Tidbits Before the Race
Jess
I'm not a big fan of Martinsville so I sort of half-watched the CTS race yesterday, mainly to see what crazy things Kyle Busch would do and to see how Chrissy Wallace would fare in her first NASCAR race. Chrissy did a good job, finishing in 17th, but she did have her share of altercations where she spun a couple guys out. 
But generally I thought she did a wonderful job! She's gotten a lot of positive attention from Tony Stewart, which is always a good thing, and she seems to have a good head on her shoulders. She's younger than me. Holy crap.
On the last lap Kyle was running third behind Johnny Benson. By this time I was just hoping he'd chill and take the finish, but he tried one last time to get around Benson...and wrecked him.
That sucked...nobody wants to wreck Johnny Benson. I don't think Kyle meant to do it, but if he did karma came back and smacked him when Matt Crafton plowed into the back of the #51 and sent him spinning as well.
I suppose you can say that that's Martinsville. It's pretty hard for drivers to get around each other because you can't race. Martinsville encourages wrecking, not something I enjoy. Most likely if you run at Martinsville, you're going to get hit by someone.
I understand a team's anger when one driver wrecks their driver. It's the team's finish, too. But what happened as the trucks were coming onto pit road after the checkers was just absurd. Some of Benson's crewmen walked out to Kyle's truck and started yelling and gesturing into his window (it reminded me of a tamer version of Tony Stewart's crew getting in the #2 car's space at Daytona). Kyle actually had to stop to be cautious about not hitting these guys. It was so stupid - hello, do these crew guys realize they're putting themselves in danger of getting hit? They shouldn't even tempt a driver who is posibly angry to use their car as a weapon against a person! They need to stay out of it on pit road. If they want to scream at Kyle out of the truck, fine. But stay away from him when he's trying to park on pit road.
Kyle wasn't happy about it, either, and I 100% agreed with him. He admitted what he did was stupid, that he got in too deep and then wheel-hopped it and had to get off the gas. He just looked bummed and disappointed. Bring on the bashing. But then something happened that made me feel so much better...Matt Yocum, who had interviewed him, stepped close and said something in Kyle's ear and then put a hand on his shoulder and gave him an reassuring squeeze. Kyle smiled. It was so heartening to see that someone understands this guy like I do!
Back to MWR news, I get more upset over David's switch from the #00 to the #44 the more DW mentions it. I understand why UPS would want to stay with the #44 because they've marketed around it and I don't want to sound like I'm complaining about them because I'm very thankful they're on David's car. But I wish they had been open to going on the #00 - it would have been great in so many ways. First, they'd be 27th in owner points right now instead of 34th. Second, David and his fans would have been able to keep their own identity. Dale Jarrett and his fans would forever be the #44 UPS. David's fans already identify with the #00 - he could start a new UPS legacy with the #00 UPS Toyota. The #00 has been in David's family for years and David used to work for UPS. It would be perfect. I'm really wanting some new David gear, but whatever gear I get I want his name very boldly on it because I want to show I'm a David Reutimann fan, not a Dale Jarrett fan. If I want to buy Dale Jarrett gear I'll buy gear with his name printed boldly on it because I'm a Dale Jarrett fan. But now it's a little unclear...if I see someone wearing a #44 hat is he a DJ fan or a David fan?
It's 63 laps into the Martinsville race and David is back in 30th. I don't even want to see owner point standings. I'm still upset he has only a 15 point cushion. I don't blame McD, in fact I gained a lot of respect for him when I read this:
But generally I thought she did a wonderful job! She's gotten a lot of positive attention from Tony Stewart, which is always a good thing, and she seems to have a good head on her shoulders. She's younger than me. Holy crap.On the last lap Kyle was running third behind Johnny Benson. By this time I was just hoping he'd chill and take the finish, but he tried one last time to get around Benson...and wrecked him.
That sucked...nobody wants to wreck Johnny Benson. I don't think Kyle meant to do it, but if he did karma came back and smacked him when Matt Crafton plowed into the back of the #51 and sent him spinning as well.I suppose you can say that that's Martinsville. It's pretty hard for drivers to get around each other because you can't race. Martinsville encourages wrecking, not something I enjoy. Most likely if you run at Martinsville, you're going to get hit by someone.
I understand a team's anger when one driver wrecks their driver. It's the team's finish, too. But what happened as the trucks were coming onto pit road after the checkers was just absurd. Some of Benson's crewmen walked out to Kyle's truck and started yelling and gesturing into his window (it reminded me of a tamer version of Tony Stewart's crew getting in the #2 car's space at Daytona). Kyle actually had to stop to be cautious about not hitting these guys. It was so stupid - hello, do these crew guys realize they're putting themselves in danger of getting hit? They shouldn't even tempt a driver who is posibly angry to use their car as a weapon against a person! They need to stay out of it on pit road. If they want to scream at Kyle out of the truck, fine. But stay away from him when he's trying to park on pit road.
Kyle wasn't happy about it, either, and I 100% agreed with him. He admitted what he did was stupid, that he got in too deep and then wheel-hopped it and had to get off the gas. He just looked bummed and disappointed. Bring on the bashing. But then something happened that made me feel so much better...Matt Yocum, who had interviewed him, stepped close and said something in Kyle's ear and then put a hand on his shoulder and gave him an reassuring squeeze. Kyle smiled. It was so heartening to see that someone understands this guy like I do!
Back to MWR news, I get more upset over David's switch from the #00 to the #44 the more DW mentions it. I understand why UPS would want to stay with the #44 because they've marketed around it and I don't want to sound like I'm complaining about them because I'm very thankful they're on David's car. But I wish they had been open to going on the #00 - it would have been great in so many ways. First, they'd be 27th in owner points right now instead of 34th. Second, David and his fans would have been able to keep their own identity. Dale Jarrett and his fans would forever be the #44 UPS. David's fans already identify with the #00 - he could start a new UPS legacy with the #00 UPS Toyota. The #00 has been in David's family for years and David used to work for UPS. It would be perfect. I'm really wanting some new David gear, but whatever gear I get I want his name very boldly on it because I want to show I'm a David Reutimann fan, not a Dale Jarrett fan. If I want to buy Dale Jarrett gear I'll buy gear with his name printed boldly on it because I'm a Dale Jarrett fan. But now it's a little unclear...if I see someone wearing a #44 hat is he a DJ fan or a David fan?
It's 63 laps into the Martinsville race and David is back in 30th. I don't even want to see owner point standings. I'm still upset he has only a 15 point cushion. I don't blame McD, in fact I gained a lot of respect for him when I read this:
You have to feel good that you impressed the boss and got the car in the show this weekend in your first Cup race?
"Well, we got the car in the show because of everything David did in the first five races. I definitely got a gift with the Aaron’s Dream Machine and him running so well and getting the car in the top 30 in points. I didn’t earn it, David earned it and I’m just grateful for that and grateful for the opportunity to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing and Toyota. To have Aaron’s come onboard for my Cup debut was obviously very important. They’ve been an instrumental part of Michael Waltrip Racing since the beginning."
That's awesome.
It gives me comfort that he's thankful, at least.
