Oh Kurt...
It’s Thursday night and still no announcement on Kurt’s pit road incident. On ESPN’s NASCAR Now it was said that there would be no handout until Friday. This could make things very interesting because Kurt will be at the track tomorrow getting ready to practice and qualify.
Rumors, as to be expected, are flying everywhere. Some are saying (and hoping) he’ll be suspended for at least one race. Some are saying that the penalties won’t be as bad as everyone is thinking. It’s actually quite amazing that there haven’t been more unconfirmed reports like in many other situations of such magnitude. NASCAR and Penske are doing a great job at keeping tight-lipped about it.
The more the waiting drags on the more I’m worrying, since I have a lot more time to worry than the normal Wednesday punishment announcements. The number one thing that will bother me is if NASCAR knocks on his motorcoach door tomorrow morning to say, “Sorry man, but you gotta go home.” That would be beyond cruel; to make him come all the way to Pocono just to send him packing. It will kill Kurt inside and I know it. The expression of pure pain on his face at Homestead in 2005 will never leave me, and while in this case a suspension is justified it will still make me feel the same way. Kurt is a racer, as pure as they get, and he wants to race badly. Pocono is one of his best tracks and he could win there Sunday.
A theory going around among the fans is that if there is a suspension it won’t be in effect until Michigan next weekend as a result of the tardy decision.
This year seems to be NASCAR’s year of standards. Michael’s Daytonagate, Tony Jr.’s suspension. Will Kurt’s deal be another jaw-dropper? There have been many incidents that have resulted in little penalty for similar danger-levels as this one. Last year at Pocono after Tony Stewart wrecked Clint Bowyer and Carl Edwards the retaliation spread onto pit road when Carl spun Tony out on entry. Carl hit Tony just right so that the car did not hit any crew members, but what if it had? Carl did not get suspended nor fined points. And what about the Busch race at Talladega last year? After Dale Jr. wrecked Carl on the last lap, Carl sped quickly up to Junior and slammed into his door, which could have taken Junior’s arm off. No suspension, no points fine. Let’s not even get into Tony Stewart’s chapter book of wrecks he has caused and people he has put in danger. All together they amount to…no suspensions (you guessed it!).
If NASCAR finally suspends someone for putting someone in danger, will they be doing it to set a standard? Or will they be doing it because it’s Kurt Busch?
Kurt deserves whatever penalty he gets. If it’s a suspension, I’ll sigh and suck it up. If it’s anything less, I’ll be just about celebrating because in my opinion Kurt already knows and regrets what he did and sitting him out would only make him miserable. They can fine him as many points as they wish, but I hope they let him race. He’s not a bad guy. Even the good guys will lose their cool.
Rumors, as to be expected, are flying everywhere. Some are saying (and hoping) he’ll be suspended for at least one race. Some are saying that the penalties won’t be as bad as everyone is thinking. It’s actually quite amazing that there haven’t been more unconfirmed reports like in many other situations of such magnitude. NASCAR and Penske are doing a great job at keeping tight-lipped about it.
The more the waiting drags on the more I’m worrying, since I have a lot more time to worry than the normal Wednesday punishment announcements. The number one thing that will bother me is if NASCAR knocks on his motorcoach door tomorrow morning to say, “Sorry man, but you gotta go home.” That would be beyond cruel; to make him come all the way to Pocono just to send him packing. It will kill Kurt inside and I know it. The expression of pure pain on his face at Homestead in 2005 will never leave me, and while in this case a suspension is justified it will still make me feel the same way. Kurt is a racer, as pure as they get, and he wants to race badly. Pocono is one of his best tracks and he could win there Sunday.
A theory going around among the fans is that if there is a suspension it won’t be in effect until Michigan next weekend as a result of the tardy decision.
This year seems to be NASCAR’s year of standards. Michael’s Daytonagate, Tony Jr.’s suspension. Will Kurt’s deal be another jaw-dropper? There have been many incidents that have resulted in little penalty for similar danger-levels as this one. Last year at Pocono after Tony Stewart wrecked Clint Bowyer and Carl Edwards the retaliation spread onto pit road when Carl spun Tony out on entry. Carl hit Tony just right so that the car did not hit any crew members, but what if it had? Carl did not get suspended nor fined points. And what about the Busch race at Talladega last year? After Dale Jr. wrecked Carl on the last lap, Carl sped quickly up to Junior and slammed into his door, which could have taken Junior’s arm off. No suspension, no points fine. Let’s not even get into Tony Stewart’s chapter book of wrecks he has caused and people he has put in danger. All together they amount to…no suspensions (you guessed it!).
If NASCAR finally suspends someone for putting someone in danger, will they be doing it to set a standard? Or will they be doing it because it’s Kurt Busch?
Kurt deserves whatever penalty he gets. If it’s a suspension, I’ll sigh and suck it up. If it’s anything less, I’ll be just about celebrating because in my opinion Kurt already knows and regrets what he did and sitting him out would only make him miserable. They can fine him as many points as they wish, but I hope they let him race. He’s not a bad guy. Even the good guys will lose their cool.
