[Quality88]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Now, THAT I will agree!



Tony got a run, Kurt blocked, Tony ran into him. That's pretty much clear. The same thing happened earlier with two other drivers (been so long, I forget who it was) but there was no retaliation.

Look, again, friendly banter, I don't care what Tony did or didn't do intentionally. Busch was out of line. HOWEVER, I am not defending Tony for punching Busch. But ... I'm glad he did. I'd rather see a driver take a punch than to see one intentionally hit several times with another car. It's just too darn dangerous.

Hold it PPS... Tony had a run on Kurt, but did not run into him. Kurt tried to go up and block but went to late. His back quarter-panel hit the front fender of Tony's car. Much like when Mears went to block in the 500 and wrecked.

[kcoruol]

Kurt used his car as a weapon?
Please!

Kurt used the side of his car to bump Tony a couple of times to let him know he wasn't going to take any crap off of him.

I think if Kurt had wanted to use his car as a weapon he would have done something more like Tony and tapped Tony's rear quarter panal going around a curve at a 150 mph.

Nobody's come out and denied that Tony punched Kurt so we can assume that much is true.

What transpired prior to the punch is something we may never know.
Kurt may have questioned Tony's mother's ancestory or Tony's orientation or something.

Or Tony might have just sucker punched Kurt because Tony's a hot head.

ON to Junior:

Prior to the race they showed a segment called: Ask JR a Question.

One question a fan asked if JR hung out with the other HMS drivers off track.

He basically said no, they didn't have any thing in common. ( that's not actually what he said but something along those lines)

I think if JR's going to be successful, he's going to have to find some way to develop a friendship with these guys off track so there will be a sense of trust on track. J&J may feel as though they've been placed on the back burner while HMS is capitalizing on the DE name and popularity. Given J&J's performance at Daytona, they could be holding back to see if JR's name recongition trumps their winning records with HMS. In any case JR will have to pay his dues first and prove to J&J he's a team player. It will be interesting to see if an beatable trio develops or if HMS will consist of J&J, JR, and Mears.

I always thought is was a mistake to dump Kyle. He's proven to be a team player by giving Tony his win at the Camping World 300. Tony was able to stay out front because Kyle blocked everybody from passing. Tony and Kyle have the potential to become a J&J powerhouse. We'll see how that pans out this year.

[Phils20]

Kurt used his car as a weapon?
Please!

Kurt used the side of his car to bump Tony a couple of times to let him know he wasn't going to take any crap off of him.

I think if Kurt had wanted to use his car as a weapon he would have done something more like Tony and tapped Tony's rear quarter panal going around a curve at a 150 mph.

Nobody's come out and denied that Tony punched Kurt so we can assume that much is true.

What transpired prior to the punch is something we may never know.
Kurt may have questioned Tony's mother's ancestory or Tony's orientation or something.

Or Tony might have just sucker punched Kurt because Tony's a hot head.

Yes, used his car as a weapon. Ramming someone on the cool down lap when the caution is out 4 times is using your car as a weapon.

I'm sorry, but that is how it is. Maybe you just don't like Tony, but that is just not how it is done.

I just don't see how anyone could see it any other way, or condone it.

As far as being no worse than when Tony tapped Kurt on the track, three other drivers said Kurt was at fault for the wreck due to blocking.

Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, and Dale Jr all had the same story about how Tony was leading a fast lane of cars, and Kurt pulled down, and then up the track to block them.

Research and come back to me again about these two points. They aren't my opinions, these two items are facts.

The rest of your statement I'm good with. Tony is a hot head, but that didn't trigger the initaial wreck.

Again, reference the first practice wreck. After the 8-9 cars wrecked, no one was ramming anyone, and throwing punches. Proof that Kurts ramming Tony, and Tony punch, didn't have to happen.

Both of there drivers need to get over thier dislike of each other, and not allow it to effect other happeings on the track.

This accident was about 90% Kurts fault. The only thing Tony could have done was slam on the brakes, and taken out everyone behind him.


Kurt would have been happy, but all the drivers behind Tony would have been pretty darn PO'd.

[oncea3fan]

I don't think anyone is saying kurt wasn't at fault in the pratice crash, I believe he was.
the point I am making is over the years all the top driver have done exactly what kurt did if not worse(actually turning car on pit road after the race) so kurt is no more a jerk than any other driver.
IMHO

[loco4pablo]

why does JR. need to attempt to hang out with the other Hendrick drvers away from the track to be sucessful? That's crazy!! Makes no sense. Besides who would want to spend time with those 3 california fruit cakes? Could you imagine spending your rare time off with them? It would be like watching paint dry. Plus you would have to listen to thier wives!! I'm sure Jr. has very little in common with Jeff/Jimmy/Casey..... heck I bet not many have anything in common with them

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

why does JR. need to attempt to hang out with the other Hendrick drvers away from the track to be sucessful? That's crazy!! Makes no sense. Besides who would want to spend time with those 3 california fruit cakes? Could you imagine spending your rare time off with them? It would be like watching paint dry. Plus you would have to listen to thier wives!! I'm sure Jr. has very little in common with Jeff/Jimmy/Casey..... heck I bet not many have anything in common with them

Jeff and Jimmy both live in NYC .. a long way to go for Jr. to hang out... not sure where Casey hangs out (nor do I care.)

point is, Jr. has a tremendous number of "obligations" in the Mooresville area without trying to crowd in trips to the Big Apple to down a Bud? or two with "the gang". no matter what everyone thinks, drivers like Jr have a staggering drain on their time because of their popularity from people wanting to exploit their name/image to people who just want a glimpse of him in person.

unless they are personal friends, drivers don't hang out with each other, except maybe to play a video game or some poker in one of their RV's while at the track. having "quiet time" with their family and close friends is rare and very precious to superstars like Jr.

about the "melancholy" bit: I don't know any driver that had as much pressure to deliver at Daytona as Jr. and he had a shot. he thinks he failed because of some bad decisions he made (whether true or not) so it's natural for him to be down on himself. but as soon as practice starts in Fontana, he'll be focused on the future, not the past. (there's 33 other drivers who'd gladly trade their finish at Daytona for his .. just to put it into perspective.)

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

(there's 33 other drivers who'd gladly trade their finish at Daytona for his .. just to put it into perspective.)

Another perspective is there are another 35 weeks of racing yet to go. Being in 8th place on week one isn't all that bad. Better there than in 43rd.