Night Terror
Danni
I just have to write this now because as a Dale Jr. fan I feel it's my responsibility to do it. Tonight's race at Richmond sent me on a emotional rollercoaster. When Denny Hamlin got the flat tire and Junior was granted an opportunity to win the race, I got the feeling I always get when one of my drivers is in contention for victory - excited anxiety. I knew Junior would hang it all out. I knew Kyle would be tough to beat. And that was compounded when Hamlin stopped on the track to bring out a caution I now wish had never flown.
My heart pounding, I watched the last laps play out. Both Junior and Kyle were driving their cars to their absolute limits; cars that tend not to forgive over-aggression, as has been reiterated over and over and over again. Sometimes, when you push it to the brink, things snap. Kyle got under Dale Jr. in Turns 1 and 2. He was loose, as to be expected. They were a dead heat down the backstretch. Then I saw it. Both dove it in deep - too deep. Kyle's car bounced and he didn't get it down to the bottom. Junior turned down too sharply. And in slow motion, Junior was at an angle over Kyle's nose and then backwards into the wall.
It was avoidable. If Kyle had been lower, everything would have been good. If Junior had gone in higher, everything would have been fine. If they both had been easier on their cars, the finish would have been clean and fair.
If, if, if.
But they had blinders on and could only see the checkered flag flying over their car first.
In the mayhem, Clint Bowyer got ahead of Kyle. But that chaos was nothing compared to what happened in the grandstands. Cans and bottles and God knows what else littered the track. Fans poured down to the catwalk, roaring. The caution flag was prolonged because of the riot that ensued. I'm telling you... when I said Talladega was bad last weekend, that was nothing compared to what happened at Richmond.
Meanwhile, the FOX broadcast scrambled over explaining the wreck, which I heard vaguely over my own upset turmoil. Larry tried to say Kyle turned his wheels right and was quickly corrected. It was eventually decided, like had I thought all along, that it was on both drivers. Yeah. Tell that to the enraged, irrational #88 fans in the audience.
When things calmed down slightly, NASCAR restarted the race and Kyle finished second. Fans threw crap at Bowyer just because they could. Junior finished 15th, the second to the last car on the lead lap.
Briefly before they cut to commercial, they showed a massive crew member from Junior's team yelling at Kyle while one of the #18's team, probably a full foot shorter, bravely protected his driver. Kyle just stood there, looking dazed and depressed.
We later learned why. When Kyle gave an interview (which was just amazing, considering what he must have been going through), he said that the #88 crew guy - forgive me, I can't remember his name - was a good friend of his. I guess it's bad enough that Kyle pretty much had his head sitting on a platter. But to have a friend scream at you for a racing deal... that probably hurt more than everything. And Kyle apologized to Junior and his entire team.
They tracked down Junior. He looked like hell. Krista Voda attempted to make a joke about Kyle needing security to leave the track, but Junior didn't look amused and replied that he would, whether he wrecked Junior intentionally or not. And you know what? I felt ashamed. I was humiliated to be lumped in with those ignorant, impulsive and narrow-minded radicals that call themselves Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans. I don't think the only reason Junior was upset was because of the crash - he was embarrassed for the mob it caused. He pretty much echoed what Kyle said and admitted they both could have given more and taken less, but it was for the win. I broke down, finally, crying. He could have strung Kyle up and left him for dead and gotten 200% support. But he told exactly what happened for all to hear except his own deaf fans.
Overwhelming relief. Grief over a win lost that I know means so much to him. And just a deep love I feel for him, that sometimes I take for granted because hell, he's Dale Jr., of course I love him, I've loved him for five years. But now... now I feel a connection. I feel proud that I'm not one of "those" Junior fans that puts a black mark on his name and make fans hate him because they hate his fans. I feel like he could be proud to have me as a fan because I don't treat him like God, if he ever noticed me.
And that's just it - God himself could get into a racing incident with Junior and those fanatics would do the same thing.
Now, when I should be upset that it's been over two years since Dale Jr.'s last won and that it slipped right through his fingers tonight, I am sitting here and praying that Kyle makes it home safely and that he stays safe. There are disgusting people who would try to kill him, no exaggeration.
