So you're driving along at 200 mph, in a car made of sheet metal mere inches off the bumper of 42 other cars. Someone decided making wise decision was out of their reach of copability and you get mad. They cut you off, didn't lift, bumped your fender, rode you to the wall, their spotter was caught sleeping at the wheel. And you are seeing red. Typical day at the races. Sometimes it's from the waving of the green flag, others it's a few more laps in and if you're into wishful thinking they save it for the last 10 laps or so. Not always the case however.
After about the third bump, you realize it's that guy that's been bumping you for the past 4 weeks, expecting you to just pull over when you see them in your rear view mirror and you have had it. The temperature in the car has hit a boiling point and it's because of your rising blood pressure. That's it! You've had enough. They are gonna get it. So what do you decide to do? You guessed it! RETALIATE!!! Best time to do it? UNDER CAUTION!!!!
WRONG! First of all the yellow flag has waved and the field has slowed because more often than not there are safety workers on the track to aid a driver who has crashedor collect debris and those safety workers are vulnerable to a race car and it's idiot driver. But you don't care, you're not thinking of anything but that guy in that car that's in your sights for pay backs and you're hell bent on taking them out. What were you thinking?
NASCAR said "Boys have at it" and I think it was a great idea. But NOT under caution. NEVER when others are at risk of being hurt. NOT on pit road, NOT when cars are on the track and NOT when an ambulance is waiting to take a possibly injured driver to the Infield Care Center for treatment.
So what did taking out Ron Hornaday under caution actually accomplish Kyle? Your truck was destroyed in the process, you were parked for not one, but three races. You face fines and points penalties and your sponsors are yet again disappointed in you and your behavior. If you really wanted to fix it why didn't you wait til you saw the guy in his yard trimming the hedges, jump out of your car and proceed to pound the crap out of him while screaming at him all his wrong doings??? Oh wait! That's how a MAN would handle it and you've proven you're a little boy in a man's world. You have no respect for yourself with your smug faces, your careless attitude and your blatant disregard for anyone and everyone else around you. You did the crime now do the time.
Does that mean Ron Hornaday and Kevin Harvick are blameless? Does that mean they have the right to gloat over someone else's punishment? NO! It means Harvick and Kyle Busch are EXACTLY alike which is why they butt heads so much. Ron Hornaday shouldn't have made threats, Harvick shouldn't have made threats and DeLana Harvick's nasty comments on Twitter were out of line. They took a situation where they could've risen above and come out smelling like a rose and blew it. They stooped to the same level as Kyle Busch and rolled around in the same crap he was playing in and came out looking worse than the guilty one.
To take to Twitter and call someone a P O S and threaten to kick their @$$, call names and harrass Kyle, his wife Samantha, Denny Hamlin, who wasn't even involved and has no responsibility for his teammate in the Cup series, or fans of JGR is classless. It shows the mentatlity of the people involved and does give some claim to Kyle's frustatrations but it's no excuse for his behavior.
Was it worth it? Is the time at home what you wanted out of the situation? Are you happy now? Is it all better? When you speak to your sponsors and assure them that it won't happen again, do you realize you've lost face with them and have proven you aren't a man of your word because you made that same promise the last time this happened with you. You went back on that word and did the one thing you assured the people who sign your paycheck you wouldn't do. On top of all that, your wallet is lighter, your Championship run is wasted, all the good things you did all season long have been marred by one foolish decision. If you don't respect your fellow competitors, could you atleast have respect for yourself?
Kyle issued this apology to the media:
“I've had a lot of time today to sit and reflect and try to put my thoughts into words as best I can.
“I want to sincerely apologize for my actions during Friday night's Truck Series race at Texas.
“I apologize to my fans, all my sponsors, everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports.
“After talking with my team, it's great to have their support and encouragement to assure me that there are better days ahead. Even though this took place while driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, I am sorry for how difficult this has been for everyone associated with Joe Gibbs Racing's Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams.
“I'd also like to apologize to Ron Hornaday Jr., and everyone associated with the No. 33 team in the Truck Series.
“I understand why I was taken out of the car for the rest of the weekend. NASCAR officials had to act, and I accept their punishment and take full responsibility for my actions.
“As a race-car driver, the hardest thing to do is to sit on the sidelines listening to cars on the track when you know you should be out there competing. For this, I have no one to blame but myself.
“Through a lot of support from the people around me, I feel like I've made a lot of strides this year, but this was certainly a step backward. Moving forward, I will do everything I possibly can to represent everyone involved in a positive manner. However, I know my long-term actions will have more of a bearing than anything I say right now.”
And his wife penned this to the fans via her website, www.samanthabusch.com:
To all the Fans
November 5, 2011
I wanted to write a quick note to all of you addressing the incident that happened during the truck race on Friday night. No, I was not going to comment on the situation Friday night in the midst of all the angry and harsh tweets, there was really no point. I understand that Kyle’s actions were wrong and NASCAR has dealt with the issue appropriately. I love my husband very much and will always be by his side through the good and the bad. Life is not always easy but you deal with each day as it comes and we will move on from this the best that we can.
