Fan Zone

A NASCAR BLOG BY Carolyn Brewster

Kyle Busch's aggressive driving is over the line

May 7
I guess you can say I spoke too soon. A few months ago, I wrote a column about how Kyle Busch could be on the break of becoming a mature, respectable driver. I can honestly say that, since I wrote the column, Busch has done everything but become the grown-up who has learned how to show and earn respect.

Don’t misunderstand me, the guy has talent. But, talent does not entitle you attempt to win every race by using whatever means you deem acceptable.

Richmond is case and point. I don’t buy Busch’s story that getting loose and into Dale Earnhardt Jr. was just “a racing incident.”  It was a result of an immature decision to push equipment and conditions beyond good judgment.

It’s one thing to take a risk yourself . It’s completely different to make a decision that puts others at risk or adversely affects them.

Not only did that incident lower my opinion of Kyle Busch but also of the television broadcasters. I could not believe how hard the TV personalities attempted to justify the “accident.”

Ultimately, Kyle’s postrace interview was his true measure of immaturity. He showed little to no remorse for his actions, which essentially ended Junior’s chance for a win.  Bottom line, the column I wrote several weeks back hoping Kyle Busch was growing up appears to have been nothing but a completely misguided notion.    

Average Rating: 2.4

Comments

37 responses to "Kyle Busch's aggressive driving is over the line"
  1. 1
    Jeff Placer said:
    May 7, 2008 at 2:04 PM

    More whinining from Junior Nation...

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  2. 2
    allen allgood said:
    May 7, 2008 at 2:19 PM

    I have had it with Kyle, and Waltrip talking like he's the best thing that ever slipped behind a wheel. I agree he has talent but he obviously has an attitude problem or he would be able to keep a ride. Maybe the coach can help him grow up.

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  3. 3
    Jim Teats said:
    May 7, 2008 at 3:53 PM

    Well reading this article brings to mind a young driver in the lat seventies. Who had the same actions as Klye Busch. Guess who his name was Dale Sr. Also the other rough driver in the series was Darrell W. So don't condem Kyle for what he is and how he drives. Carolyn you are young for this sport. Have been following for 50 years.

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  4. 4
    Robin Drummond said:
    May 7, 2008 at 4:37 PM

    I couldn't agree with you more! I opened my big mouth last month about starting to like Kyle and having some respect for him as I saw him changing and not acting like his brother. I take it all back! My bad! Dale Jr. does not drive like his father. Jr. is a gentleman and a clean hard racer. It will pay off for him in the end.

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  5. 5
    Marti Heath said:
    May 7, 2008 at 6:45 PM

    Ya All know that if Jr. had turned Kyle, you'd all be singing a different tune this week. Jr. Nation would be whooping and hollerin' about what a great aggressive driver Jr. has become. Instead Kyle showed that he drives more like Dale Earnhardt than Jr. Glad to see the Jr. nation has blended in so well with the Hendricks bunch. They've turned into as big a bunch of cry babies as the fans of Gordon and JJ when someone races them hard. In the words of the Great Dale Earnhardt...IT'S CALLED RACING!!!! Carolyn, guess you wouldn't have like Dale much back in the day. I'm old enough to remember this same kind of flak being thrown at him every time he did whatever it took to win a race. Kyle out drove Jr. He put pressure on and Jr. blinked. Biggest personality in NASCAR doesn't always equal Biggest talent.

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  6. 6
    Francine D'Alonzo said:
    May 7, 2008 at 7:05 PM

    I agree completely! It was nausating to see the announcers attempting to justify Busch's actions. Certin announcers try to tell us we did not really see what the camera recorded. Remember what goes around comes around. Just as Hamlin had team orders, the announcers have orders from NASCAR to use smoke and mirrors to bury the facts.

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  7. 7
    Shawn Madsen said:
    May 7, 2008 at 11:17 PM

    BOOOO!!! BOOOO!!! Carolyn your showing some maturity with your change of attitude toward Kyle like your heading to the finish line and just spun your fans to pass them. Dale is a so so driver and everyone should realize that check the stats: Kyle: 2005- 2 wins, 9 top fives, 13 top tens 2006- 1 win, 10 top fives, 18 top tens 2007- 1 win, 11 top fives, 20 top tens 2008- 2 wins,6 top fives, 7 top tens totals 6 wins, 36 top fives, 58 top tens Dale:2005- 1 win, 7 top fives, 13 top tens 2006- 1 win, 10 top fives, 17 top tens 2007- 0 win, 7 top fives, 12 top tens 2008- 0 win, 3 top fives, 7 top tens Totals 2 wins, 27 top fives, 52 top tens Who has been the better racer? Who has been consistently getting better every year? Who is to blame for Dales loosing streak? Not Kyle, Eury jr, or even his step mother he needs to blame himself and start changing his driving habits because its not working for him at all.

