Monday, September 10, 2012

Busch Quit, Gordon Never Did

Gordon never gave up
“Never quit!” Jeff Gordon screamed to his crew, acknowledging their efforts following his second place finish at Richmond Saturday night.  “Never quit.”

Gordon didn’t.  Neither did his crew.  But Kyle Busch did.  As a result, it will be Gordon spending the final 10 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season chasing after a championship while Busch, as he puts it, will be “driving around in circles.”

After leading the first lap at Richmond Saturday night, Gordon saw his car turn to junk.  He dropped back through the field, all the way to 26th place and a lap down to the leaders before a red flag for rain brought the cars onto pit road.  Busch was running easily in the top 10.

“We are completely out of it,” Gordon said during a rain delay.  But the team used the red flag period to discuss what they were going to do to his car to make it competitive.  And then they did it.  Gordon, for his part, drove the race of his life, fighting back from his one lap deficit.

Busch, meanwhile, was the victim of some faulty pit strategy.  His team wasn’t the only one to stay out when rain starting falling again, thinking perhaps the race might not restart.  Then they missed an opportunity to pit with one lap until the green flag.  Bigger mistake.  But rather than put it behind him and try and fight back – Busch quit.  Asked what the team could do to make his car better, Busch said “I don’t even F…ing care.”

Still, after all the pit stops played out, Busch had a lead over Gordon.  It was up to the drivers.  Gordon responded again.  His car was near perfect and he raced it aggressively to the front.  Busch, his car far from perfect, pouted.

Gordon had to overcome his own doubts before staging his comeback.

“For me, as a racecar driver, when you have that kind of start to the race, you don't have a lot of hope you're going to get it turned around,” Gordon said.  “I went to Alan (Gustafson). He never wavered. He was confident. They were looking at the data from what we had, to our teammates, even Tony. We had just done the rear bar. They were pretty confident that was going to get us close to our teammates. He was right. I still had a little doubt in him, though.

It could be a season changing event for the team and Gordon is already talking about a championship.

“I felt like I won the race tonight,” he said. “When that was over, they told me I was in the Chase, we made it, I mean, I was ecstatic. I was going nuts. To me, after you have that kind of effort, fall back, then come up there and finish second, almost win the race, make it in by one point, man, I don't see any reason why we can't go over these next 10 races and be a real threat for the championship.”

Busch, under a media microscope because of his previous transgressions, barely acknowledged car owner Joe Gibbs before climbing out and storming away.

He returned long enough to answer two questions.

“We missed. That’s it. Plain and simple,” he said when asked what happened.  What did Gibbs say to him?  “Handle it the right way.”  Busch couldn’t stop there.  “But there’s no right way to handle it.”

Yes there was.  And it was up to Crew Chief Dave Rogers to show him what “handle it the right way” means.  Or maybe Gibbs told Rogers to “handle it with class.”

“The Chase is more than one race, but we certainly were in a position to capitalize and make it, but yeah, that call, I blew it,” Rogers said.  “There’s no two ways to look at it.  I’m pretty honest.  I evaluate myself as hard as I evaluate my guys and I gave one up today.”

That was the right way to handle it.

26 comments:

  1. The continued personal attacks on the Busch brothers is so yesterday.

    Jeez, find something viable to write about.

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    1. I agree with you. So yesterday.....................

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    2. Sorry, boorish behavior shouldn't be ignored just because it's often repeated

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  2. As much as I hate to admit it, you're absolutely right! I doubt there was much Kyle could have done to save it after the pit errors, but he surely could have handled it better! I thought Kyle was rude to Joe when he was climbing out of the car. I was as disappointed about that as I was with the outcome of the race. Plain and simple...Kyle didn't deserve to make it. I'm still a fan though because I know that one day the talent, the attitude, and the right calls will all come together for him.

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  3. It's unfortunate, but I saw it the same way. I like Kyle and he's matured tremendously, but when those 'It's all about me' comments spew out, it's hard to pull for him.

