CoT Reactions and Bristol Finish

[Lumberg01]

First off, thanks to all of you for your welcome messages, they were much appreciated.

Our writers appear to have various views on driver's reactions to the CoT, especially in regard to Kyle Busch's victory lane comments. While I firmly believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I certainly hope that driver input was considered when NASCAR was developing this thing, doesn't there come a point in time where the "Shut up and drive" rule goes into effect? Like it or not, they are here to stay, and these guys are paid to drive race cars, so isn't it time to just deal with it?

While on the topic of Bristol (sort of), does anyone else think the outcome would have been different if Jeff Gordon was in 2nd on the last lap instead of Jeff Burton? I'm not sure why people were saying Kyle was so lucky to have Gordon back there. Based on prior history (two incidents with Rusty Wallace at Bristol and one with Matt Kenseth at Chicago), I find it hard to believe that Gordon would not put the bumper to Busch, teammate or not. Heck, I think if Ingrid, his mother, Mr. Rogers and God were in the 5 car, he'd still use the chrome horn. Not trying to show biased against anyone, just going off of history.

[flamehothead]

I don't think the "Shut up and Drive" rule will go into effect until Nascar has done everything they can to make the COT the Best it's going to be. We Still hear Teams/Drivers complain about the old car and it's been around since 1949 so Nascar better be ready LOL. I think after awhile Nascar along with the Crew Chiefs are going to tell their Whining drivers to get over it and drive because their is nothing we can do about it and it's here to stay. I remember one day I told my Daughter to clean her room and she decided to sit and complain about it for a Half-Hour, So after she was finished complaining I told her that she would be done by now if she would have just done what I told her in the first place and the same goes for ALL the Teams. Everyone knows this is going to be a Lengthy, Time Consuming, Tedious, And even Stupid Process but it HAS to be done. As for Kyle Busch, He is starting to sound like Stewart an he to should get a Seperate Bank Account ready for Fines and Penalties LOL.

As far as what J.Gordon would have done if he would have been in second, He would have done what he always does when he can't get around someone on the last lap and Knocked Busch out of the way. I have learned over the years that if J.Gordon is in second and he is close enough to the First place car he will do whatever  it takes to win and it doesn't matter WHO it is either. I think J.Burton Nailed it when he said, If somebody has to get into someone just to win then he does NOT consider it a Win. I always thought the best car won not the guy who can Wreck someone the best LOL. I am also going off of History.

[smyler]

Pushing someone out of the way at the end of the race is a tradition in racing that is much older than most of us.  One word: Intimidator.  Having said that, I'm quite sure Jeff would be willing to bang fenders with a team mate, going for the line, but I really don't think he would have knocked him into the fence.  People are still talking about what Vickers did to JJ last year in Alabama.  Using Jeff Burton's logic, do you think Brian thinks he has one Cup win on his resume?

[Blu]

Jeff doesnt do THAT!!

Like I said earlier...IF Kyle had been a real teamate he would have let Jeff (Gordon, not Burton) bye.

All Jeff does is ask slower drivers to move over for him, and if they dont he asks NASCAR nicely. If that dont work he asks that driver in front a little harder with a little freindly tap... like they deserve! Jeff cant help it they arent good drivers and crash when he does that!

Not everyone is as good as Jeff...those are the ones that wreck him...on purpose. I dont have to say their names... we ALL know who they are! They need to back off!

[ChromeHorn]

I respectful disagree, there Blu. Jeff DOES do that, as Lumberg has cited.

Here is the 24's radio communication during the caution laps before the GWC:

Jeff Gordon: "If I get a fender underneath him he better remember we're teammates. If I don't get a fender underneath him, I'm not going to move him out of the way."

Rick Hendrick: "(Inaudible) think about the big picture."

JG: "Make sure you tell him the same thing."

RH: "I did."

In response to your other statements: There was no sane reason for Kyle to have let Jeff go. He (Kyle) is racing for a win and has as much right to the real estate as Jeff Gordon or anyone else does; he has to do everything in his power to hold off however is in his rearview mirror. Were he to have let a teammate go on the final lap (a la Formula 1) it would have gone against every ideal that makes racing racing. This isn't the "Let's move over because Jeff Gordon is Jeff Gordon show."

And as for drivers wrecking Gordon on purpose: Hogwash. They race Jeff the way Jeff races them. Do tell who they are because I, for one,  do not know to whom you are refering.

As for Kyle's comments in VIctory Lane: I love it when a driver steps out of the "I have to say the right thing in order to please all things corporate" mode. He didn't like the car and he said so. No one else liked it, either. The only difference is none of the others said it so blatantly after the race.

[Lumberg01]

Flamehothead - Great point about Jeff Burton's comments, I would think drivers feel a lot better about winning when they do it with skill and not the bumper. I can be a multiple race winner if all I did was move my competition out of the way.

Blu- To chrome's point, can you clarify your comment about Kyle moving over if he were a good teammate? Are you saying he should have let Gordon win? I don't know about you, but if I'm a car owner, and my driver is moving over on the last lap to let someone else win (teammate or not), he's getting a pink slip on Monday morning.