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  8. 8
    Darryl Mears said:
    May 8, 2008 at 5:20 AM

    As a member of the Junior Nation, it is very interesting when disgruntled fans of other drivers(read: "my driver gets much less attention then Junior") lumps every Junior fan into the same pot. I do not defend every mistake Junior makes (such as wrecking Carl Edwards at Michigan a few years ago). To all you Junior hating jerks out there remember: "Don't hate the player, hate the game"!

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  9. 9
    * * said:
    May 8, 2008 at 8:25 AM

    And I thought you were a fan of racing. Appears to have been a completly misguided notion on my part.

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  10. 10
    jackie cleland said:
    May 8, 2008 at 9:22 AM

    At last someone wrote an article that I can agree with. Kyle Busch has not even started to grow up and act mature. He proved that when he opened his mouth after the race on Saturday. Yes, I do believe that he turned Jr on purpose just as I believe that Denny Hamlin stayed out on the track to cause a caution so that Busch could catch up. The difference in Kyle and Dale Sr is that when Sr. wrecked someone he would take responsiblilty for his actions. Busch never takes responsibility for anything he does.

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  11. 11
    Ken Osborne said:
    May 8, 2008 at 10:38 AM

    I guess most writers and members of the Junior Nation are to young to remember Dale Sr. and his early days. He drove like Kyle Busch except he was much rougher and took no prisoners. NA$CAR would never allow a modern day driver drive and act like Dale Sr did. Jr. would never risk his image to become half the driver his Dad was. Modern drivers are in a popularity contest wheras the old drivers were in a racing contest.

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  12. 12
    Rose Sweeney said:
    May 8, 2008 at 10:57 AM

    I'm 69 yrs old and a race fan all of my adult life & remember Dale Sr was a dirty driver. He didn't get the "intimidator" nickname for no reason but today he is an icon & a hero. Go figure. Racing is rubbing and all the whinners (drivers & fans) need to get over it.

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  13. 13
    Worm Dirt said:
    May 8, 2008 at 12:44 PM

    To Carolyn and all the other narrow-minded hypocritical paranoid apologists.... ENJOY THESE FINAL DAYS OF MOB-MENTALITY KYLE BUSCH HATRED!! The truth has been exposed and it will continue. If you really OBJECTIVELY look at the things that you wrote in this article and you still believe them and are not just trying to please the masses of reactionary clones, THEN I FEEL SORRY FOR WHAT YOU ARE MISSING OUT THERE ON THE RACETRACK. Kyle has an attitude (part of why he is so good) and i understand why many are turned off by it, but what he is doing on the track is AMAZING!!! Actually, it's amazing on several levels.... the most BAFFLING is that, in my OPINION, it's how everybody out there should be running. JUST THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES!!!!! This kid is on his way to the top and BEYOND!! And I say thank you to him and Godspeed.

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  14. 14
    Tricia Dewey said:
    May 8, 2008 at 2:20 PM

    Well, everyone is missing a very important point here: Carolyn is NOT a member of Junior Nation! She's a Ford fan, so that makes her an unbiased observer. You Kyle Busch fans (all ten of you) are just so blinded by your loyalty that you can't see the immaturity of your driver. He is very, very talented, but he refuses to learn from his mistakes, or even to acknowledge them. Stop comparing him to Dale Earnhardt - he's not fit to wipe the Intimidator's shoes. Earnhardt listened to his elders and betters and learned and then beat them fairly and squarely!! Kyle only cares about Kyle. Carolyn, I appreciate your honest, open opinion of the incident and couldn't agree more. LOVE your column, even if you are a Ford fan.

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  15. 15
    Anonymous said:
    May 8, 2008 at 4:53 PM

    jr would've apologized for wrecking kyle

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  16. 16
    Valerie Kreutz said:
    May 8, 2008 at 8:04 PM

    You race for the win. Thats what JR and Kyle were doing. You called Kyle immature. Is it a little immature to think Kyle should back off and let JR win or not? I wish it hadn't ended like that, but it did and it was exciting. PS I am a huge racing fan and like both drivers. Lets race! Stop whinning!