And I just want to tell Kyle and his fans that I'm sorry for the way the fans acted and any hardships it'll cost them in the future. I just hope to God that if he ever sees me, he doesn't think I hate him just because I'm wearing #88 gear.
I'm not with them. Not even close. And I'm sorry Junior has to be cursed with so many of them and so little of ones like me.
My heart pounding, I watched the last laps play out. Both Junior and Kyle were driving their cars to their absolute limits; cars that tend not to forgive over-aggression, as has been reiterated over and over and over again. Sometimes, when you push it to the brink, things snap. Kyle got under Dale Jr. in Turns 1 and 2. He was loose, as to be expected. They were a dead heat down the backstretch. Then I saw it. Both dove it in deep - too deep. Kyle's car bounced and he didn't get it down to the bottom. Junior turned down too sharply. And in slow motion, Junior was at an angle over Kyle's nose and then backwards into the wall.
It was avoidable. If Kyle had been lower, everything would have been good. If Junior had gone in higher, everything would have been fine. If they both had been easier on their cars, the finish would have been clean and fair.
If, if, if.
But they had blinders on and could only see the checkered flag flying over their car first.
In the mayhem, Clint Bowyer got ahead of Kyle. But that chaos was nothing compared to what happened in the grandstands. Cans and bottles and God knows what else littered the track. Fans poured down to the catwalk, roaring. The caution flag was prolonged because of the riot that ensued. I'm telling you... when I said Talladega was bad last weekend, that was nothing compared to what happened at Richmond.
Meanwhile, the FOX broadcast scrambled over explaining the wreck, which I heard vaguely over my own upset turmoil. Larry tried to say Kyle turned his wheels right and was quickly corrected. It was eventually decided, like had I thought all along, that it was on both drivers. Yeah. Tell that to the enraged, irrational #88 fans in the audience.
When things calmed down slightly, NASCAR restarted the race and Kyle finished second. Fans threw crap at Bowyer just because they could. Junior finished 15th, the second to the last car on the lead lap.
Briefly before they cut to commercial, they showed a massive crew member from Junior's team yelling at Kyle while one of the #18's team, probably a full foot shorter, bravely protected his driver. Kyle just stood there, looking dazed and depressed.
We later learned why. When Kyle gave an interview (which was just amazing, considering what he must have been going through), he said that the #88 crew guy - forgive me, I can't remember his name - was a good friend of his. I guess it's bad enough that Kyle pretty much had his head sitting on a platter. But to have a friend scream at you for a racing deal... that probably hurt more than everything. And Kyle apologized to Junior and his entire team.
They tracked down Junior. He looked like hell. Krista Voda attempted to make a joke about Kyle needing security to leave the track, but Junior didn't look amused and replied that he would, whether he wrecked Junior intentionally or not. And you know what? I felt ashamed. I was humiliated to be lumped in with those ignorant, impulsive and narrow-minded radicals that call themselves Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans. I don't think the only reason Junior was upset was because of the crash - he was embarrassed for the mob it caused. He pretty much echoed what Kyle said and admitted they both could have given more and taken less, but it was for the win. I broke down, finally, crying. He could have strung Kyle up and left him for dead and gotten 200% support. But he told exactly what happened for all to hear except his own deaf fans.
Overwhelming relief. Grief over a win lost that I know means so much to him. And just a deep love I feel for him, that sometimes I take for granted because hell, he's Dale Jr., of course I love him, I've loved him for five years. But now... now I feel a connection. I feel proud that I'm not one of "those" Junior fans that puts a black mark on his name and make fans hate him because they hate his fans. I feel like he could be proud to have me as a fan because I don't treat him like God, if he ever noticed me.
And that's just it - God himself could get into a racing incident with Junior and those fanatics would do the same thing.
Now, when I should be upset that it's been over two years since Dale Jr.'s last won and that it slipped right through his fingers tonight, I am sitting here and praying that Kyle makes it home safely and that he stays safe. There are disgusting people who would try to kill him, no exaggeration.
And I just want to tell Kyle and his fans that I'm sorry for the way the fans acted and any hardships it'll cost them in the future. I just hope to God that if he ever sees me, he doesn't think I hate him just because I'm wearing #88 gear.
I'm not with them. Not even close. And I'm sorry Junior has to be cursed with so many of them and so little of ones like me.
