Well That Didn’t Take Long
Sunday, September 10th, 2006 9:41am CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
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[thumb:386:l:s=1:l=x]It took less time than we thought it would for the question to pop up in the main media. The circumstances couldn’t have been better, and neither could the response. In fact, it took less than 45 minutes after the checkers for it to be asked. No including one of the AP or Turner reporters writing it for a column today. What is it you ask? Read on to find out.
Here comes the controversy wagon, rollin’ right along. The cries it brings along are is it fair for the defending champion to be left out of the Chase.
As part of NASCAR Victory Lane on Speed last night, the topic was the possible tweaks to the Chase for next season, and the guest was none other than Mike Helton. The question was brought up by Jeff Hammond, and he wanted to know if part of their changes could include allowing the defending champ would be allowed a spot in the Chase to defend his title, and if Mike thought it wasn’t fair if they weren’t in there to do so.
Mike’s answer couldn’t have been better. Obviously we’re talking about Stewart being left out, which was something not really anyone considered as actually being reality. Mike simply said that he’s had 26 races to defend his title, and if he didn’t get it done, so be it. If there wasn’t a Chase, he wouldn’t have gotten it done anyway, as right now it would be a two man showdown for the title, with an outside shot by Harvick in third. As it stands now, with the Chase, there are 10 drivers that have a legitimate shot with 10 to go. This sport rewards the best overall, not the best on only a few occasions.
Well, we couldn’t agree more. And all this crapola about Stewart being a “true champion” and taking it like a man is junk as well. They say you can’t pin it on any one problem, and that it’s just a sign of how competitive this sport is.
Part of this is true. The sport is more competitive than ever. Sure you still have a couple of guys that have the stellar season, but competition overall is closer than ever.
The part that wreaks of something you may find rotting on the ground in a cattle field, is this whole “true champion” crap, and how you can’t place your finger on one little thing. In fact, it’s just the opposite.
We’re not downing any of Stewart’s accomplishments. Far from it. He’s an incredibly talented driver, and a true gift to the diversity of NASCAR. The series wouldn’t be the same without him, although it wouldn’t suffer without him either.
The problem, and Tony probably knows this deep down, is that his temper cost him the shot at the title this season. Flat out, point blank, end of story. Had he not run into Clint Bowyer back at Pocono just because he was mad, he wouldn’t have been penalized. He wouldn’t have been put a lap down, and had the car to run in the top 10 all day long. Instead of a top 10, he’d have most likely been top 5. 16 points was all he needed, and he could have had them had he not had to fight through all that traffic at Pocono. He’d have most likely at some point led a lap, which would have sealed the fate for someone else to be looking in on the drivers running for the Chase. As it turns out, had Stewart been a “true champion”, he wouldn’t have just plowed into Bowyer like he did, and we wouldn’t be writing about this. Tony is a great driver, but he should be on the next level. Something that, as long as he lets his emotions run the show, he will never be able to see.
Filed Under: Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Chase
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