Subscribe to this blog's feed« NASCAR's new stock car | Main | Just Shut Up Kyle Busch »
March 26, 2007
King Of The Mountain; Kyle Busch
By Mark Young
Well the younger of the Busch brothers finally got a win on Sunday after several weeks of running up front. Kyle and his #5 team can put a feather in their cap that they were the first team to win a race with the new car of tomorrow configuration and at Bristol to boot. This is the first race of the year that Kyle has won in NEXTEL Cup but he has made his presence known at one point in time at every event this year. Though he may not have had the best car of the race yesterday I still think he is very deserving of the title King Of The Mountain.
Sunday's race began with dozens of unanswered questions regarding the COT and how it would perform, I believe that it passed with flying colors. Kyle and his team get digging and working on the car to keep it up front when the checkered flags fell. At one point after a restart Kyle used up his tires very early in a run and radio traffic heard him announce that he was "An idiot". He remembered that lesson and paced himself to stay out front, holding back two cars that appeared to be better than him.
Kyle Busch is a great young talent that we should all get used to seeing on TV because this kid isn't going away anytime soon. HOWEVER, this is not the only time you will read about Kyle in this writer's blogs this week. I have a bone to pick with him regarding some things he said yesterday.
That's what I think, what say you?
March 26, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
Rowdy Bush, Where do I start? The kid does have talent- no doubt about it. I think if he and Jeff Burton keep running together and Kurt pays attention, he just might become a decent racer. Rick H. reeeally needs to send him to classes to learn what to say and where to say it when there are cameras around. I also feel if the roles were reversed yeasterday on the last lap, Burton's getting punted going into turn 3. I personally feel the sport seems to rush these guys to top too soon nowdays- they don't seem to have fully learned their racing "manners" before they get into cup cars
Posted by: Bruce | Mar 26, 2007 9:43:57 AM
Mark,
Maybe, if you're letting points accumulate Kyle gets the title. But, the KOTM, IMO, was the Joe Gibb racing organization. They were the only group of teams to find consistent, dominating, performance from an ill handling machine. Busch gets the win. But, KOTM, no way.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 26, 2007 9:44:25 AM
Keith,
You are correct. If that fuel pump problem wouldn't have happened, Stewart would have lapped the field. After that, it was Hamlin's turn. I think JJ should get the bone-head of the week award. Why in the hell wouldn't you go to the apron? He stayed in the way and caused a caution, but it "helped" his teammate.
Posted by: joe | Mar 26, 2007 9:53:06 AM
Joe,
Didn't you answer your own J.J. question...LOL
Posted by: Keith | Mar 26, 2007 10:04:02 AM
Keith,
Yeah, I guess I did.
Posted by: joe | Mar 26, 2007 10:15:33 AM
Keith I thought about whether or not to give Shrub the throne but came to the conclusion that though he may not be the most worthy of candidates he did "endeavor to overcome" (The Outlaw Josey Wales tie-in) and win the race. Others were stronger but they fell by the wayaside.
Posted by: Mark | Mar 26, 2007 10:18:57 AM
Mark, I'll join your coronation of Kyle as KOTM. He's only 21 or so, but this kid is one great racer, and pretty soon his mouth is going to catch up with his driving skills and give us a complete package. I don't consider myself a fan of his - I'm not a "fan" unless I root for a guy - but I sure admire his abilities.
Side question: Dave Despain played two clips from callers on Wind Tunnel last night to the effect that Burton should be fired, or at least trashed, for not going for the win. I'm a Burton fan, and admire him for what he didn't do, but I sure would have liked to see him take the win.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Mar 26, 2007 10:54:04 AM
I think Burton was giving back the respect that Kyle gave him in Burton's Busch victory. Kyle could have wrecked Burton on that deal and kept him from the win. I believe it was a show of veteran respect. Clearly the two are both hot right now and will probably be racing each other for more wins this season. No point in starting a fire. As crazy as Kyle can drive, is that really someone you want to have a grudge against you?
Posted by: Michael | Mar 26, 2007 11:58:57 AM
About Busch saying the handling of the COT sucked....Slick 80 degree conditions would make any car slide around.
Posted by: Scott | Mar 26, 2007 12:40:04 PM
Scott,
I imagine he meant it sucked compared to what the COY (Car of Yesterday) would have done. I see no reason for them bringing the CON to Bristol.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 26, 2007 1:28:34 PM
Keith,
It makes perfect since. Why put an unraced car on the track at 180mph when you can try it at 100mph. I don't think they ran a whole lot of the prototype COT's into walls. Better to see what happens at lower speeds.
Posted by: Michael | Mar 26, 2007 1:52:23 PM
Michael,
Because none of the effects it's supposed to eliminate occur at Bristol. Because, it's not a drafting track. If you're scared to race it at 180mph does it belong on a track, at all? If not, I guess it isn't ready to race. So, ya don't use it! If, you want to see what it does...race it where it's benefits can be seen. But, don't just throw it in naked to see how the public likes it. Nobody learned anything about the CON at Bristol.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 26, 2007 4:16:14 PM
I would have picked the COT as KOTM. Everyone was worried and complain, but it was foundless. I enjoyed the race. I would also said JGR because of the team work between all the race teams. They help each other and there isn't a "golden boy" there at all. I think we may need to rethink how people look at Hendrick and RCR as the elite, and they may want to start adding JGR to those thoughts.
Posted by: WBinCC | Mar 26, 2007 5:20:57 PM
Who won?
