On the Right Track
A NASCAR BLOG BY Jeff Gluck
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Sometimes sought-after drivers hard to find
Sep
2
In addition to the winner of Sunday's Pepsi 500, there were three drivers whom many reporters tried to speak with after the race.
They were Clint Bowyer, David Ragan and Kasey Kahne – the main contenders for the 12th and final spot in this year's Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Heading into Richmond, those three drivers are the biggest story. So reporters knew that fans were eager to hear how each of those drivers felt about his situation.
Bowyer and Ragan returned to their haulers after the race and spoke to all of the assembled reporters, with Ragan telling his side of the Chase story about 10 times and patiently waiting until there were no more questions.
As for Kahne, his car was stopped for the "random" inspection on pit road. The random selection is a decision made by NASCAR officials, and it is not announced until immediately following the race.
On pit road, Kahne spoke to a Speed TV crew and then bolted from the track. He did not return to his hauler and was nowhere to be found.
Drivers such as Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch have made a habit of quickly leaving the track in the past instead of talking to reporters. NASCAR only requires the top three finishers to visit with the media.
It wasn't Kahne's fault that he was required to stop on pit road instead of drive back to where reporters were waiting. With everyone caught unawares of his location, he simply left.
But in light of the Chase situation and the attention that it receives, he should have known better.
Regardless of the race outcome, drivers should feel an obligation to the fans to relay their story through the media. Especially for a five-year veteran like Kahne, it's disappointing when drivers feel they're too busy to remember that.
They were Clint Bowyer, David Ragan and Kasey Kahne – the main contenders for the 12th and final spot in this year's Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Heading into Richmond, those three drivers are the biggest story. So reporters knew that fans were eager to hear how each of those drivers felt about his situation.
Bowyer and Ragan returned to their haulers after the race and spoke to all of the assembled reporters, with Ragan telling his side of the Chase story about 10 times and patiently waiting until there were no more questions.
As for Kahne, his car was stopped for the "random" inspection on pit road. The random selection is a decision made by NASCAR officials, and it is not announced until immediately following the race.
On pit road, Kahne spoke to a Speed TV crew and then bolted from the track. He did not return to his hauler and was nowhere to be found.
Drivers such as Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch have made a habit of quickly leaving the track in the past instead of talking to reporters. NASCAR only requires the top three finishers to visit with the media.
It wasn't Kahne's fault that he was required to stop on pit road instead of drive back to where reporters were waiting. With everyone caught unawares of his location, he simply left.
But in light of the Chase situation and the attention that it receives, he should have known better.
Regardless of the race outcome, drivers should feel an obligation to the fans to relay their story through the media. Especially for a five-year veteran like Kahne, it's disappointing when drivers feel they're too busy to remember that.
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Comments
1 response to "Sometimes sought-after drivers hard to find"
Worm Dirt said:
Sep 2, 2008 at 12:55 PMI beleive I can tell you EXACTLY what Khane would have said in the interview!!!!! Basically, it'd be like EVERY other one he gives....here goes... "Blah blah blah....thank a sponsor....blah blah politically-correct blah.....thank a sponsor....(sip a ridiculous energy drink) blah blah blah....thank a sponsor......blah blah... we'll get 'em next week! Thank you." That would be about it I bet and why does anyone really need to hear that again??? The truly SAD part of the situation is that maybe the man was ACTUALLY feeling some emotion, but because of the politics of the circus, he chose not to take emotion in front of your microphones. Too bad.
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