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  4. Well, Ole Joe needs to get it rubbed in his face. He has put up with Kyle because he wins a race every now and then but Joe shouldn't have to put up with this spoiled brat Kyle. I don't know if the guy will ever grow up. And, it seems to run in the Busch family because Kurt is almost as bad as Kyle. Makes me wonder what kind of job the parents of these kids did raising them because they just seem to have no respect for many people at times.

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    1. Ole Joe made a mistake by changing engine suppliers - not by keeping Kyle around.

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    2. Changing engine suppliers doesn't seem to be hurting Denny Hamlin's team . . . .

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  5. Both Busch brothers actions, demeanor and lack of respect for others make it very, very easy for people to dislike them....

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  6. I think everybody is pretty well sick of the Busch brothers.

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  7. Kyle matured??? News to me. When he said he "didn't f-ing care" over the radio, that would have been enough for me to fire him if he was driving my car. What an idiot.

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  8. Try to put yourself in Kyles shoes. There were 3 races that he had a motor blow ( not his fault) The Watkins Glen race was his, then not. In all those instances he handled himself professionally. The pit call WAS Dave fault. Denny pitted with 1 to go and did ok. Dave wanted track position. Um there were what 15 cars on the lead lap? So even if it rained, as long as Kyle went out less than 10 spots behind Jeff, he was good. And Jeff was the wave around. Doesn't the wave around start at the last lead lap spot no matter what? People can be sick of the Busch brothers. I'm not saying they're perfect, but if everyone in the world got judged from the past, how can anyone see them differently? Kyle is not the same as years past. Unfortunately, hes like a neutered dog, can't do a damn thing right no matter what he does.

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    1. Motor blew three times... how do you know it wasnt his fault? Were you in the car? Perhaps he missed a shift and over revved the engine... maybe he didnt acknowledge the temp guage... engine failures are the drivers fault more often than people realize. But to say he doesnt f---ing care that early in the race gave him the finish he deserved. Sure looked like he cared when he climbed out of the car and did his usual spoiled baby walk away. Bottom line is that he is a disrespectful punk and does not deserve a quality ride based on the way he treats people.... talent he has... a clue and respect he does not.

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  9. No,The Lucky Dog starts behind the entire field.

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  10. Kyle is the same as years past. He has been in trouble for being a fool, and yelling and being a big titty baby. ....did you not see the race on Saturday/Sunday, and see how he reacted? Those other races should have been behind him, but they weren't according to you. Gordon was mad too, you could tell in his first rain interview, but the Man actually talked to reporters and kept his head in the game. Kyle cussed and threw another fit.....

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  11. Kyle Busch at his core is a weak person who should be pitied. When faced with adversity...be it a car with poor handling, a blown call on pit road, having to face the boss at a difficult time, having to control one's emotions...he crumbles and runs away to pout and blame someone other than himself. Kyle missed the Chase by one position on the racetrack. And that's all on him. Other drivers have bad days and miss and have the strength to talk about it right after the race with grace, but Kyle cannot. He ran from his boss. Reporters. Fans. Snapped at his handler. He may be strong enough to drive a race car, but he will never be strong enough to be in command of his own emotions. That's a race he'll give up on every single time.

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  12. Kyle is a puss, plain and simple. For everyone saying that he is going to mature, well, we've been hearing that for years and it still hasn't happened. If only I had a dollar for every time I've heard someone say, "The New Kyle Busch" I'd have a hefty sum. The guy is a complete jerk and deserves nothing less than what he's getting right now.

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  13. While I realize that it seems ( and it may be true) that he has not matured, I'm bet most of us would have reacted the same way. With all due respect, Gordon had nothing to lose. He was 12 points behind going into a track that both of them ran well. I DO BELIEVE that while he had " nothing to lose" he DID want to get in. No doubt. So did Kyle.
    I'm not saying Kyle is an angel, or perfect, or " behaves perfectly", what I am saying is, if Kyle threw his helmet at Kenseth instead of Stewart, and handled the situation exactly as Stewart did, everyone would be saying " aaah same old cry baby Busch". Remember, Stewart was a little bitch after that race. As the another person posted, lucky dog start behind entire field, which would have put Gordon BEHIND Kyle.
    For those of you who want to see Kyle " mature", tell me how YOU would respond to 3 blown motors in a row, ( and look at how HE responded) and the blown call.

