Bob Pockrass: Don't expect Earnhardt Jr., Busch to fight
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
CONCORD, N.C. – For all of those who want to see a Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch knock-down, drag-out fight, it looks as if they’ll be waiting for a while. It just ain’t gonna happen.
The two have done their best to pass off Saturday night’s accident as just a rubbin-is-racin incident. Yeah, Earnhardt Jr. wishes Busch didn’t get loose and get into him, but he also knows that stuff like that happens in racing.
Both drivers desperately wanted a win. Every race that slips through Earnhardt Jr.’s hands during his two-year winless streak is another hole in his stomach, especially since he was brought to Hendrick to win races as Busch’s replacement. Every race that slips away from Busch is one that hurts his pride. He feels he should win every race where he is given a car capable of such a feat.
Busch, not known for the best judgment calls on every lap every weekend (see Martinsville truck race), will get the blame for this one because his car got loose. He might have been able to choose a different line, and even if he didn’t get past Earnhardt Jr. on that turn, he had another two laps to get it done and win the race. But Busch was doing what he felt he had to do to win the race.
Earnhardt Jr. had to know that there was a chance that Busch would get loose in that situation. He could have given Busch a little more room, but that also could have allowed Busch to get by him. So he did what he felt he had to do to win the race.
Why is Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports? Because he has talent and he has an incredible ability to handle the pressures and go with the flow of being the son of the sport’s icon. He doesn’t try to be anyone else. He is savvy, blunt but not brash, and he wants to do the best for his fans.
Why is Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing? Because he has talent, and JGR is an organization that can deal with a young driver (he just turned 23) with a competitive drive that sometimes clouds his mind. He is unpolished, brash and wants to do the best for his fans and prove to those who boo him that they can boo him all they want as long as they stay to watch the end of the race and boo him in victory lane. Busch also is taking great pride in the fact that he’s with a car (the No. 18) that had not performed well in recent
years and putting it back on top.
Busch and Earnhardt Jr. are first and third in the points. Both have been impressive this year, considering they’re with new teams, and no one would have been shocked if either were 10th in the points instead of being among the leaders.
They both know they’re not going to win a battle of words (or even punches) with the other. If he takes on Busch, Earnhardt Jr. would have the fans in his corner, but he’s smart enough to know it would look bad considering he has no wins as Busch’s replacement while Busch has two wins with his new team. And Busch knows that taking on the sport’s biggest star isn’t in his best interest.
But the biggest thing is they both probably just have respect for each other. They know the other is a talented race car driver. They know that a little bump here, a little paint-swapping there is good for the sport and the way a driver wins races
So where’s the fight? It's just not going to happen. Busch and Earnhardt Jr. most likely are going to keep their fighting on the track and not off it.
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