Busch Penalty Was Unjust

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.

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Yes, it was.

I’ve put a lot of thought into this, and I think it was too much. I’ve reviewed the “footage” a couple dozen times, and this is my conclusion.

It wasn’t the right action for Kurt Busch to take. The pits aren’t the place to use cars as tools in a heated discussion. I’m not disputing that.

However, I do believe it’s being blown out of proportion just a tick too much and I think it’s because of the driver involved.

Kurt didn’t come screaming down pit road, nor did he at any time try to smash into one Mr. Flip Flop (aka: Tony Stewart for those of you new to the Lounge). He simply pulled up beside him to “express” his dissatisfaction. What the issue seems to be was Flippy’s crew member freaking out and hopping onto the hood of that orange machine. A little dramatic, considering when he jumped it was evident that Kurt wasn’t there to play bumper cars. All he had to do was simple stop from coming around the front and wait. Not necessarily his fault, it all happened so fast he did what he thought necessary.

In response, NASCAR came up to the #2 Crew while they were preparing to fix the damage and told them to load it up on the trailer and that their day was done. No problem there, it was appropriate and cost the team a lot of points. The most possible at the time.

In addition to this, last Friday Kurt was fined $100,000, docked 100 points, placed on probation until December 31^st, and Roger lost 100 Owners points.

I’m kosher with all of that except Roger’s points. Why? Well, the Owners points affect the Owner and the team. Neither of which had a single thing to do with Kurt’s decision to pull up next to Stewie. Why should they be punished? They shouldn’t.

What a lot of folks were calling for was, in addition to the above, for Kurt to be parked for Pocono. Read as: Suspended Harvick style. I disagree. He already was effectively sat out right after the incident. They got their point across when Kurt knew he could be out there racing, yet wasn’t part of the remaining roar of some 33,000 HP waging battle against The Monster Mile.

NASCAR reviewed all the footage, and made the right call with the exception of the Owners points.

Now, on the horizon, we face an even bigger problem as a sport. This would be a recent revelation on Sirius. One such revelation that has to do with Indy, and one that poses a far bigger threat than pulling up next to someone in the pits.

More on this after bit.

2 comments. Add your 2 cents!.

Filed Under: Dover, Drivers, Kurt Busch, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Penske Racing #2, Teams, Tracks





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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Monday June 4, 2007
10:27am CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

A few quick notes for Dover.

1. Mandatory caution at lap 25 for tires.
2. Mandatory caution at lap 60 for tires.

If there is a caution between laps 25 and 60, then NASCAR will close pit road and make a decision (assuming to be based on length of laps run) about whether or not to allow that caution to replace the lap 60 caution.

Rain looks to be headed out, so it’s about time to pop open a beverage of choice, and get ready to check out the show.

Oh, the reason for the cautions? Tire wear. With the Trucks running a race and somehow failing to lay down some rubber, then the Busch series wearing out rear tires in 20 laps or so and not laying down rubber, coupled with the rain yesterday, all makes for a racetrack that’s greener than the fields surrounding my place.

That being the case, tires and their wear are a big concern amongst teams and NASCAR as well. So much so that they feel the need for two cautions to check tires instead of the “usual” one caution as in the past.

We’ll see what happens in a little over an hour.

Share your thoughts!.

Filed Under: Dover, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Tracks





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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Friday June 1, 2007
4:04pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

We don’t need no stinkin’ provisional!

No Bill, you sure don’t.

Also, don’t let your eyes deceive you. That really is the 55 in the lineup, and the spot wasn’t purchased.

And finally we come to a familiar face, and the ol’ Rocket guy did it again to make it 2 in a row, and third of the season.

4 comments. Add your 2 cents!.

Filed Under: Bill Davis Racing #22, Bill Elliott, Dover, Drivers, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Tracks, Wood Brothers #21





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