Sunday’s incident at Kansas Speedway between Kyle Busch and David Reutimann highlighted the problem of having a playoff system, which involves drivers not in the playoff.
It also underscored drivers’ desires for a win, or at least, a good result no matter where they are in the standings.
Ever since NASCAR instituted what is now called the Chase for the Sprint Cup pre-race drivers’ meeting instructions included the warning for those not in the Chase to be respectful of those in it.
All things being equal no driver wants to be blamed for “upsetting” the Championship hunt, but, that may have happened in Kansas.
Early in the race Busch and Reutimann had an incident on the track, which damaged Reutimann’s car. Both drivers felt the other was at fault.
“He just rolled over me. I’m on the bottom of the racetrack and he had the whole top of the racetrack to go to, and he run over me. I got wrecked. You guys can sugar-coat it all the time, but he wrecked me,” said Reutimann.
But that incident wasn’t the starting point.
It started with a war of words after the Bristol race in August. Busch who had what he said an easy victory threw the virtual fat on the fire talking about Reutimann when he said “he wasn't driving the place right, I'm sorry. If he fixes how to drive this place, he'd be right there with me."
The usually easy-going Reutimann shot back, on a radio interview, “if Kyle says it, it’s gospel. It’s probably the stupidest comment I’ve ever heard anybody say at any given time because everyone’s cars drive exactly the same. Everyone’s cars are identical. Nobody’s cars drive any different, so the guy who wins does a phenomenal job and the guy who finishes 43rd is just terrible because every one of the cars are identical. They drive exactly the same.”
So it simmered since August until it boiled over in October.
Reutimann’s chance a good finish was over and he retaliated late in the race damaging both cars further and knocking Chase racer Busch out of contention.
After the race Busch said “the guy (David Reutimann) was loose -- said it on the radio. He slid up off the bottom and I got into him unintentionally and just spun him out. My fault 100 percent, but then the retaliation to a guy that’s in the Chase that’s racing for something.”
“He’ll be here next year. He could’ve wrecked me in any of the first 26 races next year. That would’ve been fine. It’s just hard to swallow something like a day like today where we had a solid top-five car going.”
Okay, so Kyle is saying payback was okay, but, just not in a Chase race.
In a written statement Michael Waltrip supported his driver, Reutimann.
“There are 43 drivers on the race track each Sunday and there is no delineation between Chase participants and non-Chase participants when it comes to respect.
“Everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing is working hard to deliver great results to our owners, employees and sponsors. All organizations have a lot at stake each week as we are all measured by our performance and finishing position. When David Reutimann’s chance to compete for a win at Kansas was taken away, it set off a series of events that have been well documented.
“I stand behind David because his record of sportsmanship is flawless. It is the duty of MWR’s drivers to deliver for Toyota and our other partners, and I expect them to be treated fairly while doing so.”
Who’s right? That’s a tough call and we’ll wait for NASCAR to either say “it was one of them racing deals,” or issue a penalty.
It also underscored drivers’ desires for a win, or at least, a good result no matter where they are in the standings.
Ever since NASCAR instituted what is now called the Chase for the Sprint Cup pre-race drivers’ meeting instructions included the warning for those not in the Chase to be respectful of those in it.
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| Crew members work on No. 18 M&M's Toyota driven by Kyle Busch after there was contact with the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driven by David Reutimann. (Photo: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) |
All things being equal no driver wants to be blamed for “upsetting” the Championship hunt, but, that may have happened in Kansas.
Early in the race Busch and Reutimann had an incident on the track, which damaged Reutimann’s car. Both drivers felt the other was at fault.
“He just rolled over me. I’m on the bottom of the racetrack and he had the whole top of the racetrack to go to, and he run over me. I got wrecked. You guys can sugar-coat it all the time, but he wrecked me,” said Reutimann.
But that incident wasn’t the starting point.
It started with a war of words after the Bristol race in August. Busch who had what he said an easy victory threw the virtual fat on the fire talking about Reutimann when he said “he wasn't driving the place right, I'm sorry. If he fixes how to drive this place, he'd be right there with me."
The usually easy-going Reutimann shot back, on a radio interview, “if Kyle says it, it’s gospel. It’s probably the stupidest comment I’ve ever heard anybody say at any given time because everyone’s cars drive exactly the same. Everyone’s cars are identical. Nobody’s cars drive any different, so the guy who wins does a phenomenal job and the guy who finishes 43rd is just terrible because every one of the cars are identical. They drive exactly the same.”
So it simmered since August until it boiled over in October.
Reutimann’s chance a good finish was over and he retaliated late in the race damaging both cars further and knocking Chase racer Busch out of contention.
After the race Busch said “the guy (David Reutimann) was loose -- said it on the radio. He slid up off the bottom and I got into him unintentionally and just spun him out. My fault 100 percent, but then the retaliation to a guy that’s in the Chase that’s racing for something.”
“He’ll be here next year. He could’ve wrecked me in any of the first 26 races next year. That would’ve been fine. It’s just hard to swallow something like a day like today where we had a solid top-five car going.”
Okay, so Kyle is saying payback was okay, but, just not in a Chase race.
In a written statement Michael Waltrip supported his driver, Reutimann.
“There are 43 drivers on the race track each Sunday and there is no delineation between Chase participants and non-Chase participants when it comes to respect.
“Everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing is working hard to deliver great results to our owners, employees and sponsors. All organizations have a lot at stake each week as we are all measured by our performance and finishing position. When David Reutimann’s chance to compete for a win at Kansas was taken away, it set off a series of events that have been well documented.
“I stand behind David because his record of sportsmanship is flawless. It is the duty of MWR’s drivers to deliver for Toyota and our other partners, and I expect them to be treated fairly while doing so.”
Who’s right? That’s a tough call and we’ll wait for NASCAR to either say “it was one of them racing deals,” or issue a penalty.