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  17. 17
    Glenn Parker said:
    May 8, 2008 at 8:11 PM

    I've had all week to fume about KB, and I still haven't changed my initial opinion of him...a complete idiot. It's OK to be agressive and take risks, but Busch is totally and completely reckless. His right to drive in the series should be revoked. GLP - Midlothian, VA

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  18. 18
    Chad Manley said:
    May 9, 2008 at 4:46 AM

    OK, I've had enough. JR. NATION for the last time quit dring his old sponsor and smell the roses Hamlin was just trying to get the best finish possible, and by doing so he screwed himself and got stuck where he couldn't get to pit road. Even Jr. said in the interview after the R-A-C-I-N-G Incident, that he felt that it wasn't I-N-T-I-N-I-A-L. Kyle has a lot of talent and is really reckless but he still is better than over half of them out there. JR. fans will have to realize it. KYLE is closer to BIG E than Jr. ever was.

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  19. 19
    randy hayes said:
    May 9, 2008 at 7:31 PM

    Busch better cool it or he's going to get cooled. The column about moving back to the South. "fix'n to see"go for it.take in as many races as you can.it's been my dream to follow NASCAR around the country(except the left coast)for an entire season but i guess it will be "dream on time"

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  20. 20
    Chris Pontiff said:
    May 11, 2008 at 10:34 AM

    If being aggressive and winning races is wrong then kick Kyle out. Maybe thats the only way Junior can get to victory lane. And for the one who said us Busch fans are blinded by loyalty all I can do is laugh. Want to talk about blinded by loyalty, just have a look at Junior Nation. Thats being blinded by loyalty. So blinded you look for any excuse why Junior has not won a race in over two years. Could it possibly be because he has no talent? Just waiting for a win to fall into his lap?

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  21. 21
    catherine cammack said:
    May 12, 2008 at 4:50 PM

    Cathy Cammack: Least we forget, Busch does have talent, but how many cars will be demolish to get to victory lane? I can't imagine that wrecking everyone of his cars, every weekend, would be something that Gibbs can afford. He is like a mouse, running in and out, eventually he is going to get squashed. gi gibbs

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  22. 22
    paul mathews said:
    May 13, 2008 at 4:18 PM

    I have a new name for Kyle Busch, instead of wild thing I thing it should be Pee Wee Herman!!. Anyone else notice the likness?? Pee Wee Pee Wee

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  23. 23
    Andrew Teaver said:
    May 13, 2008 at 7:25 PM

    This is not Kyle Bush's first mistake. He needs to learn patience and control, especially on a track like Richmond.

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  24. 24
    rowdy18 hamlin11 said:
    May 18, 2008 at 7:45 AM

    gimme a break... who was at fault... they both were , end of story...you have 2 very talented drivers going for the win(after the most dominating car ever to set foot on a racetrack has a tire go down)neither gave any quarter.. and i respect both for it . what lemme guess you just want drivers to follow jr .... yes kyle went in way too deep, but if i was points racing and i saw rowdy commin hard to my inside(even w/ the door he had the spot) i would have backed off and seen what he had(unless it wa the last lap) there is an old saying in racin if you have tire marks on the rite door of the car ;you were racin. if they are on the left door ; you were in the way

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  25. 25
    Chris Pontiff said:
    May 18, 2008 at 1:12 PM

    thank you rowdy18 hamlin11. you just don't give the race to someone. its called racing for a reason. and drivers have to expect that when kyle gets on the side of them or behind them that he will try something to pass. kyle isn't just going to sit back and let someone else have the win. sure they are racing for points but i don't think kyle sees it that way. kyle goes out there and races for wins. which ever driver should do since it would make the sport more interesting. But last night for the all-star race and for a non points event at that, i have to say was very boring. i'm not sure if these guys went soft or if this is just a product of the new car. either way i didn't see much aggression out of any driver.

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  26. 26
    emily bagwell said:
    May 18, 2008 at 3:28 PM

    Carolyn, don't pay any attention to Worm Dirt. Your article is right on. I was alwys taught that "what goes around, comes aroud." Kyle could be on te receiviong end one of thes days. Wrm, get out of the dirt and wake up!

