May 31, 2009
By Kim Roberson
Kim Roberson
|
You have to wonder if the gods have something against Kyle Busch.
Either that, or karma can really suck.
For the fifth time this season, and the second time in as many weeks, Kyle has dominated a race…only to have it slip through his fingers just before the checkered flag flies.
There is no doubting that Kyle is a great race car driver. He has talent and, heaven knows, a ton of ambition. But, he also has a mouth that more often than not opens and utters something that probably should have been kept under wraps. Including this week, when discussing the situation going on with the 88 team.
"He's got his hands full, I guess, having to deal with what's going on…and if Junior doesn't run well, then he is going to be the 'problem' again" was Kyle’s answer when asked about his thoughts of working with the new crew chief of the 88, Lance McGrew. "It's never Junior; it's always the crew chief."
This not to say that Kyle was necessarily wrong in his statement. Even Junior admitted there was some truth in it. "Like Kyle said, most people have always been on Tony Jr.'s case and never really pointed the finger at me” was Junior’s response after hearing about Kyle’s comments. “Eventually I'm going to be the one who has to answer to the fact of how much did I live up to my father's name, and how much did I live up to his wins, and everything he accomplished, and how much did I live up to everyone else's expectations.”
However, Junior also added "He's always had a chip on his shoulder for me."
And that is part of my problem with this whole incident. Not that it has truth to it…I think pretty much anyone could see the writing on the wall. It is that Kyle even felt the need to mention it in the first place.
Often times, taking the high road is the best option, no matter how much you want to take the low one instead.
After the Heluva Good! 200 was over yesterday, I flipped the channel to watch the end of the 1997 Hanes 500 from Martinsville. By the time I got there, there were only 40 or so laps left, and they were talking about how Rusty Wallace had been dominating all day. A crash happened, and they doubled the field up for the restart. Rusty took off in the 2 car before the official restart happened, and was black flagged. With 20 laps to go, the 2 car was forced to come down pit road, stop, and then restart, placing Rusty on the tail end of the lead lap. In the end, Jeff Burton won the race, and Rusty came in 15th.
Not too different from what has been happening with Kyle recently, right?
The irony is that Rusty, after losing his race, sat on the back of his hauler and talked calmly with ESPN about how he had restarted the race like he had all day long. The late Dale Earnhardt, who finished second, popped into the interview and whispered “It sucks, you got screwed”. Rusty calmly nodded, and then continued the interview, and continued to talk about the good car, the good team, and then thanked his sponsors. He then explained he would talk to NASCAR about it, got up, and calmly walked back into his hauler.
Now, if Rusty Wallace, who has never had a problem letting folks know what is on his mind, can handle the disappointment of losing a race after dominating all day like this, why can’t Kyle?
I know that Kyle had to hustle to get ready for the truck race after yesterday, but that doesn’t account for the rest of the races where he has stormed off and then grumbled later.
It is situations like that, and the comments about Junior, that lead to karma.
I am sure that a change of attitude won’t be happening anytime soon, and I am also sure that eventually, Kyle’s luck will change. And I don’t think that Kyle should lose the fire that sparks him. However, a little common sense and a little thinking about what you are saying before you say it can go a long way…and maybe help you get on to karma’s good side.
Finally, a quick note about the Pole Sitter for today’s race: if all good things come to those who wait, then the 00 team is paying dividends. Not only did they win Monday’s rain shortened race in Charlotte, they landed at the front of the pack for today’s race in Dover…and followed it up with great practice speeds. Some are saying they would not be surprised to see David Reutimann get his first “official” win this weekend…assuming he can hold off the Roushkateers and Jimmie Johnson.
Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain…the 00 team has made people take notice, and they are showing the notice is not unwarranted. Congratulations to David and the entire Michael Waltrip Racing organization. Keep up the good work.
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
You can contact Kim at..