No driver should need extra security

[Busch Babe 899]

LMS adds extra security for Vickers

Associated Press
Posted: 1 hour ago     
 

 CONCORD, N.C. (AP) - Lowe's Motor Speedway is beefing up security for driver Brian Vickers after angry race fans called the track to complain that Vickers wrecked Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson on the last lap at Talladega.
 
The Nextel Cup Series is scheduled to race Saturday night at Lowe's, and track owner Bruton Smith felt the need to offer Vickers assistance because of the flood of phone calls the track received Monday.

"We want to make sure Brian has an uninterrupted weekend here and that he is able focus on his driving duties," Smith said. "We will offer security escorts in and out of the speedway and anywhere he feels he needs our assistance."

A spokesman for Vickers and Hendrick Motorsports was unaware of Smith's gesture until reached by The Associated Press for comment.

Vickers was running third on the last lap Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway when he followed teammate Jimmie Johnson in his attempt to pass Earnhardt, the leader. But Vickers ran into the back of Johnson, sending him into a spin that wrecked the two lead cars.

Vickers scooted by for his first career victory, and was showered with boos in Victory Lane as fans also threw debris onto the track.

He's expected to be poorly received at Lowe's, the track that shares a sponsor with Johnson and sits in the shadows of Earnhardt's hometown of Kannapolis.

Smith said this isn't the first time he's beefed up security for a driver.

"I think the last time was for Rusty (Wallace) when he knocked Darrell (Waltrip) out of the way to win the All-Star race back in 1989," Smith said. "We added security at his house and track the week of the Coca-Cola 600."

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6045510


This is flippin' ridiculous!! It was a stupid race!! Get a life, people!! Had it been Carl or Mark who got wrecked on the last lap, I'd be mad, but I WOULDN'T be threatening the guy who did it!! MORONS!!!

I was actually toying with hopping in the truck Friday night, going down to Charlotte for the Cup race, but that ends that thought. No way am I going to go to a race where I'll have to put up with MORONS spouting off about Brian, or possibly worse. Voicing your opinion is one thing...calling the track and threatening the driver is completey ridiculous. I wouldn't feel safe. And sadly, I've ALWAYS felt safe at LMS.

IDIOTS!!!!

It's crazy stuff like this that will end the access fans have to drivers.

[KurtBuschFan]

It's crazy stuff like this that will end the access fans have to drivers.

You're exactly right...and sadly I have yet to spend any time in the pits.  It's pathetic that people have to feel that way.  Brian Vickers didn't wreck Jr.  Yes he made a miscalculation when trying to duck in behind JJ and spun JJ into Jr, but that's racing.  Had it been the other way around and Jr was the one in Brian's shoes, the words that would be being said would be COMPLETELY different.

[flamehothead]

What are people thinking? I only know of one other time that a track had to add extra security for a driver and that was when Rusty Got into DW during the Winston. The following week Rusty had to have extra security. I can't figure why certain fan's are reacting like this. They are acting like this is the first time anyone has ever been spun out and we know that is not true. If these crazy people keep this up Nascar will make the drivers stay away from each other on the track. I can see it now on the back of all the car's STAY BACK 500 FEET. It's going to get to a point that Nascar stop's selling or giving out pit passes. With everything that is going on in this world and then people making threat's toward's a driver for doing what fan's like to see. Granted you may not like it if it's your favorite driver but we have all stood up and started cheering when a driver you can't stand get's the BUMP. I know I have. If anyone reading this get's that mad over someone getting spun out remember this. Nascar stand's for racing alway's has and I hope it alway's will. That'a what they do RACE.

[nascarbabe2U]

It is so spooky when folks take something so serious as to be obsessed enough to make threats towards someone. There is seriously something wrong with someone when they take a though such as a death threat, which is paranoid to begin with, and act on it.

[AfterShock]

That pretty much sums it all up Flame.
I think you hit the nail right on the Hot Head.

BTW,

W E L C O M E to Frontstretch!

We have more fun here than a human being should be allowed to have.
And, we do so on a regular basis.
Glad you found us!

[HappyHour]

What are people thinking? I only know of one other time that a track had to add extra security for a driver and that was when Rusty Got into DW during the Winston. The following week Rusty had to have extra security. I can't figure why certain fan's are reacting like this. They are acting like this is the first time anyone has ever been spun out and we know that is not true. If these crazy people keep this up Nascar will make the drivers stay away from each other on the track. I can see it now on the back of all the car's STAY BACK 500 FEET. It's going to get to a point that Nascar stop's selling or giving out pit passes. With everything that is going on in this world and then people making threat's toward's a driver for doing what fan's like to see. Granted you may not like it if it's your favorite driver but we have all stood up and started cheering when a driver you can't stand get's the BUMP. I know I have. If anyone reading this get's that mad over someone getting spun out remember this. Nascar stand's for racing alway's has and I hope it alway's will. That'a what they do RACE.