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  27. 27
    emily bagwell said:
    May 18, 2008 at 3:33 PM

    Carolyn, don't pay any attention to Worm Dirt. Your article is right on. I was always taught that "what goes around, comes around." Kyle could be on the receiving end one of these days. Worm, get out of the dirt and wake up!

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  28. 28
    Chris Pontiff said:
    May 19, 2008 at 7:06 AM

    all this "whats goes around, comes around" is nothing but bs and you all know it.

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  29. 29
    Rex Lee said:
    May 19, 2008 at 2:01 PM

    Hey, Ya'll have forgot JR. spinning Kyle Bucsh out last year already. But thats the way ya'all are.Jr's a dink. His stats are on the low end of the drivers racing.Most drivers finish ahead of him anyway.Ya'll are good racing Whinning aout dink.What are ya'll goning to do about Rusty Wallace's boy, Steve? He moved Kyle Bucsh out of the way in the Nationwide race.He'll sure move ole dink out the way to win one or to advance one position. GET used to it,a race car drivers are going to move him out of their way. Take that you Jr. nation weirdo's!!!!

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  30. 30
    rowdy18 hamlin11 said:
    May 19, 2008 at 5:47 PM

    rex yea-ya ya hit the nail on the head...also remember him getting into it w/ harvick??? "dink" should just retire, lol... he is more of a rock star than a driver anyway toyota = moving forward

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  31. 31
    Teresa Geer said:
    May 20, 2008 at 6:35 AM

    Rex, You must be one of the 10 persons who cheer for pee wee herman. It only shows how low you are that you aren't part of the JR Nation. You know the wreck was intentionally because Jr was going to take the win and kyle couldn't stand that. And to the person who called Jr Dink, the world could live without you. JR is the most Popular driver in Nascar and when/if he ever leaves, you can kiss Nascar goodbye. So I hope that you aren't actually waiting for that day to happen, but maybe you are. Then you can watch PEE WEE herman all by your lonesome.

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  32. 32
    Rex Lee said:
    May 20, 2008 at 4:15 PM

    Hey Teresa.Slack up a little.You and the rest of Dink nation.Tony Stewart is my favorite driver.Greatest driver ever,PERIOD! HIS record stands as proof.A chmpionship in every racing series he's ever raced in.I watch every race with RACE FANS that cheer for RACE DRIVERS the list includes Smoke, Kevin Harvick,Carl Edwards,and even Ole' Pee Wee and Jeff Burton and Kasey Kane are pretty big also.No one driver is ever going to make Nascar go away. If thats the case it would have when Lee Petty and Buck Baker hung up their helmets. Chill out go to your local dirt tracks,then on cup race days you'll begin to love ALL them good ole' boys. Fender bangin', brawlin' in the pits and all.Maybe then you'll say hey, maybe Ole' Dink sould be more like them.

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  33. 33
    emily bagwell said:
    May 20, 2008 at 4:27 PM

    I'm not sure what a dink is, but if one gets the popularity and money that Junior has, then I'd like to be one for a day. I didn't ralize that there were so many philosophers in NASCAR. What we need are a few psychiatrists to help all you big-mouthed, jealous so-called race fans. Go, #88

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  34. 34
    Chris Pontiff said:
    May 21, 2008 at 12:34 PM

    jealous of a driver who hasn't won a race in over 2 years? that has the be the biggest joke i've heard all year

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  35. 35
    Worm Dirt said:
    May 21, 2008 at 1:26 PM

    I don't think it takes a "psychiatrist" Emily Bagwell... to point out how, with YOUR OWN COMMENTS, you inadvertantly make the same point that many of Jr Nation's critics do!!!! There are ACTUALLY fans that are concerned with other things beyond "POPULARITY and MONEY" as you say. Example: Fans who would rather see their driver locked and loaded in the car strategizing before the race INSTEAD of standing on stage like a pet poodle with Brooks and Dunn no less than 3 minutes before the start of the DAYTONA 500!!!! So the next time your at a race in your giant green sweaty comfort-zone of conformity.....not paying attention unless Jr. is leading a lap.....and wondering why anyone would stray from the righteousness and safety of the herd....take a look around and maybe you'll actually see that there are people interested in the actual RACE!!!

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  36. 36
    Randy King said:
    Jul 4, 2008 at 7:35 AM

    As Dale Sr. said.. "Rubbing is Racing"

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