[Racer Duck]

This has been one of the most humerous events in NASCAR this year and shows exactly why a large number of folks need to get a life. As has been said before, what happened Saturday night isn't important in the whole scheme of things. It was a race. Someone won, many someone's lost.

Jerry Bronkowski of Yahoo Sports has a good article on the "event" within the event. Here's an excerpt:

But instead of ending up in victory lane, Earnhardt wound up in the wall. And his following wasn't happy.

What should have been a short delay in the race turned into a sizable intermission as the Junior Nation went wild, lobbing anything they could find – beer cans, cups, trash – onto the track.

Busch, fresh off a dust up with Steven Wallace in Friday night's Nationwide race and already viewed as, ahem, less than popular, was their target – a real-life Grinch that all but stole an early Christmas from hopeful Junior fans.

Junior wound up 15th, while Busch cruised home in second to Clint Bowyer, the benefactor of Junior's misfortune.

Adding insult to injury, Busch's runner-up finish was enough to move him into the points lead.

And so if it wasn't clear before, it most certainly is now: Jeff Gordon is no longer the most hated man in NASCAR. Kyle Busch is.

Now, I want you to go back and re-read the 2nd paragraph, the one I've underlined. Those are the type of people who bring disgrace to our beloved sport, not drivers who try too hard. If I were the object of THOSE fans' affection, I would be finding some way to chastise them. But HE won't because it means too much money. I think that speaks volumes about the "man".

I've looked at and looked at the video of the "event" and I see nothing wrong with what either driver did. There's claims that the 18 car was loose, and counter claims that it wasn't. If the objective observer (i.e., not the rabid fan) cares to remember, the driver of that car prefers a loose setup, so what is loose to him is undriveable to another. A review of any race this season or last will show his car "wiggling" all over the track. That he turned the wheel to the right in a specific instant is immaterial since he has demonstrated superior reflexes and an ability to sense what the car is beginning to do before it's clearly visible and make instantaneous corrections. the rear bumper cam shot from the 88 clearly shows the rear of the 18 "stepping out" immediately before it shows the 88 starting to spin. The video doesn't lie - whether the driver thought his car was loose or not, it exhibited looseness at that particular instant and the rear end stepping out does not happen with the wheels turned to the right on a "neutral" car.

But, truth doesn't matter to the rabid fan. And many not so rabid fans were pre-conditioned to believe the worst would happen and who would be to blame before the race ever got the green flag (re-read the 3rd paragraph of the quote.) Too bad true reality is not something these people believe, but then that's why the so-called reallity TV shows are so popular: because they have a make-believe reality.

Now before I am lambasted as a fan of one or the other, let me say that I, personally, like each driver .. for different reasons. And I dislike both drivers .. for different reasons. I will not get into a debate about which has more talent, or a more infamous relative, or anything else. But I will say what happened was just racing and they each know that .. their fans should follow their lead move on to the next race ... and try to get a life...

[Phils20]

That he turned the wheel to the right in a specific instant is immaterial since he has demonstrated superior reflexes and an ability to sense what the car is beginning to do before it's clearly visible and make instantaneous corrections. the rear bumper cam shot from the 88 clearly shows the rear of the 18 "stepping out" immediately before it shows the 88 starting to spin.That is exactly what I saw, and I even posted the @#$@% video. Yet some still insist that the 18 turned right into him.

And you are correct about the trash and such that was thrown.

Disgraceful

Same thing that happened at Dega when the 24 won and tied Dales win record.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[LSC9901]

Here is a quote from an entirely different sport. It truly applies to the "rabid" fan of any sport ... NASCAR included.

Tragic, but not surprising. Some fans just take it too far, where they're always one step away from going over that line. Their identity is so closely tied to their favorite team or athlete that the wins are just so euphoric and the losses are equally cataclysmic. They live and die in the sports pages. It's their religion, in many ways. I'm sure we've all seen at least one person like that in our lives. It's a mental illness if you ask me. Downright frightening.

[Jeffrey4396]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Now, I want you to go back and re-read the 2nd paragraph, the one I've underlined. Those are the type of people who bring disgrace to our beloved sport, not drivers who try too hard. If I were the object of THOSE fans' affection, I would be finding some way to chastise them. But HE won't because it means too much money. I think that speaks volumes about the "man".

Exactly why are his fans the only ones that do this type of dirty stuff? What puts it into their head that this is right? If I were a track owner and this happened at my track I would ban alchol at my next event to punish those fans. I don't care if only half showed up because it was a "dry" race. Those who don't show would probably be the guilty party. I'm not saying all of Jr's fans would act this way, but the last few times it has happened is because something bad has happened to Jr. I don't think I've ever seen a race where the fans started throwing beer on the track because something has happened to Gordon, Stewart, or Johnson. If I were ever at a track and I saw this happen I would throw my beer at the head of the guy throwing his on the track.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4396

Exactly why are his fans the only ones that do this type of dirty stuff? What puts it into their head that this is right? If I were a track owner and this happened at my track I would ban alchol at my next event to punish those fans. I don't care if only half showed up because it was a "dry" race. Those who don't show would probably be the guilty party. I'm not saying all of Jr's fans would act this way, but the last few times it has happened is because something bad has happened to Jr. I don't think I've ever seen a race where the fans started throwing beer on the track because something has happened to Gordon, Stewart, or Johnson. If I were ever at a track and I saw this happen I would throw my beer at the head of the guy throwing his on the track.

