doing about 195 miles an hour on a turn? When Brad went flying a year or so ago, that wasn’t Carl Edwards with a road rage incident? Why was good ole Carl not sent to the stands for a week or more?
It is because Mike Helton waited till it was someone that a great many fans despise. He can tout all he wants that it is Busch’s history of incidents. Look almost every driver out there has a history with somebody. Kevin Harvick and Cousin Carl are both hot heads. Jeff Gordon can and has had his dirty moments. Even saintly Jimmy Johnson has spun out guys on his way to being ‘five time’.
I for one will now be watching closely whenever someone wrecks another driver intentionally. I will watch in great interest now that big Mike Helton has set a precedent. I will bet you a dollar that you will not see this standard being used many times after this. Oh unless it’s for the bad guy poster boy, Kyle Busch!