I also want to thank all of the nice people out there, and let you all know that we really appreciate your support and love through this difficult time. I appreciate everything that you guys do as fans in this sport by coming out to the races, watching on TV and interacting with us via Facebook and Twitter. Along with our family and friends, it has been your kind words and support that make a difficult time better and I sincerely Thank You.
Samantha
Team owner Joe Gibbs has accepted full responsibility for Kyle and his actions and is showing the class act that he is. I have long admired Coach Joe, his son JD and the entire JGR organization. They have shown the racing world what true sportsmanship and class are. That doesn't mean their drivers aren't human and they don't make mistakes, it simply means they hold themselves to a higher standard, correct a problem as soon as it arises and don't make excuses for bad behavior. They admit their failures, apologize and do their best going forward to ensure it doesn't happen again. And if it does, then they go back to the drawing board for a different solution. That is why I will always be a fan of Joe Gibbs Racing.
I am a Denny Hamlin fan, plain and simple. I have taken a neutral stance about Kyle Busch because he's a teammate to my driver. He has some good points that I like about him and then there's this situation. This is the man who went out on a public road with his wife and drove a car at 120 mph without considering anyone but himself. His excuse was he's a professional driver and he had it under control. I'm sorry Kyle, but you can't control cars backing out of their driveway, kids riding bikes or farm equipment or tractors that may happen to enter the roadway. You don't have those obstacles on the racetrack. He didn't take responsibility for his actions then and it really ticked me off. He put his wife at risk and that goes against his vows to love, honor and cherish her.
He said in his apology that his future actions will speak louder than words. EXACTLY! I'm waiting and I'm watching. More of his attitude and facial expressions than anything. But regardless of what Kyle did or didn't do, fans have no right to attack him, his lovely wife Samantha, who is innocent and is far too sweet and kind to fans to deserve such disgusting behavior and especially to Denny Hamlin who wasn't involved in any way and by filling in for him on Saturday was simply following orders from his boss.
In a sport where the world is watching and following every move, word, action and deed...these men are held to a higher standard. The fans are merciless and if a driver gets a reputation for being wreckless, it's nearly impossible to overcome. I don't want Kyle to change his driving style, I just want him to consider the consequences for his actions before he does them. He's racing in all 3 series, two of which he isn't even points eligible for, and the things that happen in those races aren't important.
That brings up my argument for NASCAR not allowing drivers who have made it full time into the Cup series in the lesser series. Especially the trucks. If it's money they're after, then limit the number of NNS races. Those guys can't get a win and the series champion will be an also ran, winless, average 15th finish driver who is worth more than he's been able to show. But that's a whole different discussion.
I also want to thank all of the nice people out there, and let you all know that we really appreciate your support and love through this difficult time. I appreciate everything that you guys do as fans in this sport by coming out to the races, watching on TV and interacting with us via Facebook and Twitter. Along with our family and friends, it has been your kind words and support that make a difficult time better and I sincerely Thank You.
Samantha
Team owner Joe Gibbs has accepted full responsibility for Kyle and his actions and is showing the class act that he is. I have long admired Coach Joe, his son JD and the entire JGR organization. They have shown the racing world what true sportsmanship and class are. That doesn't mean their drivers aren't human and they don't make mistakes, it simply means they hold themselves to a higher standard, correct a problem as soon as it arises and don't make excuses for bad behavior. They admit their failures, apologize and do their best going forward to ensure it doesn't happen again. And if it does, then they go back to the drawing board for a different solution. That is why I will always be a fan of Joe Gibbs Racing.I am a Denny Hamlin fan, plain and simple. I have taken a neutral stance about Kyle Busch because he's a teammate to my driver. He has some good points that I like about him and then there's this situation. This is the man who went out on a public road with his wife and drove a car at 120 mph without considering anyone but himself. His excuse was he's a professional driver and he had it under control. I'm sorry Kyle, but you can't control cars backing out of their driveway, kids riding bikes or farm equipment or tractors that may happen to enter the roadway. You don't have those obstacles on the racetrack. He didn't take responsibility for his actions then and it really ticked me off. He put his wife at risk and that goes against his vows to love, honor and cherish her.
He said in his apology that his future actions will speak louder than words. EXACTLY! I'm waiting and I'm watching. More of his attitude and facial expressions than anything. But regardless of what Kyle did or didn't do, fans have no right to attack him, his lovely wife Samantha, who is innocent and is far too sweet and kind to fans to deserve such disgusting behavior and especially to Denny Hamlin who wasn't involved in any way and by filling in for him on Saturday was simply following orders from his boss.
In a sport where the world is watching and following every move, word, action and deed...these men are held to a higher standard. The fans are merciless and if a driver gets a reputation for being wreckless, it's nearly impossible to overcome. I don't want Kyle to change his driving style, I just want him to consider the consequences for his actions before he does them. He's racing in all 3 series, two of which he isn't even points eligible for, and the things that happen in those races aren't important.
That brings up my argument for NASCAR not allowing drivers who have made it full time into the Cup series in the lesser series. Especially the trucks. If it's money they're after, then limit the number of NNS races. Those guys can't get a win and the series champion will be an also ran, winless, average 15th finish driver who is worth more than he's been able to show. But that's a whole different discussion.
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