It isn't just Jr.'s fans that pull that stunt. Not sure what is a reasonable solution to the problem but you can bet that track owners will not have a dry race. It would be less painful for them to slit their throats.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Phils20

That he turned the wheel to the right in a specific instant is immaterial since he has demonstrated superior reflexes and an ability to sense what the car is beginning to do before it's clearly visible and make instantaneous corrections. the rear bumper cam shot from the 88 clearly shows the rear of the 18 "stepping out" immediately before it shows the 88 starting to spin.

That is exactly what I saw, and I even posted the @#$@% video. Yet some still insist that the 18 turned right into him.

And you are correct about the trash and such that was thrown.

Disgraceful

Same thing that happened at Dega when the 24 won and tied Dales win record.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

As I said, the objective observer, not the rabid fan, will see it.

The rabid fan doesn't care what the truth is, only what they want it to be.

[bayou_bengals]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

I'm just wondering if the rabid Jr.-does-no-wrong fans remember this from Kansas last year. They most likely applauded........


NEW YORK -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. left Kyle Busch a message this week, presumably to apologize for wrecking him last week at Kansas Speedway. The two have yet to connect, but it's little consolation to Busch, anyway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. took all the blame for running into Kyle Busch early in the LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway.

He was in the thick of the race for the Nextel Cup title before the accident, but now sits sixth in the standings after his 41st-place finish.

"He left me a message, but his number is blocked and he didn't tell me how to get in touch with him," Busch said. "It's pretty hard to swallow to be totally wrecked like that by the guy who is taking your job next season, and it really hurt us in the Chase. It's done now, nothing you can do, but I don't feel real good about it."

The thing that sticks out to me is how Jr. accepted full responsibility for it. Kyle just had a smart mouth attitude.

[bayou_bengals]

"I guess you probably want my take on the incident between Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. What I think is Kyle Busch ran out of talent. Junior left him room and Kyle turned him around. Kyle said it was good, hard racing, but good, hard racing doesn’t require you to spin somebody out.
He apologized afterwards, and that’s pretty much it. But it’s funny, when that happens to Kyle, he sure is Mr. Tough Guy."

This is a post by Ryan Newman on Yahoo Sports. Beautifully put Ryan.
88 Jr. Nation 88

[bayou_bengals]

Originally Posted by GrimlockAutobot

Junior had the faster car plain and simple. He was in the process of passing Busch for 2nd when the caution came out because McMurray hit the wall (right before Hamlin's tire went down. can't remember what lap it was.) He had a run on Shrub then because he had the better car.

Busch clearly made a right turn up into Junior. He wasn't loose or he would've went into the wall with him. Busch even ADMITTED he wasn't loose until AFTER Junior spun so why else wiould you turn into someone other than to wreck them?

Also, more evidence that he wasn't loose? Becuase he was able to go around the spinning car of Junior on a dime. Does that sound like a car that's out of control?

That's basically my thing about it too.

[bayou_bengals]

That he turned the wheel to the right in a specific instant is immaterial since he has demonstrated superior reflexes and an ability to sense what the car is beginning to do before it's clearly visible and make instantaneous corrections. the rear bumper cam shot from the 88 clearly shows the rear of the 18 "stepping out" immediately before it shows the 88 starting to spin.

ooooooooooooooooooooookay

[Phils20]

I can't believe we're still beating this dead horse.

Who cares, it's done!

Anyone wanna talk about this weeks race?

That one isn't over yet!

[GrimlockAutobot]

Originally Posted by Phils20

I can't believe we're still beating this dead horse.

Who cares, it's done!

Anyone wanna talk about this weeks race?

That one isn't over yet!

Might as well get used to it.....I hate to say it but, this issue is gonna come up everytime Jr and Shrub are side by side, racing for position, in the top 5 together, or racing for the points lead.

[Phils20]

Well, that just goes to show that the Jr fans, and the media, are just going to continue to blow everything about him out of proportion!

[GrimlockAutobot]

Originally Posted by Phils20

Well, that just goes to show that the Jr fans, and the media, are just going to continue to blow everything about him out of proportion!

Hey...Hey....Hey....Don't blame Junior fans for what the media is going to do. That was the point I was trying to make....that the MEDIA is going to do the things I listed in the earlier post.

[BiscuitMan]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

As I said, the objective observer, not the rabid fan, will see it.

The rabid fan doesn't care what the truth is, only what t
hey want it to be.

First of all NASCAR racing is not Wimbledon. NASCAR fans don't set in the stands and politely applaud good performance and stay quite during distasteful performance by one of the competitors. I assume you're referring to the Jr. Nation as rabid Dale Jr. fans. Well, the definition of a rabid is "irrationally extreme in opinion or practice: such as a rabid baseball fan or a rabid NASCAR fan." The Jr. Nation may be in the category of the "rabid fans", but, I say so what? We are extremely zealous or enthusiastic; and in some cases fanatical. That's racing.

I'm not condoning throwing beer cans, cups, trash onto the track. That's beyond good sportsmanships and a hazard to the competitors.But, voicing opinions of disfavor or disapproval is always been a common practice at NASCAR events and tend to follow through to the following events. The media (print and otherwise) report these opinions in their articles and reports. Usually, there is such a disproportionate number of fans for one competitor than the other. So the rate and number of opinions displayed seem to be outrageous. In the case of the Dale Jr. and Kyle Busch incident, there's a lot Dale Jr. fans. If this were Montoya and Allmendinger, it would have been over by Monday afternoon.

Originally Posted by Phils20

Well, that just goes to show that the Jr fans, and the media, are just going to continue to blow everything about him out of proportion!

Right now, this is the biggest show in town. Expect a revisit Saturday night.