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  14. What has not changed is that haters continue to hate. This race was totally screwed up by Dave Rogers, but the HATERS continue to bitch and moan about Kyle. Jeff Gordon was downright pissy during his interview during the red flag, but do you mention that? Not a word against St. Jeff! This race came down to Alan Gustafson versus Dave Rogers. Gustafson did eveerything right, Rogers screwed up as he has all season. Kyle has paid his dues, but haters will always hate.

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  15. Kyle's Boss blew it , in this case his crew chief and then the Pitt Crew , to get so close to making it with those things in his way is amazing , Kyle runs great at richmond and his crew chief couldn't make the car run any better then the loose lug really killed him , Kyle never quits and we have seen him when he is hooked up , he comes from 43rd to win races , Jr ever do that ??? THIS IS A HORSE CRAP ARTICLE .

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    1. Why does every Busch fan always compare he and Jr??? Man insecurities run deep huh. Ih and Jr has won from way back in the field at Richmond, Bristol, and even kind of at Michigan this year. Also, weren't y'all the same fans that were howling at Jr when everyone was a laming his crew chiefs??? Now suddenly Rogers is the issue not Busch!! All you Busch fans prove that y'all are just as immature and haterific as the stinky little shrub himself!!!

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  16. The Busch LOVERS will continue to overlook every classless thing they do and continue to give them a pass because they can "drive". Kyle has gotten a little better; emphasis on little. A couple of years ago he would've been bleeping all the way to his hauler. And Jeff did admit in the red flag interview (an interview I'm not sure he agreed to do but was kind of forced into) that he was very concerned, disappointed and unhappy but he said it without punching someone or cussing out the interviewer (at least on camera). I understand being incredibly ticked off and upset but the lack of respect consistently shown to others and most importantly Joe Gibbs will eventually be his undoing. JGR have spent the last few years making excuse after excuse for Kyle's actions just once could he stand up and say "yeah, WE messed up some tonight but we win as team and go down as a team and I'm standing up for my team tonight because WE did what we thought was right at the time and they've always been there for me".

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  17. While I agree the "Haters" will always hate ...So it is true that the shrub lovers are completely blind to his (& their are several) shortcomings...He appeared to be quite rude to JG appears to have little to no respect for others & none of that is going to help move forward to success ....His talent is incredible & this was (I'm guessing) a kick to the stomach. I know it would be hard to be cheery after that night but he is still showing as No Class .....Jeffy was stern & frustrated but still talking to the media about how to fix it....Thats how you win (no I'm NOT a Jeffy fan..repsect yes) ...Ya know Dennys had some hard knocks the last two years & he still talked to the press...So I would think that shrubby is not that special & as I see it ALL the crew cheifs & drivers should be available to the FANS ...You know the ones that really pay the freight...When the fans stop caring will be the end of all of it ....Earner

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  18. Joe Gibbs deserves respect. I have followed Coach Gibbs career since the early 80's. I have met Joe Gibbs and spent time around him, during his time with the Redskins, on many occasions. Sunday morning Busch showed the coach absolutely no respect as he was exiting the race car. We will never know what Bush said in return to the coaches comments, but we all saw his body language on television.
    I know the coach is a very kind and patient gentleman, but I think it's time to let this driver find another home. There is no way that Busch can be an inspiration to his race team or other teams at JGR. Come on Joe and JD, find a driver that will build your organization and let this guy go elsewhere. Are the wins he has posted worth what this must be doing to the moral in your organization?

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  19. I get tired of hearing it is OK, because Kyle is passionate and wants to win. At what point does being passionate jump the line to being a jerk? I listened to Jeff's scanner the whole night and he never treated Alan like crap. Does Kyle's crew gripe at him when he slaps the wall (seems like every other race)? Gibbs needs to send him packing. There are too many good drivers out there. He should give the ride to Darrell Wallace.

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  20. I'm sure all CHAMPION drivers give up and say, "I'd don't even f**king care." Yep, all mature and grown up all right. Hate to say it, because i'm not a Gordon fan, but congrats to Jeff and his team for never giving up and showing how true champion racers handle their business.

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