[Blu]

I respectful disagree, there Blu. Jeff DOES do that, as Lumberg has cited.

Here is the 24's radio communication during the caution laps before the GWC:

Jeff Gordon: "If I get a fender underneath him he better remember we're teammates. If I don't get a fender underneath him, I'm not going to move him out of the way."


AHA! Right there!! He just told papa Rick that IF he gets a fender under him that he better remember they are teamates AND that he would not spin him out if he didnt get under him to win!! Thats PURE CLASS and just reminding a younger, less experienced driver to play nice like he does.

Rick Hendrick: "(Inaudible) think about the big picture."

JG: "Make sure you tell him the same thing."

RH: "I did."



In response to your other statements: There was no sane reason for Kyle to have let Jeff go. He (Kyle) is racing for a win and has as much right to the real estate as Jeff Gordon or anyone else does; he has to do everything in his power to hold off however is in his rearview mirror. Were he to have let a teammate go on the final lap (a la Formula 1) it would have gone against every ideal that makes racing racing. This isn't the "Let's move over because Jeff Gordon is Jeff Gordon show."


Oh come on!! Its big picture racing!!Jeff is going for the Championship and leading the points! Kyle is where??And, is not going to win the Cup, How many Cup victories does Kyle have vs Jeff??. How many Cup championships?? Kyle will NEVER be Jeff Gordon, and  Kyle should just be grateful to be  on the team, shut up, and do what hes paid to do.



And as for drivers wrecking Gordon on purpose: Hogwash. They race Jeff the way Jeff races them. Do tell who they are because I, for one,  do not know to whom you are refering.


Other drivers hit Jeff in corners! Jeff doesent hit guys in turns, and if he does its justa mistake.... and names??? How about Mr, Matt Kenseth for one! Blatant!! Sure Jeff makes mistakes and gets into someone racing hard,for a win, but NEVER turns someone on purpose. THEN fans have the audacity to boo HIM!!
 I could name many instances of drivers intentionally wrecking Jeff, and DW and others have even made mention of it.



As for Kyle's comments in VIctory Lane: I love it when a driver steps out of the "I have to say the right thing in order to please all things corporate" mode. He didn't like the car and he said so. No one else liked it, either. The only difference is none of the others said it so blatantly after the race.

To criticize NASCAR is NOT the Hendrick Motor Sports way . Kyle needs to get with it.

[Blu]

Flamehothead - Great point about Jeff Burton's comments, I would think drivers feel a lot better about winning when they do it with skill and not the bumper. I can be a multiple race winner if all I did was move my competition out of the way.

Blu- To chrome's point, can you clarify your comment about Kyle moving over if he were a good teammate? Are you saying he should have let Gordon win? I don't know about you, but if I'm a car owner, and my driver is moving over on the last lap to let someone else win (teammate or not), he's getting a pink slip on Monday morning.

Let him win?? Of course not, but Jeff was much faster at that point with 70 lap fresher tires. Kyle should have realized that, and let Jeff go instead of holding him up thereby unecessariy bringing Burton into the mix. Jeff would have won (deservedly so), Kyle could have easily came in 2nd, and HMS would have finshed 1,2.

BIG PICTURE racing!

[KurtBuschFan]

But Blu you know Kyle Busch wanted to win as much as anyone else.  Believe me..I would have rather seen the older Busch brother win, but that wasn't in the cards this week....or this season so far...yikes!  And I think Shrub actually said the best car didn't win...

[KurtBuschFan]

"It was a good race from my perspective. It wasn’t all that great. We definitely have some work to do. We certainly weren’t the class of the field. Tony Stewart was that." --Kyle Busch

[Blu]

   pretty evident that Kyle is NOT a team player

[KurtBuschFan]

No comment....

[ChromeHorn]

Ahhhh, I, ahhh... don't even know where to begin, and it's soooo tempting, but I'd better bow out of this. I think you've made my argument for me, Blu.

[Tyyrus]

Actually I think the Cotoday debut at Bristol Improved the Race. There were not nearly as many muti-car wrecks . There were only 15  Cautions which for Bristol is an improvement. Also the Yellow Flags were primarily for individual spins , which due to lower speeds , as was Nascar's initial requirement of the Cot , caused substantially less damage to the remainder of the field. As for the Drivers feeling of the drivability of the Car , it's much to early to give much credibility to any..off the cuff responses , since the majority of Teams are still Work in Progress. I would presume the same shall occur at Martinsville , although the Speed may be different due to the limited banking ! It should be another good test for the Splitter and Wing combination , to determine down force requirements with the limited banking on another Short Track . I will be putting my money again on the likes of Tony and Jeff since Marky is still on R& R , but will put side money on my sleeper ..Matt Kenseth ! 

[Lumberg01]

Ahhhh, I, ahhh... don't even know where to begin, and it's soooo tempting, but I'd better bow out of this. I think you've made my argument for me, Blu.

Agreed. My lip is bleeding from biting it so hard.