Posted by: Reginald | Mar 26, 2007 11:06:57 PM
Keith,
What does it matter what track they debut it at? It's here to stay no matter whether we like it or not. It's going to race at Bristol eventually anyway, so whether it was last weekend or this fall, it really doesn't make a difference.
Posted by: Michael | Mar 27, 2007 8:43:31 AM
Michael,
Sorry, never going to agree on that. My choice would be to debut it where it can show its stuff. Granted, the racing was getting poor at Bristol with the old car. But, the CON made it even poorer. Now, everyones first impression of the CON is that it sucks. I don't think it deserves that rep yet. But, I'll have to wait longer to judge it now. Because, Bristol was the wrong venue.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 27, 2007 9:42:09 AM
WBinCC,
What freaking race did you watch? If not for a fuel pump this race was a walk in the park. I've seen more action at a Walmart parking lot when the handicapped drivers fight for parking. JGR is a fine choice. I also think you meant Roush and not RCR as being "The Elite." RCR only started to turn around last year.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 27, 2007 9:47:21 AM
Keith,
I didn't see how the racing was any different this time around at Bristol. The racing has been bad there for quite a while now. It's a one groove track that you can't pass on. The leader always runs away with it until he catches lapped traffic and somebody wrecks someone trying to stay on the lead lap. I don't see how you can say the COT made for a bad race. It was the same as it's been there for a while. It's a bit of a myth that Bristol has the best racing. Looked like a typical bristol race with funny looking cars this time.
Posted by: Michael | Mar 27, 2007 10:47:15 AM
Michael,
But, the CON did nothing to improve it. Fans saw nothing of it's potential. NASCAR's big "Statement" car did nothing for the racing and actually made it look poorer. If I'm marketing my new car. Which is effectively what NASCAR was doing...I think I'd rather it shine and strutt its stuff as an improvement, then just have it seen in a poor race.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 27, 2007 11:35:12 AM
Keith,
If you are under the impression that the COT is going to magically make racing better at every track it goes to the first time it's out of the box, you are sadly mistaken. I gurantee that Hendrick, Roush, and Childress will dominate all of the COT races this season. They are the only teams with the resources to devote itself full time to figuring out the COT. Everyone else is just trying tread water. It will be next year before the COT lives up to the claims of great racing and equality among all teams. You would have seen the same results Sunday if they had debuted the COT at Charlotte.
Posted by: Michael | Mar 27, 2007 12:06:40 PM
Michael, sheesh, just listen. You don't showcase a new product where it can fail to impress it's viewers. End of topic, for me anyway...
Posted by: Keith | Mar 27, 2007 12:36:58 PM
Keith,
Exactly. You don't showcase a car for the first time at a track where it's supposed to make a difference it's first time out. Say the picked Atlanta to debut it and the racing was terrible. Everyone would see it. At Bristol, you can't blame the racing on the car. The race wasn't any different than any other Bristol race. People just think the racing at Bristol is great.
Posted by: Michael | Mar 27, 2007 12:55:27 PM
WOW! From KOTM to COT in one short second. To me it looks like th ASA all over again. Lets take them out of their Fords Chevy's and Dodges and make them all the same. All you need then is someone to change the tires and put fuel in. Say that would be interesting no pit crew just the driver. Whats the awnser SIT DOWN SHUT UP AND DRIVE!
Posted by: Pops | Mar 27, 2007 6:33:22 PM
Nascars goal is to have all cars built/assembled at the same facility,and delivered to the track. All cars will be identical. Same engine, same body, same everything. Crate car in other words. Then, a drawing will be held to determine who drives a particular car. After everyone gets their assigned car,then the teams will be allowed to apply the sponser decals. Oh, by the way, Nascar will be leasing the cars to the teams for each race. Also, the engine used will go to the highest bidder from the manufactures. Another money machine for Brian and company.
Nascar, is a joke, and a bad one at that. It's nothing more than a traveling road show. As long as everyone is making money, you will not hear any static from owners or drivers.
On a final note. How long does anyone think it will take Nascar, to retaliate against Kyle Busch, for bath mouthing the Turd of today?
Posted by: Reginald | Mar 27, 2007 8:32:17 PM
OK, who stole Keith's Valium? He's getting close to federally established Minimum Daly Adult Requirements in this post's rant against the COT. C'mon, Chief -- it's just a racecar, no more than 15 to 20 percent different from the one it's going to replace.
Kyle Busch? Well, he's been on the verge of a dominant season in the early going, but he wasn't going to break through Sunday if not for some big-time misfortune on the part of others. I'd not saying he doesn't deserve KOTM consideration -- he did win, after all -- but he probably should have shared it with the Gibbs team. Nobody had the new car figured out like they did.
As for the fire-breathers who ripped Jeff Burton for not taking the coward's way out and wrecking the opponent instead of racing him, your ancestors were turning thumbs-down at the Colliseum and your kids probably pull the legs off grasshoppers for fun. You're just mad because Wonder Boy hasn't been able to get to anybody's back bumper lately. I say good for you, Jeff Burton. Keep on being that righteous-drivin' dude that you are. Some of us respect you for it, and cheer all that much harder when you win.
All you bloodthirsties out there, we're havin' the Tater Day Demolition Derby here in Benton Saturday night. C'mon down to the Kentucky Lake region and see some world-class wreckin' for a lot less than a NASCAR race ticket.
Hey -- wonder if there's a radio station somewhere west of the Mississippi with the call letters KOTM?
Posted by: David Green | Mar 27, 2007 9:39:13 PM
Post a comment
Advertisements