Gosh, that’s not the NASCAR that I have become to know….  To me they stand for politics and money… i.e. GREED !!  They control the winner of the races today more than they ever have. Changing restrictor plates hours before a race without ONE lap practice with them, smaller fuel tanks, numerous spoiler and shock changes, debris cautions at the drop of a hat for tape or fictitious debris, inventing the “lucky dog” rule after years of “racing back to the yellow flag”, changing the rule that “last year’s champion has the first pit stall every week on pit road”, the RACE TO THE CHASE, not to mention numerous other changes every year.

To me, I wonder why they even keep statistics.  Why don’t they just say, “Jack Roush, you will get the championship this year @ Daytona and then let them race?  No need to play their stupid games to manipulate the winners.  Sometimes they will pull a caution when someone has an accident on pit road, sometimes they won’t… Depends on who is running where and how it is going to affect the outcome of the race… 

I can imagine they had security for Sterling Marlin too after he crashed Earnhardt at a restrictor plate race.  Wonder if Brian Vickers ever watched that race… Wonder if he gave second thought that by just TOUCHING someone’s bumper he could send them into the wall and kill them ?  Wonder if Dale JR. should watch that race again.  Maybe going 200 MPH should be exciting enough and he wouldn’t feel justified in bump drafting and lifting the rear wheels off the ground of the car that he’s hitting …. Hmmmmmm, MAYBE Jeff Gordon is right.  MAYBE it’s better to drive your car alone and stop depending on someone in back to you to push you to the front… Didn’t we learn ANYTHING from Earnhardt’s death at a restrictor plate race Aren’t those cars out of control when hit by another car    

 

[flamehothead]

I agree that Nascar is about Politic's and I hate all of the new rule's except for the racing back to the caution. If you remember at NHMS Dale Jarrett was T-Boned when everyone was racing back to the flag.The Lucky Dog is a JOKE. I can't understand why Nascar should give a driver his lap back because he put himself there in the first place. Either by his mistake or someone else's. I am not a Vickers fan and he still has alot to learn, But if you watch the repley's close you can see that JJ did bobble when he pulled out to make his run on JR. Granted Vickers should have been paying more attention but this stuff happen's. Like I have said before it is RACING.

[KurtBuschFan]

Welcome to the boards flamhothead!!  Feel free to post often.

And I agree with you.  It was a racing incident.  Did Vickers make a mistake?  Sure he did, but I saw the same bobble you did and JJ made a mistake too.  As for threats on Vickers....that's just plain stupid.

[hpete]

Drivers that have recieved such threats in the past include DW, Rusty Wallace, and Geoff Bodine. Pretty good company for a 23 year old kid.

[Chris]

I agree that Nascar is about Politic's and I hate all of the new rule's except for the racing back to the caution. If you remember at NHMS Dale Jarrett was T-Boned when everyone was racing back to the flag.The Lucky Dog is a JOKE.

Welcome Flame...
Just a clarification...
The incident you reference is ALMOST correct...
Jarret CRASHED and as everyone raced back to the yellow flag, he was sitting in the middle of the track, and cars went by him on both sides.
No one actually HIT him,.. but they could have very easily.
The next week was when "the Lucky dog" rule went into effect...

[Busch Babe 899]

Yeah, that was scary...and I can live with the Lucky Dog rule, ESPECIALLY now that Mark has actually benefitted from it in 2 different races, in 2 different series...a few weeks ago in Cup, and the other night in Truck...those were the first times Mark has EVER benefitted from that rule.

BUT I think they could tweak that, in that you should not be the recipient 2 consecutive times. That is, if you get the Lucky Dog, then in short order go a lap down again, you should NOT be  able to get it then. It makes a mockery of the rule when some back-runner keeps going a lap down and getting back on the lead lap, only to go a lap down again...and again...and again.

There is no way a driver should EASILY, because of the way the cautions fall, get MULTIPLE laps back, like I believe Kyle Busch did one race this season.

Wow, that's off topic. Oh, well!!

[flamehothead]

First of all Thank's for letting me join in on the disscusions. You were right about DJ not getting hit, But all I remembered was that car sitting dead center of the track. All I could think was This Is Going To Hurt. Sorry for getting so far off of the subject. I am glad I found somewhere to vent about racing granted the season is almost over but I have a feeling the off season is going to be just as exciting.

[AfterShock]

First of all Thank's for letting me join in on the disscusions. You were right about DJ not getting hit, But all I remembered was that car sitting dead center of the track. All I could think was This Is Going To Hurt. Sorry for getting so far off of the subject.

I am glad I found somewhere to vent about racing granted the season is almost over but I have a feeling the off season is going to be just as exciting.

........................

You're correct Flame. But one way to be sure is for you to continue posting. Vent away! That's what it's all about.

As for being off subject -- worry not! Sometimes getting off subject leads to other discussions.
That's a GOOD thing.
Nothing to be "sorry" about. 

[Chris]

ditto... what he said
and welcome aboard

[Busch Babe 899]

No thanks necessary, flame...we welcome with open arms those who want to contribute PRODUCTIVELY to the discussions at hand, as you have. Every opinion welcome, with exception of those intended to tick people off, with that purpose only. We've had experience with THAT sort in the past. Doesn't mean we're not more than happy to welcome those who just want to talk racing to the board! WELCOME!